Chrome Is Where The Heart Is (A Father's Day Gift)

Long Island Newsday ^ | 6/16/02 | Martin C. Evans

[lowbridge]

In 1956, John Barone -- single, newly out of the Air Force and with money in his pocket -- got rid of the 15-year-old Pontiac he'd been driving and bought a brand new Buick.

Big. Brawny. Powerful. Cutting-edge. Think babe magnet.

But the Buick's charm maybe worked too well. Eighteen months later, the then-27-year-old Barone was married and a new father, with mouths to feed and bills to pay.

So he swallowed hard, sold the Buick, bought a more practical Chevy, and a few years later settled in North Bellmore with his wife, Mary, and, eventually, four children.

[lowbridge]

Son, I'll be good to you, if you'll be this good to me :-)

[lowbridge]

bump

[Gorzaloon]

A great reward for bringing up a terrific son!

I wonder if my neices and nephews have heard enough about my 1958 Studebaker Hawk, that I still have dreams about?

Naw... :-)

[sushiman]

What a great story ! I would love to see the look on his father's face when he sees that car !

[sistergoldenhair]

Great story. There will probably be a few tears.

[tubebender]

I can relate to this as I was working for the Chevy dealer here in Eureka in 55 & 56 and bought the first 55 Chevy that hit the used car lot.. It was a Bel Air 2 door post V8 with an overdrive and I used to race those Buicks at the Somoa Drag Strip. For their size the Buicks were fast but not fast enough. BTW I had to sell the Chevy when I got married on Feb 1st 1957. Looking back it was the right thing to do. (I had to say that cause she reads my posts)

[gonzo]

"...while wrestling with a piece of chrome windshield trim, Barone sliced an ugly gash into his right wrist, which leaked blood until he patched it with duct tape..."

Gad - it's true! We do that!

"...1958 Studebaker Hawk, that I still have dreams about? ..."

1963 Studebaker GT Super-Hawk, Avanti-R2 Paxton Supercharged 289, 4-on-the-floor, FOR SALE!

Dreams can come true, but usually, ya gotta do it yourself!

I helped make THIS DREAM happen, and it's still a thing of beauty - some call it 'Rolling-Sculpture'! I call it 'Daily-Driver'............FRegards

[Gorzaloon]

"...1958 Studebaker Hawk, that I still have dreams about? ..." 1963 Studebaker GT Super-Hawk, Avanti-R2 Paxton Supercharged 289, 4-on-the-floor, FOR SALE! Dreams can come true, but usually, ya gotta do it yourself! I helped make THIS DREAM happen, and it's still a thing of beauty - some call it 'Rolling-Sculpture'! I call it 'Daily-Driver'............FRegards

OMG, it's beautiful.

I know the R2 engine.

(fainting)....