I am a 100% addict to automobiles. I am not interested in a family, a white picked fence, or a nice home in any suburb. I want a warehouse where I can park my favorite cars next to the big screen and a bar where I can sit back with friends, have a drink and admire the beauty that has come out of the world's automotive marques in the comfort of my own living room.
I sit at home and watch things like the Barrett Jackson auction and think back to some of the cars that I have been lucky enough to work on, ride in, and enjoy throughout my short 26 years. A friend had a 1970 Chevrolete Chevelle with an LS-6. 20k Miles on the meter, yellow with black stripes. There was nothing more entertaining to me in high school than driving in that car and watching the cowl hood raise up as the throttle was hammered. Everyone looked at that car, they knew the car had serious balls. It was rolling history. It brought smiles to everyones face.
I think back about that 1970 Chevelle and I consider it a major contributing factor to my addiction to automotobiles. My friend trusted me enough to let me borrow the car on occasion in exchange for my 89 Bronco, which he would use to move stuff or help out his family. During those brief experiences with that car, I fell in love with the horsepower, the rumble through the seat rails, the cowl hood, the subtle intimidation factor when you pulled up next to a modern muscle car at a light.
My friend eventually had the car painted jet black, put a Pro-Street hoodscoop on it, and threw a 468ci motor in it. Over a period of 4 years I watched him ruin the car. I begged him to keep the cowl hood and the factory paint, and he had other plans. He sold the car for $12,500 to another friend whom sold it for $14000 after some rear end work.
I just watched that original numbers matching car sell for over $70,000 on Barrett Jackson and I cannot contain myself. I feel the need to call and yell, but I will behave myself and sit here in awe of the value that car brought. I knew muscle cars had a special quality, but I was too young to understand the true long term value of that quality.
I have one too many automotive dreams that I have not followed up upon, 2005 is THE year, and my 300c has provided me quite a bit of momentum to move foreward toward that goal of a warehouse with my favorite cars parked next to that big screen.
Can you imagine how clean those cars will be if I am forced to look at them every night while watching the evening news? I can't wait!
