When did you "know" you were a car guy?
As a young child I was into Matchbox, Hot Wheels, Johnny Lightning, diecast cars. I then progressed into building plastic model car kits (spending my weekly allowance on a new one every Saturday (K-Mart)).
I grew up nearly the exact same way, Hot Wheels, slot cars, plastic model kits, spending my allowance every Saturday at K-Mart, would spend the weekend painting and assembling the newly purchased kit.
My older brother had a friend whose dad had a 68 Cougar GT with a 390 and big M50-15s on the back, loud dual exhaust, air shocks, etc. Had older cousins who were into cars, one had a '71 Challenger R/T convert, B5 with a white top, 383 auto, that one left a real impression, another had a '70 Chevelle SS454 LS6, another had an AAR 'Cuda, plus a lot of the neighbors had cool cars, including a '67 Corvette 427, and a '70 Superbee. My dad did some buying and selling when I was young, always wanted to see what he was doing and help out if I could. I had a Honda Z50 that I used to ride everywhere, broke a ring one day, tore it all down and with some help from dad got it going again, then moved up to a 95cc Chaparrel dirt bike, rode that one everywhere too.
First car I drove was a 1964 MGB that my dad had bought with a seized engine, I was 10 years old.
Seemed a natural progression for me to take automotive class in high school, though I did take some computer science courses too, but by then I was hooked. Now 50+ years and almost 140 cars, trucks and motorcycles later, I still find happiness and enjoyment pulling wrenches in the garage. Guess that means I'm a lifer. LOL
