How far back do your Hot Rod memories go?

Its a fair question, right? How far back to do you remember experiencing the excitement of a hot rod? Many of us grew up with cars in our families and in our lives, but do you remember the very first one that really made an impression on you? My father was an auto wholesaler in Kansas City, so he was always bringing something crazy home from the auction or a dealer trade. In the early 70s he owned a super clean T Bucket called the “Sanitary T” (not to be confused with the Revell model kit version of the same name), but that particular car doesn’t really stick out in my mind. If I can be totally honest, the earliest hot rod I really can recall having a special moment with was when I was about 6 years old, and it wasn’t a very ‘traditional’ one as we know it today. The vehicle in question was an early 60s Volkswagen drop side (Type II) single cab pickup. What made it interesting and memorable at the time, was that it had been shortened quite a few feet, running a pumped-up motor hidden underneath and coupled with throaty exhaust. Being a very 1970s custom, I remember it had chunky metallic purple paint and deep laminated wood in the flat bed. My sister and I would sit in the bed facing backwards, hanging onto something secure and dad would (warning us first) do a wheel stand. I remember laughing and wanting him to do that many more times. The point of this story is that some cool or fun car made an impact on you somewhere in your youth, and you are still likely trying to get it out of your system today. Do you remember it? My dad planted the bug in me long ago, and I still thank him for it today…