Brownsville - Ask any classic car collector and they'll say that restoring what appears to be an old shell of a car to its original luster takes hard work, patience and passion.
Alfred Vallejo took apart his Chevy Bel Air 1956 wagon from bottom to top and brought it back to a beautiful baby blue and white sheen.
"I don't like new cars, I like old cars," Vallejo said as he smoothed a cloth over the wagons gleaming surface. "I did everything but the upholstery."
Countless hours covered in oil and grime are worth it when the finished product is unveiled, and a freshly-minted ride is the reward.
For some classic car owners and members of the Brownsville Classics Car Club, the process is restorative on another level as well.
"It's metal therapy. It gets you into your own little world when you're restoring a car," said Roy Aja, president of the Brownsville Classics Car Club. "It is very therapeutic."
Resurrecting nearly junked cars is a time-consuming hobby with an immeasurable payoff. Enthusiasts say the chance to show their reborn rides on the street and at shows brings them a sense of pride and community among other car owners.
When Fred Escovar entered his 1968 Ford Mustang in a car show last year, he brought his 5-year-old son and 6-year-old daughter. His son proudly told observers he was the cars owner.
"I didnt say anything; I just let him go with it," said Escovar. "The kids enjoy (the shows); they love to be out there."
Escovar, a member of Total Performance Mustangs car club, said he first became interested in restoring Mustangs after meeting his wife Cynthia. At the time, she had a 1970 model that was beyond repair, he said. He promised to help her find a similar one they could restore together.
Today, the couple's matching 1960 Mustangs are parked side by side, a symbol of their teamwork and shared interest.
Richard Azua, a member of the Brownsville Classics Car Club, has been collecting classic cars for as long as he can remember. When his son George was younger, together they restored classics like a 1956 Crown Victoria and a 1956 Chevy Bel Air.
Azua, now retired, felt his son was ready to restore a classic car of his own.
As George was nearing high school graduation, he and his father worked many late evenings on the 1964 Chevrolet convertible.
"We worked a lot together. I started showing him lots of stuff and he caught on pretty well," Richard Azua said.
Now 36, George followed in his fathers footsteps and continues to work on classic cars.
Richard Azua said even his wife, Velma, has caught the fever.
"She comes with me to car shows, and really enjoys it," he said.
Not all wives are as enthusiastic about their husbands hobby.
"It becomes an obsession for some people," said Jesus Chuy Almaraz, vice president of the Brownsville Classics Car Club. "Some of the wives will say, You pay more attention to that car than you do to me."
Perhaps because they feel so connected to their cars, many owners have names for their pride and joy.
Leo Parras, owner of a beige 1964 Oldsmobile Dynamic 88 likes to say that Betsy gets to sleep in the garage, but the Ford F-150 sleeps outside.
Vallejo named his Chevy Bel Air wagon Grocery Getter, which seems to an obvious choice, considering the grand size of the car. Its name is posted prominently on a side window.
Aja, who co-coordinated todays Show & Shine Classics Car Show, said classic cars hold nostalgic memories for many collectors.
"When you retire, your dream is to have a car like you used to when you were going to high school," he said.
The show, held downtown on Levee and 12th Streets for the second year, will feature antique and classic cars, hot rods and trucks.
"We want people to come and reminisce, thats why we call the show Blast From the Past. We want to get the community involved," Aja said.
He expects more than 2,000 people will attend.
We invited the Vietnam veterans to do the passing of the colors. Then they will follow up with a 21-gun salute to honor our men and women in uniform, he said.
Aja said the main objectives of the event are to bring more people to the downtown area, honor military veterans and pay tribute to their beloved club member Sarah Perry who passed away Monday.
At 23, Perry was the youngest member of the club who took great pride in restoring her 1971 Volkswagen Beetle.
Azua said she fit right into the community-oriented environment they strive to promote.
"You get to know a lot of people from all over from all over. Its a lot of fun if you like it."
