Let me tell you a little story...

First of all let me say that two weeks ago I had a hip surgery, so still recovering at the hospital bed and as I do not have any social presence besides this forum, I am spending my time browsing posts.
Probably for the first time in my life I am so active on the internet.

Being an old man, as all old f@rts do, I am full of memories and being most of the day alone in my bed, I think I can share one of them relevant to this forum.

So, here it goes...

During the early 80s I was at my mid 20s and had just graduated from University, waiting to be drafted for the army (obligatory in Greece).
Having a passion for anything with four wheels and an engine, I managed to find a very cheap MGB GT that was confiscated at the local customs and sold at a goverment auction (this is still a thing in this part of the world, whatever gets confiscated for tax reasons, drug trafficing, or whatever, is released for auction within a year or two).
So here I am with an MG in a very bad shape trying to fix the bodywork and getting more frustration day by day as no parts are available (no internet back then) and even worse no reliable people to "bend and weld" panels on the rust holes or even straighten big dents.
Doing my reasearch I got a tip for an old guy at the industrial area of Athens, who from what they told me was a metal wizzard and if he liked you, and you agreed on the price, he could do miracles no matter how bad of a car you had.
Started the old MG, filled it with gas and went over to his shop, a very old warehouse converted to a garage, parked and went inside.
It took a while for my eyes to adjust from sunligt to the garage darkness, but when I finally focused I started pinching myself to check if I was dreaming.
To my left, half a Rolls Royce Camargue (the most expensive car of its time), to the center a black Ferrari Dino with a broken hood and smashed headlights and to the right the rest of the Rolls but on a totally different colour.
I stood there waiting for the "master" to talk to me (my contact had told me that I should under no way talk to him unless he finished what ever he was doing) and some good ten to fiteen minutes passed while he was removing the broke headlights from the Dino.

This was the first time in my life that I saw one, and even at this state, even at this filthy garage, the curves and the "aura" of this car were stunning. I wanted so much to look at it closer, open the doors, check the engine, but as I was instructed, I had to wait to be acceted in.

I think this image will stay with me vivid till my last day.

Anyway, finally the "master" came over to me, lit a cigarette and asked the purpose of my visit.
I explained the issue, tried to show him my MG and almost begged for an estimate, but he refused saying "I do not know who sent you, but I do not have time nor want to put this in my shop... (and how could he, having to weld together a Rolls Royce puzzle and work on a Dino vs trying to resurect a beaten worthless MG).

I was determined to push him as much as I could, so I said, listen, I see what you have in your shop, I know that you do not have time and probably I can not afford to pay what you will ask, but I really have to fix this car. This is what I really wanted to buy, this is all I could buy with the money I had, and I am determined to fix it, so is there any way we can come to an ageement, or could you possibly suggest someone who can help me with this? Further to that, I would appreciate any answer, even if you decide to kick me out of your shop, BUT, at least let me take a look at that Dino. It's the first one I ever saw in my life and probably this will be th only time that I will have the opportunity to be so close to one...

He laughed, raised his hand pointing at the Ferrari and said, knock yourself out, go check it and then get the f... outta here...

I went in, spent about ten minutes getting in and out of the Dino, popped the engine cover, looked under it, smelled it, untill the man said, OK, you had your grace period, now let me work...

I left, went home, joined the army (for 27 months) never managed to resurrect the MG that rusted to the ground while I was away, time passed, got married, raised my children, but never ever I saw again that Dino, nor did I manage to have one as always something else was my priority.

But this was the first Dino I ever saw in real life, this will always be my holy grail and here at my bed in the hospital, I think that maybe the time has come....

So this is a promise to myself that as soon as I stand on my feet again, a Dino will be my next one....

Thanks for listening.

Have a nice day.