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Jack’s Journal: Collecting Cars

It’s simple: he sells new cars, but loves and collects the old ones.

“It kind of can be an evil thing, because you see what you like. Then, you kind of accumulate things over the years,” said car collector Tom Kleinhardt.

And he’s had a front row seat as a teen working at McGuire Chevy in Clare.

Now, as principal dealer, he has seen them all. Like many, he has a love for the muscle cars of the ‘60s and ‘70s, and the memories of those cars cruising downtown Clare.

“They called it bombing town, some of the GTOs, Chevelle, Camaros and Mustangs. Thinking back in those days, when you saw the cars parked at the local parking lot with hoods raised. I was a kid then, yeah, I think about that a lot,” explained Tom.

So he keeps the ones that have touched his car loving heart. There are a few in the group that are special though.

“I’ve got a couple of favorites actually.  The 57 Bellaire, 110 Coupe. Very nice car, cool car.  The 69 SS 350, kind of at the top of the list. Those two cars are 1-2 in any order,” said Tom.

Tom is looking forward to the warmer weather so that he can take his collection for a spin.  This time of the year, yes, he might just go sit in one and fire it up to hear the purr.

Will he keep looking and collecting?

“You don’t have to go out searching, they find you,” explained Tom.

Tom might not be out bombing downtown Clare anymore, but he loves the memories.

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