Don Doster’s passion and enthusiasm for racing were depicted by his remarkable transformation of a 48-year-old cabinet salesman’s car from Buford, Georgia, into a sleek and rust-free Pro Street ride. Popular hot rod magazine, ‘The Trailer is For My Race Car, Not My ’51’, proudly published a feature piece in its February 1997 edition that highlighted the automotive virtuoso who swapped out regular old stock components with high-performance modern replacements, welding wheels, skinny tires, M/T Performance balonies, a small block Chevy engine equipped with an aftermarket carburetor among many other customizations, all to create a powerful and classic looking machine.
The Dedication of a Car Enthusiast
Hot Rod magazine proudly published the feature article, ‘The Trailer Is for My Race Car, Not My’ 51′, in its February 1997 issue. This article showcased a car enthusiast’s dedication to their passion and enthusiasm for racing.
Don Doster’s Pro Street Transformation
Don Doster inspires many, taking a 48-year-old cabinet salesman’s car from Buford, Georgia, and transforming it into a sleek, rust-free Pro Street ride. He managed this feat by utilizing his vast experience with classic cars, having worked on four ’52s, three ’57s, and a ’34. Don sold all the original equipment options and add-ons from the car, proving that investing in quality can make a difference in finishing quality.
To transition the car from a nosebleed to low-down, Don modified the Bel Air’s front suspension by exchanging the front spindles for dropped aftermarket pieces, adding new shocks, an antisway bar from an ’89 Chevy truck, and the coil springs from a ’40 Chevy. The narrowed rear end is a ’74 Lincoln Versailles (complete with disc brakes), modified for use with semi-elliptical leaf springs and a custom-built antisway bar. To finish the look, Don replaced the 15-inch uglies with Weld wheels, skinny Michelins, and M/T Performance balonies. Under the hood, a small-block Chevy equipped with a Crane cam, an Edelbrock intake, and a Holley fuel mixer powers the car. Don Doster has achieved something remarkable here, showing how dedication and knowledge of classic cars can pay off.
Don is proud of his incredible work for his ’51 Chevy. He shaved the hood, decked the trunk, and used a quarter-inch rod to make the hood appear solid and match the one-piece ’50 Olds windshield. He was responsible for the flat and smooth R-M Red acrylic lacquer paint job and adapted the gauges, built the console, reworked the dash, and affixed Datsun armrests to the doors. Lamar Stephans also trimmed the Chevelle seats in light tan leather, which added to the overall beauty of the car. Despite not being a daily driver, Don has still managed to put 10,000 miles on this fantastic vehicle.
Achievements of the Organization
At a glance, it is easy to see the impressive accomplishments of this organization. Through dedication and hard work, they have achieved truly remarkable success.
The story of Don Doster and his impressive revitalization of a classic car shows us the true potential of passion and hard work. Despite many odds against him, Don brought a 48-year-old wagon from Buford, Georgia, into a low-down Pro Street ride. With help from Weld Wheels, skinny Michelins, M/T Performance balonies, a modified 1934 Chevy, and other marginal modifications to the body, suspension, and engine, Don Doster is now an inspiration to many who share his enthusiasm for retro rides. Don’s skillful transformation of this classic car proves that with knowledge, dedication, and investing correctly in quality parts, even the most marginal vehicles can get a new lease on life.
