When most people head out to buy a car, what are they looking for? Probably something affordable, good on gas, safe, and comfortable. Once a person decides on that, the car is used merely as a means of transportation, to get from Point A to Point B. For the most part, that vehicle will live the rest of its life as it came from the factory, untouched from the original specs.
However, there is another way to see a car.
Beyond first looks, a car is more than it appears.
A car is a blank canvas, the driver, a paintbrush. A car is a means to express who we are as human beings. A car is a way to meet to new people. A car is a way to showcase hard work. A car is an extension of its owner.
Personally, when I see a car, I do not see it for what it is in this moment, but rather what it can be after I were to get my hands on it. The possibilities are endless. The aftermarket support of essentially every car out there is stronger than ever before. If you have a vision, it can be done. This is what leads to innovation, whether it be a brand new car, or one that is over twenty years old.
Sadly, there is a stigma when it comes to modified cars. A lot of people see it as a waste of money to drop thousands of dollars to change to look or performance of a car that is not even theirs. Given, I am sure it may be a waste of money to that person, everyone has hobbies that cost money. It may be sports instead of cars, but that could be a waste of money to someone else.
To come out and judge someone else's passion without knowing the full story is a little bold. People who modify and customize cars are artists. And with many pieces of art, you may not like or understand what the person with the paintbrush has done. However, that does not mean you should knock it and not have respect for the work done. To the owner and driver, the piece of art is priceless. They put in hours and hours to afford the parts, and then put hours and hours to work on the car to get it to where it is today.
As a car enthusiast myself, I have seen tons of cars that have had work done that I do not agree with. I still see that car as a piece of art to whomever made it. I personally would not do what they did, but that is my own opinion and as long as the owner is happy, I am happy.
The car world is endless. It captures you and brings you into another dimension. If you have never been to a car show, meet, or cruise, I highly recommend it. Even if you just walk the streets during a Friday night when downtown has all the classic cars, it will be completely worth it. The energy, the vibes, the passion, will overcome you and hopefully, you will be able to start to see cars as more than just a way to get to work. Cars bring people together and lead to the best times some people have. If you do not believe me, go to a car meet and ask someone about their car. I promise you that they will share everything with you, their rhyme and reason for everything that they did to it. You may even find a story that breaks your heart, and then rebuilds it after you really take a look at the car and person and see them as one entity.
That is my goal here. I do not want to force the car scene on anyone. My passion for writing is to bring people together and make everyone less judgmental. I want you to see people's cars as something besides a money pit if they modified it. See it as your hobby and how you would want someone to perceive that.
A car is more than a car. A car is who the driver is. A car is who their family is. A car can be anything someone makes it. A car is a canvas waiting to be explored and experimented with.
