It’s kind of crazy, and I still think about it. Last night I finally had a chance to watch Hot Import Nights, and just seeing the questions I was asking people, reflecting back on Overhaulin’, it’s amazing, even five years ago I never would have guessed I would be so into this automotive world. Modeling was fun, I still enjoy it, but I was actually looking for a change. I was getting a little bored and needed something different, and after I got into acting and commercials, I had the opportunity to audition for one of the prankster roles on Overhaulin’ and got the part. By the third season, they asked if I would become a co-host on the show. Even though I told them that I knew almost nothing about cars, that’s what they wanted; I would ask a lot of questions during the process that many in the audience would probably want to ask too. Coming from modeling and doing runways shows, I feel like I was pushed into the deep-end a bit with Overhaulin’. I always say I gave up my stilettos of the runway for the work boots of the garage!
Being in the garage really freaked me out at first with all the gadgets and tools and sounds. I remember one off the A-team guys was grinding down some welds and there were all these sparks flying everywhere, and he was like, “Come on AJ, why don’t you help me grind down some welds?” And I thought, “Oh crap, all those sparks, my hair is going to catch on fire!” But I pulled my hair back in a pony tail and started working on the car, and thought, “Wow, this is really fun!” The A-Team on Overhaulin’ really took me under their wing and taught me everything they knew. They were very patient with me, explaining what tool was what, what it did, and I eventually caught the bug. I just loved it. I finally got the whole fascination with cars, and building, and just being in the garage.
So fast forward to the episode where I actually got to design a car for a person. It was a 1963 Mercury Comet, and I actually switched places with Chip [Foose]. Chip became the host and I became the designer. For me that was a really big turning point just because I know when I joined Overhaulin’, a lot of people doubted me, they thought, “Oh, she’s just this model and blah, blah, blah…” I felt like a I had a lot to prove and that just made me want to learn even more. To me this experience was kind of like my final exam, to see how much I actually learned and paid attention. The car came out amazing, and the entire A-Team presented me with a plate to put on the car that said “AJ Design” on it. I never cried on Overhaulin’, but that plate they made me made me cry just because to me, I felt like I passed my test and was now finally accepted. Like I said, I was just this model-actor coming in that knew nothing about cars, and I think I also finally proved myself to the audience as well, I think they saw me differently after that episode, like, “Hey, wait a minute, she did do this!” That was a really big turning point for me.
So when Overhaulin’ got canceled, I decided to start my project car, my dream car, the ‘68 Firebird. I decided to go with YearOne because the guys are amazing at YearOne. I love that they not only build cars you can drive, but show cars too.
After my Firebird, now that I have her here in Los Angeles, I told myself, “Okay, I’m done,” but now that I have the car bug, that’s just not the case. As far as a Euro goes (see here I’m talking like Hot Import Nights), the Audi R8, pretty impressive. When I first saw that car, it was like my Firebird, I had the hearts in my eyes. Just the sound of that engine, I thought, “You’ve got to be kidding me, that’s my car, that’s my next car.” As far as muscle cars go, I figure The Diva [Adrienne’s name for her Firebird] needs a boyfriend, so I want to get another Pontiac and I’m thinking the Pontiac GTO “Judge”. That would be my next project car.
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