Jerry McClendon, of Soddy-Daisy, Tenn., is head over heels for old cars. And, it all started when he came across a 1931 Model A that was sitting in a garage, back in 2002. With the price tag set at $1200, it was a deal he could not resist. His curiosity was peaked, and the car went home with him.

“I brought it home, and my wife said: ‘What a hunk of junk!,’” says Jerry, with a laugh.  But, two years later, after jumping into the car collecting hobby with both feet—and putting a lot of hard work and effort into building from the ground up— the Model A sold for a smashing $42,000. Jerry had found his passion.

“Once you get into it, you can’t get out,” explains Jerry. “And, I got into it hard.”

Since first getting his hands in the mix, only seven years ago, Jerry has built six collector vehicles, ranging from a 1934 Ford 5-Window Coupe to a 1968 Rambler Ambassador. He currently owns a 1934 Dodge, 1948 Chevy Panel Truck and a 1937 Packard 115C Coupe Convertible, all of which he notes are insured with Grundy Worldwide.

Even his wife, Terrye, has found a love for old cars; she claims the ’34 Dodge as her own. Jerry’s pride and joy is his very rare Packard (see photo), which he adds is said to be eleventh one known to still exist, according to the Packard Registry.

“It’s a very rare car,” he says. “And, I love the look of it.”

Jerry remembers when he first heard about this Packard. He was working on a gentleman’s air-conditioning unit, in 2007, when the customer approached him with a brochure for an upcoming estate auction in Cincinnati, Ohio. The customer wondered how much the ’37 Packard was worth. Before Jerry knew it, this customer had gone to the auction and bought the car. When he learned of this, he expressed his interest in buying the car from the gentleman, when he was ready to sell. And, he was ready by early 2008.

Jerry purchased the Packard, without hesitation, and began another build. The car was all-original when he first bought it—and, it was in very good condition, as the vehicle had been kept in a climate-controlled storage space for 37 years! Jerry kept the outside of the car the same; however, that was just about the only thing that remained all-original.

Modifications included power steering, power air-conditioning and “all the modern-day conveniences.” A LS2 Corvette fuel-injected engine replaced the original engine; and, with the new engine, Jerry and Terrye have been able to drive the Packard as much as they like.

“We like to drive them,” he says. The Packard can now reach speeds as high as 140 mph; however Jerry notes that they do not drive that fast. The car is mostly a show car.

Jerry hits up shows across the United States, including Goodguys and NSRA events. He and his wife just got back in from the Goodguys event in Nashville, Tenn., where he was awarded the “Best Ride On Intro Wheels” Pick Award.  He and his friends are now getting ready to pile into a van and head out to the Goodguys PPG Nationals in Columbus, Ohio, this upcoming weekend, July 10-12, 2009.

While Jerry enjoys going to about a dozen car shows each year, he says that his absolute favorite part of the collector car hobby is “the build.”

“I love the challenge,” says Jerry. “Hunting parts… and making stuff work.  Seeing it all come together.”

While he leaves the paint, body and mechanical work to his friend Ron Caldwell of Caldwell Restorations in Soddy-Daisy, Tenn., Jerry does the interior work on his vehicles, himself. Just three years ago, at age 58, Jerry opened his own hot rod interior trim shop.

“And, to think I had never sat behind a sewing machine my whole life,” he says.

It’s never too late to find your passion— it’s never too late to become a car guy.

Story by: Becky McLaughlin

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