Twin muscle cars

TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- This ’68 Mercury Cougar was completely restored by Chief Master Sgt. Trevor Shattuck. He has presented it at car shows where it has won several first place trophies over the years. Shattuck intends to present the Cougar, along with a fully restored ’65 Mercury Comet, to his twin sons when they turn 16. (Courtesy photo)

Twin muscle cars

TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- At front, Grant and his twin brother Jack Shattuck share their father’s love for working on cars. The blue ’68 Mercury Cougar and the burgundy ’65 Mercury Comet were both completely restored by Chief Master Sgt. Trevor Shattuck. He plans to give the cars to his sons when they turn 16. (Courtesy photo)

Twin muscle cars

Gentlemen! Start your engines!

Published July 23, 2013
By Amy Ausley
AFCEC Public Affairs

TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- The Air Force Civil Engineer Center's Chief Master Sgt. Trevor Shattuck has been restoring old cars since before he could drive.

His first project was a 1965 Volkswagen when he was only 15 years old. He even taught himself to work on a car engine to make sure he had something to drive as soon as he got his license.

His career followed a natural progression after that. He attended Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College Diesel Maintenance Program in South Carolina and worked in vehicle maintenance during his first eight years in the Air Force.

When he transitioned to civil engineering and became a Dirt Boy, his previous career moved to the garage at his home and became his favorite pastime.

Shattuck's wife, Linsay, joined in the fun and the two of them began restoring a 1968 Mercury Cougar every night and on weekends until Linsay began to feel ill. A trip to the doctor revealed a big surprise; Linsay was pregnant.

With three older children, the Shattucks weren't expecting to have any more. Then during a routine ultrasound, things took another twist.

"The ultrasound tech was doing her thing and said, 'See this little bleep? That's the baby's heartbeat.' Then I see another bleep and I asked if that was Momma's heartbeat, but the tech left to go get the doctor," said Shattuck. "I thought something was wrong, but the doctor came in and said 'Dad found another one!' I just kind of sat down. After the shock was over, I told my wife, 'These are the last two!'"

Grant and Jack were born in 2006.

Shattuck, who had restored cars for each of his three older children when they turned 16, now had an issue. He knew he could give the restored '68 Cougar to only one of his twins when they turned 16 but didn't have anything for the other.

Shortly after his twin boys were born that issue was solved when he found a 1965 Mercury Comet.

With both cars now fully restored, Shattuck said he's seen something interesting happen.

"The apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Last year I had the cars pulled up to one another to jump one of them. I went inside to get something and when I came out, the boys both had wrenches and were under the hood. They weren't sure what they were doing, but they were going to figure it out," said Shattuck. "I ran to get the camera and my wife, telling her, 'That's why I bought the second car!'"

The twins will be seven Aug. 14 and they still have many years ahead to work on the cars with their father.

So, when the time comes, how will they decide who gets the Cougar and who gets the Comet? Dad said it will be up to the boys.

"One says he wants the Cougar and the other one says he wants the Comet and then four or five months later they've switched!"

Either way Grant and Jack will both be looking good cruising down the highway in their shiny, classic muscle cars!