Local high school student looking to build a car for senior project needs your help
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AMMON – A junior at Hillcrest High School in Ammon is getting a head start on his senior project and he’s asking for the community’s help.
Seventeen-year-old Jared Durtschi is looking to build the frame and body of a Mk4 Shelby Cobra car from a kit provided by Factory Five Racing in Massachusetts. He’ll buy an engine, transmission and wheels separately and install those as well.
The cost of the kit is around $22,000 and he’s looking for sponsors to help him pay for it.
“I want to get the word out and try to acquire business sponsorships … to help me finance this car,” Jared tells EastIdahoNews.com. “I’m willing to take any amount (people feel inclined to donate).”
Beehive Federal Credit Union gave him a small donation to get started, but he still needs a lot more funding to make this project a reality.
Once all the funding is in place, Jared anticipates this project taking about 300 hours to complete or three months of work.
He’s hoping to eventually organize a car show to display his handiwork and have it auctioned it off to the highest bidder in a sale. His plan is to donate the proceeds to the Idaho Food Bank in Pocatello.
Jared loves working with his hands and got interested in automotive repair about three years ago. He has fond memories of working on a vehicle he bought earlier this year.
“It had a bad alternator so I replaced it,” he says.
He’s also worked on several client’s vehicles at the Technical Careers High School last trimester.
“I took automotive technology and auto body collision repair. I absolutely loved both those classes,” says Jared.
What he loves most about auto repair is that there’s always something to learn along the way.
Shawn Beebe, Jared’s auto body instructor, says Jared was involved in repairing auto body panels and getting it ready for painting.
He describes Jared as a “conscientious student” who asked a lot of questions and “wanted to know how things worked.”
“He was never hesitant about making sure he understood the lesson and had opportunities to practice it,” Beebe says. “He really put himself out there.”
Beebe is excited to hear about Jared’s senior project and wishes him success.
Jared is grateful to his mentors and teachers for encouraging him to do this, and he’s hoping to begin as soon as possible.
Those interested in donating to his cause can send him an email via senior_project_2024_2025@outlook.com.
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