I’m sure you have heard the saying, “The family that prays and plays together, stays together”! The Rodgers family is truly a family that loves old cars and plays and works together all the time.

Dad Dean, Mom Martha and Daughter Jessica are truly a family that works, plays and enjoys old cars together. Every summer you can see them at Cruise Ins and car shows all over the State in one of their old vehicles. Today when I caught up with them, Dean was driving their 1948 Plymouth.

This car is a beauty to see. It was a project the whole family worked on together. While Dean and Jessica did the mechanic work putting together the beautiful engine that’s in the car, Martha was busy cleaning, polishing and working on the interior and exterior of the car. The end result was a classic 48 Plymouth that looks, sounds and runs great. When everyone sees that light blue Plymouth rolling in, they know that the Rodgers family has arrived.

The 1948 Plymouth he drives was a complete frame off restoration. Dean worked on that car for six years. He is the kind of guy that when you see him win an award you know he earned it. He and the family built his car from the frame up and did all the work themselves.

Dean has worked on cars since he was a young boy. He is a man of few words but really knows what he is doing when he gets to work on a car.

He has had a love of old Novas for many years and has brought several back to life. Right now the family is working on a 71 Nova for Jessica.

He has a reputation of helping other classic car owners get their car running and sounding great. The only problem he has is finding the time to get to everyone that needs his help. He stays busy all the time.

In fact, I am hoping he will have time to get to one of my old cars that needs attention. I can assure you when I get the car back it will be fixed right.

Martha loves the old cars also. She is always out helping get a car cleaned up and ready to show.. Now I’m not just talking interior. A friend of theirs had a beautiful car but the engine compartment was a mess. She told the owner of the car, “ You can’t show this car with the engine all dirty! Bring it over and I’ll clean it for you!” So he brought the car over and she got under the hood and cleaned that engine and compartment to where it shined like the rest of the car. She told me she finished that job looking like she had just changed the motor. She was grease and dirt from head to toe. Getting messy don’t bother Martha a bit as long as she can work on the old cars.

Jessica could be a whole story herself. She is 18 years old and loves the classic cars and classic car people. Anytime you see Mom and Dad you can bet Jessica will be with them talking to people and enjoying the Car Shows and Cruise Ins. All of the clubs in the area know Jessica for her hard work she does at these events. She or her Parents are not a member of any club but Jessica is always willing to help any of the clubs by selling their 50/50 tickets or passing out flyers or doing something to help out.

She was in need of a car to drive herself and when the time came to get one she told Mom and Dad she wanted a classic car. She sold her four wheeler and several of her items to buy a 1971 Nova that the family is working on together for her right now. They brought it to some of the events in the area and it’s turning out to be one sweet ride. Jessica is a friend to every car owner in the area. She is really a remarkable young lady.

At this event her cousin Brittney was with them. She also is a lover of the old cars and is with them quite often.

The Rodgers family is well know by everyone and people are happy to see them and talk with them. When you see that light blue Plymouth coming down the road throw up your hand and wave to Dean and family.  If your Car Club is having an event and you would like us to tell everyone about or someone who you would like to see featured in this article send all information to, djron47@yahoo.com