Meet Chuck and Terri Reynolds of New Smyrna Beach, Florida and their gorgeous ‘34 Roadster Hi-Boy. Chuck worked for the Miami Police Department for 25 years, then spent another 11 in Miami as Chief Investigator at the State Attorney’s Office. He’s dodged bullets, chased crooks and solved murder mysteries. His wife, Terri, also worked for a time too as a police officer for Miami Dade. Chuck was, and still is, one tough dude, but nothing would prepare him for the fight that he was about to undertake: looking for a suitable donor for a kidney transplant.
Chuck lost his mother at the age of 12 and his father worked hard with very few resources to keep the kids in school and provide for them. Hot Rod Magazine, muscle cars and the Beach Boys were a huge part of his universe as a kid, inspring him from afar. He dreamed of waves and hot rods, and while there wasn’t a lot of money to go around, they got by. Chuck got an education and vaguely hoped that someday he might have his own hot rod, like the ones he’d daydreamed over as a boy.
Chuck says that not having much money in his youth taught him to be very conservative with his money and thus – in the hunt for a dream car – he just couldn’t pull the trigger for the going rate of a classic rod. Then, after working so hard all their lives, an unexpected turn of events led them to a serious health issue for Chuck. He needed a kidney transplant just to stay alive. He was put on the donor list and the search was on. Only one in 30,000 spouses are found to be a match, but Terri, his wife of 40 years, was found to be a suitable donor. She donated one of her kidneys on Dec 7th, 2005 and gave Chuck a new lease on life!
Chuck had recently been bugging her about a hot rod but again, he just couldn’t rationalize spending that kind of money. Up stepped Terri. She scoured the classifieds, finding this ’34 Ford nearby and they both drove right over to Apopka to check it out. Chuck had no idea, but once he drove it and liked it she just said to him, “I’m buying it for you!” He was speechless in the face of the gift of his first Street Rod!
The Reynolds’ have upgraded the tires, wheels, and shocks and their son gave them the 44 Magnum shifter handle to help “personalize” the car. It’s powered by a Chevy 350 and 4-speed transmission. The Downs Fiberglass Body with VDO gauges, tilt steering wheel and Hurst shifter gets it on down the road. A rumble seat, suicide doors, four wheel disc brakes, and Corvette independent rear suspension with chrome axles add the flair. The front-end is a Super Bell drop axle, Chrome 4-link rack and pinion steering with chrome wishbones and chrome Mustang spindles. New American Racing Torque Thrust II wheels (17×7 fronts, 20×10 rears) with BF Goodrich rubber lets her roll!
Chuck is doing quite well with his donated kidney, but he’s even better because the love of his life is sitting right next to him as he cruises to the various shows in the area, all the while so very thankful to be alive. Terri is his rock and they are still so much in LOVE! It’s a true love affair alright, and the greatest gift anyone could receive. Terri is so happy that Chuck will be around for quite a while yet sharing their gifts – each other – and this cool roadster!
Congratulations Chuck and Terri on all counts!!
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