Do you remember your childhood dream car? When we were young, we dream of buying a certain “dream car” before we even have a driver’s license. In many cases, by the time we do have the financial means, better judgment, responsibility, and myriad of other reasons keep many of us from making that purchase. We held themselves back, always waiting for the “right time”, but is there really a “right time”? There's a popular Chinese proverb that says: “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.”
「當我們還是小朋友的時候，曾經想過甚麼是夢想之車，但當時我們其實連車也不懂開，更遑論是否擁有駕駛執照。這全因那時我們根本沒有足夠的金錢去接觸汽車，所以長大後就會想買回這個夢想。但當我們長大後，我們又要背上不同的責任，亦有林林總總的理由，令我們不能擁有兒時的夢想之車。來到這裏，很多人又會說當去到一個適當時機，就會買下這部兒時愛車，但究竟何謂適當時機？近期就因為疫情而有很多人跟我說：「人生有幾多個十年？」其實一生很短暫，我們只得一次機會等到所謂的適當時機。這令我想起一句頗為有趣的中國諺語「想種樹的最好時機是二十年前，第二個最好時機就是現在。」」
Published in MAY 2020 Classic & Sports Car Magazine | Written by Kenneth E Y Wong
KENNETH WONG 黃恩揚- Classic insider 創辦人，經營高級經典及跑車買賣。對處理高檔車種擁有豐富經驗。曾是香港首間經典車拍賣行的營運總監。經常參與高端古董及跑車的相關活動，貼近市場脈搏
在今期專欄，我想跟大家分享第六個買古董車的原因，而這個原因其實很簡單，就是我們童年時夢想擁有的車，並且在長大成人之後將之買回來，成為自己的珍藏車之一。
到了今天，你還記得小時候的夢想之車是那個型號嗎？會不會是出現於《占士邦》電影的阿士頓馬田（Aston Martin）DB5 ？又或者是一部曾在電視劇出現的法拉利（Ferrari）跑車？甚至乎在某齣科幻電影中出現，而且會說話的電腦車嗎？其實，來自世界各地的不同汽車愛好者，都可能不太清楚自己會愛上那一款車，特別是童年的時候，可能純粹因為外表漂亮有型而愛上它，也是驅使你決定長大後買下這款車 來收藏的原因。
當我們還是小朋友的時候，曾經想過甚麼是夢想之車，但當時我們其實連車也不懂開，更遑論是否擁有駕駛執照。這全因那時我們根本沒有足夠的金錢去接觸汽車，所以長大後就會想買回這個夢想。但當我們長大後，我們又要背上不同的責任，亦有林林總總的理由，令我們不能擁有兒時的夢想之車。來到這裏，很多人又會說當去到一個適當時機，就會買下這部兒時愛車，但究竟何謂適當時機？
近期就因為疫情而有很多人跟我說：「人生有幾多個十年？」其實，人的一生是很短暫，如果我們只得一次機會等到所謂的適當時機，但到時機出現又會否已經離世？這令我想起一句頗為有趣的中國諺語——「想種樹的最好時機是二十年前，第二個最好時機就是現在。」意思即是說如果你在二十年前種這棵樹，今天就會收成。若果你選擇繼續等待一個更好時機，若現在不做的話，還要等到何時？
然而，所謂的夢想之車是否一定要紅色的跑車，又或是中置引擎，甚至是意大利的出品呢？其實答案並非一定如此，皆因每個人所喜歡的東西都各有不同，總之能夠買到自己心目中的夢想之車，就會有一股動力去推動自己努力工作。當你能夠讓兒時的夢想之車，成為自己的藏車之時，就會感受到一份充滿滿足感的喜悅！
我也想問問大家，你們買到自己的夢想之車嗎？如果還未的話，我奉勸你們必定將夢想變成現實。能夠買到一部夢想之車，其實固中的滿足感和成功感真的非常大，當你真正能夠從前任車主手上接過車匙，坐進車廂之中，繼而啟動引擎、踩兩腳油門，感受到整部車的震動，再入一波瀟灑地開走它，這種感覺正是你小時候愛上它的那份興奮和喜悅。當刻你就會明白，為何它就是你童年時的夢想之車。
我想跟大家分享一件真人真事， 有一次我賣出了一部法拉利（Ferrari）F40 給我的好朋友，他接過車匙當天，就從手機展示了一張相片給我看，那幅相是他18 歲時在英國一個車展上，跟一部F40 的合照，他跟我說：「我看到這部F40覺得距離是十分遙遠，但我跟自己說只要我夠努力，終有一天能夠買得起這部車。」當我將車匙交給他的時候，他感動的說：「我努力耕耘多年就是等待這一刻，我終於可以擁有自己的夢想之車。」
聽完這個故事，或許大家可能會有點感觸，覺得何時才輪到我呢？究竟是否要等20 年適合的時機，或是現在開始努力爭取夢想變成真呢？這就由大家決定了！
Why we collect cars? Reason #6 To Fulfill a Childhood Dream
Do you remember your childhood dream car? It might have been the Aston Martin you saw James Bond driving or the Ferrari in your favorite TV show. Car enthusiasts everywhere will know the feeling of being in love with a car for no apparent reason. All you need is cool looks and you'll be hooked. What is it like to buy your dream car?
When we were young, we dream of buying a certain “dream car” before we even have a driver’s license. In many cases, by the time we have the financial means, we still want to buy that car to fulfill the childhood dream.
Better judgment, financial responsibility and myriad other reasons keep many of us from making that purchase. So many people held themselves back, always waiting for the “right time”, but is there really a “right time”? We only live once, we maybe dead already before the “right time” comes.
There's a popular Chinese proverb that says: “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.”
The phrase “dream car” typically conjures up images of red hot, mid-engine, Italian sheet metal, but some drivers look for a bit more practicality in their dream cars. Different strokes for different folks. Whatever the case maybe, chasing one’s dream is a good reason to work hard. And that feeling when you “made it” is immensely satisfying.
Have you owned your childhood dream car yet? Make your dream a reality! Buying your dream car is a triumphant and wonderful time. You finally get to slide into that driver’s seat, feel the revs of the engine and tear off into the sunset, just like you’ve always imagined. Only you and only you will understand that feeling.
