1962. Family moves from Oak Park, MI to Royal Oak, right behind the Totem Pole Restaurant. (How cool is that !?) We ride our bicycles 1-1/2 blocks and park behind the wooden fence at the rear entrance on Lafayette, and watch the waaay cool cars come and go. '57 chevy's and ford's w/blister hood scoops, baby moons, etc., etc., Get serenaded to sleep all summer long to the sound of power shifts and squeeling tires. (Early brainwashing scenario) Fall 1963. Around the corner a new car is parked at the curb still wearing window sticker. (1964 GTO) I often stop to reread the sticker on the way to school. Right across the street from school is parked a maroon '64 LeMans, 4-speed car w/aftermarked triple gauges under dash, dog dishes, hardtop, white interior. Hormones and other things coming online, I'm not shy, I knock on the door to inquire if the car is for sale. Real swell guy invites me in, introduces his wife, He is way cool but car is not for sale. Actually see the car (and dude going to work ((Ace Wilson,s Royal ???)) one day. Love that car. 1967 Have driver,s license now. Lady at work (with gorgeous , triple black, '65 LeMans) has her son's car with her and it's for sale. White '64 tri-power GTO, light blue interior, power windows and buckets, column shifted automatic, ((son has prosthetic device for right hand)) optional wheel covers w/spinners. She offers car to me to take for test drive/check-out. Heartrate begins to increase to dangerous levels. I head straight for home to show to Mom for her appraisal/approval (emphasis on power seats and windows and column shifted automatic) but mostly to see who else is home who wants to go for a ride. Older brother agrees and I head straight for Woodward Avenue. Put that sucker in drive and mashed the loud pedal. Holy**** did that car go! All my brother could say was " you'd better slow this thing down!!!". My dad wouldn't have anything to do with co-signing for a hot rod. #$%&*#$@ Next fall, walk (less than a mile) to Ace Wilson,s fall festival/new car intro/Bobcat stuff on display/promotion. Eventually meet and deal w/George DeLorean @ Leader Automotive. Do I have it for GTO's?? You bet! '65 in garage, 4-speed, V-8 (BIG ****EATIN GRIN!!!) 12-bolt posi, no ps, nopb, radio delete, big and littles, no power but HP, .................................................. ............
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