Erik’s journey into the automotive world began much earlier than most, starting when he was crawling and pushing around his toy cars. His dad was a GM/Cadillac Master Technician for 35 years, and before starting a family, he owned more than his fair share of incredible cars. Once kids entered the picture, the lineup had narrowed, but the passion never faded. At the time, the family had a 1985 Monte Carlo SS and a 1972 Monte Carlo undergoing a full ground-up restoration.
From the moment that Erik and his siblings could scoot around in a baby walker, they were right there in the garage with their dad. Erik had spent countless hours restoring the 1972 Monte Carlo. From that specific car, he learned a great deal by watching his dad work and by being handed the tools. When that build wrapped up, they jumped straight into another project, which was a 1992 Camaro RS for his brother. Once he was in the shop, he was soaking everything in.
Growing up, cars weren’t just a hobby; they were also a lifestyle. Erik’s dad took the family to car shows, cruise nights, drag races, swap meets, monster truck events, and everything in-between. Every experience fueled the fire even more.
Choosing His First Project Car
When Erik turned 12, he wanted a dirt bike. His parents gave him a choice: they would help buy a dirt bike or help buy his first project car to restore, just like his dad’s. He chose the car without hesitation.
At the time, he wasn’t fully set on a Monte Carlo. His heart was on an El Camino or possibly a Chevelle. That changed instantly when he saw this 1988 Monte Carlo SS cruising by while he was riding his bike near his house with a for sale sign in the window. He pedaled like his life depended on it to chase it down. It pulled into a garage just a dozen houses from his childhood home.
Long story short, they bought it, and the next ground-up restoration was underway.
Falling in Love with the G-Body Monte Carlo
Even though he originally wanted something else, growing up around his dad’s 1985 Monte Carlo SS had subconsciously gotten him locked into loving the G-body style. Erik imagined that car with the iconic ’80s blue-and-yellow Dale Earnhardt Sr. NASCAR; his mind was officially sold.
Building the car alongside his dad taught Erik far more than mechanical skills. It taught him how to:
- Budget money wisely
- Work through pain, exhaustion, and frustration
- Pay attention to the smallest details
- Respect craftsmanship
- Build a stronger relationship with family
- Be humble
One thing that Erik’s dad said to him was: “You don’t have to like someone else’s car, but you have to respect the work they put into it,” and made sure that he understood that “our stuff wasn’t better, it’s just different.” That mindset shaped who Erik was both in the automotive world and in life.
Confidence Built in the Garage
Erik’s dad let him be involved in every part of the restoration, which had built serious confidence. They stripped the car down to the frame, handled rust repair, prepped and painted, rewired the car, rebuilt the driveline, installed the interior, and even spray painted together. Erik’s dad let him struggle, fail, and get frustrated, then stepped in to show him the right way.
That approach taught a powerful lesson: you can do anything if you’re willing to try. That lesson was a huge reason why he later started an automotive detailing business, HOPProd’s Auto Detailing, LLC which was directly inspired by their project.
Discovering AutoMeter and the InVision Digital Dash
AutoMeter was brought up through Erik’s stepdaughter’s dad. He mentioned that AutoMeter was looking for a donor Monte Carlo SS for dash development and that everything was assembled in Sycamore, Illinois. He did some research on the AutoMeter InVision Digital Dash before contacting them.
When AutoMeter was ready to expand the InVision digital dash, they saw a large popularity for the G-body Chevys. With a large crowd that own and build 1978-1988 Monte Carlos, El Caminos, and Malibus, it only made sense to create the InVision LCD direct fit dash (p/n 7005). Erik’s car was used for fitment and installation purposes. He never pictured a digital gauge cluster in his classic Monte Carlo, but once it was installed, the dash transformed the interior of the car perfectly. It modernized the interior without sacrificing the soul of the build.
The AutoMeter InVision digital dash changed the driving experience. Erik saw something undeniably cool about cruising behind a modern electronic dash versus relying on 35+ year-old factory gauges.
Advice for Future Builders
We asked Erik if he had one piece of advice for the younger generation wanting to build their first classic, and his answer was: “Get out and do it. You’re going to mess up. It won’t be perfect. And that’s okay. You can’t learn if you don’t begin. My dad led a good example by letting me try it first, even when it meant getting frustrated, then showing the right way. Don’t worry about what others think. Build the car how you want it and not allow other people’s opinions to change that.”
Quality Parts Matter
Quality parts played a massive role in Erik’s 1988 Monte Carlo SS restoration. They used the best components their budget would allow, so the car would be done right the first time:
- Stainless steel hardware
- Stainless fuel and brake lines
- Parts from Summit Racing, JEGS, Goodmark Industries, NAPA, and PPG
When you’re building something like this, longevity matters, and that mindset is exactly why Erik reached out to AutoMeter when the time came.
Gratitude to AutoMeter
“I wasn’t looking for a free dash; I was looking for the opportunity to collaborate with a company as prestigious and respected as AutoMeter. Making friends is great, but when your friends make incredible products, it’s even better.”
“A huge thank you to AutoMeter, Sarah, and Cory for the opportunity. I grew up flipping through AutoMeter catalogs, seeing your gauges in car magazines, JEGS and Summit catalogs, and automotive TV shows. Having my Monte Carlo featured by AutoMeter and displayed on your website is an absolute honor. Eight-year-old me would completely lose his mind knowing that our little HOPProd is associated with AutoMeter.”
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