My grandpa always showed me classics growing up, so I became sort of a “old person” at a young age. I fell in love with classics even more when a neighbor stored his 54 Chevy in my aunts garage. I remember every time I went to visit her I would get to sit in it and feel all “retro.”
The body was only in pieces
It had no frame, which meant it was missing everything else.
My grandfather ran a salvage yard, so I am going though my stash of parts and finding things around the property that would fit the car, or I could customize to fit the car.
A sick friend of mine started about 20% of it and couldn’t finish so I talked him into selling it to me so I could let him see it completed.
I’m only 18 and just graduated
Essex motor vehicles were either exported as complete cars or locally-built from knock-down kits in many countries making the Essex marque well-known internationally as well as domestically. Essex vehicles were locally-built in Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa.
His original idea changed to what he has actually done, so, I thought that I would show his original with what is current and let you see the possibilities available when you take on a project.
The Guy Barnette Co. was one of Memphis’ “small 4 (Weller Bros., Barnette/Barnett, Comet/Pinner, and Memphis/Economy Coach)” professional car producers that flourished there in the 1940s-1960s.
I drew and built my frame. Everything was done at home in a 12′ x 24′ shed or out in the yard, weather permitting.
I wanted to do this project with the family to get my kids involved in the car scene
