Reader Submissions: Driving an All-American Muscle Car in Middle America Is Nirvana

Driving an All-American Muscle Car in Middle America Is Nirvana

By Petrolicious
December 12, 2013

Owner: Seth Farrar

Location: Kansas City area, Missouri

Year, Make, & Model: 1972 Chevelle Malibu

Photographer: Seth Farrar

This Chevelle Malibu is 18-year-old Seth Farrar’s first car, and he loves that it’s a nice twist on a classic American muscle car. With the help of his father, who is in the car business, Seth searched for a year for the right muscle car that would not only stand out, but that he could keep forever. One night, a friend of Seth’s father’s called to let them know about the car—they drove to see it the next way, and soon afterward, Seth drove home in his very own car. Three years later, and his love and pride for the car haven’t changed one bit. 

“It’s obviously not a priceless exotic or highly tuned one of a kind car, but it was my ticket to the wonderful world of automobiles”, Seth tells us, because it has given him so much insight on how things like mechanics and suspension work. The car has a 383 stroker that only makes about 300 to the wheels, but Seth is in the midst of swapping in an LS2-based 403 stroker with about 600 horsepower. He does all the basic maintenance himself, but having a father in the automobile business has its perks, because whenever something major is necessary, Seth’s father’s mechanics help him out.

Living in the country, Seth loves to drive his car on two-lane (paved) country roads in the summer. “Cruising with the windows down with no other cars around on a warm day is pure car nirvana for me,” he tells us. The Chevelle is Seth’s daily driver, so oftentimes he ends up stuck in traffic in the pouring rain or having to scrape off or deal with a frosty windshield on a cold, uncomfortable winter day. But these uncomfortable moments help Seth to better appreciate the perfect moments of driving the car.

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Jeff Lannigan
Jeff Lannigan
10 years ago

Awesome car Seth, and it’s great that you plan to keep it (I still have my first car after 25 years).

[quote]only makes about 300 to the wheels[/quote] I got a kick out of this line – at age 40 I have yet to own a car with anywhere close to that…. Seth, I hope you treat that 600hp with respect!

Matthew Haber
Matthew Haber
10 years ago

Thats pretty sweet for a first car. I am actually in the process of finding myself a nice classic. Great to see that other youngsters like myself are into the classics

Matthew Lange
Matthew Lange
10 years ago

Great story and proves the younger generation can be into old classic cars

Dustin Rittle
Dustin Rittle
10 years ago

I always love reading or hearing stories like this.. Just shows you what the car hobby is all about and damn i wish i had a car like that for my first car 😀 you talk about a great american muscle car the Chevy Chevelle is tops on anyones list of great muscle cars. i think we all can take a few lessons from this youngster what true car passion is all about:) i guess the old song was right ” see the USA in your Chevrolet “

Alexander Bermudez
Alexander Bermudez
10 years ago

Xavier, I could not agree with you more. There is no doubt modern cars are better in avery way, but this vary fact makes them too predictable, too comfortable and too effortless to drive, in short, they lack the personality that older cars inherently possess. With that said, modern cars are, in my opinion, wonderful tools to go from A to B, but sometimes the journey is more important than the destination and that is when driving your dream, is a dream come true! Enjoy!

Xavier Corral
Xavier Corral
10 years ago

Excellent! I have been daily driving a 1970 Mustang for a few months now. People think its crazy with no heat, no air, manual brakes, and a not-super-waterproof interior. And it is crazy, but seeing other people out there doing the same thing shows me its not too far fetched to drive your dream daily.

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