Joe’s Eye of Ra

The Eye of Ra is not a project that happened overnight, nor did it come easily.

Joe purchased his 1993 Festiva in ’95. I believe he was planning its upgrades on the way home.

A set of 13 x 7 Roadster wire wheels were the first upgrade this little festy saw.

Shortly thereafter, the car was stolen. Incredibly, the car was recovered within a couple of days. Sitting on blocks!

New wheels and an alarm system were immediately installed. Not long after this, the car was totaled in a hit and run accident.

Again Joe recovered the car, the damage was repaired, and it was back to the mod drawing board.

A few months later, Joe got together with painter Paul Martinez, and the first new coat of paint went on the “Eye”. The first color they went with was Candy Pegan Gold, with a pearl and gold flake with patterns. As you can imagine, Joe says this color turned quite a few heads. However, what he really wanted was a theme for the car. The decision to go with the Eye of Ra was made, and there was no turning back.

They then went with candy spanish gold, which, in Joe’s words, made his car look like a tangerine. Back to the drawing board. Paul and Joe then tried to tone down the car with candy cobalt blue. However, they accidentally mixed base coats, and a $2,000 mistake was made. The paints reacted chemically, and the car had to be stripped back down to metal and plastic.

The Original Eye of Ra

Joe then decided to reshoot the color and remural the car. The color chosen this time was candy champagne gold with a silver base complete with gold flake and scale/pixie stick style graphics.

Joe then got together with airbrush muralist Richard Ortega, in early spring 2005, and the new Eye of Ra was born.

A few years ago, Joe contacted Aim Industries and put them to work designing the first air-ride system for the Ford Festiva. Joe’s car rolls on the prototype design! The Eye of Ra sits on bags on the front, and air-rods on the rear. Joe’s car and rock front to back, as well as side to side. Imagine doing that gets as many stares as the artwork does!

The original, award winning Eye of Ra!

The new, and improved Eye of Ra!

Not content to limit himself to the exterior, Joe has spent considerable time and energy on the interior as well. Joe has done the interior in crushed, and diamond tuck velvet. The seats were hand sewn by Joe himself. Something he did not even know he could do. But then, those who own Festivas often find themselves doing things they did not know they could do.

Joe takes great pride, and rightly so, in doing nearly all of the work on his car himself.

Currently, a 1.3 engine from a 1992 Festiva powers the car. The car currently rolls on 13 x 7 80 spoke Luxar wheels, wrapped by 155/80 Dayton tires.

Joe estimates that he has spent around $16,000 in total on the Eye of Ra. The murals alone are worth over $2,000. And he does not even want to consider the time he has spent.

Future plans for Joe’s car include a B6 upgrade, and an FMS Body kit. Which he plans to paint to match the color of the car. More sanding and more painting. Far out mods may include suicide doors and a sliding ragtop roof.

The Eye of Ra, which Joe is proud to say is his daily driver car, has won 7 awards so far. And counting…

When Joe purchased his 1993 Festiva, he wanted to do something unique with it. I believe he has done that.

Joe says that dreams are what we make of them. They may not happen overnight, they may not come easily, but with work, they will come true. Congratulations to Joe, and his award-winning, head turning, Eye of Ra!

Article by S. Ward (Batstiva)

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