Images: CJ Pony Parts and Make A Wish Foundation

Some of us are born with the car bug, others develop it over the years, often with it showing up during adolescence. While some dream of new horsepower and exotic cars, many of us grow up dreaming about the cars our parents wanted, the muscle cars of the ’60s and ’70s. At such a young age we seldom realize what it would take to restore one of these rides to its former glory, and have it cruising in style once again. Kodi is one such aspiring young man.

Kodi was one of those rare teenagers who was lucky enough to get to drive his dream car during his teenage years, in this case a 1970 Mach 1. Unfortunately for Kodi, he was diagnosed with T-cell Lymphoblastic Lymphoma, which is a rare, highly malignant type of non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, on March 20, 2013, the day after his 17th birthday. Kodi’s medical team began treatment immediately, and to say it was probably scary, and that his life was near the edge on a few occasions would be an understatement.

Last summer, the folks at Make A Wish foundation -who work to help youngsters achieve a life enriching dream reached out to CJ Pony Parts for help restoring Kodi’s Mach 1. Not long after the first phone call from Make A Wish, CJ began sending a steady stream of restoration parts to the shop performing the restoration on Kodi’s car.

CJ’s sent a large amount of body sheet metal, weatherstripping, new interior, and multiple miscellaneous parts to help complete the job. The project took over 8 months to complete. Just over a week ago, Kodi finally got to see his restored car for the first time when it was unveiled at a fire hall near his Battlefield, MO home.

It’s nice to think that car guys and gals can help put a smile on the face of a young person who has already had to face so much in his life. We join CJ Pony Parts, Make A Wish, and the others involved in wishing Kodi a full recovery, and many years of fun and enjoyment out of his restored Mach 1.