Mike Tomaszewski, the owner of TA Performance in Scottsdale AZ called me about 13 or 14 years ago to tell me he had just picked up a full race Buick Skyhawk from Kenne-Bell Buick in California. This car use to run a 200 cubic inch engine in the NHRA Modified class (I think!) as a test bed for the companies V-6 engine parts program. I think the thing ran in the 10's, but I wouldn't bet on that! The cars body had seen better days, the fiberglass front-end was all cracked up and the multi-colored paint had seen better days! Mike had some work done to the chassis to fit one of TA's big power 455's between the frame rails. I had done some body and paint work in my home garage and told him I'd do the work for him. I had never done any real stripe work, normally just focusing on single color lacquer makeovers. Here's some pictures I recently scanned of the work. With Mike's business growing he never had time to finish the car. It languished in the company shop for a few years until it was eventually sold. If anyone knows what ever happened to this car, I'd appreciate the info!

This is what the car looked like when Mike rolled it off of the trailer and into my driveway.

Mike wanted the car converted to a lift-of front end. He had a front brace made to do this. I had to glass it all in and fill the headlight holes.

Here the car had been stripped, repaired and primered for the first of many block sanding hours. The front frame was cleaned up and painted as well.

Here she was, all painted, still needing some Lexan, some fasteners to hold the panels on straight and a bunch of other little stuff!

I had never done stripes before. These came out OK, but looking back on it I should have made them flow with the body a little more. Oh well, first attempts aren't always perfect!

Here the tin had been put back in and it was just waiting for that big ol' Stage 2 Buford!