An automotive enthusiast, motorsports expert, and movie fanatic has a unique car in his collection
A CAR collector acquired the movie car of his childhood dreams after several years and keeps it preserved and running.
The movie “American Graffiti” is a motion picture marvel, as it had a small budget and, for the time, a little-known director, George Lucas.
Debuting in 1973, “American Graffiti” was turned down by every major film studio except for Universal Pictures, which gave Lucas a small budget of $777,000 – equivalent to just over $2 million in 2023.
The car, a 1958 Chevrolet Bel Air Impala piloted by Ron Howard’s character, Steve Bolander, was far from stock in the movie – with a modified engine and “fiery” paint on the sides.
Ray Evernham, a movie buff, former NASCAR crew chief, and TV host – like most Americans – had a soft spot for the coming-of-age film that romanticized the cruising and car culture of the 1960s.
“American Graffiti is really important to me because in 1973 when I was 15 years old, I walked back and forth to the theater probably a dozen times to watch that movie,” he said during an interview with AmeriCarna.
He loved all the cars featured – but the Bel Air Impala captured his attention the most.
“I was so inspired by this car that I dreamt about it – it was the ultimate hot rod,” he continued.
After becoming a household name for his ventures as an automotive consultant, racing expert, and car collector, he decided it was time to try and find out where the car ended up.
“About 15 years ago after I started making a little bit of money, I decided to try to find the car so I could buy it,” he said.
“And I found the guy in Washington and there was a bunch of history in the car – he bought it from a Lucasfilms auction in 1972 before the movie came out.”
Because the movie wasn’t projected to be the $200 million box-office hit it eventually became, the owner was able to buy the vehicle for an incredible price.
“At the time I think he only paid about $283 to $300 for it.”
The first time Everham attempted to buy it, he was denied – but fate brought the car back into his life while he was shooting an episode of AmeriCarna, where he bumped into the owner.
However, the vehicle wasn’t in his possession anymore, as it went up for auction.
“It went up for auction several times and it didn’t meet its reserve, and I tried to negotiate back and forth but I just couldn’t put out the price that they wanted for it,” he said.
Heartbroken, Everham decided to stay in touch with the owner, and he was finally able to buy the car from him after a few more years.
“It’s an amazing car, and it’s an amazing part of my life – it represents a 40-year journey… I can look at it and think of everything I’ve done since high school,” he said.
“It’s probably the most important car in my collection… This car is always going to be close to me.”
Since the car was made in 1958, the car definitely showed its age.
The pain was weathered with the clear coat mostly gone, the interior was worn and faded, and the chrome wheels were in desperate need of polishing.
Just in time for the 2016 SEMA Trade Show in Las Vegas, Nevada, it was tastefully restored by Axalta Coating Systems.