Rick Sabella Jr. of Philipsburg, a well driller by trade, has fashioned his family's love for cars into a time-consuming hobby. Mr. Sabella has restored a 1972 Chevelle SS and is working on several other restoration projects. His Chevelle has won numerous awards in car shows across the state, including best of show. (Photo by Josh Woods)

Mr. Sabella credits his family with instilling those values. His fiancee, Kristin; mother, Lee Ann; father, Rick Sr.; uncle, Nick Sabella; and his grandparents have all positively influenced and encouraged him.

The result, he says, has been a successful venture into his father's business, and a rewarding car-restoration hobby. Rick, a 2005 graduate of Clarion University of Pennsylvania, helps his father operate Centre Drilling Inc. and spends time with his dad and uncle at the Nick Sabella Racing garage in Chester Hill working on vintage vehicles.

His car-restoration hobby began with a four-speed 1972 Chevelle SS with a 396 big block engine. He purchased the vehicle from an individual in Munson while in high school. Prior to the purchase, the car had been in the area since the early 1990s.

According to Mr. Sabella, the car had a pretty solid frame and body mounts when it was purchased. His uncle, Nick Sabella, had rebuilt the motor in it for its previous owner.

The restoration process involved installing a drive train, replacing the lower, back quarter panels, retooling the suspension, completing bodywork and painting the exterior of the car. A new interior was also installed. About 95 percent of the restoration work was done "in house," Mr. Sabella said, with the exception being the seat liners and interior head cover.

"My family's always been into (restoring cars)," said Mr. Sabella. "My great-grandfather had a scrap yard, my grandfather has always been into trucks - we're doing a truck for him right now - my dad was always into cars, and my uncle has Nick Sabella Racing and has always been into it. My uncle Nick has restored several cars for customers and has done a couple for his own."

The Chevelle project blossomed out of hands-on experience painting a Ford Tempo. Mr. Sabella completed the work on his vehicle at his uncle's garage and learned he was able to do the work on his own. Before long, his uncle made him a deal. The deal was that if Mr. Sabella would come down and do the work, his uncle would house the project and loan him the money to do it.

That was, of course, as long as he kept current on his bills and showed responsibility.

Mr. Sabella worked on the project throughout high school and college and finished the project in 2003. Shortly thereafter, Mr. Sabella began displaying the Chevelle at various car show competitions with his family. He began with the Osceola Mills, Heritage Days and Curwensville Days annual car shows and grew into larger shows in Bellefonte, Clarion, State College and Portage.

His decision to show the car was met with immediate success.

Mr. Sabella has won 51 awards in 55 competition car shows. His Chevelle won its 50th award in 2008 and has taken four best of show awards, four people's choice awards and two owner's choice awards.

"When we worked on it, we were very meticulous," said Mr. Sabella. "You have to have an eye for detail when you do this type of work."

The accolades, however, have not been his motivation. His motivation comes from his desire for knowledge.

"It's a great learning experience," said Mr. Sabella. "You get hooked. As soon as the paint goes on, you want to go out and find another car even though that one isn't done yet.

"Since I finished the Chevelle, I've gotten five project cars in the last 24 months. I've learned how to paint, how to weld, how to do body work ... it's pretty cool."

The Chevelle was the first of many projects. Under Mr. Sabella's current care are a 1967 Camaro, 1970 GTO and a 1972 Corvette. Next in line is a 1952 F2 Ford pickup, a project undertaken in honor of Rick's grandfather, Nick Sr.

"That's the cool part about it ... getting to spend time with my family," said Mr. Sabella. "My grandfather has always liked older trucks. That's kind of our goal right now is to finish the truck for him."

In the long term, Mr. Sabella hopes to prepare the GTO for the International Show Car Association's indoor show and the Corvette for National Corvette Restorers Society top-flight competition.

Until then, he plans to keep on top of the car world. When he's not taking part in hands-on experience at the garage, he delves into the latest issues of Car Craft, Popular Hot Rodding and Hot Rod Magazine to keep up on the latest car news.

One of the most intriguing items he has come across, he said, is the production and usage of ethanol. Mr. Sabella has studied the topic extensively and has taken a pro-ethanol stance.

Ethanol has between 15 and 25 percent less BTU than gasoline, and it can run a much higher compression ratio due to the octane level. The higher the compression ratio, the more efficient a car will run.

"Ethanol, E85, only has 15 percent gasoline content," said Mr. Sabella. "Therefore, it has 85 percent less carbon emissions into the air. It has outstanding octane properties to it, whereas if you have a higher octane, you run a higher compression, meaning more horsepower. In a nutshell, we're going to run faster, we're going to run cooler and we're going to save the environment."

If the production of ethanol becomes sustainable in Pennsylvania, Mr. Sabella believes there could be a market for upgrading fuel systems in vehicles to handle ethanol. Ethanol has corrosive properties - properties that could be detrimental to an ill-prepared vehicle. When ethanol is exposed to air and hydrogen (like water moisture), it turns corrosive.

"I think cars have come a long way over the years," said Mr. Sabella. "Things are different now from when my uncle and grandfather got into cars. It's pretty cool."

Large and in charge - This 1972 hugger orange Chevelle SS with a 396 big block engine was restored by Rick Sabella Jr. of Philipsburg. Mr. Sabella graduated from Clarion University of Pennsylvania in 2005 with a Bachelor of Science degree in communication and is employed by Centre Drilling Inc. (Photo by Josh Woods)