I had been doing pinstriping and lettering with a custom painter named Dick Vale for about 16 years, so he was my inspiration for how I was going to paint it (LOTS of flames!). Dad showed up last June for my youngest daughter's graduation with the intention of putting gauges in and helping where he could. He thought I was still doing bodywork (I lied!) but I had built a paint booth in my garage and was ready to paint. He was sure I was painting it white again not knowing what I had in store!

He was floored when I told him he was helping me paint instead of the other stuff. We masked everything up and painted away. He had to leave before the blue got done, but he saw it a few months later and got to enjoy what he’d helped on.

Now it’s June, what seems like a zillion hours later
I’m almost ready to give him his car back!
Happy Fathers Day, Dad!