On a couple of acres in the middle of Wyoming, it does not take a lot of imagination to envision a popular kids movie about vintage cars come to life before your eyes.
Inside a fence next to a building sits a tow truck that resembles Mater from the hit animated movie “Cars.” In real life, this rusted-out hulk once towed a lot of wrecks around Hulett, Wyoming.
There’s also a 1954 Ford Skyliner with a jet-like hood ornament and rare glass top, and a 1956 DeSoto that had power windows — one of 5,600 made that year.
There are vehicles that once drove the roadways of South Dakota, Montana, Utah, Chicago and Maine.
“I went all the way to New Mexico for this car,” said Steven Murphy, standing next to the DeSoto. He intends to create a type of “Disneyland” for car restorers on his property. He does not yet want to advertise his exact location until his vision becomes more reality.
What is real on the acreage is an eclectic collection of vintage autos, some crashed, some with motors gone. There are convertibles without the tops, bumpers missing and bent and upholstery that is torn and tattered.
There are Plymouth Barricudas and Dodge Darts “that once terrorized the streets” and generated high insurance bills, as well as a couple of 1960s Plymouth Belvederes, similar to ones used by legendary racer Richard Petty on NASCAR tracks.
But to the 41-year-old who has spent nearly 30 years restoring cars, they all look like jewels in the rough or a “blank canvas” waiting for an artist.
Murphy, moved to central Wyoming after spending several years in Star Valley. His dream is a facility where car gurus and restorers can gather and in an almost assembly-line way take a wreck into one side of a building and bring it out the other side a jewel.
Life Of Restoring Cars
“This is a snowball effect of restoring cars for the past nearly 30 years and just wanting to do more, faster and better, and it just turned into ‘we need a place to do this,’” Murphy said. “We have a future restoration shop, it’s not quite there yet but we are working on it. Right now, it is a bunch of old cars, old buildings and projects.”
Murphy said he has always worked on cars, his first was a 1971 Dodge Demon that was passed down through the family. He kept up his passion through high school and it “progressively got worse.”
“I call it my addiction,” he said.
He estimates he has worked on 30 car restoration projects with others, 10 of them “completes” where he has taken the project from beginning to end. Most of his learning has come from hands-on experiences and talking with experts, though he has taken college courses for body work.
His main interests are in 1950s and ‘60s era Chrysler cars, but there are Fords and others on the property.
Most of the collection can be traced to his trip to see a man about two cars and then deciding to purchase his entire collection. Murphy agrees that the collection has some resemblance to the 2006 movie “Cars” about old automobiles in a high-desert town.
“Sometimes I worry about crossing my vision with the Disney movie,” he said. “Although, I’ve been doing this before ‘Cars’ came out, and I love ‘Cars.’”
Murphy emphasized the vehicles on his property are future restoration projects. He does not sell car parts and is not interested in selling what is there.
He just traveled to Maine to bring back two Chevy Blazers as part of a project for an individual. One Blazer will be parts for the other. Once finished, he will transport them back to Maine.
Restored Blazers are selling anywhere from $45,000 to $100,000.
“The Blazers are really popular,” he said. Murphy said he also has helped a partner in Nevada restore Broncos, but the Blazers are now more in demand.
Steven Murphy with a Blazer he brought from Maine for restoration. When restored, Blazers can fetch from $45,000 to $100,000. (Dale Killingbeck, Cowboy State Daily) 
1954 Pontiac Chieftain is among Steven Murphy’s collection. He purchased it in Montana. (Dale Killingbeck, Cowboy State Daily) 
A tow truck that towed many a wreck around Hulett, Wyoming sits in a central Wyoming location awaiting restoration. (Dale Killingbeck, Cowboy State Daily) 
The interior of the DeSoto Fireflite was coveted in its day. It had a clock above the dashboard. (Dale Killingbeck, Cowboy State Daily) 
The jet airplane hood ornament on the 1954 Ford Skyliner. (Dale Killingbeck, Cowboy State Daily) 
The trunk of the 1960 Impala could double as a picnic table – it is huge and flat. (Dale Killingbeck, Cowboy State Daily) 
The glass roof on the 1954 Ford Skyliner. Steven Murphy has found a rare replacement for it. (Dale Killingbeck, Cowboy State Daily) 
A 1956 Plymouth Savoy, Steven Murphy said the taillights look similar to those on a 1957 Chevy which was the most popular vehicle of that year. (Dale Killingbeck, Cowboy State Daily)
Dream Destination
Murphy’s dream destination for car restoration enthusiasts includes having a sand-blasting space, acid dipping tank, paint booth and all the other components of car restoration to make it a one-stop shop.
He said he would work on his own projects while others would bring in their own restorations. Murphy said he views it as a “collective” or “school of restoration.”
He has spoken with friends and acquaintances who are mechanics, upholstery and auto body experts who would be willing to work and teach at the facility once the buildings are ready. He has no firm timeline.
“I have talked to them about coming out and spending a few weeks or a month or two, most of them are of retirement age,” he said. “They’ve told me when you get up and running, I will be over. They will do trainings or whatever. Essentially, this will be the car restorers Disneyland.”
For Murphy, the wrecks waiting behind his fences will keep him busy for years ahead.
His vision for the tow truck that resembles Mater is to restore mechanical parts but leave the “patina” that includes a Triple-A logo on the back of the cab and iconic Phillips 66 logo on its doors.
Murphy’s 1966 Plymouth Belvedere convertible boasts head rests and head rests weren’t standard until 1969 or mandated. He said the Belvederes when restored make “a beautiful cruiser” because of their body lines.
Convertible Restoration
Restoring a convertible is a lot harder because of the convertible top.
“It’s not something that every restorer can do because you have to finagle and finess and know how to trip the top so when the top closes it seals across your top and when it opens it is not ripping or tearing or getting stuck,” Murphy said. “It takes a lot of time and a lot of patience and a lot of adjustments to do a convertible top.”
He estimates the restored value of a Belvedere at $25,000 to $75,000 depending on the engine and transmission.
But he warns that putting $35,000 into the restoration effort is not out of the question. That’s why he wants to have his own facility with all the equipment at one location to bring costs down.
Murphy estimates the high-end of restored cars now averages around $250,000 versus $100,000 not that many years ago. But value depends on demand and what a person is willing to pay.
Murphy said some of the cars he has only cost him $100, and others thousands — even in their wrecked condition.
Among his rarer cars is a 1966 Dodge Coronet 500 big block convertible that had a 383 motor, four-barrel carberators, power windows, and power top. It is one of just 666 made that year.
Another rare find is the 1954 Ford Skyliner with the glass top and the hood ornament that looks like a jet aircraft. He has found a glass top replacement that is in good shape to replace the cracked on in the vehicle.
On oddity sitting among his collection is a 1962 Plymouth Savoy that Chrysler tried to design with a European influence. The model did not sell well and was only made that year.
“They are just really weird looking,” Murphy said. “It’s loved by collectors because it is an oddball.”
A Dodge convertible in the collection, awaiting the hands of a craftsman. Convertibles bring more money, but a more work to restore. (Dale Killingbeck, Cowboy State Daily) 
The Triple-A logo on the back the GMC tow truck is faded. Owner Steven Murphy said when its restored, he plans to keep the exterior “patina.” (Dale Killingbeck, Cowboy State Daily) 
The classic Fireflite markings on the engine in the 1956 DeSoto Fireflite purchased from New Mexico. (Dale Killingbeck, Cowboy State Daily) 
The engine in Steven Murphy’s non-ending project car, a 1969 Dodge Dart. (Dale Killingbeck, Cowboy State Daily) 
A 1966 Plymouth Belvedere convertible with head rests – a rare option. (Dale Killingbeck, Cowboy State Daily) 
A 1956 Dodge Royal Lancer offered air conditioning by catching air and circulating it inside. (Dale Killingbeck, Cowboy State Daily) 
The Phillips 66 logo on the door of the GMC tow truck from Hulett, Wyoming. (Dale Killingbeck, Cowboy State Daily)
‘Ridiculous’ Trunk
He also has a unique four-door 1960 Chevy Impala that has no door posts between the front and rear passenger windows. Its trunk looks more like a huge table.
“I would like to speak with the engineer that did these … these back ends look live ‘50s carnival rides. I love them, but they are a bit ridiculous,” he said.
Just across the field is the two-door 1956 DeSoto with a Hemi engine. Murphy said he saw it for sale on the Internet and “had to have it” because not many of them were made. DeSoto began as its own brand, was purchased by Chrysler the late 1920s, and phased out by Chrysler in the early 1960s.
In his garage, Murphy shows off his own restored 1960 Chevy Impala convertible.
“This car is a blast to drive, it is gorgeous, we used it at my wedding,” he said. “I’ve taken it to car shows and its won awards.”
Next to it is his forever “learning car,” a 1969 Dodge Dart.
“Every time I put it together, I tear it apart and redo it. I started that project back in 2001 or 2002 and it’s never been finished,” he said. “It comes together and then I take it apart and redo it. … We’ve redone the interior twice and every time it gets a little bit cooler and a little bit better. It’s been more a learning thing for me. I’ve perfected my craft on it.”
In his car restoration world, Murphy said the bottom line always comes down to time. He believes everything is fixable, but cost will depend on the time it takes to fix it — so choosing the right project and having logistics in place to condense time is important.
For Murphy, the love of cars ultimately will become a collaboration and fellowship with others of like minds. He plans to keep driving himself toward that dream.
“The best part about cars, honestly, is that the cars are fun but it’s relationships with the people that you meet and the stories that you can tell,” he said. “A car is worthless without a good story.”
Dale Killingbeck can be reached at dale@cowboystatedaily.com.
