Charlo students gain experience through auto restoration class
Hey savvy news reader! Thanks for choosing local.
You are now reading
1 of 3 free articles.
It was dead silent on Charlo’s school grounds Feb. 25, as most of the student population was at home taking a break from the hustle and bustle of the school week. But it was a different story as the door swung open to Stan Atchely’s wood shop, where students and members of the Mission Valley Cruisers were hard at work restoring a classic 1972 Chevrolet El Camino.
The automotive restoration class is offered to high school students, and the class has spent more than two years working to bring the car back to life. According to Atchely, they rebuilt the original 454-horsepower motor two years ago, before focusing on sandblasting the frame the last year.
All that’s left to restore is remaining bodywork, the paint and interior, which Atchely has high hopes of completing before the school year is over.
“We’re trying to put the car together this year,” he said.
Atchely chose the El Camino because a fully restored El Camino can bring up to $40,000, and proceeds from the car go into the next project.
“With classics, the value appreciates instead of depreciates,” he said. “This is a fairly valuable car, which is why we chose to restore it.”
The first restoration the class did was on an old truck, which wasn’t as valuable. The vehicle choice hindered them from putting much money into it, but the El Camino gives them more of a budget to work with.
“If it’s worth $40,000, we can afford to put a little more into it,” Atchely said.
Members of the Mission Valley Cruisers come to Charlo one Saturday each month-help that’s critical for the class in meeting its deadline. According to Atchely, a month’s worth of work can be accomplished in one Saturday.
“The car club helps guide us on tasks such as choosing the car,” he said. “They’ve been invaluable to us-a good source.”
Club member Bob Park says he’s spent a few Saturdays down in Charlo helping out with the restoration, stating he enjoys teaching students from his 30 years of experience with cars.
“I had people teach me the same way,” Park said. “It’s good to pass on what I’ve learned, and it’s good (for the students) to have a mentor.”
Charlo sophomore Trinceton Brown says he doesn’t mind returning to school on a Saturday, since working on a car is not really schoolwork to him.
“I like cars, so just the fact to work on them is a good getaway from school,” he said.
The class has six students currently enrolled, and all proceeds from the El Camino’s sale will be used for the next project car.
