Gary Hand snapped a photograph of his son, Rod, standing next to the family’s 1964 Chevrolet Impala. The year was 1970 and Rod was just three years old at the time. “I remember Dad taking this picture of me next to his ’64 Impala,” Rod told us.

As Rod grew older, he developed a bond with his father that centered around the automobile, and they had hoped to find a car that would eventually be Rod’s car, that he and his father could build together.

“As years went by, my dad and I would always go in search of an old car to buy,” he said. They enjoyed the hunt for a car, but never did find one to build together. Sometimes the thrill of the hunt is not in what you bring back, but what you share along your journey. This is something Rod remembers fondly from so many years ago.

Sadly, a little over a year and a half ago, the Hand family got devastating news that Gary had cancer. He was given just a short time to live, and lost his battle with cancer this past April. “I always wished we had found that one car to share father and son moments,” Rod said.

Although he wishes he had found a car to build with his father, Rod knew what he had to do. He decided that he was going to relive those moments and bring his own son into the hobby that Rod shared with his father.

Rod’s own son, now three years old himself, is living that dream that Rod had taken those first, crucial steps towards. He wanted his son, Aaron, to be able to experience the thrill of the hunt, as well as that defining moment when they found a car that they could call their own.

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Rod said, “I went in search of an old car so I could have those memories with my son, he loves the old cars.” Together, they picked up a 1968 Chrysler Newport to continue on that journey Rod shared with his own father so many years ago.

“We spend our free time going to car shows and cruising. I remember fondly those days of searching for a car with my father, and now I can pass these moments on to my son.”

Rod took a picture of three year old Aaron standing next to the Newport on the same street where he stood next to his father’s Impala some 46 years ago. You can see the same house just over the roofs of the two cars – separated by over four decades of changes.

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Rod's paintings above. You can see the detail and accuracy compared to the original photograph at the top.

Rod also took up painting at an early age and said that he knew he would end up painting something car related. Comparing his painting of the truck against the original photograph above just shows that there is true passion here.

He has great memories to share about his time searching for old cars with his father, and told us that his father rides along with him and Aaron when they take the Newport out for a drive. Rod said, “I have my father’s ashes hanging from the rear view mirror so he’s always cruising with us.”