Vintage metal is passion for wood worker

CRUISING CALENDAR
MONDAY
Cruzin the River in Lowellville, from 5
to 9 p.m. at 224 E. Water St. 200300 cars, food, prizes, DJ Lee
Martinell, vendor nights, and more.
Call Al at 330-536-9009 or Cindy at
330-540-3517.
Vintage metal is passion for wood worker
Photo by J.T.Whitehouse,Town Crier
Paul Plunkett heads to work in style in his 1930 Ford two-door sedan.
By J.T. Whitehouse
Town Crier
When you work with
wood all day what better way
to relax that to enjoy
something different, such as
the vintage metal that makes
up a classic 1930 Ford twodoor sedan.
Paul Plunkett, of the West
Side of Youngstown, has
worked in wood most of his
life. He owns and operates
Plunkett
Furniture
Refinishing and Repair on
Salts Springs Road in
Youngstown. He takes on jobs
restoring and refinishing rare
antique furniture, which he
does with the touch of a true
craftsman.
About 18 years ago,
Plunkett made an investment
that brought him a lot of joy.
He said his grandfather had
owned a Ford Model T that he
remembered as a child
growing up around Altoona,
PA.
“I originally wanted a car
that looked like it,” Plunkett
said.
He began a search and
found one that was for sale.
He went and looked at it, but
didn’t like it too much. Not
long after he was looking
through the newspaper and
found an ad about a fellow
who was moving out of town
and wanted to sell his antique
vehicles. Plunkett took his
daughter and paid the man a
visit. The car was a beautiful
1930 Ford Model A two-door
sedan in a dark burgundy
body with black fenders and
the fancy luggage container in
the rear. Plunkett liked the car
and the daughter convinced
him to put some money down
to hold it.
“She told me, if you want
it give the guy a deposit,”
Plunkett said. “When we
arrived back home, I told my
wife (Mary Ann): guess what
we just bought? When I told
her, she said you’ve got to be
kidding.”
Plunkett brought the
classic car home and has since
joined a car club and enjoys
weekend jaunts in the classic
old Ford. He said in 1995 a
close friend by the name of
George Bush came for a visit
and convinced Plunkett to
join the club he was in, called
the Mahoning Valley Olde Car
Club (MVOCC). Plunkett did
and today he doesn’t regret it
one bit.
“We enjoy the car and the
club,” he said. “We get to drive
in parades and go on road
trips. I like the trips more than
anything.”
For the safety factor,
Plunkett installed seat belts in
the car. The paint is the
original, but he did have some
mechanical work done. Last
year he had the four-cylinder
flathead motor rebuilt. Bush
helped him with a lot of the
under-carriage work like
shocks, brakes, clutch and
wheel bearing replacement.
He carries a manifold
heater with him, but doesn’t
attach it permanently. The
device is made to sit on top of
the exhaust manifold and
takes in air from the fan,
forcing it into the passenger
compartment through a hole
in the firewall.
Plunkett has no plans to
permanently connect the
heater piece as he stores the
vintage ride in the winter.
Before heading into storage,
he will definitely be making
the club’s biggest event in
August when MVOCC holds
its annual “Cars in the Park”
car show at Boardman Park.
In the meantime, he said there
is no intent to add more cars
or start a collection. He has
the car he always wanted and
now he and his wife are just
enjoying the trips and feel of a
piece of the past.
He said with the new
engine, it cruises pretty nice.
“It tops out at around 50
miles per hour,” he said.
“Sometimes I can get it up to
55.”
TUESDAY
Chick-Fil-A, 1051 Boardman-Poland
Road, Boardman, every Tuesday
(weather permitting). Benefit Hospice
of the Valley. Music by “Two’s
Company” DJ’s, dash plaques, door
prizes, trophies. Call Bob at 330545-9313 or visit www.mvocc.com.
WEDNESDAY
Drake’s Landing Restaurant, 2177 W.
Western Reserve Road, Canfield. All
through summer, from 5 p.m. to dusk.
Raffles, door prizes, DJ’s.
THURSDAY
Westside Ice Cream and Grill, 3003
Mahoning Ave., Austintown, from 6
to 9 p.m. every Thursday. DJ, 50/50
raffle, door prizes and more.
Boardman Belleria Cruise Night, 5 to
9 p.m., Thursday nights at Belleria
Pizza, 8485 Market St, Boardman.
Give-aways, DJ’s, food specials, etc.
FRIDAY
A&W Drive-In, 680 YoungstownBoardman Road, Boardman, from 6
to 10 p.m. Special theme nights
throughout the summer, music by
Two’s Company, T-shirts. Call 330792-2444. Now through Oct. 14.
SATURDAY
Shepherd’s Self Storage, Boardman
(the old Sam’s Club) on South
Avenue, one mile south of U.S. 224,
every Saturday from 5 to 9 p.m.
Vendors, music and more. Hosted by
Valley Cruzers. Call 330-533-4911.
SUNDAY
Quaker Steak and Lube in
Austintown, Interstate 80, Ohio 46
exit, from 5 to 9 p.m. Music by DJ
Big Rick, discount to cruisers, hosted
by the “Chicken Coupe Cruisers.”
Call 330-668-4767.
LOCAL EVENTS
SEPT 17, 18 AND 19 - Canfield Swap
Meet and Car Corral, hot rod and
classic car sale, at the Canfield
Fairgrounds, hosted by Dave and
Ed’s Auto Events, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Visit www.autoevents.com.