STORY: In 2004, when I was 19 years old, I totaled my first car in an accident that sent me to the emergency room. While recovering, I thumbed through the pages of the local Auto Trader magazine, looking for a replacement to get me back and forth from work and college. I came across something I wasn't familiar with- a Nissan 240SX. I knew about the famous Nissan Z cars, but hadn't heard of this model. It was in my price range, so I decided to go check it out. A test drive proved that the car was solid, manageable, and fun, so I bought it.

As I started learning about the car, I found that they were quite a popular platform, beginning in Japan and spreading to the US coasts. I researched obsessively, and found there was a wealth of information and aftermarket parts available online, and with a limited college student's budget, I tried to turn mine into the best interpretation of the cars I idolized. 

I loved driving my 240 down the windy backroads on my way to work and school, but one day the engine overheated and it wouldn't start after that. I later found that the head gasket had failed. As I worked my way through college, I would repair and upgrade the car as I had time and money to spare. In the end, it spent nearly 10 years in a garage, and when it came out, it was one of the better examples of a 240SX left, the others being lost to rust and accidents.

Now it's a member of the family- I was able to get it up and running to drive on my wedding day, and 10 years later, my wife and I enjoy going for long drives and taking it to car shows to share with others. I hope that my car and its story can inspire the next generation of young car enthusiasts!