Fusing Style And Technology

Rod and barbara halsell’s heartland customs-built 1963 split-window.

- Chuck Vranas

Fate often has a way of setting a path for your future when you least expect it. For some it’s a gradual journey with a number of twists and turns where for others it’s more of an arrow-straight path with a direct route to the promise land. For Rod Halsell, growing up in Blytheville, Arkansas, during the mid ’70s certainly had its perks, especially when it came to honing in on his early automotive influences.

Since his parents were passionate enthusiasts who were heavily involved in foreign sports cars it was commonplace to come home from school and see everything from classic MGs and Triumphs to rarely seen Alfa Romeos in the driveway. This fueled his personal fire starting with competing remote controlled cars as a young teen while also spending plenty of time in the family two-seaters with the top down and wind in his face. Eventually, afterschool jobs landed him his first pair of convertibles—a VW Beetle and an MGB—which he spent plenty of time cruising on 10th Street.

It wasn’t long till the stop at an Auto Shack (later becoming AutoZone) store during a visit to Memphis, Tennessee, changed everything. Entering the store he saw an entire automotive aftermarket world unfold right before his very eyes, filled with the latest cool parts and accessories just waiting to be discovered. From that point on he was hooked, the only problem was the chain didn’t have any stores in his hometown. Not long after, his family relocated to Tupelo, Mississippi, and as fate would have it there was a store in town. Rod wasted no time in applying for a job there and his path was now set for a career with the company.