[Chevelle SS 396 L78]

My first car in early '60's. I think I was about 12 years old when the guys in Shop Class were undertaking projects to build a Hydroplane (I lived in Florida on the Gulf Coast) and my parents said "no way". So, I twisted their arms and said I won't even think about building one of those if you buy me a car, so that's what happened. They knew I was a car guy from a toddler....always had a car in my hands, then model car building (won awards in the Revell/Pactra Model Car Contests...remember those?). I could drive with my "Learners Permit" at 14 in Florida, so I was all set. I worked on my '55 for several years, including installing a new 327 crate engine (pulled the 6 cyl...great engine, but I had to have the V8)! When I turned 16 it was ready the first trip to High School! This is a pic my Dad took of me on my way to High School for the first time in my '55. Good times!!!