Not sure if I mentioned this, but, this Chevelle is not the only car that's a GM that I'm working on.
I recently also took in an El Camino, a car that belongs to a former soldier of mine. I ended my time in the Army as a Platoon Sergeant at the Wounded Warrior Medical Hold Company here in San Antonio. One of my soldiers, and I had 40; all wounded from the war, and sent here for treatment/recovery struck me to my heart. You see, I had his name, and room number and I was new there, so, I made my rounds to meet these guys and gals, introduce myself etc. Well, I went into Nick's room, it was near 90 degrees as they keep it warm for burn victims, which he is one, what I saw was very shocking.
Nick lost both legs, and one arm was severely mangled up, plus he was burned over much of his body. I swallowed hard, remembering that my wife's ex husband and I were over there together, and he didn't make it back-and we were friends too-and spoke with SSG Nick, telling him who I am etc, and if there is anything I could do for him.
Well, he could not drink water, only juices, but he asked for Ice Cream, so, I got one from the nurse (she knew he wanted some, so she kept a stash) and I came back in and fed him Ice Cream. I was doing EVERYTHING to fight back tears as I was doing the BEST thing I could ever do for this guy, and ending my service to the USA by serving these wounded warriors! He apologized that he could not make formations and was wounded!
Needless to say, Nick took a special place in my heart and making a friendship with his father and uncle over many months of their visits to San Antonio was golden. Then, I find out his dad is/was a MOPAR dealer! Nick ordered a new 08 Ram 2500 Diesel for when he got better. It arrived, and it sat in the parking lot outside the hospital where he could see it, brand new, for months!
I heard chatter that Nicks El Camino was making it's way down here to TX, even rumors that Chip Foose and his TV show had hi-jacked this car to be resto-modded. However, this turned out to be a bust. I do know there were people angling to make this happen!
We have access to a shop here for the wounded guys to go and wrench on their cars as best they can given their handicaps, however, Nick is really dependent on others helping him out. I retired, lost track of Nick and many of the other soldiers, but, one day about 6 months ago I was at Youz Guyz a Philly Cheese-steak place here in town and this guy looked way familiar, had a new Black SRT-8 Challenger with Purple Heart license plate; another affinity with me as I too have a Purple Heart and this is also reflected in my PH plate...we all tend to notice one another!
Well, I went over to this guy and said "You look very familiar", he said the same thing, it was Nick! He had gained his weight back, looked very healthy and recovered compared to that ICU room he was in. We caught up, shot the smack for a while, I remembered he's from PA, so, eating a real Philly cheese steak was a slice of home for him, and me too as I lived in DE myself.
Well, we caught up, compared Challengers, ours w/ the V6, his with the 6.1, talked MOPARS for a while, then we talked about his El Camino. I went later with him to this shop the guys work at, and, in a corner sitting in a rotisserie mounted incorrectly was his El Camino needing work, and some attention. Nick wanted to get the underside media blasted, I looked at the car, and what he was told was the body was ready for paint; no way. Old primer, rusting doors, etc. So, I made Nick an offer that basically covers my expenses and gas money to do his whole car, but not a give-away price either; these guys don't want stuff for free, they want to get back into society and be treated fairly!
So, we agreed, I'm doing his El Camino, I know, I said after this Chevelle back to the MOPARS, but, this one I can't run from. I'm going to get him on the right track, car cleaned up, in self etch, and advise him on any metal work he will need post blasting.
Also, since he's a MOPAR guy, I'm going to take him (or he take me) over the Paintshop101 and see if Nick and they want to set up a build on his El Camino. Steve and them don't touch too often non-MOPAR stuff, but depending on how cool Nick wants it, perhaps they can make some music together -- which will be far better than it sitting in the corner at the shop mounted badly, and a healthy man could not even spin that car as it was mounted off balance - certainly Nick could not even begin to spin it!
But, there's always that dream that some TV hot rod show will hear about this Hero, This El Camino, and step up and take this car all cleaned up from the media blaster (me) towards a certain completion where Nick, his car, his injuries, etc can be showcased -- it would be a win-win for all parties!
Sorry to rant like this, just that this guy has too many similar connections to me to not elaborate. Oh yeah, his El Camino is on my rotisserie right now, spins super easy, and will be blasted maybe this coming week, or next.
It's a 1972, SS 350 4-speed. He's got to make it an automatic b/c of his handicaps.
