By Nick Licata
For some of us ending up with or having had the car we’ve always wanted since high school became a reality. If that’s you, a little luck may have played a part by finding just the right car at a reasonable price, or you had no plans on settling for anything less and did what it took to obtain that ride regardless of the cost. But oftentimes there are those who are in possession of a car that was second tier on the “want” list as it was not necessarily our favorite, but it was the next best thing.
The reasons why some folks didn’t own the car of their dreams can come in many ways. For some it may have been a financial issue, while for others a certain car may have been handed down from a family member who started a project and lost interest or didn’t have the money to get it completed, so it sat in the garage for decades covered by a dusty, moth-holed blanket just slightly newer than the car. It may not have been the exact model you’ve always wanted, but now it’s yours, and in most cases, the relationship between you and that car has grown or will grow into something special.
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One of the most common stories I hear is when someone starts a project in their younger years and is making good progress when marriage, a mortgage, and/or starting a family enters the scene, and the car understandably gets put on the proverbial backburner. In extreme cases, the car gets sold “as is” in order to make ends meet. Sadly, those cars tend to come up in conversations years later and are referred to as “the one that got away.” The most common quote: “Man, I wish I still had that car.”
Then there are the optimists who knew at some point they would return to the project once time or money became available. Those are the ones who never fully gave in—they always knew one day they would circle back to that project. For some it was just a few years while for others it was decades, but they knew the day would come when they would be able to get that project back on track. I have mad respect for those guys, as I just don’t have the stick-to-it-ness to cling onto much of anything that long—although my wife says different.
It’s great to hear stories about those who held onto a project for so long that it turns into a father/son or daughter project that was actually started before that son or daughter was even born. Not only does it make for an interesting story, but it initiates a solid bond between a father and his kids while at the same time continuing to keep the younger generation involved in the classic car hobby.
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Growing up, hot rods were not part of the culture at my house, so it was the local teenage hot rodders in my neighborhood who steered my interest to the muscle car scene. So, for those who are turning wrenches with their offspring, keep it up; you are doing a great service for the muscle car world and ensuring the aftermarket remains strong and prosperous, especially at a time when kids today are focused more on screen time than real time.
If you are one of those passing the proverbial torch to the younger generation, then you know it’s not only about building cars it’s about building a bond that will last forever.
You in?
See all my “Firing Up” series here!