Hot dog, look at that hot rod

Old cars can either bring you “back to the future,” or “back to the past,” or was it “back to the present?” Just like the movies, a car can have the essence of a time machine and resurface memories lost in time.

For Columbus resident Walter Weaver, his hot rod travels through all eras and ages.

Weaver’s 1960 Chevrolet Impala 2-Door Hardtop was the winner of the 2025 “Snap-shots Calendar Cover” produced by Snap-on Incorporated, a “nationwide manufacturer and marketer of tools, equipment, diagnostics, repair information and system solutions.”

Due to being an active customer of Snap-on and a longtime subscriber and enjoyer of the calendars since the 1980s, Weaver was given the opportunity to enter his car into the contest in 2024 to be featured within the 2025 calendar. After submitting his vehicle with only the hopes of making it on the inside portion of the calendar, Weaver received a response via his email that “blew him away.”

“It is a nationwide competition, so cars can be entered from the U.S and even Canada,” said Weaver. “Within a week I got an email saying that my car and one other vehicle had been picked to possibly make the cover of the calendar. That blew me away because I was just hoping to make one of the pages on the inside. They had a vote on Snap-On’s Facebook page with both cars on display and people got to vote on them. Whoever got the most votes after five or six days was the official cover winner, and mine actually won. I’m extremely thrilled and flattered, the job they did on this edition, I couldn’t be more pleased.”

Weaver, more than anything, felt validated seeing his prized possession grace the cover of the calendar he had cherished for decades, highlighting the work he put into it over the course of the past three and a half years. He purchased the car in Schulenberg in 1984, more than four decades back, replacing the engine and transmission at the time and driving it for about 10 years, even leaving his wedding in it with wife Judy Weaver.

“I was the third owner. It was all original, never been painted on, worked on, or anything,” said Weaver. “When I bought it, I put a different engine and transmission in than when I got it and I drove (the car) for about 10 years. Me and my wife left our wedding in that car in 1986. It’s been in our family park it. It needed a little work and we were starting a family.

The hot rod hibernated for almost three decades before Weaver was able to start bringing it back to life himself, putting away the money needed until he felt the time was right.

“It sat for 27 years before I was able to put the money into it and fix it the way I wanted to,” said Weaver. “I did everything myself. All new interior, original color. It’s the original style of interior, just like it came from the factory. I did put different wheels, a different engine, different transmission in it, stuff like that. It went through everything, complete drive, tuned the brakes, I had some reproduction parts, new glass, new side glass and things of that sort. It really validates all the work that I put into it. I practically lived in the shop every spare moment. I did not want to stop because if I stopped, it might be a while before I got back on, so I kept pushing.”

One of the main goals Weaver set for himself aside from submitting the car to the competition was making one of the first car shows of 2024 and the vehicle’s first car show in general, finishing mere weeks before he attended. Having gotten his hands dirty with paint and body work for 26 years, he wanted to wait to complete the work the way he had always envisioned, taking out “every bolt of that car” by himself with some help along the way, even working on another vehicle of his along the way.

“I knew my experience, it was just the time, money, place and commitment I needed to set aside,” said Weaver. “I did all the paint work too. I did have help with certain things here and there. People helped me assemble, get stuff ready and prepared, and where I needed extra hands, I had help from my brother and some friends. I have an old truck too, a 1980 model Chevrolet Silverado, and I’ve had that since 1983, and I got that fixed up. Those are the only two classic cars I have, those everyday cars. It’s not like I’ve gone through a lot of cars either. I’ve had these two for a long time, about 40 plus years.”

The Chevrolet has become a family memento of some sorts, with Weaver recalling moments when his oldest son rode around with him in it as a child and the joy he feels now driving his two grandkids, both boys, around in it. His daughter even recreated the moment he and his wife shared nearly 50 years ago, driving off in the same car they did previously at her wedding in June 2024.

Weaver’s eldest son didn’t get the same opportunity as his daughter due to the car not being ready when he got married several years ago but was still able to drive off in his dad’s Silverado. Having the support of his family pushed Weaver to accomplish what he initially set out to do years ago, remarking the experiences as a family-affair.

“My daughter just got married,” said Weaver. “She left her wedding in this car (the Impala). My son drove off with the Silverado on his wedding day. I wanted to keep the drive and my family strongly supported me. They were always keeping up with what was going on, what’d I do, what’d I get done and it’s really been a family affair. When I go to shows, my kids don’t always make all of them, but they’ve come to a lot of them and it’s been a good way to bond with family.”

Weaver says his greatest enjoyment having brought these vehicles back to life isn’t gracing the front cover of the calendar, the potential of making lots of money or even showing the car off around the country. It’s the feeling of validation, pride and the ability to connect with others locally about a piece of history that recalls their own history.

“Going to the shows and winning is cool but just talking to the people that come by to look at it, ask you questions, it may remind them of something,” said Weaver. “I don’t think there is any way I would ever sell it. I’ve been offered good money, some people have said “just tell me how much,” but I don’t think I ever could. I just love the feeling of people remembering moments in their own lives, “My grandpa had a car like that,” “I rode in one of them as a kid,” or commenting on certain features, asking “did you do this yourself?” The pride in that is a lot.”

“Lots of people have cars when they are younger and later in life are regretful, “man I wish I had that car” or wish they took better care of it,” said Weaver. “I’ve had people tell me that they’re glad to see someone actually fix up a car that they used to have. Everybody always talks about the idea and wishes they could have restored their vehicles, but I actually did it. Anybody can go out and buy a car, fixed up, but it is just signing a check. This car right here? I put blood, sweat and tears in it.”