It all started with an unmistakable roar the sound of a V8 engine and a car that became the realization of a dream.
More than two decades ago, in Cascavel, Paraná, a shared passion became the driving force behind our family.
As a daughter, I grew up surrounded by this story. Some of
these memories are my own, while others were passed down to me through the
stories I was told.
Nando
The man in this photo is my father. Even before the shop
existed, he already had a serious relationship with classic cars. To learn more
about mechanics, he even worked for free for over a year. Then real life kicked
in: a pregnant wife, a child on the way, bills to pay, and the urgent need for
a paying job. He got the job. What he couldn't do was stop thinking about his
new boss's V8 Maverick.
The
result? He bought the first car of his life without having the money for it...
and without an engine.
The First Start of a Dream
And that's how an engine-less Maverick ended up in our backyard. The car
belonged to Nando's best friend, who was also his boss at the time. Drawing on
the knowledge of those around him and making the most of the resources he had,
he built his very first engine on his own.
It was a season of many firsts: a first child, a first car, a first
engine... and that first ignition. And it was in the moment he heard that V8
come to life for the very first time that he discovered what he wanted to do
for the rest of his life.
Hard work had already been part of Nando's life since he was eight years old. He sold popsicles, shined shoes, and worked as a grocery bagger. Those experiences helped shape the values he still carries with him today, while also contributing to the family's income and helping support his parents and siblings during that time.
A Car Sitting Still Doesn't Make History
After all that, do you really think the Maverick was going
to sit in the garage? Not a chance. The car became part of our family's
everyday life. Cris would drive Nando to work, drop Eric off at daycare, and
then head to the hospital where she worked. On weekends, the Maverick was there
for parties with friends and family gatherings. And more often than not, Eric
would fall asleep inside it, growing up surrounded by the passion for cars that
still brings all of us together today.