So, what did you do during the coronavirus pandemic in 2020? Paul Molfino bought and restored a 1963 Chevrolet Nova, and he showed it Tuesday at the Classic Motorsports magazine Monterey Car Week Kickoff show in downtown Pacific Grove.
Molfino, who lives in Santa Cruz, said the Nova was in Southern California and needed a lot of work, and with the pandemic in full force, he refused to make the trip to check it out before making a purchase.
But the seller was eager and offered to trailer the car up to Gilroy, just north of Monterey, so Molfino could see the car for himself. He did, and while it did run, it didn’t stop on its own. But a deal was done, and the car was trailered to a friend of Molfino’s garage, where four months of 40-hour weeks produced a show-worthy vehicle, complete with a 383cid V8 engine and 700R4 automatic transmission.
Oh, and in his spare time, when he wasn’t restoring the Nova, Molfino was building a woodworking shop at home.
The Nova and woodshop were Molfino’s latest projects. He’d sold his 1965 Ford Mustang fastback — to an Englishman — about a year before the pandemic. Before that, he’d built a 1934 highboy roadster.
And before that, he built and owned a 1948 Ford Anglia for 21 years. For 13 years, he took the Anglia to the same car show and the same man would approach him and ask if the car was for sale.
For 12 years, Molfino said no. But that 13th year, he said maybe. How much, he was asked. Too much was the response. Until the following day when the man called and said he had a bank check ready to hand over.
A Ford from one era… 
… and from another
The Nitroskeeter drag racer 
and the drawing on its flank
Triumphs, including a rare 1961 Herald (right) 
We doubt this cork was not the Triumph factory-installed gasoline filler cap for the Herald
The owner of this 1964 MGB Mk 1 bought it in 1966 and honeymooned at Lake Tahoe two years later 
This 1966 Pontiac GTO has a 455cid V8 and updated disc brakes
And what of Mrs. Molfino and her husband’s automotive interests?
Her name is Rhana, which she explained was the name of a princess in India, and for whatever reason, her parents heard of the princess and gave her the princess’s name.
Paul Molfino noted when pronounced with a Latino accent, Rhana sounds like “rana,” the Spanish word for “frog.”
“So, I’m the frog princess,” Rhana said.
Paul Molfino said that when he had a car with Bluetooth hands-free calling, the system couldn’t understand “Rhana,” so he started calling her “Bubbles,” which the car and smartphone could understand.
Rhana said she’s tolerated Paul for 53 years.
But that took Paul by surprise. After all, he pointed out, they’ve been married for 56 years.
