Mike Schultz has an extensive collection of vintage vehicles, gas station memorabilia, and signs from the 1950s. He restored a 1951 Chevy truck that now has a loud orange paint job and custom modifications like a Pontiac hood ornament. Schultz also built a replica 1950s gas station next to his house, which includes a retro diner inside. He enjoys preserving pieces of history through his collecting and restoration projects.

1. Man’s love of the past fuels his collection
By Mike McMillan
Independent Mail
Mike Schultz’s business card calls himself the “doctorofstrange.” He seems
normal enough, except that he has a vintage gas station in his front yard. And a
‘50s-style diner behind that. And he has an antique sign collection that would make
any picker weep.
Shultz is more than a car collector. He deals in all manner of memorabilia, and cars
happen to be just part of the mix. His collection is so large that it won’t fit in just
one Motor Mouth column.
“I’ve been a collector all my life,” he said.
His cars include a ‘48 Chevy truck, a classic Mustang and an original Beetle
convertible. He even restored a horse-drawn carriage.
Still, his high schooldream car was a 1951 Chevy, which he spent two years
restoring and modifying.
While all 1951 Chevys had straight-sixes, this one comes with a beastly 454 V-8
with a mean cam that makes it sound lumpier than a gravel pit at idle.
As the engine suggests, the Chevy is a long way from stock. The outside is a loud
shade of orange with pinstriping and a flying eyeball design on the continental kit
out back.
The hood ornament comes from a Pontiac of the same era, much like the ‘56 I
wrote about a couple of months ago. Schultz said he always loved the light-up
Indian chief head, so he incorporated it into the Chevy.
The car itself is built on a 1977 Monte Carlo chassis. The grille is from a 1957
Corvette and is all chrome — with the exception of one gold “tooth.” The steering
wheel comes from an Impala.

2. The Chevy fits right in with his Shell gas station, built to the side of his house. It’s
a replica, of course, but it has old-style pumps from the days when gas was dealt in
cents per gallon and lead-laced fuel was the norm.
Schultz said it took him two years to build the gas station and three years to pay for
it. It’s a work of art that wouldn’t be possible in many parts of the country because
of zoning laws.
“You can’t build these anywhere else but in Hartwell,” he said.
Walk inside the gas station, and there’s a ‘50s-style diner with tables, jukeboxes
and a counter, along with a bunch of neon signs and memorabilia.
“I like to create and preserve the best of the past,”he said.
Schultz also builds couches and other furniture made from cars. They come from
the trunks of cars like a ‘56 DeSoto or ‘56 Ford Crown Victoria. He said car parts
are so hard to find that he has to charge high prices for them. Still, they’re works of
art with working lights and all the trim.
In front of his shop are a couple of front ends from a Studebaker and Ford that he
plans on making into a desk.
The walls of his shop are stacked floor to ceiling with vintage metal and neon
signs. One interesting piece is a metal “car hop” with a motor-driven waving arm.
He said he works on these pieces, even though demand has been flagging.
“Neon is getting to be a lost art,” he said. “It seems all I work on is disappearing.”
1951 CHEVROLET FACTS*
Base price: $1,385 ($12,691 today)
Wheelbase: 115 inches
Curb weight: 3,125 pounds
Engine: OHV straight-six (216.5 cubic inch)
Compressionratio: 6.6 to 1
Output: 92 horsepower @ 3,400 rpm
Torque: 176 @ 1,000 rpm

3. Brakes: 11-inch hydraulic drums, front & rear
Differential ratio: 4.11
*These figures are for a stock1951 Chevy. This car has been highly modified from
factory condition.
Source: Classic Car Database
COMING CRUISE-INS & CAR SHOWS
Saturday
Pelzer Church of God Car Show. 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. All vehicles and motorcycles
are welcome. Registration is $15 from 10 a.m. to noon with awards at 1:30 p.m.
There will be music, doorprizes, food, games and more. For more information,
call 864-434-3865. Proceeds will go to mission trips.
Marathon Christian Cruisers Cruise-In. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fatz Cafe, U.S. 123,
Easley. All vehicles are welcome with doorprizes, 50/50, music, food (free dessert
with lunch purchase and car entry).
Keeping it Country Car Show. 3 to 7 p.m. Sue’s Wings & Things, Exit 27 off I-85
on S.C. 81, Anderson. All cars, trucks and motorcycles are welcome. Registration
is $25 from 3 to 5:30 on the day of the show. Re-registration is $20. Awards will
be at 7 p.m., with these classes: Cars, trucks, hot rods, motorcycles and best of
show. Judging starts at 5:30 p.m. There will be live music, food, doorprizes, 50/50
and a raffle. For more info, call 864-982-0990. Register by phone or email,
davidcraigband@gmail.com.
Jeep Night at Seneca Family Restaurant. 5 to 9 p.m., 515 Bypass 123, Seneca. All
Jeeps are welcome. There will be music, doorprizes, 50/50 and food. Formore
info, call 864-247-8816 or 864-710-0035.