Among Gary’s other projects include his son’s 2001 Mustang, a fire-scarred 1985 Toyota MR2, and a couple of VW bugs. But the most challenging project is an extremely rusted 1968 Plymouth Road Runner that cost Gary only $250. Sean calls this muscle car with a 383 engine an “IKEA Mopar”: almost all the parts are there, piled inside and on the car.

It also needs a transmission because its previous owner kept the original four-speed. The car is in bad shape, but Gary hopes to bring it back to life someday. Sean encourages Gary by reminding him that a fully restored Road Runner might go for $50,000 or more on the market.

This model has a special place in Gary’s heart. It goes back to when he was a boy, and he saw one with his dad at a swap meet. Gary knows he wants to modify his car the way his dad would have liked; to make the car’s rear end more narrow, add massive slits, and maybe put in a Hemi kit.

So, the story of Gary’s Road Runner goes to show that inexpensive classic cars that need some love are still out there. What’s more, there’s hope for even the ones that have run out of road