Through the years, in spite of gas shortages, government regulations and questionable design characteristics, Americans have maintained their enthusiasm for automobiles. Automotive performance and customization are still hot topics and continue to maintain their status as a primary outlet for individual expression. Whether it is blown or injected, candied or pearled, automobile enthusiasts constantly seek out ways to enhance vehicle performance and appearance with the goal being to possess a vehicle that will set them apart from the rest of the commuter crowd. Almost anyone would agree that summertime and cars go hand in hand. While school is out for the summer, area residents can see some of the work that several area students completed during the year.
Locals can catch a glimpse of the work cruising around town.
Students enrolled in Dan McMillan's Auto Collision Technology program at Southern Oklahoma Technology Center were recently entreated to a bit of nostalgic Americana in the form of a 1949 Ford Coupe. A classic automobile, owned by Ardmore resident Herman Caudle, was the subject of an expanding segment of the program's refinishing department. Caudle, a member of the Blue River Car Club, approached the program shortly before the school's annual car show with this unique educational opportunity. A true representation of the enduring relationship between people and automobiles, Caudle's Ford fit perfectly into the program's prerequisites as a special interest project. Students interested in the highly specialized field of custom auto refinishing trade found the classic 1949 an appealing task.