Have you ever ridden around with your grandparents in their four-door, Sunday-go-to-meetin’, not-so-daily-driver and thought, “This would make a great sleeper?” Don’t worry, we didn’t either when we were offered this last-year B-body with its slippery, silver exterior. This 1996 Caprice Classic has just over 100,000 miles on the clock and the cushiest bench seat any self-respecting pensioner could ask for.

Any vehicle that can wear whitewalls both inside and out at the same time has all the makings of the perfect sleeper. Our Old Dirty B-body was drug back to our hive where we could get started on the transformation.

We were convinced to go look at it, and when the car wouldn’t start, the only paper that exchanged hands was a signed title of ownership. How could we say no? That’s when the gears started spinnin’ faster than a Vegas slot machine and the realization the world never has enough street sleepers came into view.

If you squint hard enough, you can see all the sleeper goodness tucked under that bulbous body. Having a rendering that removes all the scrapes and adds some meaty tires and wheels definitely helps.

Gems such as our 1996 Caprice are becoming very popular, and not because of the extra-comfy padding tucked into that cabin-wide seat. The appeal of the later B-body platform is that it was still a rear-wheel drive, body-on-frame offering up until 1996.

Just look at it! I mean, LOOK AT IT!!!

The ability to peel at least one rear wheel was still an option thanks to a Gen-II, LT1 if your grandparents were cool like that and ordered the V-8. While not our grandparents, we’re pleased to announce that the first owner of this 1996 Caprice opted for the 350 cubic-inch engine. Our ’96 is also the last year for rear-wheel drive, and being the last year for the “B” platform, you could say this was as good as you could get – at the time.

Our goal with this project is to push this landmass-of-an-envelope further, and faster than GM ever envisioned. To do that, we have a long list of upgrades that will turn this grocery-gettin’ sled into a sleeper of epic proportions. We already made significant advances in the way the car rides and handles with a complete QA1 Stage-II suspension and a set of Rev/Holley wheels. We’ll also be updating the engine, drivetrain, and brakes to make this car the bad-ass sleeper you dreamed it could always be, back when its tires used to age out with over 70 percent of their tread still intact.

It’s amazing what some soap and water, wheels, and a complete QA1 coilover suspension can do to a car’s appearance. We wanted a look that lived up to the “Classic” moniker, but don’t worry, we’ve got a list of performance mods planned that won’t be as obvious.

This car will be built to drive, and the plan is to get some track time, surprise many folks, and hurt a few feelings at some drag-and-drive events throughout the country. Be sure to check out the series of stories as this car progresses into the ultimate sleeper. And, if you want to get in on the fun, be sure to stay in Granny’s good graces. You know that sweet, low-mile ride in her garage has to go somewhere when she no longer needs earthly transportation. Why not to her favorite grandson? You can thank us later.