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Messenger-Inquirer, Owensboro, Ky., Suzi Bartholomy column
Sep 06, 2010 (Messenger-Inquirer - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) --
The car repair business grew, and he was able to quit mining, and for the past 20 years, he's owned and operated a body shop on Sycamore Street in Hartford where his son, Bunt, also works.
Geary's Body Shop mainly is a collision repair service, but the Gearys also restore old cars that have appeared in country music videos and at least two movies.
Geary started restoring vintage automobiles about 30 years ago.
"I would buy one, restore it and have to sell it. I was raising kids at the time, and something would come up that I needed money for," Geary said. "When the kids were grown, I quit selling the cars."
He hasn't counted them lately, but there are a bunch, he said.
The Gearys go to car shows almost every weekend, Bunt Geary said. Several years ago, a man who has connections to the entertainment industry asked Bunt if he and his dad would be interested in renting their cars for music videos and possibly movies.
Since that inquiry, Steve Geary's 1926 green Chevrolet has appeared in a film about Billy Graham. Recently, the car was chosen for the 2011 film "Water for Elephants" that's in post-production.
"I thought I was going to drive the car in the movie, but when we got there they wanted to have it parked in front of a house," Steve Geary said. Dressed in 1930s-style clothing, he instead drove a 1925 Model T in the film that takes place during the Depression era.
Another one of Steve Geary's cars has gotten work. His 1948 Nash is in a video of country music band Little Big Town.
Bunt Geary grew up around his dad's garage and learned the business when he was a teenager. He bought his first car when he was 15 years old.
"I took him around looking for a car and he bought the worst one we found," Steve Geary said.
The younger Geary dragged home a red, white and blue 1970 AMC Rebel Machine. The model was manufactured from 1967 to 1970.
Bunt Geary's car had large rust spots and the front seats were torn and dirty. After working on it every free minute for 18 months, Bunt Geary turned the wreck into a show car.
Except for two modifications, the automobile has been restored to what it was when it came off the line.
Bunt Geary said some AMC owners have given him a hard time when he shows the car because of the changes. His Rebel Machine has an air bag suspension and he's replaced the factory issue wheel covers.
"I drove that car all through high school," said the Ohio County graduate.
Bunt Geary and his dad have their own preferences. He said his dad likes old cars and he likes modifying newer ones.
Bunt Geary's cars and trucks have been shown in several national magazines, including Truckin'.
Steve Geary is in the process of restoring a 1924 Dodge Brothers and Bunt Geary is working on a 1957 Chevrolet.
Another one of Steve Geary's cars is in an upcoming video release of country star LeAnn Rimes. When Geary brought the car home, he said the whole family laughed at him.
Of all the restored cars that Rimes could have chosen from Geary's collection, she said she wanted the beat-up 1954 Nash Metropolitan.
"Who's laughing now," Geary quipped.
A wall of the customer reception area at Geary's Body Shop is covered with autographed photos of county music stars who have used his cars in their videos, including Rimes, Little Big Town and Reba McEntire.
One of Geary's antique cars appears in Billy Currington's "Pretty Good at Drinkin' Beer" video.
Suzi Bartholomy, 691-7293, sbartholomy@messenger-inquirer.com
To see more of the Messenger-Inquirer, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to
http://www.messenger-inquirer.com. Copyright (c) 2010, Messenger-Inquirer,
Owensboro, Ky. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For more
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