The Restoration of Babe

This story began with a phone call to our leader Larry Ruppel. Mike is a volunteer with the Jeffco Senior Resource Center. He was trying to help one of our seniors living in the Arvada area. Kathy Barksdale, is the original owner of a 1968 Cutlass S that she named “Babe”. Babe’s birthday is July 16th so she is slightly over 50.

The car has over 300 thousand miles on it and has been setting in her garage since 2005. It is a 2 door HT and the engine and transmission were rebuilt shortly before it was parked. It has some front-end damage but Kathy has a complete front clip. It is not a final deal yet but this is shaping up to be another car clinic. This is near and dear to Kathy’s heart and it must go to a home which will appreciate her.

The car was purchased new in Dallas TX. Kathy is losing her eyesight and is not able to drive anymore. If we are able and willing to take on this task, Kathy would like to follow that progress and be as much a part of it as possible. President Larry, Kathy Ruppel and Roger Opfer have met with Kathy and have come to a tentative arrangement to procure the car and all the parts. the plan is to pick it up on Sat July 28, 2018 and bring it to the Compound for evaluation.

And now, our story begins. Having done the VIN Inspection on the 68 Cutlass and have the correct DMV paperwork, which needs to be signed, before going forward with the Title transfer. We are getting closer, so we can begin the car clinics.

We had 10-12 guys show up for the Car Clinic and we made remarkable progress. The front clip, all bright trim and the interior has all been removed. Larry has been working cleaning on the inner door panels and has had good luck cleaning them up.

On January 27th , 2019 This one included grinding, cutting, sparks and hammering.

Progress was made on rear fender openings front clip has been primed. All interior out, along with steering wheel, to repair cracks in it. While moving the car to the lift, President Larry was trying to steer it with vise grips when it hit the shift lever and knocks it from reverse to drive, the sudden change of direction knocks Larry off the basket he was setting on, in to the back seat area. He regains his balance in time to shove it in park before it hit the garage.

***Due to all the craziness of COVID and mask mandates our car clinics were limited to a few people, and we commend them for wearing a mask.

On Saturday September 21, 2020, we mounted and adjusted the front clip, finished off the headliner trim and continued working on the rear quarter. The panel welding is proving to be a challenge as we do not have the best equipment or expertise for that process. We spent a bit of our time this session just repairing our equipment. We must say there is a combined 1,000 years of knowledge and experience to learn from these car clinics. Can’t begin to tell you how much sanding and body work went into this car.

Our two members Bob Ahrendts and Jake Skorniak put countless hours into the body work, putty and hand sanding to make it perfect before painting. Don’t get me wrong, our members put a lot of time in hand sanding, cutting, grinding and electric sanding before Bob and Jake could work their magic.

Well, COVID is still with us, but have managed to have a couple of members come over to the Compound to assist in prepping the jambs for paint and getting them painted.

WOW, the time has come “the Babe” is ready to paint, and put back together.

***On a sad note, Kathy Barksdale passed away in May (2021) before she has the chance to see “The Babe” done, she would have been very pleased with her car and how it looks now and all the hard work the men of our club have given to make Kathy’s dream come to life.

October 2021, our club member Dale Terry has purchased the 1968 Cutlass S Oldsmobile. He is replacing the carpet, having the bumpers re-chromed along with a beautiful pinstriping on the trunk lid with BABE on it and of course to make it complete he has ordered personalized license plates with “THE BABE”, how cool is that.

So, end’s our 4 year project with maybe 14 car clinics, COVID- 19, and so many hours of having fun as a club, along with many donuts and pizza. All this, to make the dream of a lady we have never met, to bring her “Babe” to life again. As our President Larry has said so many time “this is not just a car club, we are an extended family of over 40 years together”.