Published: Thursday, June 16, 2011 12:17 PM PDT

Transforming clunkers into artwork is a passion for many car enthusiasts. These artists were able to display their masterpieces at Saturday’s 19th annual Dinuba Main Street Car Show. All different makes, styles, colors and sizes were on display for hundreds to enjoy.Tom Zarate of Visalia proudly displayed his 1959 Triumph TR3A. He said his car from England was one of only 3,800 to 4,800 to be brought to America. He didn’t know how many are still running today.When asked how long he had the car , Zarate went into a story on the history of the car, how he ended up finding the car and what he did to it to transform the car to its glory days.Zarate saw a Triumph one day and knew that he wanted one. He spent about eight months looking, but the cars he found were way too expensive.

Eight years ago Zarate heard about a widow in Tulare who owned a Triumph TR3A. But he heard that the car was in bad shape. Zarate drove out to the home in the country and saw the car sitting outside, covered in plastic and rocks to anchor the plastic.

“When I removed the plastic I saw a car in bad shape,” Zarate said. “The side of the car had holes and the red paint was chipping off. The upholstery was ripped. The car needed a lot of work, but I could see what it could become with some work.” Read the rest of this entry