For years, CMM photographers Robert Clark and Jeff Amberg have had a growing interest in antique cars and trucks. Unleashed to pursue their passions with their cameras in hand, they have compiled fascinating shots of local collectors and their prized possessions. After all, the only difference between men and boys is the price and size of their toys!
Fred Senn has called West Columbia home for his entire life and started working on trucks right out of high school. Fred, who owns several trucks and is a member of the Columbia Classic Chevy Club, uses advanced designs in making an old truck new again. Using his great building skills, he built the cargo hold and the wooden back bed on his blue 1952 pickup. Photography by Robert Clark.
Mike Kelly’s vehicles are known for their cleanness and attention to detail and usually win the cleanest truck or car category in car shows. Now retired, Mike (pictured below) was born and raised in West Columbia. He is a member of the Columbia Classic Chevy Club and has remodeled cars for 45 years. His solid gray truck is a 1949 Chevy, 3100 1/2-ton truck, and his two-tone regal turquoise and ivory Chevy Belair is a 1955 model. When looking at his models, the sense of his abilities that ensure the details and neatness come through. Recently, his Belair appeared in a movie made in Columbia called Accidental Love. Photography by Robert Clark.
For Columbia native Murray Oliphant, collecting General Motors cars for the past 10 years has been the compilation of a lifetime of loving old cars. He has been interested in cars since high school and was always envious of Chevelles, Impalas, Trans Ams, Firebirds and GTOs. With a collection of 30 cars, Murray (pictured opposite top) only trusts Ralph Zeagler with all of the mechanics, and Richard Wright, Jr. (pictured above and opposite bottom left) of Richard Wright’s body shop with the bodywork. Murray does his best to buy cars that have not had a lot of replacement parts and puts the car back together with its original pieces and paint job. When asked if they are for sale, without hesitation he will answer, “Yes, all of them will be for sale.” Photography by Jeff Amberg.
