There I was, minding my own business like I always do.  It was 1972; I was in junior high school when I first fell in love.  Oh I had girls I was sweet on, but this was LOVE!  A 1954 Belair hard top pulling in to the student parking lot WOW that was it.  55’s, 56’s and 57’s were there also, but only one 54.  The start of the 1973 school year I would admire her again for a short few months.  Then like a flash she was gone.  I found out the guy who drove her was Scott and was the Senior in a shiny new Camaro.  Before the school year was over I asked him about the 54 and he said it was his Grandfather’s and he would sell it to me for $350.00.

That was a lot of money so I talked to my Dad about it and he told me not to buy it, but I was in Love.  With $200.00 earned from cutting grass for the neighbors armed with a $150.00 loan from my sister, I went to Scott’s house to pick up the car.  His “Granddaddy” said he had to have $375.00 and the battery from the car or no deal.  So I ponyed up the extra $25.00 and proudly drove her home.  Raised the hood to pull the battery out when Dad came up and said, “You listen to me real good don’tcha boy!”  Then he said, “Are you fixing this heap already”.  I told him I had to return the battery and he must have thought I bumped my head and hadn’t learned anything from him.  It didn’t matter to me because I was in Love.

I drove her in my junior and senior year and would cruise Cleveland Avenue to the American Variety Parking lot where the local hot rod guys would hang out at night.  I would street race my hot rod until the engine blew up and never got caught.  After awhile I put in a 327 V8 and raced again until I sold the engine and she sat for 20 + years, until I got the bug again.  I have always loved the WW2 era gassers.

So after a 40 year love affair and with the help from my friends, here I am again.  With a period correct as I can get gasser.  Front axle from a 49 Chevy pickup.  A blown 572 BB Chevy hooked to a power glide.  You have to have a name for your girl and when I first fired her up my heart rate went crazy with energy.  “Wango Tango” came to mind by rocker Ted Nugent affected me the same way.

My ultimate goal is to race at English Town Drag Strip.  After 40 years I Love her as much as when I first laid eyes on her.