Chevy passion drives couple

While cruising eBay, Don found a rarity: a solid black ’70 Chevelle convertible sans racing stripes with automatic transmission, red interior and 46 factory comfort options.

Pumped, the Crowes braved the February snow and drove to Connecticut to pick it up. They forked over $20,000 and took home a new project.

Back in Conyers, Don and Frances did what many couples wouldn’t try. They began fully restoring the car together from bumper to hood.

“We took it completely apart,” Don said, “every nut, bolt and washer.”

Soon car parts found themselves around the house, something Frances says was frustrating at times.

“We had the dash sitting on the kitchen table for a long time while we worked on it,” she said. “At times it was [hard] having kids and grandkids over and moving parts here and there. You just kind of get used to it and just move them around.”

Tensions, they say, did boil on occasion.

“I’m one who can sometimes lose my patience and say and do things I probably shouldn’t,” Don said. “And she walks away when that happens. And that’s probably good for us.”

They stuck together through the oil and power steering fluid. With the exception of the body work, paint and hiring a machine shop crew to rebuild the engine, everything was tackled by Team Crowe. Don and Frances’ grease-monkey bond proved strong when they installed the engine and transmission together.

Three years and an additional $40,000 in parts and labor later, the Crowes’ Chevelle was brought back to its original glory, its onyx sheen as bold as it was in ’70.

Don says he was naive regarding the car’s value and initially insured it for $55,000. When the Crowes went to Knoxville in 2005 and entered their first car show, a wannabe buyer offered $75,000 on the spot.

Since then, Don has had the car professionally appraised at $126,000 and reinsured, and he turned down an offer for $150,000.

The couple is having too much fun traveling the Eastern United States and entering car shows to sell. And their competitive nature keeps them gunning for more awards to sit on the mantel.

The Crowes’ Chevelle placed third in the country last year in the restored category of the International Show Car Association, better known as the World of Wheels. This year, the Crowes took home best restored car awards at World of Wheels shows in Atlanta, Birmingham, Chattanooga and Omaha, Neb. They’ve qualified for the 2009 championship. In late November, they’ll haul the Chevelle to the competition in Houston.

For now, Don and Frances are concentrating on the Super Chevy Show. Beginning in 2005, the Chevelle was allowed to compete in the Super Chevy Show’s gold class division for top-shelf cars. The Crowes are keeping their wrenches crossed they’ll drive away a winner.

Yet despite the awards, magazine attention and compliments the car has received, Frances says the biggest achievement is something else entirely.

“It’s wonderful to have an interest in something, work together, work hard and still come out together and happy,” she said.