:quality(70)/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-tronc.s3.amazonaws.com/public/VECHE3RLQFDLZB4GODHCM5F5QI.jpg)
:quality(70)/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-tronc.s3.amazonaws.com/public/ALOOFMWYOBAJXFD5SI6HQQN2BI.jpg)
:quality(70)/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-tronc.s3.amazonaws.com/public/MVT7ON3REZCN5PZQV4T4BYRTJM.jpg)
MOYOCK
In a body shop at Moyock Muscle, Paul Kitchen and J.R. McLain placed a new fiberglass grill to the front of a 1934 Ford coupe before marking where to drill bolt holes.
Kitchen then grabbed an air drill and, in a succession of quick high-pitched whines, put holes in the Ford's body. He and McLain are not far from finishing its restoration.
The Ford coupe is one of some 400 old cars, including muscle cars of the 1960s and 1970s, that sit on about 6 acres along N.C. 168, a place that glistens from chrome bumpers, hood ornaments and rear fender fins.
"We have so many people come here from up north, and they go crazy," said Moyock Muscle owner Tommy Arney, who travels the eastern United States looking for cars. "There is nothing like this up north."
Steve Moskowitz, executive director of Antique Automobile Club of America, was not aware of Moyock Muscle before last week. After learning about the number of classic and muscle car bodies there, he said it is one of the largest lots he's heard of.
"Having that many unrestored cars on the lot is not the rule," Moskowitz said. "That is a big exception."
Restoring classic cars is a growing pastime that, in spite of the economy, draws capacity crowds to all 15 national shows of the 60,000-member AACA, Moskowitz said.
"It's a multibillion-dollar hobby," he said.
Moyock Muscle is as much a hobby as a business, which began in Moyock 11 years ago and got its current name four years ago.
Arney, 53, and his son Ryan, 26, said they are negotiating a deal to make a reality television program much like "American Chopper," the father-and-son show about customizing motorcycles. Arney said he could not disclose the producers until after a contract is signed.
Decades ago as Ryan was approaching his third birthday, he could already identify makes and models. One day, he pointed to a classic Corvette he wanted and identified it by name. Dad bought it for the toddler as a birthday present.
"I don't know of anything better that a father could do with his son than build a car together," Arney said. "It's something you can't buy."
Moyock Muscle shop manager Lucky Holmes recently showed off a handful of restored beauties in the main shop.
To Holmes, the best car in the place is the 1965 convertible glen green Corvette with its original parts, including the fuel-injected, 327-cubic-inch engine. It's for sale for $150,000.
Sitting nearby is a black 1970 Camaro. Not for sale.
Weekend Scoop
"This is my Camaro here," he said.
Outside in the middle of a long line of other muscle cars sits a 1965 Impala Super Sport. Windshield crushed, front grill bent in, tires flat, passenger front seat missing, but it's a good one, he said.
Moyock Muscle can fully restore, partially restore or sell as-is, Holmes said. A full restoration of a popular muscle car can take a year and cost in the $100,000 range. Newer, less expensive models are also available.
Currituck County High School sophomores Curtis Roberts, Fred Williamson and Nick Williamson were recently looking around for a car to restore for their senior project. They found a 1991 Ford Thunderbird that Moyock Muscle would finance and sell for $1,000.
Over the next two years, the students will restore the Thunderbird with help from their shop teacher and advice from some of the experts at Moyock Muscle.
"We're going to make it fast before we make it look good," Fred Williamson said.
Jeff Hampton, (252) 338-0159, jeff.hampton@pilotonline.com