All my life I have been around different motor sports and hot rods. I used to
tease that I was my father's "other" son since most girls would not go
outside and use a toothbrush to help clean an oil pan or even knew what a
tie rod end was or where it could be found. As I grew older my dad and I lived
in different states so my involvement has dwindled but the love is still there.








I was in my early 20's and in a situation where I needed another vehicle and my dad was going
to help me purchase one. We drove around in Southern California and looked at various car
lots trying to find that "one" car that really jumps out at you. He took me by a used car lot that
had a 1969 original pace car inside and I drooled at the bright white and orange convertible. My
dad made a comment that he wished he could get all of us kids a car like he did my brother. (My
brother was given a 1969 Mustang Mach 1 with a 351 Cleveland for his 16th birthday!) I asked
really? then go for it! We drove back to his house that moment. My search was over but had
just begun.

Several months later my dad called and told me the news I could only dream of receiving. He
had bought me a car. It was a white 1968 Camaro convertible. He pointed out that it was a four
speed and just a plain Camaro, no RS or SS package, but I did not care. I was lost. He wanted
me to look at it when I went out for vacation and decide if I really wanted it. There was no
decision to make. It was mine!







In September of 1994, I flew to California and was more excited to see my car for the first time
than I was my dad and brother. She was beautiful. She needed restoring but was in decent
shape. All I could say was yes yes yes! We started fixing her up the next day putting in new
carpet and interior. The body was in good shape but the motor leaked oil. Over the next year
my dad and his best friend Marty worked on her and got her ready to come to Oklahoma. She
pulled into my driveway on October 20, 1995, on the third attempt for my dad to bring her. I
remember this date because that was also the day my husband presented me with an
engagement ring and asked me to marry him. It was one of the best days of my life.

I drove her until May 1997. My dad was visiting from Texas (he had moved) and took her to
Oklahoma City while I went to work. I teased him to take his cell phone in case he broke down. I
got home early from work and my dad was not back. I asked my husband where he was and he
told me he broke down and was being towed home. I did not think the joke was funny but it was
no joke. A push rod had bent and the motor was making a terrible racket so he shut it down and
called for help. I awoke the next morning at 2 am and my dad was tearing into the motor. He
found the problem, put another one in, canceled his flight, and drove my baby to Texas. He
promised me he would rebuild the motor and fix a few other things and get it right back to me
asap.

Fast forward to now - 2008 - and my car is still at my dad's house being finished. He changed
his mind about what he wanted to do with it and added air conditioning. He took it down to the
frame and started from there improving and upgrading her without going to far away from the
classic car she was born to be. She is no longer 100% original but no less beautiful. Currently
she is having the paint stripped on weekends he has off and will get a new transmission before
she gets painted. She will get a new convertible top at the paint and body shop, going back to
white like she was originally. The blue paint will be darker than before and she will get two pearl
white stripes (patches) to match her Parchment interior.











I can't wait until she is done and I can cruise along side my dad in his 1969 Corvette Stingray
Convertible (I won't race him - he would win hands down!). My dad has spent a lot of frustrating
years with my car. We have had several deaths in the family and my dad works non-stop. He
travels more weeks than he is at home and usually spends his weekends mowing and doing
things around the house before he leaves again on Mondays. Sometimes money has been tight
and there is never enough time to get everything done. I wish we lived closer so I could help him
work on it. It has been said that life gets in the way and that is so true concerning my dad and
my car. I drive it every chance I get when I visit and I know my dad will finish it as he can. I can't
complain but I can dream.











This story and page is dedicated to my dad as much as to my car. Without my dad I not only
would not have my car but everything I own. My dad has unselfishly spoiled me and my kids
rotten. Saying thank you never seems enough so I decided to put it in words on my website. He
has been there for me every time I needed him and bent over backwards not just for me but my
brother and sister too. We don't know what we would have done without him. I have to be one of
luckiest girls in the world to have a father as great as him!
THANKS DAD!!!