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FEATURE INTERVIEWS:

Don Abenante – Retro Fabworks YouTube Star

Don Abenante is no stranger to being in front of a camera. He’s appeared on shows you wouldn’t expect to feature a gearhead fabricator — including Below Deck, which came about by chance after he met one of the show’s producers and joined as a boat engineer. Don admits that series was “kind of vicious,” and not something he was eager to repeat. He’s also been featured on Horsepower Wars and Netflix’s Resurrected Rides — both of which he genuinely enjoyed, gaining an inside look at how “the sauce gets made.” More recently, Don collaborated with Salvage to Savage, sharpening his skills with GoPros, social media strategy, and the art of creating eye-catching video content.

Don’s passion for cars didn’t ignite right away. His dad had always tried to get him into wrenching, but it wasn’t until a day at the racetrack — and the unforgettable smell of race gas — that something clicked. A few months later, Don asked his dad to build a car together. His father, a lifelong Camaro guy, was thrilled. They agreed to start with something “a little cheaper,” and after plenty of research, Don chose a 1970 Chevelle. His dad laughed — a Chevelle wasn’t exactly a bargain — but the hunt was on. They found the right one, made a deal, and planned to bring it home once they scraped together a bit more cash. Tragically, before that could happen, Don’s father passed away. Heartbroken, Don called the seller to back out. But the seller refused — holding the car for months until Don could raise the money again. That same Chevelle has remained with him ever since, and it’s now the centerpiece of his ambitious SEMA-bound YouTube build series.

Over the years, the Chevelle has seen many engines and configurations, but this time Don wanted something bolder. A NASCAR engine was briefly on the table — but expensive and impractical — so he went another direction: a Ford Coyote swap. He began documenting the entire process on his Retro Fabworks YouTube channel, capturing every cut, weld, and custom bracket. When SEMA took notice, they invited him to feature the car at the 2025 show. The twist? Don plans to drive it all the way to Las Vegas, setting it apart from the trailer queens that typically populate the halls. The car will showcase a blend of big-name components — like RideTech suspension — and Don’s own hand-built fabrication work. This isn’t just a project; it’s a passion-fueled journey built one part at a time, culminating in an unforgettable road trip and a well-earned moment under the lights of SEMA.

You can follow Don on the socials at Instagram.com/DonAbenante and on YouTube.com/@RetroFabworks. He also has a curated eBay influencer page you can check out at eBay.us

Thanks, Don! See you at SEMA!

– Rob Kibbe

This interview is sponsored by our pals at National Parts Depot – your premier source for muscle car restoration parts!

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