In January of this year, Paul Hutchinson, known for his jaw-dropping, custom automobiles, finished restoring his 1927 Model T. This torch-red classic has a custom frame and a Chevy 350 engine. The canvas roof panel was replaced by a ridged panel out of a 1958 Ford station wagon. Originally the gasoline tank sat between the passengers and the engine. Paul designed a new tank out of irrigation pipe that sits in the rear of the vehicle and a special, modern-style fuel door sits discreetly behind the driver-side door. The fresh, white interior is hand-sewn by Paul. The full restoration took roughly one year.

Paul graduated from auto body school in 1960. He said he enjoys this type of metal work as his father was a blacksmith at Oak. For a while, he ran the Superior Ford dealership body shop before building a body shop with a partner on the north end of Superior in 1972. Along with body repairs for insurance, he created a number of beatuiful and unique, custom hot rods. His favorite was a red 1969 Chevy pickup.

Eventually, when his son graduated auto body school in 1985, he became partners with his son. In the year 2000, Paul sold his side of the business to his son and opened a radiator business. Paul still does plenty of body work in a smaller body shop, though he no longer does insurance work. Currently he is restoring a 1937 Chevrolet pickup for Alan Christensen.