advertisement

Car-crazy daughter has father to thank

Colleen Conway-McQuade grew up around classic cars, having been raised in a family that embraced and loved vintage vehicles. As the Arlington Heights resident progressed into her teens, she started to think about a having a cool, classic ride of her own.

They were readily available but she was adamant she "didn't just want a completed car handed to me."

"I wanted to really learn the ins and outs of a vehicle," said Conway-McQuade. "I wanted a firsthand experience and satisfaction of taking one apart and putting it back together."

She got that and much more when in 2003 she and her dad, John Conway, contacted a local owner of a tired and tattered 1969 Pontiac Firebird.

Over Thanksgiving weekend of that year, Colleen and her father went to go look at it. The seller had originally bought the vehicle new in Palatine for his wife. Over the next several decades, she used it regularly around town and also taught their three daughters how to drive in it.

Sometime in the 1990s, the Firebird was parked on the family's driveway, elevated on concrete blocks and covered with a tarp. The odometer read just 54,000 miles. Despite its nonuse status, the owner had faithfully started it up once a month for years.

The owner turned the key for Colleen and John. The engine fired right up. Colleen decided it was the one and they made the purchase.

Working around Colleen's school schedule, the father-daughter duo started overhauling the car during her Christmas break. Despite the tarp's protection, water had still puddled in places and rotted away some of the factory sheet metal. New quarter panels and fenders were installed.

Over the years, a colony of mice had taken up residency inside the cabin and had made quite a mess. The interior was thoroughly refreshed with new upholstery and carpeting. Other changes included adding front disc brakes and drop spindles, modern wheels and tires, and updating the radio.

The Pontiac was originally yellow with a black vinyl roof. Colleen and John spent a whole weekend perusing car dealerships up and down Golf Road, trying to find the perfect hue. They settled on GMC Denali White.

Knowing the Pontiac "wasn't going to be a race car" with its humble two-barrel, 350-cubic-inch V-8, minor tweaks were still needed on the engine. A new intake and carb were installed.

"With the low mileage and good condition, we didn't tear it (the engine) apart," John said.

Progress on the Pontiac project was delayed when Colleen moved away to college. Still, the pair worked diligently whenever she returned home. In 2007, the Firebird emerged complete.

"It was meant to be a quick and easy project," Colleen said. "It was worth it to put in the hard work in making it right and doing it myself."

Even the original owners, Joe and Phyllis Kramer, came out to inspect the progress.

"They really appreciated seeing their former Firebird back together and looking good," Colleen said.

The young enthusiast loves her muscle machine but enjoyed the family time getting it roadworthy far more.

"This build strengthened our already-strong relationship," she said. "I loved spending time with my dad working on the Firebird."

• Email comments, suggestions to auto@dailyherald.com.

Colleen Conway-McQuade of Arlington Heights and her father, John Conway, enjoyed the time they spent together restoring her 1969 Pontiac Firebird.
Conway-McQuade was still in high school when she began work on her vintage classic.
The Pontiac Firebird was originally a shade of yellow and had a black vinyl roof.
Conway-McQuade chose a GMC color, Denali White, for her Firebird.
The 1969 Pontiac retains its factory-original, 350-cubic-inch V-8.
A lot of work was required to restore the vehicle's interior.
Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.