Old Merc

Retired healthcare industry sales executive. A number of things led to my interest in cars. A culture in our town of high school guys owning cars and learning how to modify and repair their cars. Not just any car but cars of the fifties that now and then are/were associated with teenagers. The old man's 1953, 4 door DeSoto or Plymouth would not do.... except possibly the grill from the DeSoto. Fords, Mercurys, an Olds engine were sought after.... In '55 Chevy became a really big deal and when the "factory hot rods" came in later in the decade no one could ignore them....
The other direct influence was the 17 year old across the street with the 1940 Ford convertible who when I was 13 let me hand him wrenches and help when he built that flat head into something to be reconed with..... From then on I was hooked and at 16 bought my first car, a 51 Merc coupe that never beat my neighbor's Ford but over time gave him a fair race....