By SYDNEY KENT


Steve Reinig (pictured) driving his 1965 ‘Drag-U-La’ replica through the Ossian Days parade last week. (Photo by Sydney Kent)

Steve Reinig of Ossian has been building cars for much of his life. Whether a 1970 Roadrunner, pickup trucks from the 1950s, or “woodie” Station Wagons — he’s interested. 

One of Reinig’s most recent and jaw-dropping projects, The 1965 “Drag-U-La” replica from The Munsters television show, was parked alongside rows of classic cars in the annual antique car show at the Bluffton Street Fair on Tuesday. 

Steve Reinig (pictured) at the Bluffton Street Fair on Wednesday. (Photo by Sydney Kent)

“All of it is handmade. The first time I saw this car,” Reinig grinned. “I was only seven-years-old. It stuck in the back of my mind.” 

The head-turning replica took Reinig approximately two-and-a-half years to build and paint. He then spent an additional year and a half finishing the car. Reinig explained that when he first had the idea, he told a friend about it. Six months later, his friend called him after finding a casket.

Butch Patrick (pictured), an actor known for playing Eddie Munster, posed with Reinig’s replica.(Photo submitted)

Though he didn’t think he had the time, he said he had to buy it.

While a typical casket is seven feet long, Reinig explained that it was not large enough to fit himself and the necessary parts to function. A friend at a nearby car dealership allowed him to use an industrial press to bend the metal. The process took six hours between two sessions.

Bill Huguenard (left) helped Steve Reinig (right) place the hood back onto the car. (Photo by Sydney Kent)

“It is an inch-and-a-half shy of nine foot long,” Reinig said. “I set the motor and transmission in there and built everything else around it.” 

The car features a royal purple lining with a transparent window, which fully closes. The back of the window says the word “DRAG-U-LA”. The gold exterior is lined with intricate details, much like the original, and the entire vehicle is made of metal. The original creation was comprised of fiberglass. Two hands were needed to put the hood into place.

Bill Huguenard (left) and Steve Reinig (right) stand with the ‘Drag-U-La’ at the fair on Wednesday. (Photo by Jonathan Snyder)

Butch Patrick, the first actor known for playing Eddie Munster in the iconic series, signed the vehicle himself. It was a proud moment for Reinig.

Reinig said he hopes to add a few finishing touches, such as a headstone that mirrors the original. 

“I can’t get away from old cars,” Reinig laughed. “They’re fun and neat, and it’s even better to see the younger people out enjoying the cars this year.” 

Butch Patrick’s signature. (Photo by Sydney Kent)

sydney@news-banner.com

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