Larry Hoover never forgot his first car.
As a junior at Jayhawk-Linn High School nearly 40 years ago, the Mound City native paid $650 for a 1964 Chevelle Supersport. It was 10 years old, but had a high-performance engine and was the cat’s meow for a kid just beginning to drive.
Several years later he bought another Chevelle, also a ’64. He fixed it up, and drove it until he married and traded it for more of a family car.
A third Chevelle, of 1964 vintage, came his way three years ago and was on display at the Allen County Fair Car Show Saturday.
“I had a 1938 Chevy coupe street rod at the time and I thought I’d like to have what I started with back in high school,” said Hoover, 55.
He searched the Internet and found a ’64 Chevelle in his price range, belonging to a preacher in Ohio.
He paid $18,000, and has been offered considerable more since, with his only additional investment being new gauges in the dash and disc brakes.
His newest Chevelle, a convertible, is “a fun car to drive,” he said. “The grandkids like to go for rides and my wife and I take in the evenings when we go to eat out. It’s not just a show car.”
Hoover enjoys showing off the nearly pristine silver-blue convertible, however, and is eager to participate in shows here and in other places where promoters purchase trophies he makes in a shop at Mound City.
“I’ve been making trophies about 35 years and have had an upholstery shop nearly as long,” he said.
Trophies awarded at the Allen County and Farm-City Days shows come from Hoover’s shop.
WINNERS at Saturday’s show:
Harley motorcycle: Dave Fontaine, 2010 Harley Ultra LMT.
Sports car: Rick Dougherty, Iola, 1965 Shelby Cobra replica, first; Brent LeClair, 1995 Mazda MX6 LS.
Original car 1900-1948: Ann Sluder, Williamsburg, 1946 Plymouth Special Deluxe, first; Fred Hornbaker, 1946 Willys Jeep.
Original car 1949-1972: Denny Barnhart, Iola, 1966 VW Beetle, first; Larry Hoover, Mound City, 1964 Chevy Chevelle, second.
Original car 1973 and up: Buddy Meadows, Iola, 2011 Dodge Challenger, first; Bud Bishop, 2003 Chevrolet Chevelle, second.
