About the Box Shop

Gary Box: Before It Was a Trend, He Was Living It.

Gary Box has been building fast engines and racing them since he was a teenager. At just 16, he built his first performance motor—a W30 400ci—for his 1966 Olds 442, running 12.20s at the dragstrip. By the early ’70s, he was known for his fleet of blacked-out big block Camaros—so iconic that a local shop named their custom paint “Box Black.”

Always ahead of the curve, Gary was one of the first in Cleveland to run a tubbed street car. He trained at GM’s automotive school, later earning a Computer Engineering degree, and built a reputation for problem-solving in both tech and performance. But the track always called him back.

By the ‘80s, Gary’s name was synonymous with Big Block Chevy power. Racers followed him home just to buy the engines out of his cars. As demand grew, he expanded into Ford, Mopar, GM, and Buick builds—earning a reputation as a top-tier engine builder for both street and strip.

Then came the Boxvette—a 1965 Corvette he couldn’t let go. Outfitted with a blown BBC and infamous blower surge, the car drew crowds wherever it went. It won Best Engineered, First Place Show of Excellence, and Fastest Streetcar in Ohio—all in the same year.

In 2007, Gary turned passion into business, launching Box Performance. Known for custom engine builds, blower setups, and serious horsepower, the shop continues to deliver race-winning performance for hot rods, muscle cars, and street machines alike.

Margaret Box:From Drive-Thru to Dragstrip: The Story Behind Box Performance.

In 1983, Gary stopped at a Berea McDonald’s for coffee—and met the women at the drive-thru window. That quick stop turned into a lifelong partnership rooted in family, racing, and eventually, business.

As their family grew, so did their passion for cars. Weekends were spent at the dragstrip with the kids and friends, and the Boxvette became a staple on the track—captured on film by Margaret, long before content creation was a career.

With a growing business and a drive to help it succeed, Margaret went back to school and earned degrees in Marketing and Business. Today, she manages daily operations, runs social media, and shares the Box family story through photos, videos, and trackside moments.

Box Performance isn’t just a business—it’s a family legacy built on horsepower.

Cory Box: Born Into Horsepower, Raised In The Garage and Built For The Track.

Born into horsepower, Cory Box grew up in the garage with his father, Gary—turning wrenches, building engines, and racing cars long before he could drive. By 12, he was assembling motors. By 14, he owned his first car and ran 10s at the track. After years of hands-on experience, Cory helped expand the high-performance repair side of Box Performance, bringing in a wave of old-school muscle cars and race builds.

He became Gary’s crew chief, managing the Boxvette at events like Roadkill Nights and Memphis Street Outlaws, and later stepped into a high-level role as crew chief for Larry Nance’s Pro Mod team, further sharpening his racing and tuning expertise.

In 2019, Cory debuted his own 4.40-second Camaro before a series of setbacks tested his grit—including a motorcycle accident that took two years of recovery. In 2024, he made his return to racing, more determined than ever.

Now in 2025, He is continuing the family legacy and pushing Box Performance into the next generation of custom engine builds and high-performance racing.

The Boxvette: Built for Power, "Built for the Street” and "The Birth of a Legend".

At Box Performance, horsepower isn’t just business — it’s a way of life. One of our proudest creations is the "Boxvette," a 1965 Corvette that’s become a true symbol of our passion for building serious street and strip machines. With a blown big block under the hood and a reputation for blower surge, the Boxvette represents everything we stand for: craftsmanship, performance, and attitude.