I don't know that I have a story so much as an evolution into my pro car interest. I was the kid who always went "oooooohhhhhh" and pointed whenever I saw a hearse drive by, and I just never grew out of that! I remember more than one funeral I was at as a kid, where I wanted to go and check out the hearse, and my parents stopped me because it wasn't proper behavior.
Fast forward to high school and a driver's license and starting to attend car shows, only as spectator at first. At one show, there was a 1951-1954 Henney Packard flower car, and at the time I didn't know what it was. I thought it was someone's custom idea of a Packard El Camino, but I didn't understand the stainless steel deck or the Henney nameplates on the front fenders.
For some reason, I couldn't get that car out of my mind, so I went to my local public library and looked at some Packard books, and learned about Henney being Packard's hearse and ambulance builder. The library also had a copy of "The Black Book", so I checked that out to learn more about the Henney company, and it was there that I learned what a flower car was. I had that book read cover to cover within a week, and my childhood fascination of thinking hearses looked neat turned into a full fledged interest.
Around the same time, my first car (which was just an ordinary car, and the only normal car I've ever owned!) decided it was on its last legs and I should be looking for a replacement. Since I had to go car shopping, I figured I might as well get something interesting. Among the cars I was considering purchasing was a 1980 Superior Cadillac hearse. I actually didn't buy it right away, but it ended up being the car that stuck in my mind, so after a couple weeks, I figured that must be the one that I wanted.
While doing my car shopping, I was also looking online for car ads, and an internet search of "hearse for sale" brought up the PCS website. Like I suppose most people when they discover PCS, my first thought was "there's others into these cars too??!!" Needless to say, it didn't take much time to decide to join, and now I'm a life member and a chapter president!
After joining the club, I began learning about the little coach companies, and it was these little companies with their small production runs that happened to capture the bulk of my interest. I suppose I've always had a weak spot for the unusual, and what could be more automotively unusual than small companies in an already small marketplace?
I am now up to nine pro cars, and except for my 1980 Superior that started the collection, and my Moloney limousine that is my daily driver, they are all either the only one built, one of only two built, or the only one known to be in the United States.
I'm reminded of something I was told once. I had a guy one time make the comment, "For someone who doesn't draw attention to yourself, you sure drive cars that scream look at me." And you know what, I think he's absolutely right!