Pumpkin patch paint jobs for your vehicle
When it comes to painting classics and hot rods, enthusiasts typically go for the tried-and-true colors like fire engine red, flat black or brilliant silver. That didn't scare off the owners of this crop of assembled machines who proudly display a seldom seen hue shades of Autumn-themed orange. As leaves change color and cooler temps roll in, feast your eyes on this collection of local pumpkin-inspired vehicles.
1969 Camaro SS/RS
Inverness resident Dan Woods cruised to high school in an orange 1969 Camaro just like the big block SS/RS he owns now of course not nearly as tricked out. The former was a humble Z/28 poser, sporting a base 2-barrel 327, automatic transmission, Cragar SS wheels and stripes that teenage Dan applied himself.
“When I created this new project, I set out to build the car I always wanted as a kid but could never afford,” laughs Dan. After purchasing it in 2006, the Chevy underwent an extensive two-year build, finally emerging like the track-day-fiend it is today.
As for the fate of the original Camaro?
“I drove it well into my college years, until one evening when I took it to the Mount Prospect movie theater to catch a Saturday night showing. I returned to the parking lot only to find the car stolen, never to be seen again. I went in to see ‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest,' and when I came out, the car had flown the coop!”
While it's hard to replace a childhood set of wheels, Dan's good nature stems from his current ride sporting components that are never found on a high-school machine, like top-notch four-wheel Wilwood disc brakes (hidden behind chrome 18-inch Boze wheels), Flowmaster exhaust and custom Arizen seats. In addition, Dan dropped the car like first-period Basketweaving 101, to a new height sitting two inches lower up front and three inches out back, resulting in a bad-boy stance that clearly deserves after-school detention or a good flogging on a road course.
1935 Plymouth truck
It makes sense that Jeff Rausa would reside in Wonder Lake, tearing up local roads in his 1935 Plymouth Truck as most of the area locals are left wondering, what the heck his stocky ride is. Starting life as a humble farm truck, this custom has since been relieved of any sort of rural duties and is now lightly saddled with a stubby bed, a tire-smoking Chevy 407 V-8 and has been drenched in a candy-corn orange paint resulting in a vehicle Rausa simply calls “Pumkin'-Nasty.”
With north of 550 horses on tap and 11.30 et's in the quarter-mile, this lightweight monster sure is nasty but not enough to stop Rausa from regularly driving it from his home to carpentry jobs that take him to work sites in places like Fox Lake, Schaumburg and even downtown in the Loop. Rausa has no plans to ditch this hard working jack-o'-lantern anytime soon in favor of a fuel-sipping commuter.
“If I didn't have a hot rod, it just wouldn't feel right!”
1960 Chevrolet Parkwood
Color inspiration can come from many different sources but for Ed Gardner and his 1960 Chevrolet Parkwood, it came while chowing down on a late night snack more on that later, but suffice it to say it involves puffed cheese curls and a certain soda flavor. After purchasing the dilapidated wagon from an owner in West Chicago, the Naperville resident wasn't sure it was good for anything other than demolition derby duty. Losing interest, the car sat neglected for two years while Ed juggled a hectic work and school schedule. Renewed motivation came by way of Ed's grandmother, Ginny.
“While visiting with her one afternoon, I happened to show her pictures of the derelict wagon. She took such an interest in the car, right there I determined that it had to be completed.” Working around the clock, Ed embarked on a nine-month overhaul, breathing new life into the massive classic. The humble stock 283 mill was put out to pasture, making way for a crate 383 stroker to be shoehorned in, letting out a respectable 400 horses to the rear wheels.
As for the bold color, Ed sprayed it on himself after that orange-themed midnight munchie craving. “While working on some dented bodywork late one night, I stopped to get something to eat. I grabbed a bag of Cheetos, washing them down with a Sunkist soda. Setting the can down on the primered hood, I stepped back and realized, ‘What a perfect color'!”
Ed completed the vehicle but not before his grandmother had a chance to see the finished rolling product. “Keeping this wagon on the road is my way of saying goodbye to her and preserving her memory,” says Ed. To serve as a constant reminder when he's out cruising, he had her name painted on the glove box door as a special tribute. (You'll also find Chester Cheeto keeping watch over the color he inspired from his custom airbrushed perch on the tailgate.)
1953 Ford F100
This 1953 Ford F100's color can be traced back three owners before the current holder of the keys: Lombard residents Brad and Cathy Penderson. Originally serving duty as a parts and errand truck for an Ohio transmission shop, it was coated in this eye searing orange to match the company's logo. Twelve years ago, they decided to part ways with their work mule and dropped the tired truck off at an area swap meet.
One of the Penderson's gear head friends had made the two-state trek to the meet and happened upon the Ford. His interest was piqued when he learned that Chip Foose's father had applied the flames that are licking up the hood. He promptly nabbed it and brought it back to the Chicago area, showing it first to Cathy's father. Taking a sudden interest in it, the truck exchanged hands again, and the senior Penderson happily commandeered it for the next six years. With health failing, the keys were swapped again, this time to his daughter and her hot-rod husband.
The first order of business was putting this '53 on a chrome diet, removing the bulky rear bumper, badges and trim and frenching the taillights. The next thing was to get the engine running right. In true Frankenstein form, a scary transplant had been made at some point in this truck's history, before Penderson's ownership. Undoubtedly causing Henry Ford to turn over in his grave, the factory powerplant has been excised and now underhood lies a worn-out Chrysler 318.
“We freshened it up the best we could and it runs but its not staying. Once the warm weather rolls around again, I've got plans for a proper engine set up,” says Brad.
With twin turbos on the horizon, you can be sure this once rusty parts-mobile will not only be hauling tools and supplies but also hauling down the quarter mile.
1968 Dodge Charger
Eleven-year old Amber Adrianson is not your typical preteen girl. Not only can she spot and name classics on the road, she's got her eyes set on her mom's 1968 Dodge Charger as the first car that she'll be piloting to high school in a couple years. The orange Mopar was purchased in 2001 by Monica Adrianson as a creative way to bond with her daughter. She even had a custom ‘4 AMBER' plate made to tell all the purpose of the vehicle.
“I was looking for a fun way to do something with Amber. I've always been into cars and didn't just want to introduce her to only ‘girlie things',” says Monica who might be one of the coolest moms around, coming from a background of owning Camaros and Mustangs. Not wanting to overload her daughter with too much horsepower and vintage muscle, Monica lugged a portable television, movies and games to their first car show together, but soon realized, Amber preferred to walk the lot, scoping out the other vintage machines.
With plans for the 383 to be swapped out for a stroker 440 and assuming Amber gets her way, you can be sure she won't be late for those early morning classes.