Prepare for a cruise into the world of Shane McMullen, a hot rod hero who’s got more passion for pistons than a politician has for pork-barrel spending.

This Fresno-based hot rodder has taken his love for classic cars and turned it into a full-blown obsession that would make Freud reach for a wrench instead of his notepad.

The Early Years

Shane’s affair with automobiles started earlier than most kids learn to tie their shoelaces. As he puts it, “At a young age, I think I was just hooked on cars immediately. I was surrounded by it with my dad and my grandfather.” The kid was born with motor oil in his veins and a timing belt for a umbilical cord. While most toddlers were playing with Hot Wheels, young Shane was probably calculating compression ratios in his crib.

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Apparently, Fresno in the 1970s was the place to be if you had a penchant for power and a fetish for fenders. Shane reminisces, “The ’70s car culture was pretty cool at the time in Fresno. There was a lot going on here. A lot of hot rodding, chopper building.”

It was like “American Graffiti” meets “Easy Rider,” with a dash of Central Valley dust thrown in for good measure. I can almost smell the burning rubber and hear the distant echo of Beach Boys tunes wafting through the air.

From Hobby to Hot Rod Haven

As Shane’s passion for cars grew, so did his skill set. He recalls, “As soon as I could drive my own car, I always worked on my own cars.” This guy was so dedicated to the craft, he probably changed his oil more often than he changed his socks. His devotion paid off, as he explains, “I’ve worked at hot rod shops since right out of high school. And then now it’s, you know, I have my own shop now.”

Talk about turning your passion into a paycheck — it’s the American Dream with a side of grease and elbow grease.

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The Holy Grail: A ’55 Chevy Barn Find

Shane stumbled upon the hot rod equivalent of the Lost Ark — a 1955 Chevy that had been tucked away in a barn for over three decades. As Shane puts it, “It was preserved. It was a one-owner car, a lady owned it. So it was never hot-rodded. It was just a bone stock ’55.” This find was rarer than a politician with integrity.

Instead of giving this classic a modern makeover, Shane decided to keep it as original as possible while still injecting some serious horsepower under the hood. He explains, “I couldn’t come to making a modern car out of it. Not that I don’t like those cars, but my, I’ve always liked this style of car where it’s a stock car that’s been hot-rodded and nothing on the car is modern.”

It’s like he’s created a time machine with a turbocharger — preserving the past while still being able to smoke the tires off any modern muscle car foolish enough to challenge it at a stoplight.

Hunting for Historical Horsepower

Building this beauty wasn’t just about slapping on some parts from a catalog. Shane turned it into a scavenger hunt of epic proportions.

“You’re finding these parts. You’re tracking these parts down. It’s a hunt. It’s a chase,” he says. Think of his effort as an Indiana Jones movie, only our hero is after vintage and period-correct parts. Finding the right parts for this beast was probably harder than finding a vegetarian at a Texas barbecue.

One of the most heartwarming aspects of Shane’s journey is the community he’s built along the way.

“I’ve met so many guys along the way that are like-minded and I’ve made friends with them because of it. I’ve got friends all over the place,” he says.  A car guy’s social network, but instead of sharing cat videos, these guys are swapping carburetor tips and transmission tricks. Who needs Facebook when you’ve got Fenderbook?

The result of Shane’s labor of love is nothing short of spectacular. He proudly states, “You can kind of see the interior. It’s pretty much original except the seat had been recovered and new carpet, but the door panels, the dash, everything’s all like it was back then.” It’s like stepping into a time machine, but one that can do a quarter-mile in under 12 seconds. This ’55 Chevy isn’t just a car; it’s a rolling museum piece with a pulse-pounding heartbeat.

“I’d like to see like younger guys getting more into it. ‘Cause I feel like there’s less and less guys getting into the scene and it’d be cool to see more and more of that happening in these types of cars running around town.” It’s a call to arms for the next generation of gear monkeys, a plea to keep the spirit of hot rodding alive in an age of electric cars and autonomous driving.

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Riding Off into the Sunset and Burning Some Rubber

As our journey with Shane comes to an end, we’re left with the image of a man who’s turned his passion into his profession, his hobby into his livelihood. He reflects, “Cars have been my entire life. Like I said, I don’t like sports or much else. I just love cars. That’s all I do.” And you know what? In a world that’s increasingly digital, virtual, and disconnected, there’s something beautifully tangible about a guy who can take a pile of parts and turn it into a roaring, fire-breathing machine.

So here’s to Shane McMullen and all the other hot rod heroes out there. They’re not just preserving cars; they’re keeping a piece of American culture alive. They’re the keepers of the flame, the guardians of the grease, the sultans of spark plugs. And as long as there are guys like Shane out there, the spirit of hot rodding will continue to burn rubber long into the future.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got a sudden urge to go start looking for my own barn find. After all, as Shane would say, “They’re never done. They’re not brand new cars. They’re full of old parts and put together in your garage. They will never perfect.”

And you know what? In a world obsessed with perfection, there’s something perfectly imperfect about that.

About the Author

GV Wire Producer Dean Kirkland is the founder and director of Gas and Gears, an independent film production company that has produced numerous television series and feature films, including the award-winning documentary “Racing Through The Forest” (2014).