This Winnipeg Jets defenseman shows off his classic car collection including a 1971 Chevy Chevelle SS, a 1965 Pontiac GTO, and a 1957 Chevy Chevelle.
Nate Schmidt, who was recently traded from the Vancouver Canucks to the Winnipeg Jets, is one of the top defensemen in the rink. With a professional NHL career spanning almost a decade, Schmidt has created a name for himself both on and off the ice. The Winnipeg Jets’ YouTube channel’s latest video shows Shmidtys’ love for the ice but also for ICEs in his personal collection of classic cars.
Schmidty’s Garage
Nate welcomes us to the garage that he has built with his father in their home state of Minnesota. He tells us while introducing his father Tom, that “cars are what make their tickers go”. Nate tells us that Tom was a drag racer in his younger years and Nate inherited the bug.
The first car that Nate decides to show us is “a little on the newer spectrum”. The 2001 Chevrolet Corvette C5 Z06 with only 15,000 original miles. Tom purchased new from the dealership after he sold his 1965 Corvette to a friend and immediately regretted it. Nate already jokingly begins to push his dad’s buttons by asking if the Corvette is one of the quicker cars at the track, to which Tom replies “Your Dodge Challenger is fast but I missed third gear last time!”
The Classics Come Out
The next cars we see range from a 1965 Pontiac GTO convertible which is often regarded as one of the world’s first and truest muscle cars. Nate recalls growing up with his brother and sister and having to shine various parts of this car during the long dark winter days.
The 1971 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 7.4-liter V8 pumps out an impressive 450 hp. The hood, made of carbon fiber, dons black paint but leaves naked carbon fiber stripes. Nate tells us that on his way home from finishing his second pro season, he leans over to his dad and tells him that he really needs to check out this car. With Tom’s interests at peak level, they visit the car. Nate says he’s too nervous to drive so his dad quickly takes to the driver’s seat and “gives him the juice” to which they laugh. They both confirmed that “she moves down the highway”.
Living The American Dream
Finishing with what Nate refers to as the crown jewel of the collection is the ultimate classic 1957 Chevy Bel Air. Nate and his father did not fix this car up but still have great memories of the car. He tells us it’s like an all-American time machine that transports you back to the 1950s. At the 6:15 mark in the video, Nate and Tom open the hood.
Once open, we can see a modern LS2 engine. This Bel Air resto-mod combines the looks and feels of the 50s with the modern reliability and power of today. With that in mind, we would definitely say that Shmidty’s garage is one impressive American muscle car collection.