SIGN-UP: Get breaking news sent to you
Everyone seemed surprised that Robert Gallery had a 1954 Cadillac Coupe Deville entered in a car show. But it's been his passion since he was a kid raised on a farm in Iowa.
"Growing up my parents had a '55 Chevy, driving around in that and working on old cars we had on the farm was something that always interested me," said Raider offensive guard Robert Gallery
Once Robert made it to the NFL, he had the means to turn his passion into a hobby. But he's not just a celebrity that buys refurbished cars.
"I like the process of helping with them, learning how to do it, then put it back together," said Gallery.
His dad Mike taught him how to wrench on cars in his mechanics shop. His '54 caddy is nicknamed Capone and the custom paint job, sort of a copper-root beer combo, has won three straight awards.
"That is a beauty. It's a one of a kind paint job," said Gallery.
Robert works with a local outfit in Antioch to customize the engine and other parts of his Caddy.
"The '57 Chevy bumper tips to a custom grill. The chop top that looks like it fits in that era, but if you know a Caddy in that era, you know there is a lot of custom touches to it," said Gallery.
When Robert's career ends he'd like to turn his passion into a full-time hobby, but for now, Capone is his dream machine.
"Really turned out to be a cherry car but also very drivable, and I'm going to drive it a lot," said Gallery.
Today's latest headlines | ABC7 News on your phone
Follow us on Twitter | Fan us on Facebook | Get our free widget
