Coffey Park man vows to bring back to life vintage Chevy damaged in wildfire
It took the building out back that served as his shop, along with all of his tools, racing memorabilia plastered on the walls, rare Schwinn Krate bikes and Hot Wheels collections, and the vintage cars he lovingly worked to restore over the years, including a 1967 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 427, 1962 Pontiac Grand Prix, and 1968 Corvette Roadster.
The fire tried to take his black 1956 Chevrolet 210 Gasser, too, but
As his wife doused their home with water from the garden hose, he quickly pulled the car out of his shop and parked it in the driveway -- giving it what he thought would be its best shot at surviving the oncoming blaze. The heat shattered the Gasser's windows, melted its headlamps and seriously damaged its paint job, but it made it.
That car, fire damage and all, was parked in
With a painted "Rising from the Ashes" sign perched on its windshield, the Johnsons' car was parked in the shade of a giant oak tree Sunday.
"That's a
"It was burned, but it wasn't burned so bad that I couldn't bring it back to life. ... I just love it."
The car, he said, tells its own story now.
Throughout the day, strangers walked up to ask about the Chevy, nicknamed "Ratso," and to share photographs they had taken of it in the past, recognizing it from previous car shows.
After taking stock of their losses,
They plan to be back in their home on
Until then, the husband and wife are living in their trailer, parked on property owned by
Ratso is living at his friend's shop. It took until this spring for
"I couldn't even look at it," he said. "I was depressed. I was distraught. ... To see it look like
About two months ago, he decided it was time. He replaced the rear tires and the engine. He rebuilt the carburetors and put in new seats and a new fuel system.
"I refuse to let it die," he said. "That's kind of who I am. I'm never going to give up."
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