With Valentine's Day in the offing I thought it an appropriate time to
wax lyrical on the subject of love. It's a strange and undefinable thing isn't
it? It's been mused over by philosophers, artists and scientists since time
immemorial. It's that mixture of hormonal and sensory stimuli that marks out
those people or possessions in our lives for which we'd do irrational,
extraordinary or even stupid things. Actions that would, ordinarily, be totally
out of character. How many florid poems have been written, lachrymose songs
composed or flattering portraits painted on this most ethereal of themes? Too
many to count I'd wager and not all of them good. And around Valentine's Day,
even for the staunchly unromantic, love still somehow induces you buy your
better half an expensive card and a box of gooey chocolates even if it is
because the people at Clinton's Cards have guilt-tripped you into it.
You could argue that the same irrational process applies to the purchase
and subsequent care of a classic car.
Think back. Did your induction into classic ownership start with an
aching yearn for the car you eventually came to own? Perhaps there were happy
memories of prior ownership or of distantly remembered road trips in the
long-since rusted away family car. Alternatively, it was possibly a long
remembered ride in the company car of a friend or neighbour. A gleaming motor
complete with that new-car-smell that you really admired. Maybe it was simply a
car you always wanted from a magazine or your favourite TV show, an exciting
vehicle that at the time was just out of reach because circumstances or cash
prevented you from having it. All are routes to the eventual purchase of that
very same machine years later especially when it's been redefined as a
'classic'. In the run up to that moment, when you finally hand over your cash,
I'll bet that every time you saw someone driving your desired car the empty
feeling of not owning it grew, and the burning desire to one day drive your
very own, flared just that little bit hotter. Sounds a lot like love to me.
So, eventually, the happy day arrives and you buy your car, even before
the cheque's cleared and the money's gone, the relationship is well underway.
And it couldn't be more perfect, a lifelong ambition achieved. Such joy fills
your heart made even sweeter as you see others pointing with admiration whilst
you smugly drive around in your new classic amore. Just like having a stunning
supermodel on your arm as you nonchalantly stroll into your local. Nothing is
too much trouble as you regularly polish, preen and vacuum your four-wheeled
significant-other ensuring every alluring curve of its exquisite body has felt
your loving caress. Oil and fluid levels are minutely checked so that 'she' or
'he' doesn't get thirsty and you top up low readings as if toasting your union
with the finest vintage champagne. Pretty soon you'll be splashing your money
on expensive unguents, creams and lotions to buff and moisturise every inch of
your car's form to an eye-blistering shine. It's never seems too much trouble
to nourish leather seats and polish strips of walnut before hanging a small,
tree-like air freshener from your rear view mirror just like a pungent vessel
of the finest Chanel No 5. It's all just so, well, lovely. You fallen 'big time'
in love and everyone, and I mean everyone, will know. By now, if you're really
smitten, you may have gone to the trouble of giving your car an affectionate
nickname. You've got it bad!
But does love last? Anyone who's ever had a broken heart will disagree.
Lost or unrequited love is part of life's rich pageant isn't it? We love, then
lose, maybe quite a few times, until we find 'The One'. Perhaps it's a little
different with classic car ownership where several long-term relationships,
interspersed with a cheeky one night stand or two, doesn't quite work. If
you've chosen well, your car should offer a less mercurial relationship
history. But that happy union will also undoubtedly confirm the veracity of the
term: 'for richer or poorer' which might have been specially written for this
very situation. As we all know our cars,
as time passes, will test the partnership; sometimes to breaking point. There's
a significant strain on our emotions that can be caused by a petulant classic
that does all it can to show its ingratitude for your attention mainly by
presenting you with a succession of large bills, restoration costs, breakdowns
and lumpy running. It will refuse to start when that's all what you really
want. Bits will fall off - expensive bits - just when funds have hit an all-time
low. To paraphrase the Bard: love's labours are often lost and he didn't know
what a car was!
Sadly as we all know there's many an automotive romance that has
foundered on the sharp coastal rocks of money, divorce, or expanding families.
In many cases it'll be just plain old exasperation when the finalist of final
straws has broken, emotionally and/or financially, the back of the once-smitten
owner. Pretty soon it's agreed the pairing can no longer continue at least with
both parties remaining happy and functional. I for one have been 'there' but as
I write I'm still in the game - just!
The lesson we might draw here is, like our closest human relationships, that
we have to choose carefully (or at least knowingly), accept the foibles and
proclivities of our partners (and classics) and keep a sense of perspective and
humour. If you can do that then there's no reason why your classic car romance
can't last a good long time. In sickness and in health as it were. So whether
it's with a tired but legal rolling resto' or a showroom quality beauty love
can endure as I’m sure many of you will testify. I'll conclude by saying
whatever you're planning to celebrate Valentine's Day, I hope it's as magical
and lovey-dovey as you'd like it to be and obviously includes spending some
romantic time with your life partner be that a person or, dare I say, your car?
