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Meet the Classic Auto Air Team: Dan Acosta – Marketing/Product Development, CAA Tampa, Florida

The 1971 Chevelle of Dan AcostaWe continue our get-acquainted interview series with the newest member of our staff, another life-long classic car aficionado.

How long have you been with CAA?

1.5 months.

What do you like best about working at CAA and why?

I like the production/restoration side of the auto industry. CAA is both. The office is busy and productive, and everyone seems focused on tasks.

What was your first classic or your first car?

I had a 1970 Chevelle, by default. I was 15 and had been saving for a ’69 Camaro my high-school teacher promised to sell me for $1,000. She was the original owner and still had ’69 student parking stickers from the same high school I attended. It was nice. After saving the right amount, I went to her home to purchase the car and was stopped by her husband who had other plans for the car, so no sale.

I had the fever for a car and some cash in hand. I found a ’70 Chevelle in the classifieds that had belonged to an old man. 30,000 miles. I didn’t even know what a ’70 looked like. It was smashed in the front but for $600 I took it. Little did I know that the ’70 is one of the most desirable muscle cars, so it all worked out. It was my daily driver for 11 years. I shipped it to Hawaii, where  I was stationed, and sold it at the end of my assignment.

What do you like best about your customers’ classics?

I like that they like them or have a great passion for them.

What maintenance or repair job do you dread most?

Probably transmission work. Also rear-end work: differential fluid always makes a mess.

Do you currently own a classic?

A ’71 Chevelle (pictured above). I bought it from a young girl who was given the car by her grandfather. It had 56,000 miles and about 12 coats of paint. I intended on making it a nice driver with mild upgrades, but one thing led to another. It ended up being a frame-off restoration, with complete tubular suspension, four-wheel discs, and a big block.

Fill in the blank: Someday I would like to own …

I really don’t have an itch for anything else right now. I have small kids so a Corvette won’t work. I actually have been looking at RVs (with a 454 of course).

What personal hobbies or interests might be of interest to our readers?

I like tinkering with small engines and doing home remodeling.

What are some other fun facts your customers might like to know about you?

I was enlisted in the Army for eight years in the Infantry. I was stationed and lived in Hawaii for the same time.

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