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By Lindsey Hilty, Staff Writer 3:39 PM Friday, July 30, 2010

LIBERTY TWP. — Just three months after the birth of his son Alec, Mike Theriault loaded his family into the car for a trip to Michigan.

After a three-year national search, he had just discovered his dream car — a 1969 Chevrolet Camaro RS/SS convertible — was for sale. It was 12 years ago, and like a proud parent, Theriault can remember the exact date — July 3 — that he laid eyes on his baby of the garnet red, black top, and black deluxe interior variety.

“I’ve always loved the styling of it,” he said.

The frame was restored in 1989, and in 2004, he began transforming the car to “Pro Touring” capacity, giving it a modern sports car performance ability but maintaining the exterior appearance.

“It’s built to perform as well as newer cars,” he said.

Highlights of the 417 cubic-inch small block Chevrolet include 513 dyno-proven horsepower, a Tremec TKO 600 five-speed transmission, a Global West Cat 5 suspension and Wilwood disc brakes.

The latest restoration of his “classic muscle car,” which has 78,000 original miles, he said, was converting it to FAST XFI electronic fuel injection, making it start, idle and drive as well as new cars.

“There are no immediate plans for additional improvements — only routine maintenance where my youngest son Owen is learning basic mechanics,” he said. “I built this car to drive, and I’m enjoying taking the family on short trips, to the occasional cruise in and to the drive in movies later this summer.”

The work, he said, is a stress reliever from his day job as a director of sales. Since age 16, he has worked on motorized vehicles. The passion, he said, has led to a side business, Select Automotive Group LLC., where he acts as a private agent for classic, luxury or exotic car seekers.

“Everybody knows I’m a car guy,” he said. “Every year it’s a little of this and a little of that to improve it. It’s very satisfying and gratifying to see the fruits of your labor and then be able to drive it.”

Contact this reporter at (513) 755-5067 or lhilty@coxohio.com.

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Indeed, concerning the human interest stories.

And, unfortunately, the typical rocket scientists posting here over the last couple of years have reduced the stories users CAN comment on only to stories like this otherwise it becomes a free-for-all of morons and trashy people name-calling and basically acting like they where never taught any manners.

And they wonder why they call it Hamiltucky.

Funny Story
4:40 PM, 7/30/2010

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@News?: It's called "human interest" stories. It's the same reason why you hear about firemen rescuing kittens from trees or long lost brothers finding out they live across the street from each other. It's not meant to be hard hitting news and it is meant to break up the monotony of regular news stories.

Yes, news
4:33 PM, 7/30/2010

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Don't be too sure they won't.

J-N is a joke
4:27 PM, 7/30/2010

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Can anybody explain to me how or why this is newsworthy? So the guy found a car. Good for him. Yesterday I found a sock I've been looking for. Will you write a story about me?

News?
4:16 PM, 7/30/2010

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