Sunday, September 21, 2003
The Sunfalier will be on display at GM's Lordstown assembly plant this month.
By MARALINE KUBIK
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
CANFIELD -- Put a bunch of kids who are crazy about cars in a room full of tools and a couple of cars and what do you get?
Sunfalier. The world's only stretch limousine made from a Lordstown-built Chevrolet Cavalier and a Lordstown-built Pontiac Sunfire.
General Motors donated both cars to the Mahoning County Career & amp; Technical Center for use in its collision repair and automotive technology programs.
"I asked the kids what kind of class project they wanted to work on," said Rich Kirkpatrick, instructor for the collision repair program, "and at first they wanted to build a car with two front ends because they saw pictures of one we did a few years ago. But I said we already did that and should do something different."
So, the class of 2002 decided to build a stretch limousine using the country's top-selling small cars rather than the luxury Lincolns and Cadillacs most often stretched into limousines.
For 21/2 hours a day, every day school was in session, class members worked on the limo.
They cut the Cavalier in half, stretched it 3 feet, reinforced the frame with steel tubing and began piecing the dream car together.
"There was a lot of learning involved," Kirkpatrick said. "They had to keep the wheel base square, keep the frame straight so it could be driven. Everything on the car is workable."
How project went
A Sunfire front end and rear spoiler were installed because the class thought the Pontiac looked sportier than the Cavalier, he said.
Class members also opted for bucket seats in front, two facing bench seats in back, plush carpeting, and a highly polished ceiling made of aircraft aluminum.
Toward the end of the school year, the class of 2003 started helping out, Kirkpatrick said, and by the time the class of 2002 was ready to graduate, the car was only about three weeks away from being ready for paint.
The class of 2003 resumed and finished the project just before graduation.
They painted the "Sunfalier" silver with a shimmering, blended lightening-bolt stripe that goes from purple to teal to raspberry. The Sunfalier, though roadworthy, cannot be driven on the street because cars donated by manufacturers have no title.
What student said
Kenny Dow, 18, a senior from West Branch High School who worked on the car, said he learned a lot from the project.
Building a limousine is too big a project for a home garage, he said. But, with all the right tools and know-how, it could be done, Dow added.
Whether he'll ever get involved in building another limousine is uncertain, Dow said. He still hasn't decided what he wants to do when he graduates.
The class of 2004 is discussing possible projects for this school year, Kirkpatrick said. "I'd like for it to be a one-year project so these kids could see it through from start to finish."
Ideally, he said, he'd like them to build a race car. Kirkpatrick said he would provide the car, parts and paint so he'd be able to drive it when it was finished.
However, the teacher said he is open to any ideas his students have and is willing to help with whatever they choose to do.
Class projects help inspire students to design things they may not otherwise have the opportunity to work on, and to use some of the high-tech equipment to do more than they would otherwise be required, said Robert Stephens, a supervisor at the school.
The Sunfalier will be on display at GM's Lordstown assembly plant later this month.
kubik@vindy.com