As my wife and I drive down the freeway, or the streets of a town, or the back roads in the country, I find my attention often being drawn to the image of various automobiles I see along the way, while my wife’s attention is generally drawn to the visage of beautiful scenery, gardens, farm animals, and objects of nature. I often ask myself, “What do I find so interesting, exciting, or intriguing, about the many various types and models of cars that catch my attention, especially those of years gone by?”
I have asked that same question of other men, especially those who have one or more old cars stored away in a garage in various states of repair or restoration. Just what is the mystery surrounding men’s passion and love of their cars? One person told me that the mystery of why men tend to fall in love with cars more often than women may be no mystery at all. He said, “Men often bond with their cars because they perceive their cars as an extension of their self, as a confirmation of their maturing and growing up, and as evidence of their success in life.” Even more important, I believe, like many people who collect the paintings of Cassatt, Picasso, Monet, Kahlo, Seurat, and other renowned artists, car collectors love the emotional rush they get when they see a beautiful automobile that has been restored, preserved, driven, protected, and treasured.
While touring the Blackhawk Automotive Museum, I was intrigued by my conversations with a couple of the docents who shared with me their stories of how many of the beautiful and collectible automobiles there have become such revered, admired, and sought-after icons of years gone past. In search of the back-stories of how these people came to be such great promoters for the preservation of these works of art, I went back during a docent gathering and contacted and interviewed several more docents who work at the museum. Over the next couple of months, I will share with you some of the car owners and collectors’ personal stories of how innocently and passionately they became shareholders in this never-ending story of “The Art in Collecting Cars.”
Ed Spencer, for one, has always loved cars. He taught himself to drive his dad’s car and got his driver’s license at 14 years of age. He would drive his dad to work and then continue on to school by himself. He owned no car himself in high school, but his father bought him a used Corvette (1954 model) when he started college. Then, in 1956, after he graduated, he was drafted into the Navy and sold the car.
He served his tour of duty aboard the aircraft carrier, the USS Shangri-La. After one tour of duty in the Pacific when his ship returned to its U.S. port, his dad bought a used Cadillac sedan and gave it to him. After receiving new orders sending him to Atsugi, Japan, he simply asked a yeoman in the command service office if there was a way to get his car shipped to his new duty port. The yeoman clerk simply asked for a copy of his orders and to Ed’s great surprise, when he arrived in Japan, there it was, his great big 1956 4 door Cadillac sedan sitting on the dock waiting for him. He still does not know how it happened because his rank did not entitle him to get that kind of bonus. He was never questioned about it, nor did he receive a bill!
At that time, he says, the only cars prevalent in Japan were little Nissans and Datsuns, so can you imagine how popular he became when he showed up anywhere in Japan with what must have appeared to be a car worthy of royalty. When he went on liberty with his Cadillac, the local bar doors literally sprang open and the Japanese girls poured out and swamped over him and his Ichiban (meaning #1, the best, or First Class in Japanese) vehicle. No wonder Ed developed such an early appreciation of having the “Best” in vehicles!
After leaving military service, he worked for his father’s finance company for several more years. When his father passed away, he inherited some money and a friend suggested that they form a partnership in a new car dealership, which ultimately became a Chevrolet dealership in Livermore. For a while, they also owned a Dodge dealership across the street as well, and their business did very well. Cadillacs and Corvettes became his personal passion. The dealership continued under their ownership for about 15 years until he sold it. He continued to work for other car dealerships just to keep busy but now Ed is retired and living in Rossmoor.
Over the years, he continued to collect his “toys” until he got to the point that his home in Blackhawk with garages designed to hold up to eight vehicles, was not large enough to accommodate all of his vehicles. His wife Sheila is comfortable with her Cadillac Escalade type vehicle and he loves his 2007 Cadillac XLR (basically a Corvette convertible hidden in its Cadillac skin). Consequently, his love of luxury vehicles started early in his life and even today, he still prefers to own and drive what I might call “Ichiban,” vehicles.
A lovely couple they are, who value beauty, such as their home with its exquisite furniture, paintings, and artwork… and their beautiful cars. Indeed, these cars are pieces of art; art that is fun to drive and “take out for a spin.”
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