University of Tennessee fans might recognize Hixson resident Jim Thompson's 1966 Cadillac, which is a regular presence on Knoxville's Cumberland Avenue during game season.
"It's seriously probably one of the most photographed cars in the state of Tennessee," said Thompson, who has had the car since 1985.
He said he cut the top off himself to turn it into the famous Vols convertible for his best friend James Payne, a big Tennessee fan. They took the car up to the home opener that year and Thomspson has continued to drive it to Knoxville for games ever since.
"It's just about everyone having a good time," he said of the story behind the car, which carried a core group of four people and typically more, from Chattanooga to each home game as well as a few bowl games.
"I had a lot of people help with this old car, and most of them don't even go to the games" said Thompson, naming Terry Conley as "the driving force for all of us to keep it running."
Thompson said by 1990 they had spent $10,000 on the car's restoration, which didn't encompass adding modern conveniences such as heat.
"It can be 28 degrees and snowing, but we still take the car," said Thompson, who has gone to every UTK home game over the past three years. "It's so long that if you're sitting in back, the windshield doesn't protect you."
The late Gary Young, a Hixson resident who regularly rode to games in the car, would freeze his mustache and beard in the winter, said Thompson, who is the last remaining member of the original group after former Hixson resident Jimmy Hess was killed in a recent boating accident on the Tennessee River.
Fran Walker, owner of Fran's Tanning Hut in Middle Valley, rides to most games with him now, and he said he's had a few famous passengers over the years as well, including Doug Atkins, Steve DeLong, Pat Summit and five members of the championship team in 2006.
"That was a real treasure," said Thompson.
He said the car has been featured in weddings and he is open to taking it out for charity events and car shows.
"The old car's just there, and if somebody needs us, all they've got to do is call," said Thompson, who does not accept contributions for the car's public appearances.
Call Fran Walker of Fran's Tanning Hut at 531-3084.