Muscle(car) Men

Photo By Sgt. Aaron Diamant | Capt. Kyle Ugone, left, stands with his 1968 Chevrolet Chevelle, while Master Sgt. Gregory Greer stands with his red 1971 Chevelle, known as the ‘Heavy Chevy.’ Both men love their cars, and have poured much of themselves into them. While both cars look like they’d be able to take on some of the aircraft they park near, their owners don’t race them preferring to cruise around town in their clasic works of art.  

YUMA, AZ, UNITED STATES

08.16.2012

Story by Cpl. Aaron Diamant 

Marine Corps Air Station Yuma

YUMA, Ariz. — “Anyone driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac.”
-Author Unknown

There’s something about a classic muscle car; its an-attention getter, sleek lines and steel parts. They are distinctly American, with an almost cult following.

Most people might not be able to tell you the exact year, make and model when they see one driving down the street, but they know what the car and its’ driver are all about: good looks and plenty of plant-you-in-the-seat horsepower.

Two station Marines made their dreams of owning a muscle car come true.

Capt. Kyle Ugone, station deputy comptroller, owns a shiny-blue 1968 Chevrolet Chevelle with a 454 cubic inch V-8, with the cylinders bored out to a whopping 460 cubic inches of displacement. The roar of the big-block Chevy coming to life is unmistakable. Modern cars may scream that they go fast, but this car roars it like a lion staking claim to the Savannah.

“It’s a bad ass car,” said Ugone. “I’m not of the age to remember them from their original days, but it’s cool to be able to show people what was around in the heyday of American muscle cars.”

Master Sgt. Gregory Greer, station airfield operations chief, has a bright-red1971 Chevelle Super Sport with a 350 cubic inch small-block V-8. It’s built to be a little more cruise-around-town friendly, but when the pedal hits the floor, still has the power to leave other cars inhaling exhaust fumes.

“You get a lot of compliments about old cars,” said Greer. “It’s a real eye-catcher and conversation starter. Even the younger generations know it’s a muscle car.”

They hearken back to glory days of the American muscle car, when car manufacturers settled differences on the drag strip, circle-track and from stoplight to stoplight all over suburban and rural USA. Back then, fuel mileage and luxury weren’t the main concern; it was who crossed the finish line first.

Muscle cars may not be for everyone. They suck down fuel like it’s going out of style, handle like the 40-plus year old cars they are, and, depending on how they’re built, some have too much power for some drivers to handle safely. But, they can be seen as investments.

“The older they get, they more they’re worth,” explained Greer.

The benefit comes in that many of them are purchased in need of some restoration. Ugone and Greer agree this fact lets you build the car exactly how you want it.

“If you have the know-how, you can put your own style and personality in it, versus buying a new car where everything is stock,” said Greer.

Ugone, a native of Grand Saline, Texas, purchased his ’68 Chevelle in February of 2010. He drove it around for a while until the brakes went out that May. At that time, he decided it was time for the car to be reborn. He began to take it apart in his garage, working on several components through July of 2010.

Then, a deployment to Iraq got in his way of finishing it himself. Not willing to let that stop him, he turned the Chevelle over to a local hot rod shop and picked it up completely finished in May 2012.

It may seem like a long time, but anyone who’s ever worked on restoring a vintage automobile knows it takes skill, time and above average patience.

Greer, a native of Memphis, Tenn., on the other hand, purchased his pretty much the way it is today back in September of 2011. He has a few plans for modifying his ’71 Chevelle Super Sport, namely adding air conditioning and getting a few extra ponies under the hood.

Greer’s Chevelle is emblazoned with the term “Heavy Chevy” and black racing stripes. Even sitting still, the car could strike fear into the fuel efficiency-designed cars of today.

For both of the Marines, their car is the realization of a dream.

“I fell in love with them the first time I ever saw one and knew I had to have one,” said Greer of Chevelles. “The design, the body; it stands for muscle.”

“I’ve always liked them, like every dude,” added Ugone. “They’ve got that muscle car look and the parts are relatively cheap.”

Their cars may be show pieces, but they’re meant to be driven.

“My goal was to restore it to show-quality, but let people see the thing,” said Ugone. “I don’t want to be that guy who has the old car in the garage that never comes out.”

Classic car people often fit into the “birds of a feather” category, with car shows such as Yuma’s Midnight at the Oasis, and a weekly cruise-in at Rally’s on the corner of 4th Avenue and 16th Street on Saturdays.

“We hang out and talk about old cars,” said Ugone. “A lot of the older guys out there with classic cars are veterans, so it’s just one more thing we have in common.”

One more thing both men have in common; this isn’t their only classic car, just the one that’s already complete.

Greer also has a 1956 Cadillac Series 62 sedan to begin working on, and Ugone has a 1965 Ford Mustang in the works.

For many classic car enthusiasts, it’s in their blood. What else can be said, other than old cars rule.

• Date Taken: 08.16.2012
• Date Posted: 08.16.2012 14:16
• Story ID: 93343
• Location: YUMA, AZ, US