A car doesn't have to be a muscle car or even American-made to be beloved.
I have always had a love for classic cars.
... Got a feel for my automobile .... My first car -- purchased with money saved from paper routes, clearing tables and other jobs -- was a 1972 Chevelle with Cragar mag wheels. I loved that car, and still stop and stare whenever I see a similar one.
My brother had a 1968 GTO convertible in college. The GTO changed hands a couple of times, but it's back in my brother's garage, where it is being lovingly restored part by part.
MORE: Vintage photos around New Jersey
About 10 years ago, I bought a 1966 Ford Galaxie convertible at auction for $2,900. I did this without mentioning the matter to my wife, which may have been a mistake.
Known as "the converticle" in our family. Constantly, I would be asked if the car was for sale. I found that the best answer wasn't "no, it's not." Instead, I would tell those interested in buying the car about its the engine size; my Galaxie had the 'family sized' 289 cubic inch engine and potential buyers were always looking for the muscular big block 428.
Funny thing about my wife and that car: she was sad to see it go when I sold it.
A car doesn't have to be a muscle car or even American-made to be beloved. I've personally always been fascinated by the 1962 Citroen, the one with the taillights up near the roofline, and still want a vintage Volkswagen Beetle convertible because taking them apart and putting them back together is half the fun of owning one.
Here's a gallery of vintage autos from around the Garden State; perhaps you can help with some of the ones I wasn't able to identify.
And to see more, here's a link to last year's "planes, trains and automobiles" gallery that had many more classics.
Auto racing in New Jersey? Here's a gallery on that topic.
Greg Hatala may be reached at ghatala@starledger.com. Follow him on Twitter @GregHatala. Find The Star-Ledger on Facebook.