[chopkins]

Hello and good tidings to all Pontiac fans wherever you may be. My name is Cary Hopkins and I have a story to share with you. My son, Joe Hopkins (aka Kokamo Joe) has documented the frame off restoration of a sure enough 1969 GTO on here. I say sure enough because it's a real GTO, not a clone like we see so many of nowadays. I feel that he did a professional job. As you may know he did this without my knowledge. It took him well over a year to complete this painstaking task. I work with Joe and see him almost everyday. We both associate with the same people, be it family or friends or clients. Lots of my (our) customers are best friends away from work. Together we manage ALine Auto Parts and Outdoor Power in Liberty Hill, Tx. I run the parts and Joe does the outdoor power. In the span of this year plus restoration roughly 100 or so people knew what he was doing under my nose. All of these people, including my dear wife Kay of 37 years (Joe's mom), my daughter, brothers, sisters, cousins, aunts, uncles, in-laws, friends, clients and just about everyone I know kept this secret all that time. I had no clue whatsoever! It's been several weeks now since he presented this car to me as a surprise gift for my 55th birthday. I had a 1969 GTO EXACTLY like this one when I was in high school and afterward (another story). Joe wanted to re-create that for me and he did one heck of a good job to impress his old man. The enormity of this project still leaves me in awe. It gives me a new purpose to enjoy my God given time left on this earth. This man(still a boy to me cause I'm his father) sacrificed many many manhours, thought, late nights in the shop including every evening, weekends, vacations and days off not to mention a whole bunch of money. He won't admit it but he probably came close to a divorce over this because he had a passion. Bear hugs to his wonderful wife Linda. I feel like I am the luckiest man on earth and that I have the best son and the greatest GTO anyone could ever have. I love this car and it ain't gonna go anywhere. Someday when I'm gone he might get it back! Thanks for reading my post and may the PONTIAC FORCE be with you! Turn it on, wind it up, blow it out, GTO!
Cary Hopkins