The Hunker Junker Chronicles: Using Enamel Paint and Next Projects

 

My Hunker Junker is coming along pretty well. Over the past few weeks, I’ve made some solid progress figuring out how to handle different parts of the project. For example, I figured out how to remove the broken bumper covers in the front without taking off the bumper. If the back one's work similar to the front then I should be ordering some replacements soon and that will make the car look great without the gap between the bumper and frame. 

Right now, I’m painting the car with enamel paint, which is completely different from the primer I was using before. After cleaning off the rust, I used a cheaper primer to rattle-can it gray. That made it easy to sand and repaint if something didn’t look right, which happened often enough.

Most of the car’s body is ready for paint now. I’ve been taping and applying the enamel paint, which really makes it look much cleaner. There’s a guy I know who’s restored a bunch of cars, and he’s been generous with advice—solid tips that have helped me more than a few times. He even showed me how to get a decent paint job done the easy, inexpensive way while still making it look good.

Almost everything on the engine works, too. I discovered all the air-conditioning components are still there, though I’ll need to add a converter later. That’ll be a project for another day. 

Because I'm within a few months of finishing this one off.  I’ve been keeping an eye out for a “Santa Claus Chevy” or another old pickup to restore. I’d like to add some wood slats on the sides and really give it that classic look. My thought is that if I am enjoying fixing up old cars and get to my third I will likely want to sell one and see if that can self-finance the next car (Car collector on the cheap but you have to put in your own work and give up a car to finance new projects. If I do that it is at least 8 months down the road before I can find and fix up my next project.)

Here is a bonus of fixing up classic cars. I have friends with Mercedes, BMWs, and other high-end cars that always draw attention, but I’ve got a touch of country in me. While I can appreciate those finer performance vehicles, my heart leans more toward classic American rides—though I did fix up a Porsche once.

Almost every day, someone comments on how cool they think my car is. Considering I bought it for $1,000 and put maybe another $2,000 into it, I’d say that’s a pretty good deal. It runs, looks decent, and best of all, there are no car payments or expensive insurance. Basically when I calculated it all out it was about 4 to 5 months before I got my money back and now I have an appreciating asset. If you ever want to buy it, let me know—but I can’t sell it just yet because it isn't quite finished. Then onto my next Hunker Junker.

Classic Car Restoration Market