There’s something contagious floating around the Hagerty offices. No, we’re not talking about the swine flu or the common cold – it’s something we’ve come to call the “Collecting Bug.” No matter their background, it doesn’t take long for many employees to show some symptoms.

Linda Austin, vice president of Auto Sales and Service, is a prime example. She contracted “the bug” after spending three years on the phones with clients and learning about their experiences. Now, nearly 10 years later, the five cars she’s collected prove that the “affliction” might take up a lot of space, but it’s sure a lot of fun.

Cars

• 1929 Model A Tudor (2001)
• 1952 Ford Pickup (2002)
• 1947 Dodge Pickup (2002)
• 1953 Chevrolet Pickup (2003)
• 1931 Model A Tudor (2006)

Car background

“My interest in the hobby really began after I started working for Hagerty. After three years of hearing about clients’ experiences with classic cars and their passion, I decided I wanted one of my own. But I didn’t want a car that I grew up with; I wanted a really old one. I got a bit carried away and filled all the extra storage space at my house with a vehicle of my dreams. Now my dreams sometimes go back and forth between “what was I thinking” to my...