RD Walker says he never would have guessed what a difference a car could make in his life.  But, after owning his 1940 Plymouth Coupe for 20 years, and taking a moment to think about all the memories attached to the car—and all the friendships that came from owning the car— he says that his Plymouth made a world of a difference in his life.

“When I was younger, a lot of people were busy going out barhopping, but this car brought me to another world,” says RD. “From building one to mechanical stuff… and also the life-long relationships. People may not think about that stuff when it comes to cars.  But, the people you meet along the way are pretty special. If not for this car, I would have not found my life-long best friend.”

RD explains that from a very young age, he was always into bikes, and as he grew older, he began to race motorcycles with his buddies. By the time he was 16-years-old, his mother helped him buy a 1963 Nova Convertible; he says that having a convertible to take to the beach was the “in thing” where he grew up, in Florida. He worked at a shoe repair shop and mowed lawns in order to save money to put toward buying his first car.

After a couple years passed, he bought a 1965 Mustang Fastback that he ended up bringing with him when he was drafted into the Army, at age 19. In the early 70’s, RD’s love for cool rides continued to grow, when he got into the “van craze”—his friends and he would build vans, install interior and work on painted murals along the sides of the vehicles.

RD says that he got away from the car scene for a short while; however, in 1988, the 1940 Plymouth entered the picture.

“My buddy had a 1940 Plymouth that he wanted to sell, and he asked me to drive it down to the Turkey Rod Run [in Daytona, Fla.] for him,” he says. “And, he knew what he was doing, cause he stuck the car with me.”

After coming back from the Rod Run, his friend asked RD if he would keep the car in his garage for a little while. RD agreed to accept the request.

“And, it never left my house,” says RD.

Five years of hard work went into the car to get it to good running condition. RD says that while it was running when he got it, he worked on it every winter and enjoyed it each summer. Each year, after the Turkey Rod Run in November, he would break the car down, pull it all apart, and get back to working to make the car even better.

RD is the fourth owner of the Plymouth. His friend who sold him the car has become his best friend over the years of being involved in the collector car hobby—they had originally met at a car show and they and their wives soon became the best of friends. RD also knows one of the other previous owners of the Plymouth, through being involved in the hobby.

And, boy has he stayed involved in this hobby!

Regular car show attendance keeps RD, his wife Debbie and his friends plugged into hobby. While he says that he does not frequent as many events as he used to, RD says that he still makes 15 to 20 shows each year.

“I used to do a bunch,” he explains. “But, there are just so many!”

When the Plymouth was first built, RD and Debbie were at car shows every weekend. But, to keep within a reasonable budget and still spend as much time as they can on the road and visiting new and different shows, the couple makes certain they are selective when they plan out their attendance at car shows.

This year, they have already gone to a bunch of small shows close to home; however the big trip of the year is to the 39th Annual Yellowstone Rod Run, held next weekend, August 7-9, 2009, in West Yellowstone, Mont.  From their home in northern Georgia, the Walkers will travel around 5000 miles in the Plymouth, to and from this event.

RD loves to drive his car and travel. He says that along with meeting new friends all over the country and the camaraderie amongst fellow hobbyists, traveling is one of his favorite aspects of being part of the collector car hobby. In fact, he has put over 130,000 miles on his Plymouth since he acquired the vehicle!

Some of RD’s favorite events include the Turkey Rod Run in Daytona, Fla., NSRA events in Louisville, Ky., Knoxville, Tenn. and Pueblo, Colo. and an event held in Frankenmuth, Mich.

At these various events, the Plymouth has won many awards that include several Top 25, Best of Show, Best Mopar and even the “Most Outstanding in Class” award at a World of Wheels event in Atlanta, Ga.

One of the strangest awards that RD and Debbie brought home was the “Hard Luck Award” from the Turkey Rod Run, after the Plymouth caught on fire on the way to the show.

“That was one of the worst experiences,” says RD. “Thank God for Grundy Insurance! Going down the Interstate, it caught on fire. We brought it to my buddy’s shop and still went to the show.”

He explains that an announcement was made, asking that anyone who had a rough time getting to the show fill out a questionnaire. After learning of the Walker’s experience, the show awarded them with the unique award. But, the biggest reward for the couple was getting their Plymouth back and looking even better than it had before the incident.

“Those are things that happen. With all the good, comes a little bad,” explains RD. “These cars are an adventure, and sometimes you need to have the bad to enjoy the good. We learn from them. That’s what makes it an adventure!”

Today, RD says that he is simply trying to enjoy a hobby that he hopes is picked up by the next generation.

“I’ll never sell this car,” he states. “It’s already in my will to go to my grandson.”

Story by: Becky McLaughlin

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