You will be on edge a lot
My betrothed owns a mk2 Toyota Celica Supra and a Chevrolet 4100 that he scooped up at a bargain price some 600kms away from our front door. I love both these cars, but let me tell you, when he’s out driving it late at night, I am always slightly on edge because being a classic car, it comes with its own set of issues and you never know when it’s going to break down.
There is always something to fix
Another thing about classic car ownership is that there is always something to fix. And even when there isn’t, you’re worried that something will break. It’s unnerving for the owner and let me tell you something, it’s hella unnerving for the girlfriend/fiancé/wife.
If he’s out on the road in his classic car, keep your phone charged
As much as I dread those messages that tell me that he’s stuck on the side of the road because the car just died, I never want to be in a situation where he tried to reach me but couldn’t get hold of me because my phone was off. Or worse, his phone died. Between both of you, keep your phones charged and invest in a power bank.
It’s expensive
Spare car parts in general cost a lot of money, but spare parts for cars build decades ago? Well, those will cost you a limb. More often than not it will be case of not having access to these parts anymore so one will have to be shaped one out of carbon, metal or magic skills.
Keep emergency numbers memorised or on standby
There will sometimes be those messages that say something like “Er.. she’s not sounding so good hey”. My fear is two-fold: He’s going to get stuck on a crappy piece of road where something or someone could harm him or he leaves his car on the side of the road to go get help and he gets back to where he left it, but it’s no longer there. The first one would break my heart. The second would break his. No one wins. So, keep two truck numbers, insurance numbers and emergency numbers stored somewhere easily accessible.
You will just constantly worry
There is continual worry. Worry about if the car will make it to where you want it to go. While riding shotgun I often think I hear funny noises and I cautiously glance over at my other half to see his face. If it’s smiling and happy – I breathe a sigh of relief. If there’s concern, well, then my face turns to concern too.
You will love his cars anyway
No matter how much you worry, how much money he spends on his car or how many times you mistakenly think he’s talking to you when he says “hey baby”, you will love end up loving his cars. When they are both working and he’s driving either of them – nothing can beat that. It's just so… infectious.
The Supra has been his project for a decade and to have it up and running (as his daily driver) brings him joy because he has quite literally poured blood, sweat and tears into the car. The Chevy is more nostalgic. His late dad had one and, therefore, it’s filled with many happy childhood memories for him and his family. He loves cruising in the Chevy, as did his dad in his one. He also loves going balls to the wall in the Supra (within the legal constraints). I love seeing him enjoying his cars. So, no matter how much stress I feel when he takes each one out, I will happily put up with it. To the point where every time he suggests selling one of it, it’s a massive “NO” from me. No one else is allowed to have these cars. These are his and he loves them. And, therefore, I love them too.
