A model of cool

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MARSHALL - Not many people can claim they bought their car for $15, but that's exactly what Paul Enemark of Tyler did.

That was just one of the things Enemark told the fifth- and sixth-graders at Marshall Area Christian School when he stopped by Wednesday morning to show them his 1936 Model T Ford.

Steve Harrison is teaching the kids 20th century history with an emphasis on the invention of the automobile by Henry Ford and how that changed America and travel.

Enemark's daughter, Gloria Johnson is an aide at MACS, so Harrison knew Enemark collects old cars.

"I thought it would be good for them to have a hands-on with what they're learning," Harrison said. "If learning's fun, the kids learn a lot more."

The kids checked out every inch of the car and lined up for rides around the parking lot. They also peppered Enemark with questions.

Back when the car was new, Enemark told the kids, it would have cost $530 and gotten about 18 to 20 miles to the gallon. Gas was 19 cents a gallon, he said.

In 1932, Henry Ford came out with a V8 engine, Enemark said, making them "the fastest cars on the road," which in turn made them the vehicle of choice for famous criminals Bonnie and Clyde, as well as bootleggers.

The car now has air conditioning and seat belts. "It didn't have any originally," Enemark said.

It originally had a trunk, but that's been converted into a rumble seat, which which was the preferred seat when Enemark was giving the kids rides.

Enemark and his buddies in the Conquistadors car club found the car in Ruthton when they were in high school.

"This was our project, we were going to refurbish it," he said. "We ended up spending most of our time on our own cars."

After graduation, "we went our separate ways" and the car was headed for the salvage yard for $15, "so I gave them the $15," Enemark said.

That was in 1961 and the Ford was in bad shape: no motor, no radiator, the interior was rotted away, the vinyl top was rotted through.

"So I've been working on it ever since with the help of many friends," Enemark said.

The car was originally gray, Enemark said, but in the 1970s was painted "Washington Blue," which was a color the cars were originally painted. He thinks the car is on its third vinyl top, second motor, third radiator, second transmission and third interior.

"The dash is wood-grained; Terry Dressen did it last winter," Enemark said.

In 1984, Enemark put in the rumble seat so his daughter, Gloria Johnson, could ride to her wedding in it.

"It's a never-ending process, fixing it up," Enemark said.

He's driven it to Niagara Falls, Las Vegas, Washington State and took it on a ferry ride. He's been to Illinois to see his brother and Kentucky to see a granddaughter.

"When you travel in this, you're never alone," Enemark said. The car attracts the attention of people who would normally never talk to you, he added. "It's a real door opener."

The Model T is one of four old cars Enemark has, as well as tractors and other vehicles.

Right now, he's rebuilding a 1929 sport coupe. "Took every bolt out and putting it together now," he said and he has no intention of stopping. "I like to say, it's a disease, it's not treatable," Enemark said, and he wants to pass it on to the next generation.

The last thing he pointed out to the kids was the Shades of the Past Car Club license plate on the back and invited all the kids to become members.