User:RahalMccall69

Paul Powell owns a car worthy of Cruisin' The Coast, but he's dedicated to keeping visitors' classics running By JUSTIN MITCHELL jmitchell Journalism_J D'IBERVILLE -- Dianne Powell begged her husband, Paul, to close up shop this past week so they could take their 1970 Chevrolet Nova down to their spot on the beach and watch classic cars cruise along U.S. 90. Paul, however, refused to close his D'Iberville automobile repair shop, Stringer Auto Center, because so many Cruisin' The Coast participants depend on him for repairs, parts and services. "We cruise, but we can't cruise. We can't close," Dianne said. On Thursday, there were six classic cars parked to be serviced at Stringer Auto Center -- one from Arkansas, one from Alabama, one from Louisiana, one from Mississippi and two from Tennessee. Marvin Shelsky of Birmingham brought his 1959 Ford Fairline Galaxie 500 in for a minor repair. Last year, an auto parts store suggested he take his car to Stringer Auto Center to repair a wheel bearing. Shelsky said because of Paul Powell's knowledge of classic cars and honest work, he has become a loyal customer. "When I come back (to the Coast), I come back here," he said. The Powells say word of mouth has helped bring in a garage full of classic cars since Cruisin' The Coast started in 1996. "Oh gosh ... it's unreal, and it's year-round," Dianne Powell said. Paul Powell said local classic car enthusiasts are loyal clientele throughout the year. "We've got a lot of locals that learned to get stuff done to beat the rush," he said. In fact, the week before Cruisin' began, Paul Powell helped build and repair several vehicles, including a Dodge Demon, a 1967 Chevy Impala and a 1973 Corvette. "I shut the doors that night, and we were packed full of them (cars)," he said. The Powells have been in business since 1986. Stringer Auto Center first opened on Caillavet Street in Biloxi and primarily serviced and installed vehicle air conditioners. Dianne Powell said people used to call her husband and ask if he could install air conditioners in classic vehicles. "He would get on the telephone and round up the parts and install them," she said. In 2003, Paul and Dianne bought the shop in D'Iberville and kept the previous owner's staff, becoming a full-service auto repair shop. The Powells have been working on classic and new model vehicles alike for almost three decades. Paul Powell said he has been in love with classic cars since he got behind the wheel of his first, a 1955 Chevrolet. "I've always had a hot rod of some kind. I drove a '72 Nova for 13 years," he said. Repairing classic cars, Paul Powell said, comes naturally. The repairs on older vehicles are manual. He said more training is required for reading the computers and technology to diagnose and repair newer model vehicles.

The Powells planned to spend the weekend enjoying Cruisin' The Coast together, but Dianne Powell will be without her husband at least part of the time because he plans to go back to his shop for his classic customers.

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