The upholstery upgrades were done by the late Tony Nancy at his Sherman Oaks, California shop.

The door panels and bench seat were wrapped in pigskin and cowhide, while the carpet flooring up front and in the trunk was made from 100 percent wool. Stewart Warner gauges were used to keep engine activity monitored and a Panasonic am/fm radio was installed as an alternative to listening to the diesel’s one-note song. The tilt steering wheel and steering box came from a Ford Thunderbird and billet brake and accelerator pedals help top off the roadster’s appealing interior.

In mid-1985 Boyle’s roadster project was completed and his dream came true. He had built a one-of-a-kind diesel-powered roadster that was getting a lot of looks. Once the cars exterior features reeled classic car enthusiasts in, the engine compartment puzzled them upon closer inspection. Although he parted with the roadster recently, Boyle will always remember countless occasions where confused on-lookers asked him where the spark plugs were located. Also fresh in his mind are all the times he sat waiting, car idling, at a gas station while his fellow classic car friends filled up their guzzlers mid-way through a summer night’s cruise… (to be continued)