The story of For the Love of Car
My name is Thomas Walter. I am the owner of For the Love of Car and this is a short story about why I do what I do.
It started when I was a small child. Before I could speak or even walk I loved playing with toy cars. As I grew older, the collection and variety of the models and matchbox cars grew. To this day I still have my shoebox of matchbox cars. Every once in a while I’ll open it up and the memories of all that time spent studying and touching the shapes of those beautiful cars comes flooding back. A passion that has matured like a fine wine.
Fast forward to my high school years and when I turned 16 and got my learners permit my dad gave me our 1968 Oldsmobile Delmont 88. A BIG 2 door fastback with a Olds 350 V8. What a fun car. When I was a little younger my family had actually road tripped it down to Disney in Florida. Mom and Dad driving, my sister and I in the back, windows rolled down with no B-pillars so we could see the big country down I-95.
For my junior year I decided to take Auto Body in B.O.C.E.S. which was our local vocational school. I learned how to do some light body work, wet sanding, compounding and polishing. In my senior year I brought in the Oldsmobile and repaired the rust, filled the dents and painted her up. That summer was one of the best, gas was cheap and my friends and I drove everywhere. Usually at my request. “I wanna drive!”
Well, all good things must come to an end and when I decided I was Bo or Luke Duke on my buddy’s farm the car didn’t like it so much. I broke it pretty bad and didn’t really know much about fixing it. It sat in my driveway for a bit rotting away until it was time to let her go. One of, actually the only true regret I have in this life. I miss that car dearly.
It was after that I decided to take Automotive Technology at our local community college. Learning much more about the mechanical aspects, I started working at a car dealership. After a couple of semesters I decided school wasn’t making me enough money and joined the workforce full time. The manager at the dealership came to me and told me they were going to cut back hours and employees in the shop, but they had a position as a lot attendant. I said “OK”.
Now 19 working at a dealership full time, I was in heaven. I got to drive all makes and models. I drove more cars in one day than most drive in a lifetime. All the while helping out the detail department when they would get backed up. They were always rushing, telling me I was “taking too long on that car.” “But I want it to be right!” I would reply. I got a Dodge Dakota at the time and we were allowed to do our own cars, on our own time. I kept that truck looking cleaner than most of the new cars running off our lot. I stayed there for 5 years eventually driving a tow truck for them as well. Unfortunately in 2008 the economy took a hit and the dealership starting cutting back, so I went back to my adolescent summertime job servicing pools.
On to almost a decade later and into the time of the Jeep. Ever since driving them at the dealership I always wanted a diesel. Mainly a mid to late 90’s Ram with a 12 valve Cummins and a 6 speed of course ( still want one ). In the search for one I stumbled across an 05 Jeep Liberty CRD. For those who don’t know, a relatively rare diesel model and I had to have it! Well, little did I know what I was getting into. Over 18 months ( and all of my funds ) to repair what turned out to be an absolute basket case of a vehicle. I was determined and succeeded in one of the biggest challenges in my life so far. Almost all done on my own, I figured out how to rebuild the top end of the 4 cylinder turbo diesel engine. On top of so many other things that got repaired if I listed them this story would go on for way too long ( it kind of already has ). Big shout-outs to the L.O.S.T. Jeeps forum for all the good info and to my good friends Tom and AJ for talking me down of a few ledges and lending a hand when I needed it.
Now that the Jeep was road worthy, it was time to get her looking good and the paint really started bugging me. It had atrocious etched in water spots and they had to go. A little nervous to run a machine on the paint ( it had been a while ). I turned to a neighbor who was a detailer by trade. After he ran the rotary on it, I took it home and inspected it and realized I could still see them. So off to Home Depot and I picked up my first cheap Ryobi polisher, taped off the plastics and went to town. When I was done it looked amazing. Not soon after I was doing a friends car and then another, then a friend of a friends, then my boss’s car, then his fleet of work trucks. I actually wore out that poor little Ryobi. I made it a mission to learn all the latest techniques and purchase the latest equipment and products. A fire was re-ingnited for an old passion. For the Love of Car was born and there is no turning back. I am now taking the passion and determination that it took to build my Jeep and build a company that specializes in making the wonderful little machines that we love shine like they deserve. All the while leaving their owners with an ear to ear grin when they see their ride again. If you use For the Love of Car to service your vehicle you will not be disappointed, as each and every car will be touched with the love and passion of a true automotive enthusiast.
P.S. For those with a keen eye my Camaro is on the site too. Bonus points if you spot it in mobile view.