A keeper

[MaxHarvard]

Call me sentimental or a moment to reflect on what I have in life.

A different kind of keeper -

Never having a father in my life I had to figure things out on my own. I didn’t have the dad who liked to tinker on stuff and teach me to work with my hands. This car represents a constant struggle of trial and error through more challenges then I care to admit to.

I bought the car in May of 2002; I had met the woman whom would become my wife the month previous. Within a day of taking ownership of the car I had it stripped and ready for paint. I spent countless days and nights going to college and working on the car with every spare minute. All of my spare money went to buying tools I didn’t have and trying to keep my girlfriend happy on dates.

I entered graduate school in 2003 and continued to work on the car. My wife and I moved out on our own with no real employment to speak of. We married on the same day of our first date and the 1 year anniversary of my proposal. Times were tough, with me in grad school and having a part time job detailing cars at a dealership. Money was so tight that I offered my Camaro to sell so we could pay bills; I knew I could easily get $15,000 quickly if I needed to.

At which time, my wife said to me the words that have caused my friends to ask, “Does she have a sister?” and echoed through my brain with a monstrous clap of thunder –

“No matter how tight money gets, we will never sell the Camaro”

Time has passed and we both have solid jobs. The Camaro never got sold and we are better off for it. I still have the wife and the car, I never had to make decision on which one to keep.

They both are keepers.


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[chr2002ca]

That's an awesome post. Thanks for sharing that. Your wife is a real keeper for sure! I'm glad things worked out in the end for both of you and the Camaro too. :thumbsup:

I actually posted something very similar about my wife on my website this month, so I completely understand your sentiments!

[ironworks]

I knew my wife was the one when she offered to help my finish my truck financially when we were still dating. The final straw that made me realize I better ask her to marry me was when I took her RC car racing with me and she wanted to know how much money it would take to make her truck faster, I knew we would be able to get along forever at that point. There is nothing like a supportive other half, I have friends with wives that just put up with the car thing, but my wife worked overtime and saved her ass off after we got married to pay for the upholstry on my truck so I could take it to Del Mar. Plus she is is pretty HOTT. Poor Eyes sight obviously, but hay she is mine now.

Good Post, Congrats

[LowchevyII]

those are some great stories. i can only hope that ill be so lucky later in life. you guys have found some great women and still have your cars. something to be admired

[Rybar]

That is a really cool story.

I met my wife at 20 and bought my ratty Camaro project at 21. Took me 7 years to finish and she put up with all the time and money I spent on it.

She did make me a birthday cake of my Camaro when I turned 30 which I was just blown away by. :wow:

I am sure my wife wouldn't mind me selling my Camaro to build a new house though. :lol:

[bentfab]

Awesome post !!!!
There is no doubt in my mind I wouldn't be where I'm at in my life and business if it weren't for my beautiful wife. I met here a month after I opened up my shop and there has been no looking back. it's the best team any business can have.

[DFRESH]

Great post!

Although my wife doesn't share the passion or addiction I have for racing, wrenching, or attending events, she is always supportive of it. She told me once a long time ago, "We can never sell your camaro, it's been with you since you were 16, it's a great part of your life and it makes you so happy". I know lots of guys who have to hide their hobby from their significant others, or their wives just hate it altogether. I am so greatful that my wife allows me to escape once in awhile to the garage to work on the cars. Besides her and the kids, its one of the things that truly brings me joy---She knows it does and supports that---couldn't ask for anything more, well--an LS7 perhaps, but I don't want to rock the boat--LOL.

Doug

[tones2SS]

Very cool.
Cool story and goes to show that everything happens for a reason!:cheers:

[Jim's 72]

I never post here, just read along lol, but I do need to show my appreciation for my wife. She HATES my car. She will very rarley ride in it. Cruise nights....she came to 1 in 3 years I have owned it.This post could not have come at a better time though. Things are tight just like everyone else, so i told her I would sell the car to get us and the kids closer to even.She gave me a resounding NO!!! Granted it is no work of art and I have great dreams for it, but I live vicariously through you guys right now, but her reasons for saying no blew me out of the water. It's amazing what a good woman can do for a guy.
Jim

[MattO]

My girlfriend is a keeper. She loves the truck and told me that I'm never allowed to sell it. she doesn't care how much I spend on it so long as she can drive it. She also loves my uncle's hot rods and Charlie's Camaro (El Mule).

She also wants me to build her a truck one day. She wants it lifted though. There's one in every family right...?

[89 RS]

Me and my wife met in college in Illinois, I knew she was definitely the one for me when I drove to her parent's house in Chicago to see each other and I changed the oil in my college car at the time and she helped me change the oil because she knew how. I couldn't believe it, I knew it was meant to be. Been together for 12 years, married for four years. She suprised me and gave me the cash she saved up to go buy my Third-gen Camaro 5 yrs ago that I wanted since I was a kid. She loves Mustangs, but I don't hold it against her:) , she loves cars and that's good enough for me.

[Ricochet]

Much like most that have posted - I'm very fortunate to have a supporting wife that understands and excepts this hobby/obsession of ours! Although it has slowed down since we had 2 kids - she constantly reminds me that I need to get the car finished.

Just like the saying goes "Behind every man is a better woman!"

Sounds like most of all us are fortunate! :thumbsup:

[awr68]

All great stories guys! Very happy for ya!

My wife and I have been together for over 16 yrs and married 15 of them. She is totally supportive of my love for this hobby and is very involved with our car Karma. She has been to SEMA with me every year that I have gone and loves to see all our friends there as much as I do. There were a few times over the years that I wanted to throw in the towel and sell the camaro as I got frustrated with the build, and she gave me a much needed pep talk! We are a team to the end!

Yeah, it's nice when you have a good woman by your side!

[mdprovee]

I too have lucked out finding the right person. My wife said get it done, so we can enjoy it. She has been so supportive thru it all. Keep putting up with the one more thing... We are celebrating our 6 year anniversary, spending sometime at the coast, and she suggested we take the car. I couldn't ask for abetter person for me.

Congrats to all who have found the right one.

[Vegas69]

I know I have a keeper. Anyone that can put up with my **** has to be! :lol:

[monza]

Oh god ... I felt like I just read a post on Martha Stewarts site or something:fluffy:

[cowboybob]

Nothing better than having a spouse/soulmate that supports our healthy addictions. My wife has been with me through 4 builds (a '76 FJ40 rock crawler, a '59 Corvette, a '65 Shelby Cobra, and my current '69 Camaro project).

She knows that I find solace in going out in the garage and working on my projects. Heck, she even gives me a gentle nudge and a voice of encouragement when I'm frustrated with something that I'm working on.

I recently told her how much I apprecitated her support of my various endeavors and that she could decide the next car project. Being the wonderful lady that she is, she said she wanted a '68 Chevelle convertible. What a woman!!

If you have a supportive spouse, be sure to thank her for her patience/ passion/understanding because a lot of car guys aren't so lucky.

[elco]

If you have a supportive spouse, be sure to thank her for her patience/ passion/understanding because a lot of car guys aren't so lucky.

That's me. I have to embezzle most of my parts and hide what I spend. My wife can think of a million other things that I can spend my free time on; like working on our house. Whenever one home project gets completed, another one comes up. I don't get the same enjoyment out of working on my house that I do when I work on my Camaro or El Camino. My wife (and her family) doesn’t understand my "car addiction". I feel that I would be better off not knowing how to do home improvements. So, I am envious of you guys that have understanding wives.