Paul Springer smiles with Zeus, a car he built and loves, but recently sold.
About five years ago Battle Ground’s Paul Springer was watching television and came across a show about building classic cars.
“I was hooked,” Springer said. “Their creators were inspiring and I wanted to build my own oversized auto.”
This is where the inception of “Zeus” the car began.
Springer, age 67, said Zeus’ design comes from his admiration of boat-tail speedsters and race cars from the late 1920s and early 1930s. He said when the project began, the first piece needed was a cool, big engine to build around. He found one at a truck museum in Brooks, Oregon. According to Springer the engine is between a 1928 to 1932 model and there were likely less than 100 of them ever built. He said this particular engine came from a fire truck.
“After seeing how cool this engine was and being ready to go with radiator and transmission, it was a perfect match for our project,” Springer said. “Now that we had an engine it was time to start collecting the rest of the car.”
With the help of friend Don Luttmers, Springer began acquiring parts. During the project Springer’s wife, Crystal, would call Luttmers her husband’s second wife because they would work together on it almost every day. A source for parts was Mark Brislawn from Vancouver, who Springer said either gave him what he needed or sold it to him for a reasonable cost.
“He supplied the chassis, headlights, 1918 Studebaker cowl, 1947 Hudson hood, Chrysler steering box, rear light bracket and other parts as needed,” Springer said. “He was also a big help in mocking up the body to get it to look right.”
Springer said when Zeus was born about three and a half years ago, the car immediately started turning heads.
“Wherever this car has gone, it’s a show winner,” Springer said. “You don’t want to be parked next to me, it gets all the attention. I’d be lined up with 50 Ferraris and it’ll get more attention.”
In August 2016, Zeus and Springer were filmed for an episode of the television series Restoration Garage. On the show, which has since aired, Springer said they valued Zeus at $100,000.
“This car may not be mythological, but from the attention and looks that it gets, it’s close,” Springer said. “The name Zeus seems appropriate, so that is the name it is going to go through life with.”
Springer said Zeus will always be his car no matter who technically owns it, and those days are numbered. Due to health issues and downsizing of his garage, Zeus was recently sold to a man in Denver.
“He flew out, has 36 cars and is a really nice guy,” Springer said. “Zeus is going to a good home with him. He’s a car guy through and through.”
Last week Springer shipped Zeus to Jacksonville because the new owner will be driving it in the 2017 Great Race next month — a large antique, vintage and collector car, controlled-speed competition and rally lasting thousands of miles. The 2017 route begins in Jacksonville, crosses through seven states and ends in Traverse City, Michigan. Paul and Crystal will accompany Zeus on the nine day trip in a rental car, mostly for fun, but also as a farewell tour of sorts with Zeus.
Zeus weighs about 6,000 pounds and gets no more than five or six miles per gallon, but Springer said the old hoss will do just fine.
“It’s never let me down and never had any issues,” Springer said. “I can’t imagine he (new owner) will have any trouble with it in the Great Race.”
Springer is excited for Zeus’ new owner but admits he will miss the car.
“I’ll never have another car like it. The driving experience in Zeus cannot be replaced,” Springer said.
