Vintage Cars

Someone permanently borrowed my "Chevy Spotters Guide" and never returned it. All car buffs know full well the serious nature of such a loss.

My first Chev was a 1927 model. They were called Capitol Chevs, and in 1928 they were called Nationals. Interestingly, they cost around 170 pounds each. Some years ago a block of land was purchased next to our church for around 45 pounds. Yes that's right, a block of land was cheeper than a new motor car. That first Chev I owned was a first-car model. Back in the late 50's a first car was often a Chev tourer at an outlay cost of 30 pounds. The hood had been replace with galvanized iron and the carpet with lino. A sound handpaint job on the outside finished it off. After pulling it to bits a dozen times I sold it a few years later for the same price.

I suspect nostalgia had somehow affected me. From then on I have always had a love affair with Chevs. I don't know why, but it has always been the car I feel for. So naturally, some years later, I decided to do my first restoration job. Yes, it was another 1927 Chev. This time is was a real gem. A genuine two owner model, all original, even down to the paint job. What a car. I think I spent a fortune on it, and even then I never finished it.

I was consumed by that car. Every waking moment I was under it and into it. It was that experience which first led me into the world of vintage car enthusiasts. We are all mad; totally consumed by our machines. You could be on your last legs, breathing your last breath, and someone would want to tell you how TonyNoonan, the vintage parts dealer, had just charged them too much for their gasket set. Actually, I found Tony a wonderful source of bits and pieces.

The last Chev I owned was a 1937 Sloper, a genuine Holden bodied model. Now again, if you are a Chevy freak, that's quite something. I sold it to help pay for my retirement home - sad but necessary. It was a wonderful machine; a bottle green touch of class that I spent a fortune on. When you drove it around you drove in style. Mind you, it always jumped out of second, got the shimmy shakes whenever you drove over a bump, and in wet weather the breaks would vibrate and hardly stop you.

There is a quote from Jesus recognized by all vintage car enthusiasts - "Moth and rust doth corrupt", unless you cover it with a liberal coating of grease "and thieves break in and steal." It's probably worthwhile finishing the quote, "where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." That's a touch close to the bone!

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