Dec. 22, 2025 — Redmond — A teenager has spent the last several years rebuilding a 1929 Ford Model. It was a gift from a 91-year-old car enthusiast who offered both mentorship and an engine to get the project started.
The restoration grew into a collaborative effort involving local hobbyists and culminated in the car’s first post-restoration drive during a Fourth of July parade in Kirkland.
The story began when George Sage, a longtime Model A enthusiast, visited an ear specialist in Redmond and started a conversation with nurse Sarah Mpare.
During the visit, Sage mentioned the Model A he was restoring. He discovered that Mpare and he shared a connection, as both of them were former residents of Spokane.
This neighborly chat led him to invite Mpare and her children, 14-year-old Samuel and 13-year-old Isabel, to see the classic car.
Samuel was immediately captivated after seeing the antique car. He sat in the car, honked the horn, and photographed the interior and engine.
Observing the teen’s curiosity, Sage offered Samuel a Model A engine on one condition.
He would have to take it apart and put it back together. Samuel accepted, beginning what would become a multi-year restoration project.
“It was a spur-of-the-moment,” Sage told The Epoch Times. “All of a sudden, it seemed like the right thing to do. I could see his interest, and I wanted to give him a challenge.”
Samuel worked on the engine during the COVID-19 pandemic, when normal teenage activities were limited.
The hands-on experience taught him about engines, physics, and the way automotive systems work together.
“This really spiked my interest in cars and especially engines,” Samuel said. “I learned how everything fits together, the science behind it, and how to problem-solve.”
Local Model A enthusiasts took notice, offering components and guidance to support the teen’s work.
The project grew when a club member located a rolling chassis, a frame, and wheels without a body or engine, in Lindon, Utah.
Coordinating with Model A clubs along the route, volunteers relayed the 900-mile chassis to Sage’s shop near Seattle in just three days.
Once the frame arrived in spring 2021, Samuel and Sage began the full rebuild. The work included disassembly, painting, body installation, transmission fitting, and detailed reassembly.
By late 2022, the car was ready to drive, though interior doors and upholstery were still in progress.
Community cheers the project
The rebuilt Model A made its public debut during the Fourth of July parade in Kirkland.
Samuel, now 17, drove the car alongside Sage, marking the culmination of years of mentorship, hands-on learning, and community support.
Social media reaction was overwhelmingly positive. Readers praised Sage’s willingness to mentor and Samuel’s dedication.
Comments included, “This world needs more people like Mr. Sage,” “A true mentor, pay it forward and keep it going,” and “Awesome story of passing the torch and cultivating actual Yankee ingenuity.”
Jonathan Kountz wrote, “Love hearing stories about young people getting involved and interested in old vehicles and learning about them from older people who do know about the older cars and want to help young people get started.”
Peter Foster added, “Awesome tale of passing the torch on and cultivating actual Yankee Inginuity.”
PeteMany noted the value of connecting young people with older generations who have experience and knowledge in traditional hobbies.
Samuel said the project inspired him to consider propulsion engineering in college. He encouraged other young people to explore their interests.
“Find what you’re interested in and just ask around. You’ll stumble upon someone just as interested, or more interested, and together you can make something amazing.”
Reporting for this article drew on Sage’s interviews with The Epoch Times, details from social posts from “Daily Machines”, and comments from community members following the restoration.
