Life’s Better in a Classic: Gas card giveaway winners

Hagerty Classic Cars magazine received more than 1,500 story submissions in our gas card giveaway contest from classic car owners and enthusiasts, telling us why life’s better in a classic. The top 100 stories were selected based on those that received the most comments and “thumbs up,” and it’s time to reveal the winners of those 100 $50 gift cards, who will receive some carefree summer cruising on us.

Here they are, in no particular order:

1. Greg L.: 1970 44s Pace Car
2. Tim S.: 2 dogs, a 6-month-old and a wife cross-country
3. Diane T.: 38 years later
4. Mike E.: ’67 Black Beauty
5. Carlo L.: A Day at the drags
6. Paul G.: A Fireman and his son
7. Karla M.: A little girl’s love for her Aunt and Uncle and their cars
8. Thomas H.: All the way back home
9. Michael F.: An extraordinary life
10. J.W. M.: A special wedding present indeed
11. Blaine P.: A wedding to remember
12. Tanner F.: Best birthday present ever
13. Larry L.: Dad loved convertibles and so do I
14. Corey K.: Dad races in the family car
15. Michael J.: Daughter’s special 16th birthday
16. Jack D.: Do you want a $5 room or a $7 room?
17. Michael S.: Dreamt of a 1969 Chevelle and woke up with a 1969 Caprice
18. Carrie S.: Driving the Bat Mobile
19. Larry K.: For you, Dad, and thank you
20. Don F.: From Fire to Fireball
21. Jerry M.: In memory of my dad, George Morgan, who restored this Morgan
22. Brian R.: Just in time
23. Nicole K.: Little girl’s dream
24. John C.: Long live the M151!
25. Steve B.: 1st day, best day
26. Anthony O.: Marry me and my car
27. Jennifer Z.: Mom’s Taxi aka Bad A$$ Alert!
28. Paul B.: Moments of joy
29. Wade J.: More cancer miracles will happen thanks to a special car
30. Bill S.: My brand new bride helped get our Model A back on the road
31. Tom H.: My car is for me
32. Bob H.: My cool mom in her 1963 Corvette
33. Sandy H.: My first and last wife
34. Jeff L.: My first drag race
35. Colbie M.: Ol’ Blue – ranch truck
36. Scott O.: Old times are not forgotten
37. Peggy W.: “Shifty” business
38. Joel B.: “You’re grounded for the summer!”
39. Larry K.: Restorer in Training – life father, like son
40. Steve K.: Retirement gift shocker
41. Lynelle R.: Smokin’ for the parade
42. Debi N.: Son and mom restoration project
43. Patrick G.: Strangest things can happen on the way to see Springsteen
44. John W.: Surprise award
45. David B.: Tears of joy
46. David B.: The best, the worst and the beautiful
47. Nicole C.: The Cougar should honestly be our family crest at this point
48. Scott D.: The day my tires got a parking ticket
49. Kay B.: The loss of the love of my life and how he lives on now
50. Hank S.: The night of Y2K
51. David S.: The one that got away and came back
52. Charlie P.: The steering wheel is broken
53. Bill E.: The Sunday drives
54. Brian K.: The U.S. Army and my 1962 Thunderbird
55. Neil L.: Two rare 1972 442 Olds Cutlasses
56. Craig H.: When a 1974 Buick Century is cooler than a Ferrari
57. Ben C.: Young, dumb and full of rust
58. Gerald S.:  A little boy who made me smile
59. Joe V.: Ann’s Birthday
60. Byron E.: Hot August Nights, Reno, NV
61. Linda M.: Learning to drive a stick shift
62. Mack B.: Let’s do a burnout
63. Paul S.: My first car … at age 12!
64. Mark R.: My first convertible
65. Chuck H.: On wheels of love for my Dad
66. Andrew S.: Show up in style
67. Ashford M.: That red ragtop
68. Terry K.: The Flying Riviera – my favorite car
69. Dayl T.: 12 years old and cruising
70. Jim C.: Actor’s 1966 Thunderbird a star to nephew
71. Evan B.: My unique first car
72. Frank F.: “But Officer, I wasn’t driving!”
73. Barry M.: Rusty Bucket, one HOT RIDE!!!
74. John P.: Take it to Sturgis
75. Howard S.: The car that changed everything
76. Ken M.: The Healey that got away
77. James C.: The one that got away found its way home again
78. Laura V.:  The “hows, whys and oh mys!” of my restoration process!!
79. Russ A.: Model Ambrose
80. Jeff W.: Mom’s valentine
81. Paul A.: The cars get us together, but the people keep us together
82. Dennis J.: Cross-country with Kilgore Trout
83. Seamus H.: First car at 18yo … 1 year later
84. Dave C.: Manx for the memories
85. Mike M.: Me, Dad and Grandma, and a real-life car chase in Hollywood
86. James R.: Pop’s “return to Sorrento”
87. Ronda H.: Ronda’s dream
88. Robert G.: Wow – reunited with my lucky charm
89. Kim D.: Freeze frame
90. Dan T.: It took a father and son and made them into best friends
91. Michele M.: Let’s hear it for a girl
92. Victor V.: Me and the B
93. Ned N.: My love affair with Ford Mustang convertibles
94. Virginia B.: Our ’56 through our 48 years together
95. Harold H.: Yesterday when I was young
96. Howard B.: Living a dream
97. Coleen F.: Oh please, Baby
98. Duke M.: There are reasons for preserving the past
99. Kathleen K.: The Seductress
100. Loreen M.: Why does my face hurt?