Don's 57 Chevy Restoration

Co-organized

Cory Spindler and Jessica Spindler are organizing this fundraiser.

Donation protected

9/13/23 UPDATE:

ONLY THREE MONTHS TO GO, BEFORE THE BIG 6-0!

Thank you to everyone who has donated already. Because of you, we are off to a tremendous start! Dad has been working hard and making good progress, and as far as we know, has no idea about this gift. Nothing about this comes easy. His patience and attention to detail are crazy. Costs have increased so much over the last few years and supply chain/shipping issues are beyond description, but he perseveres. There are lots of little things yet to be done (tweaking, adjusting, adding trim), but also some pretty big stuff. The convertible top, upholstery and wheels/tires are some big ticket items that he will be needing soon.
We are going to be adding some new pictures real soon, so that you can see his progress. In the mean time, here is one, and a quote from a fellow enthusiast. His words are a direct reflection of what it takes to keep this craft alive, and how our dad feels about saving this piece of American history.

"This hobby is not for the meek hearted, sprinter type. This is a long distance marathon that you develop a relationship with your car, and learn more about yourself that you ever would if you didn't attempt it. The joy is when you get done with it, be it 2 years or 20, realizing the fact that YOU MADE THAT CAR! You did it, learned about a vehicle, its history and became part of that history. That is the medal you receive when you cross the finish line of that marathon!

Good luck, and I hope I didn't scare you on this journey. It is a great one.....believe me!!"

Help us to help get our Dad to the finish line!

Our dad (Donnie) has been an avid classic car enthusiast all his life and is dedicated to keeping the hobby and craft alive. His dream has always been to own and restore a 1957 Chevy Convertible.

About 20 years ago, he found his project. We brought this beauty home from Ohio, and he has been working on the frame-off restoration ever since. He has spent countless hours in our garage, as time and money permitted. There have been so many obstacles to overcome and have slowed the progress. 32 years of military service, deployments, raising a family, tons of research, and searching for parts have made the process much slower than he ever expected. He has a clear vision for what he wants this car to be, and every piece has an intentional story and purpose. It is certainly not a standard restoration. So much of what has been done has a personal backstory to it. He can (and does) tell you stories of how he procured or was gifted every part. This has truly been a tumultuous labor of love for him.

He is in the final home stretch, but there is still a lot to do. He will be turning 60 in December, and he is feeling the pressure of time. Time to enjoy the fruits of his labor. Time to get to local car shows, to the Tri-Five Nationals, to do Cruisin’ the Coast. Time to honor his many promises of a ride, whether it’s around the block, a Sunday cruise, to prom or a wedding. These are just a few of the things that he has been looking so forward to. It is what motivates him to keep moving forward on the project. So many of you have expressed interest in helping him to get it done. So, we would like nothing more than to be able to gift him, for his birthday, the funds needed to get this girl on the road!

(P.S. We would like to try and keep it a surprise as much as possible. He doesn't have any social media so share away. We will provide a link to photos of his progress, dating back to day one, once we get all the photos together.)

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