The Gearhead’s love affair with Opels began a long time ago ever since his got his first car at a farm auction back in SD at the ripe old age of 14. You guessed it – an Opel….a 1974 Opel Manta that cost $35. Sure the transmission and the starter needed to be replaced, but $65 in junkyard replacement parts gave him a pretty sweet ride back in the day, especially for a teenager just starting high school.
It’s a great story and I think it kind of defines him as an old car aficionado, not only because he’s been doing this for a while now, but more importantly because he loves it so much. His face just lights up when he starts talking shop. Check out this quote from his blog:
“That $100 car was my introduction to all the things that endear old cars to the hearts of gearheads everywhere. It ran good, handled better, needed more love than it should have, kept my fingers mostly dirty, and introduced me to the feeling of freedom that has characterized the personal automobile from the very beginning. I became mobile that summer, the world shrank, and 2000 miles later I was a changed man.”
The man can write too??? **swoon**
I think I just fell in love with him all over again. You can too; check out his blog:
Seeing the World Past the Bug-Splattered Windshield
Beyond that, he’s a MWM and into classic rock-n-roll and a nut for old cars. He loves cats and kids and roadtrips. His favorite color is green and he likes to grill. He was in the Navy for 8 years and has the kind of discipline and dedication that comes out of an experience like that. He digs motorcycles and owns one that he can’t quite seem to spend enough time on. He is resolute in his beliefs but isn’t above changing his mind if someone presents a compelling reason. He loves family. He is one of the best, most decent guys around.
What else do you want to know?
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chronicling car restorations...from crap to cool
