The 1941 Plymouth Business Coupe Isie Quistian paid $500 for 30 years ago is worth a lot more today. After dedicating the last three years to rebuilding the car, Quistian’s hard work paid off when he won Best of Show in the Chrysler and Mopar portion of the Classic Cars Competition on Thursday at John Ascuaga’s Nugget.

Quistian explained that the Business Coupe was designed for traveling salesmen in the 1940s. The car, which now features lime green paint with white flames, was army green when he found it.

“I saw it in a warehouse and I guess I kind of took a liking to it,” Quistian said.

Quistian has competed in the Hot August Nights car competitions since they began in 1986, but this is the first time his car has won Best of Show.

“I come up from Hollister, California every year,” Quistian said. “I’m not scared to drive the car. When I drove it from the Sands (in

Reno) to here today, it got filthy from mud and rain, but I like to drive it.”

Quistian and his brothers did all of the work on the car. He chopped the top, put on suicide doors, which are hinged closer to the rear than to the front of the car, and installed custom running boards.

“I really like working on the car and I’ll probably keep improving it,” Quistian said with a smile. “And I’ll keep coming back every year.”

The competition for all other makes will take place tonight at 4 p.m.