Father might know best when it comes to picking the perfect hot rod, but when this dad went hunting for a new vehicle, he relied on the sensibilities of his youngest daughter to find a car the whole family could enjoy.
Donnie Brown had not grown up around cars. He had no role models with whom he’d spend his weekends in half-lit garages, straining the ligaments in his hand to wrench loose obstinate bolts or massage a throttle cam. There was no cutting him lose on a project to encourage his development. He was not mechanically inclined. And still with all these things working against him, by the time he was 16, cars had made an indelible impression on him.
In high school, he met his then girlfriend. The two would become sweethearts, and she would become his wife and lifelong front seat passenger. Brown never remembered a time with his wife when he didn’t have a project car. Fast forward two decades, and Brown, his wife and their two daughters are inseparable, traveling to car shows throughout the region.
Brown owned an all-steel 1930 Ford Model A truck before finding his current 1934 Chevy sedan. The Ford had served him well, but when it was time to make a change, he consulted the youngest in the Brown clan, who was also the most enthusiastic about accompanying Dad to car shows. Brown said the only criterion his daughters cared about was anything he purchased had to have a back seat to haul around the whole family.
The search for the perfect car took him to West Chester, Pa., where he found an owner who was parting ways with a 1934 Chevy sedan and would use the money toward his own daughter’s college fund. Outlaw Performance in Avonmore, Pa., was responsible for the build. The hand-crafted body was a one-piece fiberglass kit that included a mix of steel and poplar wood reinforcements. The body came complete with front and rear fenders, running boards, and a grille splash apron. The roof was a 3 5/8-inch chop. Adding a few modern appointments like power steering, power windows and a Mustang II suspension, Brown said it was love at first sight for both him and his daughter.
Asked whether the transition from steel to fiberglass took getting used to, Brown said both material types have their strengths and weaknesses.
“The thing with fiberglass is you never have to worry about a rust bubble coming back up. It will never blister. You will worry about the fiberglass if somebody scrapes up against it or the paint if it’s applied wrong at the time. But it will never rust.”
Brown said he has no preference between the two, but likes the malleable nature of fiberglass as it ends up cheaper to repair than the dings on a steel-constructed body. And that’s a good thing because Brown likes to buy his cars already done. With three women making demands of his time, spending life under the hood just isn’t an option.
What do you drive? A 1934 Chevy sedan.
Why do you drive it? I guess you could say it’s a relaxation to get out … take a little ride, a little cruise.
What makes this car so special? Because my daughter and I picked it out. It’s nothing over the top, it just fits our needs.
What is your most memorable driving experience? The best time we had was when we went to Columbus, Ohio. After we were there at the show, we’d drive the car around.
What was the first car you owned? The first car I owned was a 1968 Plymouth Fury III. It was big boat. An older woman kept it. It was pristine. It was my first car.
What music are you currently listening to in your car? I listen to country and light rock.
And your first ticket? What was it for? Spinning wheels with my daughter in New Jersey. I offered her $5 not to tell her mother, but it didn’t work. My oldest was with me at the time. It was my Model A five-window coupe. I was up in Wildwood, N.J., at a show, and that’s where they got me. By the time they were done I had three points, four violations and a $350 fine.
