Man appeals to autophiles in plea for free classic car

A young man in Halifax is asking for someone to give him a free classic car. It may sound like an audacious and greedy request, but the 19-year-old backs up his plea with an appeal to others who are passionate about driving.

Spencer M has never owned a car, but he aspires to be a top-tier leather-sniffing greasemonkey one day, thanks to the generosity of a stranger.

"I have always dreamt of having a car I can fix with my eyes closed, or to be knee deep in oil and gunk after having spent days getting to know my car," Spencer writes in his Kijiji Halifax ad. "Times have changed since the ‘ol days where kids my age practically built the cars they were driving; I grew up in the suburbs with a focus on school work and succeeding, and never had a chance to get a hold of an old beaut and put in numerous hours keeping ‘er alive."

Well, he certainly has a way with words. Is it realistic?

"Please don’t email me saying I’m being unrealistic and stupid by asking for this…I know I am," he writes. "But hey, don’t ask, don’t get."

So far, the ad has had just under 300 views.

Speculation that this has anything to do with an impending transit strike in Halifax has yet to be explored.

I am arbitrarily placing this ad in the You Suck at Kijiji Hall of Fame due to its ballsiness, attention to detail and the fact that I am not a car-lover. Most of my knowledge of classic car passion comes from the Rush song "Red Barchetta" and I drive a Kia Rio. To me, this guy is an expert.

Wanted: An Old Car Looking For A New Beginning

This isn't a regular ad - it's not to be read by people who are critical and closed minded, but instead by people who believe in keeping stories alive, understand the passion of driving and who aren’t afraid to give something up only to keep it alive. If you are not one of those people...don't waste your time reading this.

I am 19 years old with a passion for car's, and the belief that a car is more than "just a car" or an object that takes someone from point A to point B. A car is something special that needs just as much love and care as a person.

What I am looking for isn't easy to find - and chances are you’re not willing to give what I am asking, but I will try to convince you otherwise if you choose to continue reading.

At 19, I have never owned a car that I can call my own. I have always wanted my first car to be from someone special who has treated the car as a member of their own family - spending as many hours changing the oil and filters as they have changing diapers. Preferably I would have liked to inherit an old classic from a family member, but I regret to say that isn’t going to happen.

As is the case with many car enthusiasts, I can’t say I’ve spent all that much time under a hood. I have always dreamt of having a car I can fix with my eyes closed, or to be knee deep in oil and gunk after having spent days getting to know my car. Times have changed since the ‘ol days where kids my age practically built the cars they were driving; I grew up in the suburbs with a focus on school work and succeeding, and never had a chance to get a hold of an old beaut and put in numerous hours keeping ‘er alive.

What I am looking for is someone who is willing to pass a part of their life on in order to keep that part of their life alive. I am looking for a classic car with a past that I can keep alive, and continue to keep alive through future generations, continuously adding to the history of a special car. I am not trying to rob anyone of their precious automobile, but rather looking for someone who wants to give their car to a new owner who is going to treat it with as much, or more respect than they did. I want the current owner to be able to sleep at night once it’s gone knowing the car is in good hands. The car needs to have a life of its own, preferably being far older than I.

What do I plan on doing with this car? Driving the sh*t out of it. I want a car that can take me on 12 hour drives through the back country roads of the Atlantic Provinces (top down) on a sunny Sunday, and be able to take me to get groceries on a rainy Tuesday. It has to be tough, and pack a punch of excitement while giving the driver the best experience of his life. The car will be saved for the spring, summer and fall months, kept in a safe haven for the winter to build up the anxiety of that first springtime drive.

I am not looking for any particular make or model, but rather a car with more stories to it than miles – a car that has brought more excitement to its driver(s) than a rollercoaster can bring to a 6 year old and can continue to do so as long as it’s taken care of.

What do I want out of the car? It has to have a voice. When I turn that key, or push my foot to the pedal, I want to hear a roar of confidence and power – distinct from all other cars.

The current owner needs to be someone who isn’t going to be afraid to pick up the phone and call me just to ask how their baby is doing – they need to have feelings for the car.

As for me, I was born and raised in Ontario and currently attend school in Halifax, Nova Scotia. I am interested in investments (real estate, stocks, commodities – anything to do with investments), outdoor adventures, music and cars, of course. If a serious inquirer wants to know more about me (I completely understand in this rare scenario) then I would be more than happy to meet you at your choice of pub for a beer downtown Halifax.

I’m sure many of the readers of this ad will call me cheap for writing such a plea, but truth is I think the car will gain value having been passed on to someone who knows how to respect an automobile. I could go out and buy a $5,000 used 1969 MGB, but it wouldn’t be the same; it needs to mean something more.

All in all I don’t figure many people, if any, will see this situation the way I do – but if this article reaches you, and you understand what I am asking and trying to do, by all means I promise you your car will live forever and its stories will never be forgotten.

Please don’t email me saying I’m being unrealistic and stupid by asking for this…I know I am.

But hey, don’t ask, don’t get.

Thanks for your time.