Story by Sean Smith
Photos by Smith unless otherwise noted
Read Part 1 All in the family
Read Part 2 The Big Ouch
March 1, 2018—two days before Walt Eisenstark’s SIATA goes on a truck to take its trip down to Amelia Island—work continues.
It’s not like the automotive reality shows where everyone is running in circles throwing parts around and some heavily tattooed owner is screaming “if it’s not done in the next 8 hours it won’t be on the truck and it won’t get to auction and we won’t make a huge profit and you’ll all be fired!” This is Automotive Restorations, Inc. Everything is moving along smoothly with a purpose—no histrionics, just pure, professional calm. Everything gets done, no show-boating. The SIATA goes out for a drive on the last day of February: no seat, but a very nice milk carton in its place. The car has never run better; it now idles beautifully and pulls strongly to 5000 RPM.