No one has yet petitioned the Maple Grove City Council to change the name of Narcissus Lane to Hot Rod Alley. But it could happen. Not that the residents of the 8100 block of Narcissus have a pathological need for speed, nor have there been complaints about squealing tires or unsanctioned drag-racing. However, the block has gained local fame as a custom-car connection.

Four neighbors on the block own meticulously restored, classic cars dating back to 1930, including a couple of street rods. The neighbors share ideas—and tools. The hobby “keeps us out of the bars, we always say,” says Barry Blazevic.

Conversation Starters

Blazevic, 55, has a white 1964 Thunderbird he bought from his father in 1980. In 1998, the car won a first place award at the Thunderbird International Convention at Indianapolis Speedway. He also completed ground-up restoration of a 1956 T-Bird, which he later sold. A crew from the History Channel came to Maple Grove to film Blazevic driving the car, but the footage never aired.

Blazevic’s current collection includes a 1964 Mustang, which he completely restored and showed for the first time at last year’s Maple Grove Days, and a 1940 Ford coupe deluxe, which is a street rod—defined as a car with the original body but is modernized everywhere else. Blazevic installed a 350-cubic inch engine, two four-barrel carburetors, power-steering and AC.

Of course, the cars are designed to attract attention everywhere they go. “Every generation that lived with these cars has their own stories about them. They’re really conversation starters,” Blazevic points out.

His most interesting conversation took place at a car show in northern Minnesota. “This older gal kept coming over and looking at the 1940 Ford,” he recalls. “Finally, she asked me ‘Did that car come with that kind of shift-lever? I didn’t think so. My oldest son was conceived in a car like that.’”

Blazevic’s next project will be restoring a 1940 Ford pickup his 80-year-old father, Albert, found on E-Bay.