Dad's loving memory

Manishi Singh June 30, 2019

Chad Fergusson and I see each other several times a week, primarily because our kids go to the same place for martial arts training. He or his wife usually drive the kids around in a family friendly Highlander. A couple of times though I saw him arrive in a bright red 911 Turbo. For a petrolhead like me, that made him special right away. Chad has an even bigger (and pleasant) secret in his garage which I didn’t know about until early Summer 2019.

One warm Saturday afternoon, several families gathered at Chad’s place for a potluck. While we were enjoying a global selection of amazing food, the conversation shifted to cars. When I expressed my admiration for his 911, someone asked me to take a peek in his garage.

I think I didn’t blink for a minute upon entering the garage. The scene is difficult for me to describe because I was spellbound. Chad has installed a garage lift where two brilliant bright red convertibles sit on the two levels. You have read about the 911 already but it was the upper level that my eyes were fixed on.

An immaculate 1955 Corvette.

Chad’s brilliant Corvette. He took the car down from the lift so I can shoot some pics.

A few weeks later, I was back at his place to learn more about the car.

This is a 1955 Corvette, #270 of only 700 made. The car’s VIN is its actual production number. Chad inherited the car from his dad who bought it as a teenager in 1962. The first time his dad met his mom, he was driving this car.

Chad has several childhood memories with the car. He showed me many pictures of it with his dad. The car was put in storage when he was about 10 but dad always talked about bringing it back to life one day. Decades later, Chad started restoring it. Around this time, his dad was diagnosed with cancer and passed away shortly thereafter. He feels very sad that the car couldn’t be fully restored for dad to ride once more but has some satisfaction that it was restored enough for dad to see it running again.

This picture tells how fondly he remembers his dad. This is a bullet casing with his dad’s ashes inside. It is always in the car. And yes, he is the only one who drives it.

The bullet casing with Chad’s dad’s ashes. It was heartwarming to see the emotional side of this strong guy and again reminds us that family is the most important thing. What a beautiful thing to see for his kids.

The pictures I saw had the car in White. Chad told me it had red interiors. Now, the configuration is reversed. The car has been beautifully painted in Red and the interior is spotless White with Red stitching. The work is remarkable and would have taken hundreds of hours. Every week he spends a good amount of time working on the car but he ensures the car is driven regularly (about 2 - 3 times a week). He regularly takes it to classic car shows where it is a star attraction.

We have extraordinary people amongst us. All of us do our best to take care of our loved ones and then you meet people like Chad who re-emphasize the importance of parents and families. They show us that some things are not mere possessions, they are a part of our lives to cherish for years and a great way to educate our kids.

I am sure Chad thinks about his dad every time he fires up the massive V8 and dad smiles down on him. I imagine him proudly talking to his kids about it. Wishing him and his family many enjoyable years with this awesome car.

Thank you for sharing your story, Chad.

With love, from Puerto Rico

Manishi Singh January 13, 2019

It was by chance that I discovered this 80s beauty. More on the car later. Let me first share a short but fascinating story about Corollas, Puerto Rico and Puerto Ricans in mainland US.

Back in 70s and 80s, when muscle cars were the rage in US, Puerto Rico fell in love with Japanese cars, especially Corollas. They were fun, cheap, super reliable, easy to modify and provided tons of fun. The melting pot that Puerto Rico is, the Japanese compacts blended right in. They brought this love over to the mainland forming clubs that would race the compacts against the muscle cars, often surprising them.

You will ask, how I learned all this? Well, one fall afternoon while talking with a friend in his neighborhood, this shining 1981 Corolla rolls up. I run up to the driver complementing him for his amazing ride. While talking to him, my eyes wander to notice how clean the car is. The seats are original and as clean as new. This car is in showroom condition. We chat for a while when he shares the story. Later he sends me this video that captures the story very well.

He agrees to my request for a future meeting where we can talk more about the car. His name is Ed Marquez, he is from Puerto Rico and he passionately loves his car.

A few weeks later, we meet on a Sunday afternoon. It is a sunny day after a long wet spell. I am offered a ride in the car that I happily accept. Once inside, it is immediately obvious how well he has maintained the car. I cannot avoid the nostalgia of roll-up windows. It does have a heater and A/C.

Tank needs gas so we have to drive to a specific station that still sells non-ethanol fuel (it has a carburetor)

Over to the park, we slowly drive past the running tracks. Ed has a background in advertising so he suggests driving over into the grass for better pics. Well, the ground is wet and we get stuck in the mud. Car isn’t moving so I climb out and almost instinctively look under the front wheels. Hmm… everything looks OK here. In a state of confusion I turn towards the rear wheel and almost scream in surprise. THIS 1.8 LITER COMPACT IS RWD (rear-wheel drive). That probably makes getting out of the mud a little bit difficult but we decide to shoot pics first and worry about the mud later.

I ask him why this car?

His father had one and took it on his honeymoon. There is just one pic remaining of that but for Ed, the car ‘s connection to his family and Puerto Rico has a special place in his heart. He had a beat up example back in high school so once he was better settled, the dormant love was revived. After a 12 year search for the perfect one, Ed found this car at a New Jersey dealership 3 years back. His wife encouraged him to get it for his birthday so he rushes up to NJ, buys the car and gets is to Charlotte.

So as it happens, Ed is also a big Transformers fan. It is not just evident on the license plate but has been well absorbed in the family. He tells me a really cute story. Whenever the family needs to go somewhere, he just says “Marquezes — Rollout!!” and the kids start filing out the house. It has become the family’s call to action.

The car is not just a reminder of his roots, it is a great way for his kids to learn and love Puerto Rico and its culture. He says his daughter loves it more that his son. No one else in the family gets to drive it. This isn’t his daily ride. It mostly is taken to car shows where it receives a lot of admiration. While we were shooting, several folks stopped by to admire and complement. I couldn’t help noticing the genuine smile that brought to his face.

As you would expect, many people have asked Ed what would it take for him to sell the car. As you would also expect, he has politely declined every one of those offers. This car is his love and very obvious in the way he treats it.

Photo shoot is done and the car needs to be pulled out of the mud. We gather twigs from the bushes nearby and place them under the rear wheels. Ed gets in the car but takes his shoes off to keep the floor clean. I push from the front and after several attempts we get the car out in reverse. I do my best to wash the mud off my shoes but Ed still places an old tee in the passenger foot well. He places his own shows on a rug in the trunk and drives back just in his socks.

As soon as we arrive, he takes the car to a washing station to get the mud off. I thank Ed for the great afternoon and head home. His story isn’t just his own but of so many folks from Puerto Rico who love and passionately preserve their culture for the future generations.

The ECTO-1

Manishi Singh January 1, 2018

Ghostbusters - need I say more? It is one of those box office icons that even after 30 years is adored worldwide. I am amazed that kids as young as kindergartners immediately recognize the legendary graphic even though they never saw the movie. So, when ECTO-1 drove into the parking lot of a local grocery store with all its lights and sounds, you could imagine my reaction.

One evening in early fall, as I walk out a grocery store, ECTO-1 rolls in. A small crowd gathers right away to take pics. The driver leaves the fluorescent undercarriage lights on as he walks into the store. I have to talk to him, so I ask if he has a few minutes. He politely asks to wait for him to return from the store. Fifteen minutes later, while I am still admiring the details on the car, he returns and I quickly show him this website asking if he would allow me to feature him there. He is late for an appointment but hands me his business card agreeing to meet at a more suitable time and place.

His name is Barrie J. Clark and he runs an audio-visuals business. During the Thanksgiving break, we arrange for a meeting. Barrie suggests a lake close to his house for pictures. When I arrive at his place, he generously offers me a ride to the lake in ECTO-1 putting me on cloud nine right away :).

Barrie loves this car and has so much to share that he overwhelms me with the information he is throwing out.

ECTO-1 is built on a 1974 Cadillac Eldorado. It's a huge car. The coach was built by Miller-Meteor, the coachbuilder that created the original Ghostbusters car on a 1959 Cadillac professional chasis. Unlike the original one (which was an ambulance hearse combo), this one was a true hearse. This car was to be purchased by a funeral home that got burned down so this never saw service as a hearse. For a while, Jazz musicians used it for their equipment and it was also put up on a pedestal for demo by a highway for years. That the car survived all that is itself a testament to its sturdy construction.

The car weighs 10,350 lbs., equivalent to 4 average sized cars today. It came with an 8.2 litre gasoline engine. During its days, this was considered to be the penultimate engine from Cadillac and I can attest to that. The car pulls like a truck even after 40 years.

As we are driving to the lake, my curiosity is getting out of control. When did he get this car? How long it took to get it outfitted with all the Ghostbusters stuff? How much time does he spend on it?...

Barrie acquired the car very recently in April of 2017 in a not so great state and got working on it right away. Being an audio-visual engineer, he put in all the sound and lighting systems himself. The mechanical work he left to a friend as this car can't even be lifted by the jacks available these days.

Now the first time I saw ECTO-1 was in late summer. It is beyond anyone's imagination that in the few months since, he has transformed it to this state. The passion he has put into the project is immeasurable. The attention to detail is unbelievable and that can be judged by the fact that he put in 650 plus hours over the summer. His friend Jason at Christian Brothers Automotive has been a great help with the restoration. Everything he has put on this car has a story around how he purchased or fabricated it.

Barrie has a hobby of collecting movie props and this is his biggest prop ever.

The conversation moves to how he uses the car. At this stage, I learn of Barrie's other passion. He loves bringing joy to people, especially children. He has taken this car to numerous events at children's hospitals. The smile ECTO-1 brings to these children makes it all worth it. He also participates in events with Toy Drives, Wounded Warriors, and several other organizations. The car was invited to participate in the 4th of July parade which he finds funny being British :).

By this time, we have talked for over 2 hours. It is starting to get dark, so we shoot a few more pics and head back. ECTO-1 is hungry and needs a pitstop. This thing is a guzzler for sure and requires around $80 to fill up. There are a few families at the gas station and as expected, the car is surrounded within seconds. Barrie is charming the kids with the props, turning on all the lights and sounds. The parents join in taking pics, asking him questions and it is a cool 30 mins before we can head out again :).

Barrie made friends with the local law enforcement before taking the car to the road. He expected to be pulled over and certainly has been several times, for pictures, of course.

As I get my stuff out, the good-natured Barrie asks about my ride back, which is around 30 miles. He recommends several options to avoid traffic. This guy has a genuine concern for others and it shows in every conversation he has.

My drive back was with a big smile planted on my face pondering over Barrie's passion and his desire to make this world a better place. He made me realize that we are surrounded by amazing people and the world is better than all the negative news floating around us these days.

In the Carolinas, if you have an event and want to do something unique, Barrie and his car would be a huge crowd pleaser. So do consider inviting him over to make your event memorable. On Facebook, you can find him at "Ghostbusters of North Carolina".

Baby Blue Ford F100: Independence

Manishi Singh November 26, 2017

I met Anne Hyde by sheer chance. My family and I were driving home one day when at a traffic light, Anne's truck stopped in the adjoining lane just ahead of me. Three things immediately drew my attention - First, this truck looked incredible, Second, it had a beautiful blue color and Finally, the license plate that read " Bby Blue".

The color and license plate go so well together

I had to get pictures and talk to the her. Luckily, she entered a shopping area just after that traffic light. I walked up to the truck to complement her and asked if she would allow me to feature them on my blog. Anne gladly agreed so I setup an appointment for the shoot. I met her husband Tony at the shoot too. He was very welcoming and interested in the blog.

Anne has an incredibly inspirational story. For her, this truck is a symbol of independence, resilience, self-reliance and confidence. When Anne was going through a tough time in her life as a single mom, she went to nursing school at 46. Against all odds she completed the nursing course, regained control of her life and has been working as a nurse ever since. Back on her feet again, she could get back to the things she liked. One of them happened to be trucks. Anne's grandpa owned a truck plus she grew up with six brothers (and 2 sisters) so the love of trucks came naturally to her.

This is a 1971 Ford F100. Anne saw it at a repossessed lot near her parents house and just loved it. Everyone in her family loves older cars so she had to get it as soon as she could. The truck is mostly in original condition with only the consumables replaced. It is driven on most weekends for going to the church, grocery stores etc. Vehicles from those days are very simple mechanically so they are easy to maintain too. Other than the usual maintenance, it doesn't demand much. A vintage car expert named Larry in South Carolina helps take care of the truck.

One interesting story about the truck relates to her husband, Tony. She credits the truck for them being together. He claims that he married her for the truck :). When she got the truck, it was missing the original radio and ashtray. The radio is hard to find but the ashtray is even harder. Tony got her the original radio as a Christmas present and soon found the ashtray too. New tires came as a anniversary gift. So you can tell they both love this car as much as they love each other (may be the truck gets a little more love, I can't say for sure though).

Anne told me about her grandpa - Earl Minor, who she remembers fondly. He had invented the push button starter in the 1930s. He was himself very young at that time, only in his 30s. Sadly, he couldn't pursue his invention further since he was of mixed race and was hiding his identity. He sold the invention to Ford for just a thousand dollars. I wonder if he had more freedom, how much more he could have contributed to the world.

Anne was generous enough to share her brother's contact who also owns a few vintage cars. I plan to reach out to him soon and document some of his stories too. Before I end this story with a few more pics of the truck, I would like to thank Anne for her time and wish her and Tony many many years of happiness with Bby Blue.

This Maxima is ready to party

Manishi Singh October 14, 2017

Dana Chapman is one of those people who have incredible talent and believe in showing to the world that you can take everyday things to greatness. I had the pleasure of meeting Dana at the local annual "Occupy Modern Car Show" in September. It was a hot afternoon but Dana and his family were enthusiastically meeting with people admiring his ride. There were over a hundred cars in the show but his car was a center of attraction.

Here's what I mean by his car being the star of the show

This is a 2010 Maxima that Dana acquired towards the end of 2015. The car was stock when he purchased it and over the past years, he has made hundreds of improvements to bring it to this stage. On the exterior, you see this awesome matte finish that has been achieved by putting Plasstidip on it. The panels, grill etc. have been painted black to give it a matching look. It is dressed in Carolina Panthers colors.

The car is a people puller and with so many customizations, you me be led to think that this is a show car. Well, the truth is, the car is still very close to stock and this is Dana's daily driver; may be more than that. Since he got the car, he and his girlfriend have put 52,000 miles on it already (that's over 25K miles a year). The car is now close to 140K miles.

As interesting the exterior is, once you see the interior, you will be forced to think if this stuff is even legal. Dana assures me it is and the stuff you see in the pics are just for show :).

You may now understand what I was hinting at :). Those bottles are empty and just for show BTW.

So I asked Dana, this is such an amazing car, how do people react to it? More importantly, has he been pulled over and had any interesting conversations with the cops?

He says that people love his car. They line up to see it and talk to him wherever he goes (I too had to wait a few minutes before I could get that opportunity). The getting pulled over part is very interesting. He acknowledges he has been pulled over several times but not for the reasons you and I would think. Cops are as interested in his car as other people. They have pulled him over to ask about the car, the paint job and if they can bring him their personal cars for a makeover.

Pneumatic setup to raise/lower the car. Kids were fascinated watching the car go up and down while making a hissing sound.

To him, this car represents what he can do to make automobiles stand out. He has poured his passion into this car and it shows, really well. The car was featured in ToyMakerz and Street Outlaws.

His next project is to convert this to a 6 speed manual. In his knowledge, there is only one other car out there with that configuration.

Hats off to you, Dana. What am amazing work you have done on this car. Very few people have the kind of passion you do. Hope to see you again soon and talk more about your passion.

Bill Brand and his 1966 Plymouth Fury III

Manishi Singh August 21, 2017

I live in a neighborhood South of Charlotte, North Carolina USA. Often during my walks, I would notice this beautiful Pacific Blue Plymouth drive by. I loved the car and the engine's deep rumble as it drove by.

I noticed the car parked in the adjacent neighborhood and kept looking for an opportunity to speak to the owner and seek his permission to click a few pictures. One afternoon as we were driving home from somewhere, my wife noticed that Bill was working on the car at the far end of his long driveway. We stopped and went up to meet him.

We introduced ourselves and asked if he would be willing to talk to me about the car and click a few pictures. He happily agreed so I ran home to get my camera and a notebook.

The next hour was so much fun. Bill is such a pleasant person and was so excited to share the car's story. He acquired the car three years back from someone who had owned it for 25 years. The car was in great shape. Bill got it painted a darker shade of the original blue, put on a new top and that was it. No additional major work was done on the car.

We started talking about the engine so he quickly opened the hood and showed me the motor. The engine bay was surprisingly clean. The original motor with 235,000 miles on it looked great. The car's original paint was under the hood too.

This is a Chrysler V8 318 cu.in (5.2 L) poly motor, a special engine designed for reliability over outright performance. Bill painted a few red spots and lines on the engine so it looks cool.

Straight lines were all the rage in the 60s and Bill loves them too. So much so that the aluminum strip that runs across the length and curves over the front wheel wells, were cut short to maintain the lines.

Bill spends between 5 - 10 hrs a week on the car, mostly cleaning and polishing. He is retired and this is his favorite activity. It was a hot afternoon when I met him and he was covered in sweat polishing the car.

He doesn't perform any mechanical work himself. His son is a mechanic and is responsible for the complex parts.

The car isn't driven much but wherever it goes, it generates a lot of attention. Often at classic car gatherings, his car gets more attention than the restored ones, perhaps because it is so original.

No one else in the family drives it, though he wouldn't mind his grandkids driving it someday. One last upgrade he wants to perform is put in the 440 motor.

Time for some more pictures.

I was getting ready to leave when Bill said I can't go without hearing that fabulous motor. I really wanted to, so was thrilled when he asked. Bill gets in and fires up the engine. It starts right up and the sound is unbelievable. I walk around the car to the rear and listen to the exhaust note. I wish I could record that audio and place it here. The car makes a deep note but the engine is still so smooth, it is a great combination, almost therapeutic. I spent a couple minutes just listening to that fascinating exhaust. Bill says the car doesn't have a quiet interior like the modern ones "but that is a blessing as I cannot take a phone call while driving" :).

Some more pics for you to enjoy before I close out this story. Do share your comments.