Currently featured in the new Fox Searchlight film, "The Secret Life of Bees." (below)

I received this car in 1995 on my 15th birthday. My family works in the film business, and my father had been working on a movie in which this car was being used as a period vehicle. He bought it for $3000, and it came with the original registration card, showing it was purchased in Charlotte, NC.

The company that rented it would usually just tape it off, and spray it down anytime it needed a quick color change. It was virtually rust free due to all the years of overlapping paint jobs.

We had it sandblasted, and the wage I made as a 16 year old working in a mediocre restaurant limited me to a higher end MAACO paint job. During my college days in the NC mountains, the car fell into a state of disrepair. I ran into a little money after graduation, and decided it was time to bring the old girl back.

Here's a pic of my neighbor and I loading it onto the trailer for transport to the shop.

Front end and engine removed.

Dashboard before.

After we removed the interior decor.

New Chevy 305 motor. We tried to fit block hugging headers, but the power steering components on the drivers side became a problem. Looking to have some custom made.

Here's the instrument cluster in progress, and after installation.

Before the chrome was re-applied, and a couple views down the side after.

Ready to roll.

As of right now, it's back in the shop for a 2" suspension drop and some new exhaust, which will be angled out behind each rear wheel. All signal lights have been replaced with LED's, and i'll have some new pics up after the windows get tinted next week.

After that, it's time to finish the interior. I'll be using the original chrome accents from the previous door panels, and am considering adding bucket seats and a nice center console with some sorts of electronic goodies. The rear bumper needs to be rechromed and then it's time to decide what kind of wheels to finish her off with. Any suggestions? I'd love to hear them.

Gonna hold onto the original wheels so it can still be rented to film and tv productions.

12/15/06

I just replaced the Edelbrock carb with a new Holley 600 with the electronic choke, which should make a heckuva difference. I sprung a little brake fluid leak somewhere so it's having a little work done as of the moment. More pics soon.

12/16/06

Here are a few pics of the car after a little suspension lowering, new exhaust and a wash.

09/15/09