Granbury man’s 1958 Corvette is a crown jewel

The Lone Star Street Rod Association's 47th annual State Run and three-day car show highlighted the weekend June 10-12 in Granbury's Hewlett Park as more than 350 vintage vehicles wowed local car enthusiasts.

Starting in 1974 with 16 original members, the LSSRA now has hundreds of members who have worked countless hours and opened up their wallets to restore classic street rods.

While the cars may date back into the 1930s and beyond, there's something special about most of these rides – they have been modified with today's high-powered motors and accessories to include air conditioning which comes in quite handy on a 106-degree afternoon.

THE CROWN JEWEL

The warm temperatures didn't keep people from traveling to show and view the vehicles, and for many, a 1958 red and white Corvette was the center of attraction. The car was like a crown jewel on a queen's crown and was simply beautiful from all angles – it's been locally owned and restored by its owner Bud Sparks.

It was a project that got "underway" in 1988 with the car's purchase "out of east Texas," but there was a line of other project cars in front, so it wasn't until three years ago that Sparks was able to turn his full attention to the vehicle.

The Corvette's beauty is a testament to trial and error and a long learning process that is unforgiving when it comes to mistakes that eat up time and money.

Sparks has a recommendation for avoiding the many pitfalls that can come with the pursuit of one's dream car.

"Number one is to have a mentor. You need to look for someone who is knowledgeable about the restoration of cars," Sparks said. "Listen to them and let them mentor you. Just because you can turn a nut and a bolt or read a voltmeter isn't going to work – there's a lot more to it than that."

It also helps if your spouse likes older cars or, in Spark's case, if the vehicle is air-conditioned like his 1934 Chevy setting nearby. The car's hood is open to reveal its modern supercharged Corvette engine.

A LIKELY MENTOR

Sparks is seated under a canopy near his classic Corvette with someone's likely mentor whose mustache sweeps across his face with an upward turn, just like his passion and love of classic car restoration.

Granbury's Brian Donnachie has been a gearhead since he was 16, and he's a member of a local car club known as the Piston Slingers that was established in Granbury in 2012. The group's mission is to get together to enjoy cars and each other's company. There's even a weekly Thursday get-together at the local Braum's for ice cream and treats.

"It's mainly about companionship, but sometimes there are guys who want help, and we have a couple of guys in the club who are mechanics by trade. Then we have someone who does restoration and someone else who builds cars," Donnachie said.

Donnachie builds his vehicles and has built six over the last 10-12 years that have sold. Rather than create for someone else, he prefers the freedom to make his own choices, but he certainly helps out with advice and pointing people in the right direction.

His bottom line on someone wanting to buy a classic car for the first time is to get help.

"Call an inspector to come and look at the car," Donnachie said. "It can cost $300-$400. The inspector will be another respected car enthusiast who will do a report and send you photos if the car is out of state or a long way off. I have done inspections for people myself."

A REAL FASCINATION

Richard Willingham of McAlester, Oklahoma, admits he's obsessed with his car because of the 1971 Monte Hellman-directed film, “Two-Lane Blacktop.” The movie stars songwriter James Taylor and the Beach Boys’ Dennis Wilson as a driver and a mechanic who make a living on the road by hustling drag races in their souped-up 1955 Chevy.

As Willingham sets up his car and lifts the hood, there is a special spot for a miniature version (model kit size) of his car, and if that's not enough, he also has a Matchbox 1955 Chevy.

While the movie is the inspiration for Willingham's display, he's more about telling the story of Richard Ruth, who built all three leading cars in the film.

"They had a race car like this one here," Willingham said. "Then they had a camera car and a position car."

The movie has a "gearhead" following, and apparently, word had gotten around about Willingham's efforts to honor the film with his car work.

Last August in Bowling Green, Kentucky, Willingham had the attention of the movie's original car builder and Walt Bailey, one of the film's producers.

At that car show, the original movie car and Willingham's reproduction were a couple of hundred feet apart, but his display had everyone believing his vehicle was in the movie. Once the word got around, there were many pictures and handshakes, and Ruth autographed Willingham's car dash.

THE LOCAL FLAIR

Local car owners were showing several automobiles, and if you own a classic car or are thinking about purchasing one, you might want to think about seeking out the Granbury Car Cub or Piston Slingers. Both groups have pages on Facebook.

Russell@hcnews.com | 817-573-7066 ext. 231