The year was 1963, and the need was a convertible. With my savings a new car was out of the question. I'd looked for a used car all summer and I was advised as autumn approached the market for used convertibles went down.

I found my dream car - a 1955 Chevy Bel Air convertible. In the Fifties there were very few foreign cars, and the American carmakers made drastic changes in model styles almost every year. Chevy had changed the profile of their ‘55 models to a lower profile, adding a new front suspension, rear springs and improved brakes ...