I have always been crazy about cars.  Before I had one of my own, my buddy had a 1954 Ford 2 door post sedan with a 292 and a three speed manual with a cheap floor shifter.   It had faded green paint and the interior was ratty.  He jacked up the front end with pieces of wood in the front springs.  It had Cadillac rear tires and black painted rims.  His car was a piece of crap, but I thought it was the coolest car around.   My buddy's  car would leave long streaks of rubber on demand.   We used to have burn out contests and the Y blocks always won.

When I went to college my parents bought me a little foreign car.  College didn't work for me, so I dropped out and went to work.  I traded my "nurdy" car for a 1956 Victoria I bought off  a car lot.  It had a 292 with a three speed manual tranny.  Cheap floor shifter and all, I was cruising in style.   I also collected traffic tickets like stamps.

Y block engines were cheap back then.  You could buy a whole running car for $150.  I kept upgrading engines until I found one that ran good.   The holy grail was a 312.  I never found one of those until much later.  The Y block was cheap, reliable, easy to work on and forgiving.  You could jerk one out of a 1957 Ford wagon, hose it off, throw on a 4 barrel and go racing. 

I had a friend who was in a band.  He was always trading stuff for guitars and amps.  On day he came by my house with a 1957 Ford Victoria 2 door.  I could tell it was something special because the motor was loping big time.  He popped the hood and I saw my first triple carb Y block.  It had a "full race" 312 with a real Hurst shifter.  We drove the car around for a week and it seemed like the fastest car around.   Of course he blew up the engine and traded it for another guitar.

Another time I visited a guy who had a 1956 Ford custom Victoria.  He was a well known racer and kept the car in the back of his garage.  Back then everyone named their cars.  This car had "Any Time" painted on the side.   The hood was louvered and headers were hanging out under the wheel wells.  He popped the hood and I was staring at a six carb YBlock.  Nothing I have seen since has been that cool.

Old Fords have always been part of my life.  I've had big block Galaxies and Shelby Mustangs.  I've bought new Cobra Jets and had lots of hot cars.   Y blocks will always have a special place in my heart.  They were my first hot rod and they are just cool.