Among of passions was motor vehicles.

Fortunately, Eibner could write very well too, describing his vehicle passion in 1956, when he was 18.

“At the age of 18, I got the hot rod bug. After three years of reading hot rod magazines and planning, my dreams began to become a reality,” wrote Eibner in a story he titled, “Street Coupe.”

“I wanted my rod to be good and sturdy so it could be used for traveling and an outstanding show car as well as good competition on drag strips,” he added.

Eibner began looking for a 1932 Ford three-window coupe. Old movie fans should remember the yellow hot rod (a 1932 Ford coupe) featured often in the 1973 coming-of-age comedy-drama movie “American Graffiti” starring Richard Dreyfuss and Ron Howard.

“I located a five-window coupe owned by two bachelors but their price was more than I wanted to pay,” wrote Eibner.

“Then I found a three-window deuce in a ravine that was earlier used for jalopy racing. It was sure banged up. The only things left of it were the body and frame. I asked the owner what he wanted for it? He said ‘you can have it for $2.50,” he added.

Eibner said when his parents saw it, they almost hit the ceiling. they said “you’ll never make a car of that pile of junk.”

He bought a 1946 Mercury frame for $25 at a junk yard.

Willie Eibner uses a clean, linen handkerchief to polish the engine of his 1932 Ford coupe in 1956.

Eibner’s story detailed everything he did to restore the car. He overhauled and mildly souped up a Ford flathead V8 engine block that was painted gold.

Ten coats of black paint were applied to the car over several primer coats that were sanded.

He said the car cost him $1,800 to build and described how he felt driving it in New Ulm.

“It sure felt good to clutch up and down main (Minnesota) street in it. The majority of the people around here had never seen a rod before,” Eibner wrote.

Before long, he was winning car shows in Minnesota, Kansas and Omaha, at the first Midwest Autorama Show in 1955 alone.

Submitted photo Willie Eibner stands next to some of the trophies his 1932 Ford 3-window couple won in 1955.

Eibner’s 32 Ford was featured as a “Rags to Riches Rod” in Hot Rod magazine.

Selling the hot rod in 1989, he later bought it back and restored it to running condition and cruised New Ulm in it in his later years. He founded the Road Sirs Auto Club and New Ulm Go Cart Club.

Eibner managed Eibner’s Restaurant on Minnesota Street.

After the restaurant was sold, he was self-employed, restoring antique furniture. Among his creations were converting sewing machine drawers into coffee and end tables.

Eibner was said to have inventing and selling thousands of the wooden folding Christmas trees at craft shows and at the Minnesota State Fair.

Dying at 87 in 2021, Eibner was a New Ulm Jaycees president and assistant scout leader.

His grandson, Aaron Sclumpberger drives the vehicle now and admits he hasn’t had to do much work on it.

Schlumpberger described his relationship with his grandfather.

“He taught me a lot about hard work and responsibilities, which have a lot of value to me today. He was very crafty, very creative. I have lots of furniture he made in my house,” said Schlumpberger who works for a North Mankato manufacturing company.