Early 70s
Those were the days for car lovers.
He was no longer racing by 72 or so, tracks were going to paved and increasing costs.
He had a 65 GTO tri power his last two years of high school, working part time at the local garage.
Graduated in 68 and bought a 442 Cutlass as he started working full time at the garage.
In 70 he got a brand new SS454 Chevelle 4 speed,
traded it less than a year later for a 69 Daytona that was still in a show room and never titled, (couple of hundred miles on it from test drives)
while he had the Daytona there was also a 69 Z28 he had, maybe around 1973 or so.
he sold it after having it only a year or so.
Sold the Daytona in around 76, and used money as down payment on logging equipment. he was sick of working indoors, and that was the end of cool cars.
Cars cost a whole lot more of our income nowadays.
Can you imagine a kid that had a part time job affording and driving a 2006 GTO the last two years, graduating from high school this year, and then getting a 2010 Camaro SS with his first full time job. Then maybe an SRT in a couple of years.
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"Yes, it's a real GTO. I know the scoops, spoiler, exhaust tips, and rear wheels are wrong. Umm, sure it's the 'big block' 400, you are quite the expert. I am driving in the rain, at night, running errands, with the kids who are eating and having ice cream in the back, after going to the drag strip, burning rubber, and blowing donuts. Do you really think it's numbers matching all original?"