Not All Quick Detailers are Created Equal by Todd Burek

Well finally it is the best time of year, at least as far as car enthusiasts are concerned it is, and if you are anything like me when that first warm spring day came along you quickly peeled the cover off your car then cleaned and waxed it and drove off for a cruise. Then a problem arose - we live in Michigan and it became cold again. So, unfortunately the cover went back on your classic for a few more weeks anyway. Now you are ready to bring your car out for the season and you really don’t need to nor do you want to wax your entire car again so what should you do? The simple answer is to use a quick detailer like Jax Wax’s Body Shine. Be careful though, not all quick detailers are created equal.

The great thing about a quick detailer like Body Shine is explained right in the name quick detailer. It is fast and easy and it cleans and shines as if you just cleaned and waxed your car. When you have classic cruising cars or show cars that never see the elements or the inside of a car wash you don’t need to wax them 2-3 times a year because the wax lasts much longer. That is why a product like a quick detailer is great. You can quickly use it for dusting off when you are ready to leave your garage or that quick clean up of road grime that was picked up on the way to the cruise night or a show. We have all been sitting at a lawn show or a cruise in and encountered fingerprints, water spots, fresh tree sap or bird droppings ending up on our cars finish. This is when a quick detailer like Body Shine is ideal. You don’t want to carry an entire suitcase of products to quickly clean your classic so you just spray a little on and wipe off what ever is on your finish. It is that easy. Body Shine is great for restoring that “pop” to your paint. Jax Wax’s Body Shine is safe and effective and all paint types and graphics and can even be used to clean chrome and glass with out smearing or streaking. That is where you have to be careful because not all quick detailers can make that claim.

Only a few years ago quick detailers were hard to find and were not proven to be safe on your vehicles finish. Times have changed and now technology in automotive paint and finish care has caught up. So don’t be afraid to use a product like Jax Wax’s Body Shine. It helps take the work out of taking care of your classic and helps you to spend more time enjoying your car and less time getting it ready.

To learn more about the Jax Wax Family of car care products or to ask questions about maintaining your vehicles interior and finish feel free to visit Signorello Distribution, LLC, Authorized Michigan Distributor of Jax Wax Products, at www.signorellodist.com.

Todd Burek is Vice President of Signorello Distribution, Authorized Distributors of Jax Wax Products, 35740 Hawthorne Dr., Clinton Twp. MI 40835 Voice - 586.604.2078 Fax – 586.790.8422. He is also a columnist for The Cruis’ News, The Publication for All Car Buff’s.

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Buffing Tips from Jax Wax To Get the Most Out of Your Paint and Finish by Todd Burek

With the Autorama and ISCA Show season kicking off activity will be at fever pitch in garages and shops all around the Detroit area and the country for that matter. Car owners and builders invest considerable time, money and effort in designing, planning and preparing cars to show. However, people still undervalue the products and techniques used in getting automotive paint and finish to look its best. Undoubtedly a sizable portion of your car building funds and probably a large part of car building time was put in body and paint work and that is the first impression that people and judges will get about your car. So, to help everyone here are some tips and ideas for you to ensure you get the most out of your body and paintwork.

REDUCING SWIRL

One thing we are asked time and time again is how to reduce or eliminate swirl marks in paint. The first thing we recommend is applying Jax Wax’s Swirl Remover Swirl Remover is safe and effective for all multi-stage and clear coat finishes and it works exceptionally well on dark colors and shades of red. It leaves a brilliant high gloss and will not only remove swirls, but also micro-scratches and light oxidation. Swirl Remover also contains Carnauba to add durability for your everyday car and to enhance shine. The following are buffing techniques to use to prevent and reduce swirl marks:

· Minimize swirl by keeping pads clean. Wash and air dry occasionally. Soak foam pads in warm water and ring dry. 

· Keep pads separate. 

· Match the right pad to the right polishing material. Save time by spot buffing a small area and check results. Experiment with the least aggressive and work up to the most aggressive, if needed. 

· Lower RPMs means less friction, less friction means less heat buildup. Try to stay between 1750-2400 RPM when compounding and between 1400-1750 RPM when finishing.

BUFFING TECHNIQUES

As mentioned earlier the first thing judges and spectators see about your car is the paint finish and quality and that is preparation of this aspect of your car is vital. Here are a few buffing techniques to help get the most out of your paint:

· Paint preparation is vital, not only to the outcome, but to the ease of buffing as well. Give the car a good wash using an automotive specific car wash soap like Jax Wax’s Super Suds and utilize a clay preparation bar to clean the surface of contaminates. 

· Work buffer right to left over bead of polish and/or compound. Start slightly on edge then finish flat. Working smaller areas, keep your pace uniform and in "rhythm". Don’t buff in circular motions. That helps contribute to swirl marks. 

· Let the weight of the buffer and polish do most of the work. Don't wear yourself out. Work with the buffer, not against it. Keep the buffer in motion to avoid burning. 

· Work the car from right to left and don't follow the wheel lip moldings, you will turn the buffer upside down and eat the cord. 

· Watch for pad grabbers like antennas, windshield wipers and emblems. The cautious approach is the best approach, mask or remove where possible. Have you ever seen a windshield wiper fly? 

· Avoid or mask rubberized body side moldings, you can burn them or stain them. 

· Avoid edges by masking or working parallel with the buffer wheel. Work close but not over unless you have a good touch.

SAFETY

One aspect in any car building or preparation project that should never be left out or cut short is safety. The following are a couple of ideas to remember to prevent hurting yourself or others around you: 

· Use approved implements for elevating yourself. Five gallon buckets and cheap step ladders can tip or slide on slick pavement, especially when there's a lot of tire dressing on the ground. 

· Wear eye protection 

· Use a spur to clean your pads, not sharp objects like screwdrivers, etc. 

· Keep electrical tools away from standing water 

· Stay within recommended RPMs when buffing

Todd Burek is Vice President of Signorello Distribution, Authorized Distributors of Jax Wax Products, 35740 Hawthorne Dr., Clinton Twp. MI 40835 Voice - 586.604.2078 Fax – 586.790.8422. He is also a columnist for The Cruis’ News, The Publication for All Car Buff’s.

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Hot Rods and Cool Mods at the Chrysler Museum by Todd Burek

I know that I have said this before but it is certainly well worth repeating – If you are into cars and their history, as well as, their impact on our culture there is certainly no better place to live than in Detroit. Not only is this the automotive capital of the world but to see the impact cars have on our culture all you have to do is travel across the Detroit Metropolitan area on any given evening in the summer and you can see literally dozens of classic and vintage car shows or cruises and you will never see the exact same car twice. Nowhere else in the world can make that claim. Also, nowhere else can claim the largest single day automotive event in the world, The Woodward Dream Cruise. Detroit sure can. For those reasons and so many more this is the greatest area for car buffs and aficionados to live but we also have some of the finest automotive museums in the country right here in our own backyard.

Sure there are wonderful model of car specific museums around the country but none that trace the history and rise of each automaker and the history of the automobile industry as a whole like we have in the Greater Detroit Area. In Flint we have the Sloan Museum and Buick Gallery. The Sloan Museum chronicles General Motor’s lineage and their rise to being the world’s largest automaker and also focuses on examples of the Buick nameplate and certainly no list could ever omit the Henry Ford in Dearborn that traces the pioneering spirit and ingenuity of Henry Ford and how he was the first to really put the auto industry on the map. But, there is another museum jewel in our area that is just as deserving of a visit and it is located on the beautiful grounds of the DaimlerChrysler Headquarters in Auburn Hills – The Walter P. Chrysler Museum.

The Walter P. Chrysler Museum has 3 wonderful floors of Chrysler automotive history on display. The classic vehicles are intermingled with interactive displays that help explain the story of how Walter P. Chrysler built his namesake company and the contributions it has made to automotive design, history and culture. Currently the museum is hosting a wonderful exhibit called “Hot Rods and Cool Mods” that runs through August 20th. The exhibit encompasses more than two dozen exquisitely crafted, exotic vehicles – spanning 70 years – that showcase the past, present and future of the customization hobby. This collection of hot rods, rat rods, resto-rods, tuners and blinged vehicles salutes the Chrysler designs that have inspired enthusiast personalization, as well as the creativity of MOPAR enthusiasts and the many ways they’ve enhanced their vehicles over the years. This is also a rotating exhibition so if you have seen it before I guarantee that there are different vehicles there now.

For example there is a 1948 Chrysler Hemi New Yorker Convertible owned and built by Ed Micol of Waterford. This beautiful Hot Rod features frenched head and taillights, shaved rear fenders, power steering, power brakes, power windows and air conditioning. It is also powered by a mid-60’s 426 Hemi motor that, because of the craftsmanship, appears slid into place. The exhibit also has a 1936 Plymouth Sedan owned by Vicki Ford that is the embodiment of a hot rod. Everything from the filed roof line to the custom bumpers and ghost flamed paint to the 340 cubic inch V8 motor. Both of these Hot Rods are incredible customized street rods that have to be seen to really be appreciated. The time, passion and craftsmanship that went into creating these vehicles really is truly remarkable.

For all you muscle car lovers you won’t be disappointed either. The exhibit hosts a 1965 Coronet Factory Super Stock car; a 1970 Charger R/T that was completely rebuilt with modification parts that were only available when the car was new and a 1972 Dodge Challenger X that is a modern day interpretation of the classic that still retains the lines that made the car so desirable and famous just to name a few. Oh and by the way, there is also a 1967 Dodge Dart GT Custom that is owned by Frank Burek and his son Todd on display. Hmmm, that Todd guy sure sounds familiar. Anyway, Mike Signorello built the Dart back in 1991 and it was bought by Frank and Todd 3 years ago. The car features a 30 over 440 with custom bent fender well headers, fiberglass hood and bumpers, 727 automatic with cheetah shifter and a strengthened 411 rear end. These cars are just the tip of the iceberg though. Moving into the exhibit the end of May will be the 1970 Sox and Martin Super Stock Cuda driven by Mr. Four Speed himself the late Ronnie Sox. This beautiful tri-colored Cuda will be on display for everyone to enjoy and help celebrate the memory of one of the great names in Super Stock racing history. The museum will also add in late May the original Rapid Transit System Duster. A collector in California owns all of the original Rapid Transit System cars and rarely if ever lets them out. Fortunately for all of us he is lending the Duster to the museum for this exhibit.

The “Hot Rods and Cool Mods” display is only one part of the Walter P. Chrysler Museum. As I mentioned before there is three floors to the museum and they each feature cars that span the decades of Chrysler History. They also have on exhibit some examples of World War II fighting machines that Chrysler Corporation built to aid in the war effort. The museum also boasts a 125-seat theatre that features three continuously running features including “Speed and Power”. A film which illustrates the Chrysler Corporation’s contributions to the Muscle Car Era.

If you get a chance to stop by and visit the Walter P. Chrysler Museum you won’t be sorry. It a world class historical venue with rare and exquisite pieces of automotive history that you simply will not find anywhere else. A great chance to stop by is June 10th. The Chrysler Employee Motorsports Association (CEMA) Club will host its annual car show on the grounds of the museum. It is open to all makes and models of cars and motorcycles. Bring your own Hot Rod or Cool Mod and come check out the museum and its pieces. If you have and questions or inquiries or need directions feel free to visit the Chrysler Museum online at www.chryslerheritage.com or call (248) 944-0001. To learn more about the CEMA show visit them online atwww.cemaclub.org.

Todd Burek is Vice President of Signorello Distribution, Authorized Distributors of Jax Wax Products, 35740 Hawthorne Dr., Clinton Twp. MI 40835 Voice - 586.604.2078 Fax – 586.790.8422. He is also a columnist for The Cruis’ News, The Publication for All Car Buff’s.

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Paint and Finish Maintenance- If It is Too Good To Be True, It Is by Todd Burek

As many of you may already know the National Car Care Council some time ago named the month of April as “Car Care Awareness Month”. As many of you also know I am one of the owners of Jax Wax and car care and vehicle maintenance is something, just as all car buff’s, something that is near and dear to my heart. Unfortunately, even in this day and age, many people still don’t feel that washing and especially waxing a vehicle is all that important when in fact it is one of the most important things you can do to help preserve and enhance your cars paint and finish. Too often this process is overlooked during regular automotive maintenance and that can have a direct effect on not only your cars appearance and resale value but your cars overall performance. People seem to have misconceptions about modern paint processes and chemicals, like clear coat, and feel that these processes make paint and finish care a thing of the past. Well my friends just as our parents taught us – If it is too good to be true, then it probably is. You still need to wash and wax your vehicle not only to keep it looking great but also to maintain the durability and protection that the paint and clear coat provide.

Over the past decade, car manufacturers have developed different paint systems to improve durability. In the 1980's domestic cars had conventional finishes, that is, a pigmented enamel coat on top of the primer. Today, 96% of all new cars have a base coat/clear coat finish, which is comprised of a thin color coat covered by a clear acrylic or enamel urethane coat. This clear coat finish is only 2 mils thick and that is about the thickness of an ordinary plastic trash bag. Daily wear and tear on a car's clear coat finish may leave it with swirl marks or signs of oxidation. To the eye, it means a dull and hazy looking appearance. This is sometimes referred to as "clear coat haze." There are other environmental factors that bombard a car's paint and cause erosion. Things like sunlight, UV radiation, acid rain, salt, dirt, and air pollution. To prevent damage and ill effects to your vehicles paint and finish frequent washing (once a week) and vehicle waxing (once every 6 months) are recommended not only by Jax Wax but also by the Car Care Council. More frequent waxes are needed if your car is red, black or white because these colors are more susceptible to acid rain and UV rays. These are small steps that can go a long ways towards protecting your investment. Keeping your vehicle consistently clean clears away the buildup of damaging chemicals and dirt that may attack your car's finish.

One of the most critical times to wash your vehicle is immediately after a rainfall because of the ill effects of acid rain. Even though the water evaporates, the acid stays behind and can eat into your vehicle's finish. While you may not be able to prevent acid rain, you can stop its damaging effects with preventative and frequent washing and waxing.

If you drive on muddy roads, consider an undercarriage treatment every time you wash your car. Undercarriage treatments, offered by most car washes, remove caked-on mud that holds moisture to metal and causes rust and body rot around hard to reach underbody areas like wheel wells.

A foreign material like tar and tree sap can stain newer paint finishes. The longer these sit on the car's surface, the more difficult they become to remove and the more likely they are to cause permanent damage. You should use a product like Jax Wax’s Body shine to remove the tree sap immediately before any lasting damage is done to your finish.

Jax Wax’s cleaners, waxes and polishes, just as other high end products, serve three purposes - cleaning a car's finish, improving the shine, and protecting the surface against the offensive effects of foreign materials. Most waxes and polishes contain very mild cleaning agents; along with shine ingredients, lubricants and waxes. All of the ingredients safely work together to renew that showroom-new look to your vehicle with out leaving smears or residue and, since regular waxing and polishing also sets up a protective barrier against hostile attacks from the environment, your vehicle's appearance will be protected for years to come.

The time spent cleaning your vehicle is an investment in its health and beauty. If anyone has any vehicle paint or finish questions or would like some tips to clean and detail like the pros please feel free to email me atTodd@signorellodist.com or give us a call at 586.604.2078.

Todd Burek is Vice President of Signorello Distribution 35740 Hawthorne Dr., Clinton Twp. MI 40835 Voice - 586.604.2078 Fax – 586.790.8422. He is also a columnist for The Cruis’ News, The Publication for All Car Buff’s.

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The Best Thing About Classic Cars by Todd Burek

I had my car on display at Autorama this year, this was a first for me, and I was sitting with the group that my car was on display with and I began looking around and thinking. Thinking about all the fun everyone was having looking at all the beautiful cars, and every car down there this year was gorgeous, swapping stories about the old days and cars they once owned and creating a lot of new stories about the old days and cars they once owned but, what I really began to wonder about was – what is the best thing about owning and being around classic cars? Then I looked a little closer at the group of people I was with and the people walking around and it dawned on me. It is simply family.

Everything about the Autorama and being around classic cars revolves around family. I looked at my display group alone and everyone there was with their families. Don Petco was there with his son Matt who had his car on display for the first time, Joe Jacobs had his car on display and he had his nephews and daughters down there with him, as well as, his brother Gary and Kevin Sobelewski (sorry Kevin if I misspelled your name) was there with his wife and son all weekend long. Then I looked beyond my display and saw all of the fathers and sons walking around and the fathers pointing out their “first cars” to their sons and bragging about them and in a lot of cases three generations of a family walking around together for a nice afternoon. Seeing all the families together did make me a little sad though. My two year old Christian and 11 month old daughter Isabella were home sick with the flu all weekend with my wife so I could not enjoy the show with them. Fortunately however, I did have my father-in-law Mike Signorello with me the entire time helping to display my car and answering all my questions. I certainly could not have had a car in Autorama with out him – Thanks again dad.

The example of my family is just a microcosm of what went on all over Autorama and at all shows. Fathers and sons, and more often nowadays fathers and daughters, building, showing and cruising in the cars they have spent so much time and effort on and that does not seem happen with a lot of other hobbies. It is probably because cars are such an important part of our lives and are as American as apple pie and baseball. We can all chronicle every car our parents owned and every option the car had on it. Everyone can describe every aspect of the cars that our parents drove when they forced us on those grueling road trip summer vacations but chances are we don’t remember much about the vacations themselves. That is why today classic cars are so important to and such a part of our families and why we spend so much time together with our families and cars; it is a way to connect our children to our past in a fun and exciting way.

If you stop and take a look at the people at car cruises or shows of any kind and it does not matter if it is The Woodward Dream Cruise, Autorama or Continental Lanes you see families all around you sharing some time together. That tells you what connection all of us have with this hobby and how cars have resonated with all of us through time. Fads may come and go but if you look at how passionate people are from all walks of life and backgrounds are about cars and how cars have transcended the generations you will see that the most important thing about classic cars is – Family.

Todd Burek is Vice President of Signorello Distribution, Authorized Distributors of Jax Wax Products, 35740 Hawthorne Dr., Clinton Twp. MI 40835 Voice - 586.604.2078 Fax – 586.790.8422. He is also a columnist for The Cruis’ News, The Publication for All Car Buff’s.

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The 35th Barrett – Jackson Auction: Car Guys Reality Must See T.V. by Todd Burek

Surely, 69 million viewers can’t be wrong. The 35th Barrett-Jackson Auction was held January 17-22 live from Scottsdale Arizona and it is the car guys must see reality T.V.! This year Speed Channel expanded its coverage (just for all of us gear heads that could not get enough) to all six-auction days for a total of 32 hours of live coverage. And boy what a ride the auction was this year. It seemed like everything that happened was record setting. From the fact that six vehicles sold for more than a million dollars, to the total sales of the auction, the attendance, and the mass amount of space the auction took up. It was incredible and I had a wonderful opportunity to be in Scottsdale for all the action and excitement.

Back in December my father called asking if I would be interested in spending a long 4 day weekend with him in Arizona to see the auction. Well, it took all of two seconds for me to make that decision – let’s go! In case you were wondering it was well worth it. I can now see why Motor Trend Magazine named the Scottsdale auction one of the top five things that all car guys must do before they die right behind the Woodward Dream Cruise. Please forgive the local bias. As I was on the flight to Phoenix I was thinking about the auction and wondering a few questions that I’m sure any other avid Barrett-Jackson fan has wondered. Who is the Barrett half of the name and why do we never see that person? How did the auction come to be so famous? So I did some investigating while I was there. The story goes like this. 

Back in 1960 co-founders Tom Barrett and Russ Jackson both moved their families to Scottsdale Arizona. Ironically, the Jackson’s operated Russ’ Country Store in Pontiac Michigan for years before they left. Doesn’t it seem that everything has a Michigan connection. Anyway, Russ opened a full service car wash in Scottsdale and continued with his hobby of car collecting. Tom Barrett was actively engaged in buying, selling and restoring classic cars in Scottsdale so it seemed inevitable that they would meet.

A few years later in 1969 the two organized a car auction to raise money for the local library called the “Fiesta del los Auto Elegantes”. After the success of that endeavor the first Barrett-Jackson auction was orchestrated and it truly was a Barrett-Jackson production because nearly half of the cars up for auction were owned by Tom and Russ including a headlining pair of 770 Mercedes-Benzes owned by Tom Barrett. The tale continues to say that word of the cars reached Roger Mudd at the ABC News office in New York and he did a feature of the auction and the cars on the ABC Evening News and the cars sold for a whopping $153,000, which was a record for the time. Adjusting for inflation that would be $727,000 today. After that they say the rest is history. In 1971 the auction brought in a total of $650,000. Most of the cars were what we today would call good drivers. Model A’s, Woodies and inexpensive restorations. But, out in the parking lot the cars everyone drove to the auction would set the stage for years to come. In the parking lot were the Hemi Cuda’s, Chevelle’s, Corvettes and Camaro’s that everyone is coveting today. Then in 1996 after both Craig’s father and Tom Barrett retired and passed away and his brother’s untimely death from cancer Craig Jackson assumed sole responsibility for the auction.

Let’s fast forward to the last couple of years and the unimaginable numbers that the auction brings. In 2004 sales set a record of over 38 million dollars and then exploded in 2005 for over 61 million dollars, headlined by that 3 million dollar Oldsmobile F-88 concept car that we all remember, and that isn’t anything. This year total sales were more than 100 million dollars. Unimaginable! Including a 4 million dollar GM Parade of Progress Bus, 3 million dollar Pontiac 1954 concept car, 2.2 million dollar 1970 Hemi Cuda Convertible, a 1.2 million dollar Chevelle LS6 convertible and a gorgeous 1968 Super Stock Yellow Hemi Dart once owned by local legend Lou Mancini went for $300,000 just to name a few. Sorry, I know the Dart did not crack the million mark but, for those who know me Dart’s are near and dear to my heart. Here are a few more numbers. If you watched on television you probably saw how crowded it looked. Especially on Friday and Saturday, and let me tell you it was. They had over 225,000 people attend representing all 50 states and 14 different countries.

If your not a high end buyer and can’t afford to drop six figures to buy a car at the auction like me don’t worry. This is also one of the best car shows you will ever see with over 1100 of the best cars in the world representing all era’s, makes and models. You can walk right up to the vehicles and give them a complete look over. Outside you won’t find any roped off areas stopping you from getting up close. Most of the sellers are right near the cars so you can ask them all the questions you want. The overwhelming majority of people attending are just there to see some beautiful cars and experience the excitement of the auction, so don’t think only buyers and sellers attend. The best thing to do at the auction is to just reminisce about the cars you once owned and dream of the cars you want to buy - and doing that is a whole lot easier when it is sunny and 70 degrees.

If you are afraid that you can’t spend that much time at the auction there are other activities. Both Chrysler and Ford have on display their current lines of vehicles. Ford even had a’06 Mustang GT drag race simulator in which you sat in timed the tree and slammed the gears. Also, Chrysler had a make shift road course where you can put one of their current vehicles to the test. In another of the large enclosed tents Barrett-Jackson had over 350 vendors selling everything from car products to jewelry to clothing. And don’t forget Arizona has some of the most breathtaking scenery of any state in the country and it’s only a stones throw from Scottsdale.

If you have to inclination to attend the Barrett-Jackson Auction, whether in West Palm Beach or in Scottsdale, absolutely go. I had an amazing time. There were certainly enough gorgeous cars to look at. So many that you probably won’t even see them all. There was plenty of drama and excitement in the bidding and most importantly, as I mentioned before, sun and 70 degree temperatures. You sure can’t get that back here in January.

For gear heads and novices Barrett-Jackson is the ultimate playground offering anything and everything imaginable. Remember, what you drive into the parking lot today might be a million dollar car tomorrow. If you would like to see photos from the auction feel free to email me atTodd@signorellocement.com and I would be happy to send them to you.

Todd Burek is Vice President of Signorello Distribution 35740 Hawthorne Dr., Clinton Twp. MI 40835 Voice - 586.604.2078 Fax – 586.790.8422. He is also a columnist for The Cruis’ News, The Publication for All Car Buff’s.

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A New Appreciation by Todd Burek

Just like everyone I have watched the “Reality Television” car building shows that are all the rage on cable television that have made their stars like Chip Foose and Boyd Coddington household names. I have sat in my recliner week after week watching them take a junkyard relic and make it into a Riddler Award winner or into a six-figure sale. They make it look so seemingly effortless like the only problems they have are interpersonal or scheduling the build process. It almost seems that building the car and finding parts that are good and fit is the easy part and the people involved are the hard part. Well, I suppose you saw in the first sentence I put the words reality television in quotes, that’s because these shows are not real. As a matter of fact they really could not be farther from reality. They are actually carefully scripted and stages so you are seeing the build process through the eyes of a director and producer and not hour-by-hour or day-by-day as it is happening. Now, I know building a car is not easy. Like most of us I am not naïve enough to think a car can be built from the ground up in 2 – 3 hours but, I never really understood the intricacies of a car build until I watched my father-in-law Mike Signorello take on the personal challenge of building a custom 1970 Dodge Super Bee basically from scratch.

First off I can’t give him or anyone with the skill, knowledge and patients that it takes to build a car from the ground up enough credit or respect. Whether you do this for a living or you have a day job and design and build for the passion of it I tip my hat to all of you. I am doing my best to help him where I can (that really means trying to stay out of the way) to learn and develop my own car knowledge. I never completely realized the time and effort it really takes to build a car especially when you get a car completely disassembled and on a rotisserie and a vast majority of the parts are missing. I guess if everything were there where would the fun be. Now this car is not his first build, far from it actually. He has been doing this for over 30 years but as everyone knows each one is different and produces its own set of unique problems. As I mentioned before a sizable chunk of the parts for this car were missing so he has spent countless hours searching every avenue possible to find the little parts and components that are needed. The process of accumulation of parts really has bogged down the build process and for some reason you never see Boyd or Chip at swap meets or on Ebay searching for anything do ya. Because I am relatively new at car building part knowledge really impresses me. To look at a part and know what it is, where it goes and what other pieces it needs to function properly is amazing and certainly a knowledge base I am working on. But when you get started putting things together and realize something else vital is missing and that forces you to stop midstream is certainly frustrating. Beyond that the skills that really fascinate me and boggle my mind are when he fabricates his own parts and they work perfectly like they came from a cast that has been used a hundred times before.

We were at his shop the other day and I am watching him work on some brackets for the rear end of the car and the steering column. The brackets were close to what he wanted but not quite so what do you do – get the acetylene torch and heat them up to bend them to the right shape. Exactly what I would do except I would probably blow myself and have of the City of Fraser up in the process. Outside of killing myself that step alone would probably take me hours and for him it took just minuets. After that we move on to the steering column that needs to have a few custom changes. He walks over and gets the grinder and cuts a little off here and some more off there and them smoothes out the cuts to a perfect flat feel. To me, simply amazing. A day or two after this my wife, kids and I went to his house and he showed me how he utilized the parts that he fabricated the other day. By George they all worked and fit perfectly. Again I am in awe.

As you may have gotten the idea by now when it comes to do it yourself projects I am probably not the guy you want to call, yet. That is exactly why I am floored to watch him create brackets, bend lines, and drill the perfect hole in the perfect spot without hurting the beautiful paint and bodywork on this car. I am one of those people who can’t draw a straight line with a ruler so, to design and plan out things like fuel and brake lines then bend and shape them and have everything work out like you planned – priceless. I haven’t even begun to tackle at my astonishment of how he talked the hurdles of engine, transmission and interior which are all also custom. This all brings me back to my original point of the time, patients and skill involved in building a car from the ground up. I never had a total grasp of the whole project but I certainly do now. I am an eager learner and assistant. I am just trying to soak up as much as I can so I can hopefully do a project like this and have some moniker of success. We all have to start somewhere and as far as I know there is not anyone who is born knowing how to do much of anything little lone how to completely build a custom show car. So to all of you with the skill and know how you have my utmost respect and admiration and hopefully someday I will be able to join your ranks. Until I get to that point though I will continue to admire all your hard work and ideas.

Todd Burek is Vice President of Signorello Distribution 35740 Hawthorne Dr., Clinton Twp. MI 40835 Voice - 586.604.2078 Fax – 586.790.8422. He is also a columnist for The Cruis’ News, The Publication for All Car Buff’s.

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