The Cars That Got Us Hooked — with Mike McNessor

On Episode 26 of Between Two Pumps, Mike Musto, Terry Shea and Terry McGean are joined by Hemmings Motor News Managing Editor, Mike McNessor to talk about their first cool cars, the questionable decisions they made to get them on the road, and the lessons they had to learn the hard way.

From a rusty 1969 Camaro and a $300 junkyard Dodge Dart GT to a battered Chevelle SS and a Datsun/Nissan 300ZX, the guys look back at the cars that helped turn them into lifelong enthusiasts. There are rusty quarter panels, borrowed license plates, questionable teenage driving decisions, missed proms, blown budgets and plenty of stories about learning to wrench with whatever tools and money were available.

They also tackle the question every enthusiast eventually asks: If you could have your first cool car back, would you want it?

Plus, the conversation turns to the cars they've managed to hold onto for decades, why certain vehicles become permanent members of the family, and the projects that somehow never quite get finished.

What was your first cool car and would you buy it back today?