Emo Barbosa has been painting and modifying cars since the 1970’s. In the early 70’s, building   a supercharged 1967 SS Chevy Nova, he performed all the paint and mechanical work. That car  was only driven 3-4 times before someone made an offer that could not be refused.



   Through the 1970’s Emo specialized in painting and repairing corvettes in his body shop business in Oak Lawn, Illinois. And at this time began building his next project.






   The next project that he undertook was modifying a 1976 Pontiac Trans Am. The car had 3600 miles on it when he removed the Pontiac engine and installed a 427 big block Chevy. The car would eventually be known as the "Blackbird”. It went on to be featured in 3-national car magazines, Hot Rod, Car Craft, and  Cars Magazine in the late 70’s. By the early 80’s the car was running the quarter mile in under 10 sec. at 145 MPH. Of course by this time the car had been highly modified w/a new frame, roll bar, and a 482 big block Chevy producing over 700 horses. Once again, Emo performed all the work on the car. The paintwork and graphics along with frame fabrication and engine building was all done in his home shop.           
             
   
   It was the early 80’s when Emo turned his attention to motorcycles.  As always stock wasn't good enough. He started painting motorcycles for customers while working full time for a major utility company. He has been painting strictly motorcycles for the past 20 something years and enjoys it that immensely.