True Romance?

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?