MY JOURNEY

Fast forward to 2017. Like a lot of people, I found myself browsing Facebook Marketplace and classic car listings, just to look. That’s when I stumbled across a custom 1950 Ford shoebox coupe a few cities away. The price was right, the car had character, and before long, I had convinced my wife that I was ready again. I drove it nearly 150 miles home and started putting my own touches on it. That old feeling came right back. I was hooked all over again. A few years later, I found another great deal, a 1966 Mustang. This one was for my wife, a way to replace the ’65 we had built together years earlier. We jumped in headfirst, and once again, the garage became our happy place. This time around, I decided to document the process. Not because everything goes perfectly, but because it doesn’t. I wanted to show what it’s really like to build a classic car at home, the wins, the mistakes, and the lessons learned along the way. There is nothing like driving a car you’ve poured your time, patience, and heart into. That’s what this site is about. Real projects, real cars, and a shared love for keeping them alive. If you’re a DIY enthusiast, a first-time builder, or someone who just enjoys the stories behind old metal, you’re in the right place. I hope this helps you feel confident enough to start or keep going on your own journey. Let’s build something together.

As I got older, I finally landed a dream car, a 1965 Ford Mustang. My wife and I tore it down to bare bones and rebuilt nearly everything together. New upholstery, fresh paint, engine work, the whole deal. Wimbledon White with red accents and a Pony interior. It was a beautiful car and even better memories. We took it to shows, brought home a few trophies, and enjoyed every mile. Then one night, everything changed. We parked the Mustang far from everyone else at a restaurant, safely in view, or so we thought. A pickup truck backed out near the front door and just kept going until it slammed into the rear quarter panel. Watching that happen was gut-wrenching. After that, we walked away from project cars for a long time.

I’ve been hooked on classic cars for as long as I can remember. Most of my weekends are still spent in the garage, turning wrenches on my ’66 Mustang and my ’50 Ford shoebox, chasing fixes, upgrades, and the occasional head scratcher so you don’t have to. This site is where I share those projects, tell the stories behind them, and help fellow enthusiasts keep their own classics on the road.

My journey started in my early teens, back when my dad had a simple rule. If he had an old truck that didn’t run and I could get it going, it was mine. There was no money, no experience, and no internet to bail me out. What I did have were greasy shop manuals, whatever books I could find, and a lot of trial and error. The first real challenge was a worn-out 1965 Chevy flatbed in the early 70s. I managed to bring it back to life, added a stereo, and with my dad’s help, put a fresh coat of paint on it. That truck gave me freedom, confidence, and the feeling that anything mechanical could be figured out if you stuck with it. A few years later, my dad retired an old Ford Courier with a utility body. Same deal. It didn’t run, but I refused to quit on it. By the time the 80s rolled around and mini trucks were everywhere, I found a used factory bed and decided to try something different. I built a hydraulic tilt bed. At the time, it was about as cool as it got, and it taught me that creativity mattered just as much as tools.