DEFEND YOUR RIDE: Matt At Tower Bridge

Q: How did you get it?

A: Actually, I saw it on Craigslist a couple times. I saw the price keep dropping on it. Then finally, the last time I saw it, it said cash plus trade. He was asking for a daily driver. My '61 Impala, that one was primered with a purple tinge and purple flames on it, you know. It was kind of my rat rod ride. I had been buying, selling, and trading just to get the specific cars that I wanted. I wanted a '59 Impala and I wanted a '49 Merc, so that's how I ended up with that one.

Q: What's your car's main use?

A: Fun, look cool. Just people looking in awe at it. It's amazing how people's faces brighten up when they see that car.

Q: Do you like showing it off?

A: Yeah, most definitely.

Q: How much time do you spend working on it?

A: For the most part, it's done, but it requires. It's an old car. It's a 1949, so it does initially require some maintenance and stuff. A couple hours, if I need to do something on it.

Q: How much time have you spent working on the car over the years?

A: A lot. There are certain things that you just want your vehicle to do. You want it to perform right. You want it to look right. I've changed out the grill a couple different times until I got specifically what I wanted. I went through different hubcaps until I decided to stick with the beauty ring with the cone right in the center. It looks totally cool. There's also—you want it to be respectful to other guys that have cars like that. You want someone to look at it and be like, that's the way it should look. That's kind of what you want them to think.

Q: What's your favorite day trip from home?

A: Probably Reno. Roll into Reno, yeah. Because of the amount of cars—the amount of people that venture up there. It's pretty cool. The only problem is the freeway. The freeway is so jacked up and since I'm still rolling on 1949 suspension, it's kind of ridiculous.

Q: What do you like to do in Reno?

A: Walk around, gamble, people watch. Kick back away from my car and watch the expression on people. See how they respond to actually seeing that car for the first time.

Q: Where's the craziest place you've driven to?

A: Midnight Mass. They had a car show over in Roseville at the fairgrounds. We're driving out in the dirt and stuff. I had an opportunity to park my car all by itself, but it was right on top of—it was all dirt. It was cool because I didn't mind. I don't mind my car getting all dirty. I see guys spend a lot of money on their cars and they sit in the garage forever. They only take it out for special occasions, or for this show or that show. That's a shame. If I'm spending anywhere upwards of $30,000 to do my car, I'm driving that thing every day.

Q: Is that your main car?

A: No, I have other cars. Surprisingly enough, even though I drive a 1949 Merc, I've got my little commuter car, which is a 2007 Celica. But even my Celica has its own little style and custom paint job, rims. I originally bought that one for my daughter, and because of where she lived, she wanted a bigger car. She gave it back to me and I gave her cash to go put down on another car. She was totally stoked.

Q: What do you listen to in the car?

A: I have an actual CD that's specific to the car.

Q: Really? What's on it?

A: Cool things. Just a whole variation of 1960s, 1970s trippy music. A lot of Doors, Zeppelin. You know, things like that.

Q: So if your car had a theme song, what would it be?

A: "Come Together" by the Beatles.

Q: Why?

A: That song kind of just describes the car. It's just out there. The car is just out there.

Q: What's are some of your favorite features?

A: The frontend of the car is so wicked looking. When it sits on the ground, it actually sits on the frame. It just kind of looks like it's just floating across the road. Like I said, the windshield. That panoramic view when you're sitting inside of it. People look at you, and they see maybe from your cheekbone down of your face, because you tuck into the car.

Q: What's your absolute dream car?

A: I have it. I actually have it. You see all these actors and these athletes and stuff, people that just have these enormous amounts of money. They're buying the Ferraris and the Lamborghinis, but truly, if I had a $100,000 to spend on a car, it would be one wicked ass, old school hot rod!

Q: Is there anything else we should know about your car?

A: It's not done. That's the amazing thing about cars like that. You'll drive it and get mad respect and when it comes time, you'll want to change things up. Even though that car looks like it's done, it's not done. There's certain things that you want to change on it. It's a labor of love!