Rollin’ in (Pennz)oil article by Debra Reid of the Daiily Sparks Tribune:

Chuck Thomas, owner of a 1955 Chevy Sedan Delivery, is much more than another retired and wealthy car buff with too much time on his hands.

The 61-year-old, former electrician spends his retirement assisting fellow car enthusiasts and helping to raise money for local charities.

“A lot of guys need help with tools and (automotive) knowledge,” Thomas said. “I love to help people out with their cars.”

His work has paid off. Thomas has won a lifetime supply of Pennzoil platinum motor oil.

“I was honored,” Thomas said. “It was totally unexpected. I thought it was great.”

He received a plaque at the Grand Sierra Resort on Tuesday. He knows the supply of oil will be sent to his home but does not yet know when he will start receiving shipments.

Thomas equipped his Chevy with a state-of-the-art, V8 engine that has electronic fuel-injection plus an overdrive transmission. The modifications gave Thomas 22 or 23 mpg on the highway and about 18 mpg in town. The original “straight-six” carburated engine might have used 12 mpg at best, Thomas said.

Thomas said he has a concern for the environment and has spent thousands of dollars making sure his Hot August Nights ride is as clean and efficient as possible.

“This thing is so much cleaner than the original,” the Spanish Springs resident said as he cruised downtown Sparks on Friday night. “If the state wanted to smog it, this car would pass.”

The state of Nevada doesn’t require smog tests on cars built in the year 1967 or older.

“It’s only beneficial to me to have a motor that is emission-sensitive and saves me gas,” Thomas said.

Thomas’ investment of time and work into his car classifies his Chevy as a “custom” car as opposed to a “classic.” Classic cars are restored, as close as possible, to their original condition and maintain a higher resale value than modified cars, Thomas said.

“We have (classic) cars with the same (original) screws, tires, hubcaps, engines – exactly the way it was.”

Thomas, a member of the Classic Chevys Club of Reno, devoted hours and dollars to make his vehicle top-shelf among custom cars. The car enthusiast’s hobby has put him at an estimate of $75,000, $25,000 of which was originally put in five years ago in Tennessee. His rare “handyman panel” was a work truck for plumbers and electricians.

The total cost now includes his car’s new engine, transmission, paint, chrome and upholstery.

While he dedicates time for his own car, Thomas spends more time helping fellow car buffs with restoration and mechanical upgrades. Future projects await him in California where he’ll attend 25 to 28 other car shows this year.

“He is always available to help anyone with anything,” Thomas’ wife and cruise-mate, Sharon Thomas said.

For his helpfulness, fellow club members nominated Thomas for the Pennzoil Platinum Prize.

Now he’ll have all the Pennzoil motor oil his cars will ever need.

“I’ve used Pennzoil for years,” Thomas said. “It’s a good product. I’ll be happy to take it and use it.”

He believes the company will send him full synthetic oil, which he said would work better for his car than the conventional type.

The award appeals to Thomas’ ecologically conscience nature.

“We (the members of the Chevy car club) want our hobby to be (environmentally) sensitive,” said Thomas.

Thomas has done his share of car-watching at this week’s Hot August Nights event. He sees all car types at the event but more customs and hot rods than classics, he said. He explained as original, steel-bodied cars become harder to find, fiberglass kits are gaining ground allowing car buffs to build replicas of their dream cars from the ground up. A popular kit duplicates the Ford Mustang, said Thomas.

“Beauty’s in the eye of the beholder,” joked Chevy-man Thomas.

He does most of his own automotive work except for some of the paint and interior details. He complimented Al’s Rod Shop of Sparks for their paint job on his car’s interior trim and dash.

“They did an excellent job,” he said.

This was the first year Thomas was eligible to register for Hot August Nights at a cost of $180. Thomas said there’s always a waiting list to register for the event. It takes at least a year or two to get in and be eligible for the controlled cruises, show ‘n’ shines, and other venues. Hot August Nights officials said 6,000 cars were registered with 3,000 more unregistered cars at this year’s event.

For more information on his car club, Thomas referred readers to the Web at www.classicchevyclubreno.com.