My first car was a 1980 Chevrolet Monza that my father purchased new for me when I was 17. He bought it at Jim Sigel Chevrolet for $5,000. We lived in Williams where I grew up, was just graduating from high school and getting ready to go to RCC. My parents did not want me breaking down late at night on my way home from classes, so they decided to buy me a new car instead of used.
This car was also my first show car build, that I, as a woman, built on my own when I was 17. I took auto mechanics classes at RCC, but most was learned by reading Hot Rod magazine, which I subscribed to, among others. I won many awards with this car, and was one of the top show cars in Oregon at the time, ISCA. I am sad that she is gone — sold her in 1994. My father passed five years ago. It has been a great memory, along with all the other cars and trucks I have built and shown over the years. Her name was Mellow Yellow, named from the song by Donovan. Great Chevrolet cars in their day.
— Leah Keeney