Verne Frantz's Too Cool 62 409!!

[Verne_Frantz]

A warm thank you to everyone for their kind comments.
I'm glad you enjoyed the story. The day I bought that car I felt I'd own it forever. So far, so good!
Next July the car & I will celebrate our 40th anniversary. I suppose I should do some special...

Verne

[SuperNovaSS]

So, did you Dad's opinion ever change about the car? I know he changed his mind and wrote the check, but did he ever feel the love for the car?



Jason

[Steve Shauger]

Verne the car is priceless, and so are the memories and experiences you have shared with us.

Thanks

[Verne_Frantz]

The car is only "priceless" because I'd never put one on it! When people ask me "What's this car worth?" (a question I really dislike), I just tell them A H-LL of a lot less than what it would take to make me sell it!

Jason, Dad never disliked the car, or really showed that he liked it either. He was just neutral about it. He'd help me work on it when I needed an extra pair of hands. He let me take up one side of the garage while one of his cars sat outside. Mom even washed it for me a couple times before I came home from college for the weekend. She wanted to make sure I had a clean car to take Janet out.
I had good parents. They didn't spoil me, but they were very kind. (I had to pay Pop back every nickle of that $700. though) They taught me responsibility.

Verne

[427TJ]

[ QUOTE ]
Jason, Dad never disliked the car, or really showed that he liked it either. He was just neutral about it.

[/ QUOTE ]

Keep in mind too that in those days it was just another car to most people, especially our moms and dads. Not to dismiss Verne's car's ultra-coolness--far from it--but '62 Chevys, even soft-tops, were very common in the late '60s. Verne's 40-year trip with his '62 makes the story so much more inspirational than if he had bought it at B-J two years ago.

[MosportGreen66]

Verne,

What an awesome story! Talk about a living memory. Verne, I got to ask, do you feel your old man when you drive the car? He was the ultimate backbone... paying for the car, picking it up when you were in despair. What a guy! Seems like you two had a great relationship!

Love the timeline of photos... totally awesome!

-Dan

[Verne_Frantz]

Thanks Dan,
I think about him sometimes when I drive it, but mostly just when I "think" about the car. Yep, he was a great Dad. Taught me how to drive in a '49 Ford when I was 12, Taught me how to ride a bike, fishing, hunting, traping, swimming, boating and a lot of stuff around the house. He taught me how to fix just about anything instead of just throwing it away and buying a new one. Many good memories...

Verne

[69hurstSC]

great story verne. we all wish we had the heads up to take pics as great as yours back in the day! thanks for sharing that with us!

[heatsinker]

Verne.......Awesome recollection, awesome story, awesome car and not really needing mention........awesome guy. I hope to have the pleasure of meeting you again at some local shows.

[1967Z28]

Hey Verne, great story and a great car. You really brought home the story of what the car means to you in your narrative. I really enjoyed it. I have loved 409 engines since I first laid eyes on one back in the early '70s. Would love to own one someday (closest I got was a '61 bubbletop with a 348).

-Jon