Auto Restoration 101

I think it’s great that there are still programs going on that promote classic car repair to the younger generation. I found this article about the automotive technology program at East-Syracuse Minoa High School. They just recently restored a 1969 Pontiac Firebird that will be raffled off. The winner will be selected on July 19th, 2009.
Ryan Beckley is the instructor for the automotive program and recently was named Central New York’s 2008-09 Technical Teacher of the Year. To read more about Ryan go HERE

Frank Ordonez / The Post-Standard File photo.

Posted by Maureen Nolan / The Post-Standard July 01, 2009

A great grade for the year is a beautiful thing, but so is a 1969 Pontiac Firebird.

Students in the automotive technology program at East Syracuse-Minoa High School have successfully finished their big project of the year - a restoration of a ‘69 Firebird, teacher Ryan Beckley said.

“Most people learn by doing. You can talk about it all day long, but it really makes sense and comes together when you are able to do it,” Beckley said.

With the car done, his focus now is selling tickets to raffle the car off. Money from the ticket sales pay for students to restore a car each year, he said. Sales have been slow this year, he thinks because of the economy. The car is worth between $25,00 and $30,000, and he bought it for about $5,800, he said.

Tickets cost $10 each or three for $25. They may be purchased by mail by sending a check to ES-M High School, Department of Automotive Technology, 6400 Fremont Road, East Syracuse, 13507 Attention: Ryan Beckley. Make check out to the ES-M Band Boosters.

Beckley will be showing off the car during the Syracuse Nationals July 17 through 19 at the New York State Fairgrounds. The winner will be selected on July 19 and announced on the school Web site, Beckley said.

Several classes of automotive students worked on the car, as did other students who aren’t in those classes. Community members Jeff Hinman and Les Potter sandblasted the body for free, and it’s the fourth year consecutive year they’ve done that for the student project, Beckley said.

“They ask nothing in return. The reason why they do it, if you ask them, is they believe in the program,” he said.

Other community members pitched in, too, among them, Chris Cunningham, who owns a supply company. Cunningham went out of his way to find any part they needed, and he helped out with some prices, Beckley said.

The finished project, he said, is beautiful. Most Firebird lovers consider 1969 to be the most desirable, he said.

“Everywhere that I brought the car, it’s a real eye-catcher because you barely ever see one of these on the road,” he said.