Tony Lefebvre bought his 1958 Olds 88 convertible as a wrecked hulk for $300 from a salvage yard but transformed it into this massive, good-looking boulevard cruiser over the course of several years. It had to be sacrificed for cash when unemployment suddenly reared its ugly head.
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Tony Lefebvre / Courtesy photo
Floyd Beck traded a hot rod chassis for his 1946 Ford Sedan Delivery, which got a bright red paint job and became a `party wagon' back in the early 1960s. After he sold it, he missed it so much he bought a '47 Chevy Sedan Delivery and painted it red, too, but the magic was gone.
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Floyd Beck / Courtesy
Tina Gilbert loved the front-wheel-drive, the hideaway headlights and the power of the big 455 V-8 in the family's brand new 1969 Olds Toronado. It logged more than 126,000 miles over the 16 years it was in their possession and is still missed.
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Tina Gilbert / Courtesy
Frank LaForge special-ordered his 1967 Pontiac GTO with a bench seat and column shift so his dates could ride close to him. After he married his wife, Sharon, he traded the `Goat' in on an English Cortina, which he still describes as the worst car he's ever owned.
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Frank LaForge / Courtesy
Robert Epp still misses the 1952 Ford Tudor with the '55 Plymouth grille installed by Darryl Starbird in the mid-'50s at his custom shop on Mt. Vernon.
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Robert Epp / Courtesy
Side trim from a 1955 Dodge was used to create the dividing line between the metallic blue and alpine white paint scheme on Robert Epp's Ford. The car also featured Packard tail lights and additional chrome trim from a '54 Mercury.
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Robert Epp / Courtesy
Merle Toews did some mild customizing to this 1958 Pontiac Star Chief, nosing and decking it and building his own grille out of hardware store drawer pulls. He let it get away from him and his wife has never forgiven him, he says.
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Merle Toews / Courtesy
Larry Tholen's passion for classic Studebakers began when he bought this 1929 Studebaker Commander 8 Victoria. Two of is daughters are perched on the running board of the big coupe, which got away, but has been followed by a succession of other vintage Studebakers, including a rare 1932 Rockne.
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Larry Tholen / Courtesy
Gilbert Adams has since returned to his first love, the '40 Ford, but when he saw this 1948 Pontiac convertible shortly after graduating from high school, he had to have it. He turned it into a mild custom, but kept the big flathead straight 8 in it, adding a split exhaust manifold and duals.
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Gilbert Adams / Courtesy
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