Author: Nema Brewer-Candy • First Posted: Tuesday, December 15, 2009

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This 1978 El Camino got a makeover at Eastside Technical Center.

Like most 16-year-olds, Perryville teenager Travis Stivers couldn’t wait to get his first set of wheels – a brown 1978 El Camino.

“If it flies or rolls, he loves it,” explained Travis’s mom, Patty. “When he was little, he would sleep with plastic trucks and trailers in the bed with him. We knew he would love cars his whole life.”

Travis and his uncle rebuilt the El Camino’s engine, but he needed help with the rust and dents.

A Hodgkin’s lymphoma patient who has been cancer-free for a year, Travis asked the Dream Factory of Lexington to paint the car while he was receiving treatment at the University of Kentucky Children’s Hospital.

“My dream is to get this car ready for next year’s Boonesboro car show,” he said.

The Dream Factory, a non-profit organization that grants wishes to children who have been diagnosed with critical or chronic illnesses, partnered with students at Eastside Technical Center to work on Travis’ car. 

“We see this as an opportunity to give back to the community, and we want to pass that on to our students,” said Eastside principal Joe Norman, whose students previously helped revamp a truck with the Dream Factory.

The auto collision students began working on Travis’ car in September and in 10 weeks transformed it from a fixer upper to a vehicle almost ready for show.

“This is the first time we’ve ever done a job this big,” said senior Kevin Godbehere.

Thanks to donations by several local businesses, students were able to paint the car’s exterior Wildcat blue and white and replace the chrome and side mirrors. As a surprise for Travis, his El Camino also got a new black interior, stereo and a set of wheels and tires.  

“It’s a completely different car,” said senior Joshua Carpenter.   

Travis agreed. 

“I never expected it to look anything like this. You could have driven it past me, and I wouldn’t have recognized it.” 

The following businesses helped with Travis’ project: Eckler El Camino Parts, Auto Zone, Coach Craft, Trail Blazers, KOI Paints, S&S Tire – Richmond Road, and Fifth Third Bank.