A Real Classic New Mexico 1966
Pike's Peak 1966
Father & Son Bond While Restoring Cars WRITTEN BY MEGIN POTTER | PHOTO BY SUPERSOURCEMEDIA.COM | 1966 PHOTOS PROVIDED
FIXING UP AN OLD CAR is a project that requires a lot of time, a good amount of know-how, and a willing pair of hands. When father and son do it together, the reward is more than a valuable piece of history, it’s a priceless bond. LEGENDARY MODELS By the age of 10, Willie Gusten had already learned to drive from his father.
There were even rare gems, like the 1980 Mercedes 600 Landaulet that belonged to Romanian Dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu. The 6-door convertible was one of only two made that year (the other was built for the Pope). BUILT TO DRIVE During his lifetime, Willie has located and restored many cars of his own.
In 1955, he immigrated to America from Cologne, Germany and began working for Paragon Oldsmobile and eventually, Honda. This solidified a career lasting thirty years with the same company.
He prefers to bring them back to original condition and drive them until their odometers reach an astonishing number of miles – like the Honda CR-V that reached a whooping 398,000 miles before it was retired.
During this time, Willie was tasked with helping to fill a huge private car museum with more than 200 classic cars. These cars, in addition to being style icons, often came with a storied past. Among them were vehicles once owned by well-known figures including Lucille Ball, Rudolph Valentino, Gene Autry, Dwight Eisenhower, Martha Post, Nelson Rockefeller, Aristotle Onassis, and former New York Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia
When these cars were built, there was nothing like lanekeep assist, or automatic braking to hold you back (no matter how you wanted to drive).
88 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | SUMMER 2022
When you’re driving a classic car, you’re in control of every aspect of its operation. Many find their agility and responsiveness provide a more rewarding driving experience than today’s vehicles (which are full of electronic driving aids like traction, stability, and adaptive cruise control).
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