Completing any project takes persistence, and has its own set of challenges. Jason Pierce of West Bountiful, Utah, was persistent enough to complete this stunning 1964 Chevrolet Malibu. The challenges he faced during the build were different than most, and the adversity he overcame makes us proud to be a part of the same hobby as he.

Would you beleive this is the first car he’s ever built. “I did all of the metal work, the body work, and the painting,” Jason explained. “Everything was done in a tiny, two-car garage.” Beyond the challenge of building a car from scratch, Jason had a huge hurdle to overcome – he is partially paralyzed and can’t move his legs from the knee down. He was involved in a dirt bike accident back in 2003, that caused his paralysis. But after three months and a lot of work, he was able to get some movement back in his legs and regain the ability to walk.

Jason bought the car and completed the bodywork back in 2009, but then it sat until June of 2015. During that time, he also had a ’63 Oldsmobile Cutlass with an all aluminum V8 that he owned for 13 years. “After I sold it, I didn’t have anything to drive,” Jason explained. “Then my wife said I had to finish my cars or sell them. So I got to work.”

Jason finished the car on Fathers Day Weekend of 2016, and took it to the Fathers Day Car Show in Windover, Utah. When progress got back on track, that was the goal, getting the car done in time for the show. Aalthough he didn’t take an award at that one, he and his Malibu went on to win 15 other shows in 2016.

The most difficult part of rebuilding this car for Jason was painting it himself. “Trying to do that work when your legs don’t cooperate,  and you’re working with a cane in one hand and a spray gun in the other is quite a process,” Jason detailed. “I actually had to hang onto the garage door track with one hand while I was spraying the roof.” Even with the challenge of trying to paint and hold a cane at the same time, and this being the first car he ever painted, it turned out to be very well done.

The drivetrain consists of a 406 cubic-inch small-block stroker backed by a 700R4 automatic transmission and a stock 10-bolt rearend. He also added a 750 cfm Holley carburetor, an aluminum radiator, high-flow water pump, and headers. He also lowered the car’s stance with 2-inch lowering springs, and added Hotchkis shocks and 17-inch wheels.

Jason’s favorite things about his car are the way that it sounds and the way that it runs. “I also really like the stance,” Jason explained. All-in-all, Jason has a lot to be proud of, as it’s a spectacular build that deserves every trophy it gets.