05/14/2017
I started my life as a gearhead back in Junior High watching my dad and uncle work on their cars, Jeeps actually.
Me-Mom '62 Jeep-July'62
1962 Willys Station Wagon
They both had late 50’s; early 60’s Willys Jeep station wagons that they had modded to run on the beaches off of Long Island.
My mom bought a brand new 65 Mustang 289 coupe with a stick. The Mustang became my wheels for high school some days and for dates on the weekend. In high school I got a job at an auto parts warehouse that supplied most of the parts stores on Long Island.
68 Chevelle 327-7
1968 Chevelle 327
In 1973 I bought my first car; a 68 Chevelle Malibu, 327, 325 hp 11:1 compression ratio with Fuelie heads and a Muncie M21 box. It only had 60k on it and was in good mechanical condition; just needing a respray due to faded paint. I only paid $600 for the car, but the switch from house paint blue to black lacquer cost $600! The iconic straight line muscle car from the 60s.
Fast forward a few years and I started working in another store during college that also had a foreign supply store. When I started here it was where I was exposed to the foreign car scene. We supplied the local foreign car shops and dealers with OEM parts from Bosch, Girling, Ferrodo, Ansa, Cibie and the Amco line of accessories. The Foreign car scene was really interesting in the mid-late 70’s as the small fuel efficient cars from Japan hit the market here. But what came with the econo boxes was the Datsun 240Z, 510 as well as the BMW 2002, Alfa and the British marques from Jag, MG, Austin Healy and Triumph. What was interesting about the foreign market is we were actually a distributor for the original equipment parts for almost all the imports. Parts sharing amongst the manufacturers was big as they couldn’t afford custom designed parts, so we all knew the parts that would fit a broad spectrum of cars usually from the same country, but not necessarily the same manufacturer.
68 TR 250-1
68 Triumph TR250
Sometime in 76 a customer came in for parts for a 68 Triumph TR250; well I ended up buying it from him for short money. That TR was actually a daily driver for 3 years, taking me to college in the Adirondack Mountains as well as weekend ski trips to Vermont. Yes ski trips; I had studded snow tires! It was my first of numerous British cars and my start of owning foreign vehicles ranging from Land Rovers, Saabs, Volvos, Alfas and a currently 1982 Porsche 911SC and 1970 Triumph TR6.
Porsch-Leaves-smaller
1982 Porsche 911SC
The exposure to the imported car culture also brought me to the track. We sponsored an F production SCCA Triumph Spitfire and campaigned at Bridgehampton, (now a golf course), Lime Rock and Briar (now New Hampshire Motor Speedway).
The Bridge 2001
Remnants of Bridgehampton Racetrack. The original straight and bridge are still visible – circa 2000
DOB F Production Spit-Briar
Triumph Spitfire MK III F Production
Fast forward forty years of dabbling with cars in between my day job at an Engineering firm and I’ve decided I should use my experience to help others who are looking for that “perfect” weekend ride.
I plan on offering car locator services, valuation and appraisal, and assistance in selling your vehicle. I hope to post a blog from time to time with interesting tidbits that I come across and look forward to your comments.
So there you have it. As my site continues to grow and my services expand I hope you will reach out to me if I can be of assistance.
Happy Motoring
Gary J. Hamilton
