Last May, international car appraiser Chuck Patton advised Saline Journal readers not to “get emotionally involved” with their vehicles. Any vehicles. Enjoy the hobby, yes. But enjoy it for the people with whom you share this common interest, if not passion. [1]
Bill Stolberg seems almost completely to parallel that philosophy. Almost. Everyone in town knows Mr Stolberg, of course; he’s proprietor of Bill’s Barber Shop on North Ann Arbor Street, downtown next to KeyBank. As a major sponsor of the Saline Street Machines car show for quite a few years now, his place has come to provide a somewhat elevated view of the action with the MDOT reconstruction project of 2016. [2,3,4]
When Saline Journal arrived during the seven o’clock hour last Saturday, Mr Stolberg was easing his white 1972 Chevrolet C10 toward the west curb near our city walking map. He politely waved off efforts to park next to that truck on the driver’s side. Noted. How many spaces should be allowed, then? One? Two? Five? [5]
In fact, staging was not complete until eight automobiles had been placed — the last of which was an arrestingly purple 2013 Dodge Challenger that had been a gift to his wife, Val Stolberg. When word went out that Saline Street Machines show organizers were looking for increased support, this was one sponsor who put his foot on the accelerator. With a serious lot from his collection, here was a show within that show. [6,7]
Bill Stolberg is a car guy.
Ask and he’ll tell you about the origins of his preference for General Motors here. “My dad was with Detroit Deisel until he left to be a barber in 1967,” Mr Stolberg began. “He drove a ’74 Buick Riviera. The motor had a beautiful note.” From any seat in Bill’s Barber Shop, he had a personal, sometimes intimate background to share about each of the six others neatly placed between his C10 and the Charger. [8]
- Dark blue 1979 Pontiac Trans Am [9]
- Black 2003 Chevrolet 50th Anniversary Corvette Z06 [10]
- Dark blue 1979 Chevrolet Camaro (with modifications) [11]
- Slate blue 1979 Chevrolet Camaro Berlinetta (all original)
- Black 1985 Chevrolet Camaro IROC [12]
- “Mystic Teal Metalic” 1996 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 convertible
Despite having had this collection for a number of years now, this is the first time that he’s shown them as a group with Saline Street Machines. It took some hours and an assembled team to muster them the night before in anticipation of early morning rollout for the show. With justifiable pride, Mr Stolberg noted that all engines started without complaint when called upon. Need recommendations for a battery tender or fuel stabilizer? He’s more than happy to oblige.
As one might expect, the “next car” is already in mind. His “pipe dream” is to own a 2018/19 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1. “Life is short.” [13]
Beginning with our earliest encounter this morning, Saline Journal saw Bill Stolberg asked if he was open to selling any of these cars. Understandable — especially with the variety of Camaro years and models situated side-by-side in a manner inevitably tempting to anyone predisposed to comparison shop. His answer was always an earnest yes; he’d part with all but one, for a fair price. “You can only drive one at a time,” he told us.
Which was his non-negotiable? Better still: From the list above, which would have been the vehicle with which you would never part?
For Bill Stolberg it is his dark blue 1979 Camaro. The car first came to his attention when it was brought in to a shop where he was working while in high school. The woman who owned it had had it in an accident. Mr Stolberg was hands-on involved in its repair, at a cost of $1500. When the owner demurred on payment, he approached the shop with the idea of buying the car himself, working throughout that summer to earn the balance due by cutting grass. Bill Stolberg was not yet fifteen years old at the time.
Now on its third engine replacement (always for performance improvements), this appears to be the hobby vehicle where he and Chuck Patton must agree to disagree on not becoming “emotionally involved.” At the same time, perhaps it’s just that sort of heartfelt investment that’s need to ensure the future of Saline Street Machines car shows here.
That makes this a relationship story, and thus puts Messrs Patton and Stolberg on exactly the same page.
References
- “If ‘Hobbyists’ Are Open-Minded, There May Still be a Future for Traditional Car Collectors” Dell Deaton (May 11, 2018) Saline Journal.
- “Bill’s Barber Shop” Saline Main Street.
- “Popular Summer Car Shows Are Defined By Local Communities Of Which They Are Part; Saline Is No Exception” Dell Deaton (July 26, 2018) Saline Journal.
- “Second Image, Same Event: ‘Old Maud’ Was Part of US 12 Reconstruction Story” Janet Deaton (November 21, 2016) Saline Journal.
- “Chevrolet C10 Pickup | Buyer’s Guide” Hagerty (July 7, 2015) YouTube.
- “Buyer’s Guide: 2013 Dodge Challenger” Motor Trend.
- “There Is Only One Car Show That Literally Stops Traffic On The Streets Of Downtown Saline, And Will Again On August 11” Dell Deaton (July 25, 2018) Saline Journal.
- “Evolution of the Riviera – 1974” Sean Cahill (November / December 2003) Riviera Owners Association.
- “Early 2nd Gen Features” Trans Am World.
- “Speeding Shootout: 2003 Chevrolet Corvette Z06” Brian Vance and John Kiewicz (July 9, 2003) Motor Trend.
- “Chevrolet Camaro History” Edmunds.
- “The IROC Z Is Your Best Investment for a Classic Camaro” Hannah Elliott (May 13, 2016) Bloomberg.
- “2019 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 First Test: Out With A Bang” Chris Walton (June 30, 2018) Motor Trend.
