From the September 2023 issue of Car and Driver comes an interesting article about the experience of revisiting old cars through a classic-car emporium. The author reminisces about their first car, a 1984 Subaru wagon, and how they never thought they would drive one again due to its disposable nature. However, after contacting Duncan Imports, a classic-car emporium, they were surprised to find a 1984 DL 4WD Subaru wagon with 54,000 miles available for sale. This prompted the author to wonder if they could find other cars from their past, like a slant-six Dodge Ram or a black third-gen GM F-body with a tuned-port-injection 5.0-liter V-8. The answer was yes.
The author travels to Virginia to meet Gary Duncan, the proprietor of Duncan Imports. Duncan, a new-car dealer with Honda and Hyundai franchises, is an avid car enthusiast with around 1400 cars in his possession. He is not interested in buying classic cars to show off wealth, but rather because he genuinely loves cars – normal, weird, and everything in between.
The author gets into the 1984 Subaru DL and is instantly reminded of their past. The controls and features of the car feel familiar, and as they drive it, they realize it is better than they remembered, especially compared to their rust-eaten childhood car. The Subaru feels powerful and handles well.
Next, the author tries out other cars from their past, including a 1986 Ram and a 1992 Trans Am convertible. Each car provokes different emotions and memories. The author realizes that they want all their old cars back, even the bad ones, but understands that it’s impossible to keep everything. However, there are always more cool cars out there, although they are often owned by someone else.
Finally, the author returns with a BMW E36 M3, and Duncan is on the phone discussing purchasing an SC430. The article concludes with a short bio of the author, mentioning that they are a Car and Driver senior editor and columnist.
Overall, the article captures the nostalgia and excitement of revisiting old cars and the love that enthusiasts have for all types of vehicles. It highlights the experience of visiting a classic-car emporium and the possibility of finding and driving cars from one’s past.