Hot wheels to Hot Rod - Tremonton Leader

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Hot Wheels to Hot Rod
Local boy restores 1928 Ford
Leader/Jessica Tanner
Taylor Merryweather’s newly restored 1928 Ford Sports Coupe
took him about a year to complete with help from his dad, Brad, grandpa
Steve Smith and Brad’s friend, Chuck Howe.
Jessica Tanner
Leader Staff Writer
Most 15-year-olds beg to drive the
family vehicle to school or, if they are
lucky, to buy an old beater car for their
high school years. Taylor
Merryweather, on the other hand, will
be traveling to school in style. He
recently restored a 1928 Ford Sports
Coupe that is ready to hit the streets.
Taylor, the son of Brad and
Rhonda Merryweather of Tremonton,
is a freshman at Bear River Middle
MO’SCYCLERY
School. Since Taylor was about four
years old, he has been going to the
Bonneville Salt Flats drag races with
his dad, Brad, grandpa, Steve Smith
and Chuck Howe, one of Brad’s
friends. Rhonda said, “He was brought
into it the day he was born.”
Restoring cars has been a long
time hobby for Brad. While Taylor was
growing up, Brad bought him Hot
Wheels minature cars. Taylor started
building custom bicycles when he was
young and has had motorcycles, go
carts and other motor toys his whole
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life.
Brad and Taylor originally had two
sedans they traded for the 1928 Ford
Sports Coupe. Brad said, “It was just a
junker and it was ready to go to
Nucor.” Brad decided it would be a
good idea for Taylor to restore this car
to gain experience.
When Taylor found out his dad
wanted him to restore this car, he said,
“I was excited. It was fun to know that
it was going to be my high school car.”
With the help of grandpa and
Chuck, Brad and Taylor started working
on the car about a year and a half
ago. Taylor said, “They have been big
inspirations to me.” They completed
the car within a year.
Taylor said, “It was a great bonding
experience, for the knowledge and
just to hang out with my dad was
good.” Brad added, “This is what I do
all the time; it was nice to have him
there.”
Taylor never questioned their abilities
to restore his car. He said, “I was
confident. My dad could build anything.”
Taylor did not
like completing the
bodywork of the car.
The sanding was very
time consuming. He
said, “Being able to
see the final project,
seeing the car in
shows and driving it
around [was my
favorite part].”
On March 5, the
Merryweathers took
the car to the
Autorama in Salt
Lake City. Taylor was
Certified Automotive &
Diesel Repair
Specializing in Diesel
Performance
12 S. Main, Garland
435-279-0669
still working on the car the day of the
event and won the Rising Star Award.
They plan to take the car to
Thanksgiving Point in May, the Salt
Flats and other local car shows.
Taylor already has his driving permit.
He had the opportunity to cruise
around town and received several
comments on how nice his car looks.
Brad said they plan to do a lot of driving
this summer.
Brad said, “He will be the envy of
his friends, I am sure.” Brad got original
1928 license plates for the car from
Allred’s Auto Body and he restored
them to their original condition.
Taylor said his experience with
cars throughout the years has been a
happy one. “I have been able to spend
time with my dad and grandpa and I
would recommend it to anyone who
wants to do it.”
The advice Taylor would give to
anyone wanting to restore a car is, “Do
not say you will do it and never do it.
Put your mind to it and finish it. It is
not fun to have a car sitting there that
never turns into anything.”
Golden Spike Offroad