The “project car” of Roger Curtis, owner of Mountain Auto Repair, is a black-and-white 1958 Chevrolet Delray sedan, which is entered in this year’s Oregon Mountain Cruise. Like all car enthusiasts, he loves talking about his old vehicle. “It’s the only year they built that car; 1957 was different and 1959 was different. “They got away from the big fins that year … It was kind of by itself.”

Curtis has papers on the car, which has 38,000 original miles, and said it was purchased in Enterprise (from McDaniels Chevrolet, forerunner of Milligan Motors) by Louise Marks; has spent its whole life in Wallowa County.

It was purchased between 1978 and 1980 by the late Fred Kaup, who collected old cars. It was last registered in 1980. It was stored in Kaup’s barn off Russell Lane near Joseph before Curtis bought it late last year from Kaup’s estate.

“It had been 30 years since it was driven. … It’s all original, except for the tires and chrome wheels,” he said.

After changing the oil, putting in a new battery and gas “It started right up,” he said. Curtis did have to replace the rusted fuel tank, fuel pump, and fix the whole fuel system. Last week, he had a metal tear on the passenger side repaired at Davis Body Shop. Eventually he’ll repaint the old car.

“I don’t have much time to work on my own cars. … I have a 1932 Ford Coupe in pieces in storage right now,” he said. “I wanted to have a car I could take to the car show, so this is going to be my baby. … Restoration is in progress.”