Like anyone who lets his emotions show, North Texas native Jamie Opelt wears team colors on his car.
But this isn't just any car, it's a kit car based on the mold of a replica 1933 Ford Model 40 hot rod (a T-bucket, as Oppelt calls it). And since Opelt is an avid Dallas Cowboys fan, his two-seater roadster boasts a two-tone paint job that would fit perfectly on the sideline at a Dallas Cowboys game or in his locker room. This silver and blue rolling homage to “America's Team” features a half-star on each side of the car and looks complete when parked on Opelto's custom garage floor. A complete star is embroidered in the center.
Inside, the door handles and back panel feature faux pigskin accents that look like they were ripped from a real football. Another theme that abounds on this car is the football-shaped cluster and lights. But what's really memorable, especially for Cowboys fans, are the series of signs that adorn the car's instrument panel and engine bay.
In total, Opelt has collected signatures from seven Hall of Famers, 47 former and current Dallas Cowboys, and 93 Pro Bowlers, which is a feat in itself. But beyond the lights and authenticity of this quirkily decorated car, there's a story about how this roadster came to be in the first place. Not just anyone could walk into a dealership and ask for a custom Dallas Cowboys-themed hot rod, let alone Opelt.
So, to take the frustration out of this fandom, Opelt took the problem to his garage.
He says his car, dubbed Star Mobile One, was launched in January 2017.
“I always wanted to build cars, but I knew that if I had to go to a junkyard and decide what was good and what was bad, I would fail miserably,” he says. Masu. “That's why I started looking at kit cars. I thought that way I could start with 100% good, brand new parts and modify them as needed.”
After doing some research, Oppelt settled on Factory Five Racing, an American car company that designs and manufactures “replica” and sports car assembly kits, chassis, bodies, and related components.
“They offer a three-day build school in Detroit, and I actually went there before purchasing the kit,” Opelt attests. “They build the car with 12 other people, and they tell us what not to do throughout the manufacturing process, rather than what to do.”
After attending the workshop and gaining confidence in building cars, Oppelt says he was ready to tackle the project, which began about seven weeks after ordering the kit. Like a puzzle, Mr. Oppelt single-handedly opened his 30 boxes containing the equivalent of about 3,500 pieces that needed to be assembled. The only things not included in the kit are the car's engine, transmission, wheels, and tires. The supply of these expensive items was entirely left to Opelt.
Following the 750-page instruction manual that came with the kit, Opelt spent the next two years building his dream car. He eventually added a 302 V8 engine, staggered 18″ x 8″ front, 20″ x 10″ rear low profile modern his Cragar wheels, and the latest Ford AOD automatic 4-speed transmission .
“I did everything myself except for the paint and interior,” he says proudly, looking at the car. “Actually, I was planning to paint the car too, but when I actually painted it, it looked really nice, so I didn’t want to ruin it myself (lol).”
Mr. Oppelt actually ran Star Mobile One for the first time in November 2019 and recorded it on video. When I ask him what it was like actually driving this hot rod for the first time, he says: “It was surreal, scary and exciting at the same time.”
Since completing his automotive masterpiece for the Dallas Cowboys, Opelt has been the center of attention wherever he goes. This includes over 160 car shows, several charity events, celebrity golf tournaments, player autograph sessions, and parades. Opelt's vehicle has also appeared in several national media segments, three local media articles (including this one), and his one television commercial. “Star Mobile One” was also featured in the YouTube documentary series “Driven.”
In 2020, Opelt was inducted into the Ford Hall of Fans in Canton, Ohio, an honor that came as a bit of a surprise.
“They made it seem like it wasn't a big deal,” Opelt said. “They said we were out here shooting at other Cowboys fans, and sure enough, when they came out here, everything exploded. Randy White came to the door. He's wearing a Hall of Fame jacket and a Hall of Fame ring. I was like, 'Wow!'
And although he wasn't shortlisted for the honour, Oppert says he feels lucky to have had some of the opportunities his car has given him.
“Even if they're just going to get gas, people come up with their kids and say, 'Can I take a picture in front of this?'” And I said, “Yeah, take any picture you want. Take pictures of everything,” he says. For Opelt, this is the ultimate reward for the two years he spent in the garage dreaming of what the car would look like when it was completed.
Each year, Opelt takes the “Star Mobile One” to 40 to 45 events a year, consisting primarily of car shows. Opelt cars back in Haslett's hometown have created a different kind of fan in the form of his wife Jennifer, who has supported his dream of building this style of car from the beginning.
“She was 100 percent fully on board with this from the beginning,” he says. “She helped me connect the transmission and engine when I was building the car.'' Mr. Oppelt has two numbers in mind when thinking about the potential sale price of his most prized creation. He said he was keeping it there.
“When an enthusiast comes up to me and says, 'I'm really interested in this car,' I have a number in my head. And of course I have a Jerry Jones price, too. , that's three times the value,” he says. “But right now, it's not really for sale. People in Lexus and fancy Hummers keep passing me. What gives me pride is knowing that I'm a one-of-a-kind custom. It means owning a car. There's only one in the world.”
The “Star Mobile One” signature includes:
randy white
Drew Pearson
Bob Lilly (actual driver)
michael irvin
Tony Dorsett
charles haley
DeMarcus Ware
Plus, even more
