The second* most asked question by people who drop by WEST COAST CHOPPERS is usually about the bikes we have on display in our showroom. Here is the inside scoop! The bikes we have on display are a mix of recently finished builds, customers who are lucky enough to keep their bikes here, Jesse’s bikes and bikes that have come home for a little love before riding season. After each new build or service is done, then comes the real work…a test ride through the LBC! We had to put some miles on this EL DIablo after a full service and thought you might like to come along… it’s a tough job, but someone has to do it!* the most asked question is “where’s Jesse? ”
A classic car with a heart warming story. WCC and Austin teamed up to make a dream come true.
This Purple Bird just rolled out of paint at West Coast Choppers, and is on its way back to Austin for the finishing touches and to be reunited with its owner. It’s been a very special project to everyone involved, and once you hear the story, you’ll know why. The car belongs to a gal who lives in Austin named Jennifer. It had been her husband, Hunter’s, for several years. It was his pride and joy and he’d work on it any spare second he could. He passed away unexpectedly and left Jennifer with a huge hole in her heart and an unfinished project car.
Jennifer stored the car at the Austin Speed Shop for a few months before making the decision to restore the T-bird in honor of her husband. She wanted to take it to the level that her husband would have wanted, but customize it to her taste. After a lot of discussion, pictures, and tears….one thing was certain…it was going to be lavender/purple with a pearl white interior. She wanted a classic Larry Watson look paint job, so Hot Dog laid down the base purple, and then did a pearl fade to accent the body lines. Jennifer had liked the old school lace detailing on Dr. Dan’s ‘55 Chevy, so she told Hot Dog to “do his thing” and make it a one of a kind. So after Austin Speed Shop had repaired the sheet metal, freshened up the drive-line, shaved select pieces of trim, fresh chrome, polished the trim, it was off to paint at WCC, where Hot Dog worked his magic.
This car means the world to Jennifer….truly. All of the guys in both shops have put in extra time and heart into this car to make sure that Jennifer’s Tbird is as special as it should be. We want to make sure that this Tbird far exceeds anything she or her husband would have ever dreamed of. She’s pretty close in age to a lot of the crew, so we can all empathize with her situation and relate to her not just as a customer, but a friend. She is truly one of the sweetest, kindest clients we’ve ever had and it’s been a pleasure working with her. She’s basically part of the Austin Speed Shop family at this point.
So watch for her cruising the streets of Austin this summer, and give her a wave.
