The Tale Of Two Blazers

After receiving the parts, Michael didn't rush the build process, working on the car one day a week or when he had any extra time. The job took 18 months to complete. Michael was aided by his neighbor, 9-year-old Kyle Mercier, who helped handle some of the larger jobs, such as hood alignment. The kits are pretty basic, and much of the original chassis, drivetrain, and cab section are left intact. The new nose went on, as did the rear fenders, plus a few new custom additions (visor, rear rolled pan, side mirrors, electric door openers, Euro taillights) Michael wanted after checking out advertisements in both KIT CAR and Truckin' magazines.

The bodywork done, it was off to Texas local Pio at B&A Auto Body and Paint in Dell Valley who, at first, didn't think the two-tone was going to work. He painted the delivery anyway, and was pleasantly surprised at how good the color combination looked when he was done! Since the delivery was in such good running shape (the electric door locks worked, as did the cruise control and air conditioning), the only things Michael still needs to address are the interior (the truck did have 217,000 miles on it when he bought it!) and a new stereo system.

But as for how it turned out, he couldn't be happier, and he drives it all the time (when he isn't driving his convertible). In fact, he calls his roadster his "good weather car" and the delivery the "bad weather car," as all he has to do is look out the window in the morning to figure out which car he is going to take! But Michael's car-building days aren't over-he's eying a Rodster pickup as a possible future project, but he's run out of garage space to build one. But like they say, where there's a will, there's a way, and we're confident if Michael wants another project, then we'll be seeing him driving it in the not-too-distant future!