My guest for this episode of the Guest Friends podcast is a fundamental building block of who I am because he’s my dad: Joseph Waterman.

Born in Detroit during World War II, he was the youngest of seven siblings and grew up helping his dad at a gas station / repair shop they owned on Springwells called Waterman’s Garage. Joe later met his wife Elsie during a trip with friends to play miniature golf and they were married in 1962. They soon thereafter moved to the suburb of Livonia and raised five kids (of which I am the youngest). Having been a hard worker – and early riser – all his life, Joe has spent the past 20+ years delaying retirement by working for Vesco Oil Corporation in Detroit. But don’t let that fool you, he has found his own unique ways to have fun over the years (just ask those who know about the adventures of parasailing at Otsego Lake, for starters).

Some of my earliest memories include time spent with my dad at the shop on Springwells and then going to Detroit Tigers baseball games at the old Tiger Stadium, afterwards; family vacations to the aforementioned Otsego Lake State Park in northern Michigan; and carrying on his affection for strawberry pie at Big Boys restaurant.

I met up with Joe (aka dad) to discuss something almost unheard of… he still owns (and drives) the car he purchased new at the age of 19 – a 1960 Chevy Impala. If you do the quick math, that means that as of this recording, Joe has owned this vehicle for over 62 years! Amongst other insights, Joe shares what serendipitous event happened when he was making plans to hotrod a ’48 Plymouth; why the first car show he ever entered was a 5-hour drive out-of-state (and why he continues to attend Ducktail Run in Gas City, Indiana all these years later – including a few big surprises surrounding the 2022 show!); and how Dolly Parton unknowingly got involved in promoting his vehicle.

And yes, Joe cruised the famous Woodward Ave in the 1960s with his Chevy Impala… before it was a thing.

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LINKS RELATED TO THIS EPISODE:

Logo Credit: Saint-Creative.com

Music Credit: Of Asaph (James Alleman)

Recommended Resources:

Article: Detroit News “Woodward Dream Cruise: A 62-year love affair with a ’60 Chevy”

Event: Woodward Dream Cruise

Event: Ducktail Run Rod & Custom Show

History: 1960 Chevy Impala

Place: Cars, Inc (for Chevy restoration parts)