Hey guys, I finally joined. I found you guys when my friends cherry original 60 Impala was stolen back in Jan 2005 and my buddy Tackett posted about it here. I was amazed by the responses and the offers to help, so I lurked around for years, taking a few breaks in between to deal with lifes curveballs. My name is Art, Im in L.A., I do art and take pictures. Ive never owned a new car, Ive built or modified every car Ive ever owned to be my own unique daily driver, helps me deal with the traffic BS when I can escape in my head, listening to my exhaust and watching the tach needle bounce. Current daily drivers are my 58 Chevy Apache longbed. Ive had her over 19 years and have put over 100k miles on the clock. A black 64 Rivi that was my daily until a semi-truck took out her side on the freeway. I spent 5 months welding, hammering and block sanding (mostly block sanding) and used all the insurance cash for a shiny new black paint job and shes back in action. I also drive a 64 convertible Bonneville on sunny days cuz she doesnt have a top yet. She wont until I fix the paint job I screwed up. First time shooting base/clear after years of lacquer didnt turn out so hot. Thats NEXT summers project. I also have a few more cars and bikes on my property Just ask my yuppy neighbors Next project will be a longroof for my girl. She started out coming with me to car shows just to play with her new camera (a 1955 Minolta twin lens reflex) and now she wants me to build her a wagon with a heavy flake roof. I guess you guys impressed her. We both shoot with old cameras at shows so if you spot a couple at a show with some really old film cameras geeking out on your chrome or your flake, thats us. Alright, so I wrote too much, Im just happy and proud to finally be a member. Oh, and a note about the stolen 60 Impala, it was recovered almost three years to the date it was stolen. Someone found it under a pile of trash in a foreclosed house they bought and called the cops. Only thing missing was the plates, some tail light lenses and crappy speakers. Theyd cut the steering wheel to get the club off. After they stashed it, the thieves built a garage in front of the only way out so the new homeowners had to pay the neighbors to take down their fence and drag it out of their yard. Its back and cruising the streets of LA now . Thanks for reading, Art. MrArt2u (the license plate on my chopper. But thats a story for another forum)
Thanks, everyone, for the welcomes. It's great to know we have cool people all around the U.S. One of the reasons for building the wagon for my girl is to hook it up to a trailer and drive it all over the country, maybe we'll get to meet face to face someday... Careful what you ask for, I may start filling up Ryan's new server with pics! We're away at a wedding this weekend (and I'm up early reading the HAMB!) I'll figure out the picture posting bit when we get back and throw some up for you guys. Thanks for the interest! Cheers, Art.
The Jalopy Journal
