We all do different things over summer. I worked.
I took every job that I could. I saved up my money and spent my last real summer saving up for something I have been striving to get for the last several years of my life.
After working so hard all summer, I have reached my goal and am the proud owner of one 1957 Chevy Bel Air. That’s a lot to say at my age. I saved up and bought my own car with no help from anyone.
On our family vacation to Spokane, we met my aunt’s boyfriend. He showed us around his shop and introduced me to my new car. Its faded salmon exterior glistened in the mid-afternoon light. The fading paint shown rust through and the metallic trim was dulled by years of neglect.
I opened the door and sat down on the ripping vinyl seat, rubbing my hand across the black dash and examining the little things that made the car so unique. The chrome-plated tube radio, the style of the instruments, and the craftsmanship of the steering wheel. Every element of this classic beauty screamed style.
The car came from a time when the post-war economy boom was in full effect and everything was made with style and finesse. Careful consideration was poured into every detail and the car was made with substance.
He said he was trying to sell it, but no bites yet. I asked if I could buy it and he said no, it was too much of a project and just an old four-door. But I saw it and I knew I had to have it. I knew it was meant to be mine and that someday it would be, so, I made it happen. I bothered him about it and finally convinced him to hold it for me until I had the money.
At that point I had nothing, not a dime to my name. It was at that point I started to work and save to get my new car. Just over a month later, I made it happen.
Everything needs to be done. The rusting old paint will need to be stripped and redone, the interior will need to be made completely new, and everything will have to be mechanically gone through before it is done. Lucky for me, my dad worked in a body shop as a professional painter for eight years, then went on to be a mechanic for the last 15; the only thing that he cannot do is the interior. It is going to be a great thing for us to do together.
It was not a runner. It had been just over 20 years since it last hit the road. My father and I determined that the engine was bad and we got another one that we will be putting in soon. I have all new brake parts on order that should get here soon and, optimistically, it will be back on the road by this weekend.
Of course, I have already done a considerable amount of work. We replaced the front control arms, rebuilt the carburetor, and I dug the studs out of the tires; that was a big job.
It is already licensed and ready to go. So much work and effort is so close to paying off. It won’t be long now before I am able to finally take her for a drive. After a whole summer of work, I have accomplished more than I could have imagined in such a short time.
It’s going to take a long time before the project is over. When it is done it will be blue with a white top, white wall tires, and a vintage Coca Cola cooler in the trunk.
— Kyler Lacey is a senior at Kingston High School. A Running Start student, he will graduate in June with a diploma and an associate’s degree from Olympic College.
