On this episode of The Knocking Rod podcast, I chat with Cousin Todd who is also known as Uncle Todd in our household. Turns out, Todd and I come from a long line of car guys, starting with Grandpa Smiley who passed his car-loving ways to his sons, who in turn brought the next generation into the fold.
Todd has many good stories, like the 1965 Cutlass his dad used as a parts car that became Todd’s first car. I remember this classic Olds from that time a surfboard flew off the roof while driving through Seaside Park, NJ. Todd recalls its unpleasant Mint Green finish that he swapped for Midnight Blue courtesy of an Earl Scheib $99 special.
There is the 1992 Jetta - also Mint Green - that carried Todd and his buddy Dennis cross-country from NJ to CA courtesy of a wheezing 100-horsepower four-pot.
Once he arrived in Hermosa Beach, Todd found himself with a handsome Coca-Cola van that was a perk of a new job selling Coke machines. It was also the vehicle he took his future wife, Kellie, on a date in. One that left her wondering where he’d parked his actual car (he didn’t have one).
There was the 1995 Wrangler that I got to ride in and experience the SoCal lifestyle for the first time. Which has transitioned into a series of SUVs, including a sweet Eddie Bauer Explorer and the current ride - a Yukon XL that carried a large crew of us to the Malibu triathlon with ease.
Were Todd to hit the lottery tomorrow, his dream garage would include a 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing like the one his neighbor has and a 600+ horsepower Lamborghini Urus. Love it!
About the author: Niel Stender is an automotive journalist. More of his work can be found at muckrack.com/niel-stender
