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FAMILY TRADITION: Brandon Elks restored the classic Chevrolet with his father, and his wife Andrea is now a fan as well.

CHOCOWINITY — Charlie Elks and Brandon Elks didn’t miss out on the classic rides gene.

Following in the footsteps of their father, David Elks, the brothers are both enamored of automobiles that hit the highways long before either was born.

All three Elks men were heavily involved in founding the annual Spring Heat auto show, a fundraiser for the Chocowinity Fire Department. And, like their dad, Charlie and Brandon admit to having favorites among the family’s classic car collection.

1960

Brandon Elks’ pride and joy is a bright red 1960 Chevrolet Impala. He was but a youngster of 8 or 9 when he helped his father restore the automobile.

“My dad has worked on cars his whole life, but this is the first one we did together,” Elks recalled. “We’ve probably worked on 15 or so since then.”

The restoration process included extensive body work, replacing the motor and refurbishing the car’s upholstery.

“It’s more of a show car,” said Elks, who has entered the car in automobile shows throughout the area. “It’s won many a best in show trophy. It’s definitely an attention getter.”

At age 14, Elks borrowed money from his father and grandfather and began dealing in new and used Impala, GTO and Trans Am parts. He still sells them at swap meets and through his Facebook page, BCD Classic Car Parts; the business incorporates Brandon, Charlie and David in its name.

Now a paramedic, Elks manages to find time for his hobby/side vocation.

“I enjoy working on cars,” he said. “I enjoy taking something that looks terrible, that somebody says can’t be fixed, and making it look good again.”

1969

Like his younger brother, Charlie Elks finds satisfaction in turning what some may consider scrap metal into the car of his dreams.

In his case, that car is a white and blue 1969 Pontiac Firebird.

“I finished it about 12 years ago, the year Regina and I got married, and I had started it about two years before that,” Elks said of the Firebird. “It’s designed to look like a Trans Am.”

The car had been wrecked when he purchased it, and a second one he used for parts, for $800 after seeing a newspaper advertisement.

“It was a basket case,” Elks admitted. “It was rusted out, so now there is all new sheet metal except for the top, which is original. It took a lot of time and a lot of money. At the time, you couldn’t buy reproduction parts so the rear tail panel and the hood were built by me and my dad.”

Elks credits his father and Jerrell Wilson, a fellow Pontiac buff, for helping him with the project.

“They inspired me to get it finished up,” he said.

The car has won several awards already, but Elks said he isn’t finished yet. He wants a new set of tires and wheels for the Firebird and he plans to change out the console and tail light wiring harness.

He is happy with an unusual touch he added: an authentic 1969 license plate featuring his initials, a sweet swap meet find.

Classic Rides is an ongoing series of articles showcasing automobiles of yesteryear and their proud Beaufort County owners.

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