1966 CHEVELLE MALIBU
The Chevelle first appeared parked outside Ely's apartment in Ventura, California, with a For Sale sign in the window.
He was working at Limoneira and had recently moved from farmworker housing in Santa Paula. For weeks the car sat there, and the way he felt about it didn't change.
So he walked over and bought it for $3,500.
The previous owner had bought it from a woman at UC Santa Barbara who inherited it from her grandmother. It had spent about thirty years in her garage, had fewer than 100,000 miles, and still drove.
MADE TO DRIVE
The Chevelle was never meant to be a collectible. It was bought to be driven.
Nearly twenty years later, it's still on the road, now in Maine.
It's been a daily driver, raced on Vermont back roads, hosted some parties on the bench seats, leaked gas, stalled out and required its share of work.
Parts have been replaced. The engine cleaned up. The back seat reupholstered. A new radio recently installed. A brass boxing glove that's been in the glove compartment since the car was purchased now sits on the shifter.
It's still a project.
ANOTHER PLACE TO WORK
Something happens when people get into the Chevelle.
They relax. Their mood changes.
The sound, movement, light, bench seats and physical experience of an old car create a different environment. That makes the Chevelle interesting for Dialogue? Projects' TICC work too.
Coaching is a partnership. The coach isn't there to drive someone's life, but to sit alongside them as a tool and resource.
In the Chevelle, that becomes almost literal. Ely may be driving the car, but coach and client are navigating the session together.
Not every conversation needs to happen sitting across from each other in a room.
AVAILABLE
The Chevelle has been used for photography and creative projects, including the Dialogue? Dunk Tee.
It's available for select photo shoots, film and other creative work, generally with Ely doing the driving.
A Forage & Press headliner and a surf rack may be next.