Young Norwood Mechanic Builds Custom MG-Jeep Hybrid-October 18, 1982

The Birth of a Bright Yellow Hybrid-October 18, 1982

Motorists traveling around Norwood have likely caught sight of an unusual, eye-catching vehicle cruising local streets. From a distance, the bright yellow automobile resembles a chubby old-time roadster, though it rides much higher on its wheels. A closer inspection, however, reveals a mechanical chimera: a custom hybrid built by 21-year-old auto enthusiast David Donahue, who mounted a 1972 MG Midget body onto an antique Willys Jeep chassis dating somewhere between 1953 and 1962.

“I had to make just about everything to weld the body to the chassis”—including custom-fabricating the gas tank from scratch, David explained. While he chose the vibrant yellow tint with a touch of white, the sub-freezing temperatures of a New England winter prevented him from painting it himself inside his unheated family garage on Hillshire Lane, leaving the metal exposed for a time.

Despite its aggressive, elevated stance, the vehicle isn’t built for speed. Powered by a rugged military-spec Jeep engine designed for utility rather than racing, the buggy tops out at around 60 mph. “This is just my buggy,” David noted, contrasting it with the Pontiac Grand Prix he drives to work. The unusual creation draws plenty of positive attention. “You get stared at constantly,” he admitted. “I was surprised the older people like it. It’s cute, they say. I was afraid they’d think I was out to raise hell.”

Learning by Doing and Trackside Mentorship-October 18, 1982

David didn’t follow a traditional path into automotive fabrication. Though he studied electrical courses at Blue Hills Regional Vocational School and earned his license as a journeyman electrician, his mechanical expertise was entirely self-taught through hands-on experience and time spent in racing pits.

He frequented short-track racing circuits at Westboro and in Connecticut at Thompson and Stafford Springs alongside Frank Procopio and his son, Pete Procopio. David credits Pete with teaching him the fundamentals of auto mechanics, often utilizing their garage space at Frank’s Auto Radiator Repair in Canton to work on his projects. Additionally, his friend Danny Keegan taught him the intricacies of welding.

Automotive restoration is hardly new to David, who purchased his first car at age 16—a 1966 Ford Falcon that he stripped down to bare metal and completely refinished. He parted ways with the car only months prior when an admirer pulled up in a classic 1957 Chevrolet and made an offer he couldn’t refuse.

Sacrifices and Substantial Investment-October 18, 1982

Bringing the MG-Jeep hybrid to life required immense personal and financial sacrifices. David worked steadily on the custom creation for nearly two years, and the project remains a work in progress. Interior upholstery, extensive wiring, and a few regulatory tweaks—such as lowering high rocker panels and installing mud flaps to meet road-legal requirements—still lay ahead.

To fund and focus entirely on the undertaking, David sold two motorcycles: a dirt bike and a street bike. “I love to ride and, if I had them, I’d never be working on this car,” he explained.

As for the total financial toll, David admitted he kept strict financial ignorance until completion. “I just keep stacking the receipts up and I don’t want to look at them,” he said, though he estimated his investment already sits between $3,000 and $4,000. Looking beyond the current project, David plans to stick with classic restorations in the future, eyeing a 1932–35 Ford coupe or a classic 1955 or 1957 Chevrolet.

Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger