As we venture across the U.S. on our Stateside Shop Tour, we’re focusing on unique shops that do work on Bow Tie cars and trucks in all 50 states. This week’s stop puts us in Helena, Montana, with Montana Auto And Fabrication.

Lots of off-road vehicles, like this ’80s single-cab Chevy pickup, come to MAAF to get equipped for adventure.

At first glance, you’ll notice that the shop is centered around the off-road crowd. Owner Ryan Weber is the go-to guy in the Helena area to get a much-wanted dose of machismo and badassness, and he’s more than happy to oblige. Typical work consists of making custom bumpers, frame mounts, and even storage spaces on a multitude of trucks and SUVs. As a self-taught welder and master mechanic, there’s no doubt the man has worked hard to make MAAF a successful enterprise. It’s been that way since the operation opened in 2007, and they even expanded into two locations last year.

But off-road vehicles aren’t the sole source of income for Weber’s operations. He told us of a musclecar that recently went through his shop – a 1967 Camaro – that definitely caught our attention. “The owner, Jason Redfield, brought it in because he wanted to get the car prepped for more competitive purposes like autocross,” explained Ryan Arnold, Weber’s associate at MAAF.

The 1967 Camaro was a quick job, taking about three months to complete.

Weber and the MAAF team, got started on the car by upgrading its suspension, drivetrain, and interior. The crew installed a Hotchkis Total Vehicle System suspension with frame stiffeners, while the brakes were given the benefit of 21st-century safety in the form of Corvette C6 disc brakes.

Hotchkis suspension was used to improve handling for autocross events, which the owner was eager to get into.

Under the hood, the 350 cubic-inch V8 was fitted with a Holley carburetor, MSD ignition, and Hedman headers that flow into Magnaflow mufflers. A Tremec TKO 600 five-speed transmission handles the 400-plus horsepower put out by the small-block, while a 10-bolt rearend fitted with 3.55:1 gears, Moser axles, and a Yukon Gear Dura Grip limited-slip differential takes care of putting power to the pavement.

Inside, the team upgraded the factory bucket seats with new upholstery and wraparound bolsters. “This part was mostly complete when we got it,” explained Weber. “We just put in the finishing touches.” All told, it took just under three months to have the car in, out, and on with its life.

To Weber, Chevys like the Camaro, Chevelle, and other models equate to simplicity. “I don’t consider myself a brand loyalist, but if I’m anything, I’m a Chevy guy,” he admitted. “The stuff on those cars is all bolt-on and bolt-off – no rivets, no corner-cutting, no hard-to-find parts most of the time. It’s so easy to work on, that’s why I like it.”

Weber and his team are holding it down for Montana, enthusiasts, whether they prefer the wide open road or a wayward twisting trail. Whatever gets your blood pumping, it’s taken care of at Montana Auto and Fabrication. Check them out on their website, and stay tuned here on Chevy Hardcore as we continue our Stateside Shop Tour. Next stop: North Dakota!