Car culture bonds father and son

The next automobile Andrew McPherson has his eye on is a 1970 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am. “I don’t know what I need that for, but I’m pretty sure I need that,” is how the Orlando resident describes his thought process when deciding on adding cars to his collection.

McPherson is a Gold Bidder (VIP) at the Mecum Auction, an annual auto sale that begins today at Osceola Heritage Park in Kissimmee. At this 31-year-old gathering of gearheads, more than 3,000 cars will be up for grabs. This year the auction features a midway with food from local chefs, plus live entertainment (through Jan. 14; $20 adults online, $30 at the event; free ages 12 and younger; mecum.com).

For the Houston native, it’s about a passion shared with his father, who comes down from North Carolina to tour this hot-rod heaven. “We’ll spend eight hours just wandering around and looking,” says McPherson, 52. “If you like that stuff, COMMENTARY it’s your nirvana, man.”

McPherson became fascinated with cars in middle school, when he and dad Richard worked on a ’40 Ford Coupe. Now the CEO of Apopka’s Seretta Construction, the company his father built, McPherson bought what he calls his first “fun” car — a ’62 Corvette — in the 1990s. “Some cars are what you call an ‘unrestored keeper,’” he says. “This one was ...” and he breaks off laughing, remembering all the work that went into getting that vehicle in order.

McPherson has four cars in his collection, including a 1971 Ford Bronco and a ’69 Corvette Stingray in Monza Red (which looks totally orange), both of which he got at Mecum. His dad has seven. Father and son look for different types when they hit the auction. “To my dad, those were cars that he couldn’t afford in the early days of his career,” says the younger McPherson. “For me, it’s cars that reminded me of high school.”

His own kids aren’t particularly interested in following the family patriarchs in this hobby. “My daughter went once [to the auction],” says McPherson. “Never again, she said.”

And his wife doesn’t exactly get the appeal. “She says what’s the point of having them. I can’t really answer on that so I just have to change the subject.”

But he and his father completely understand what they’re after.

“Whatever we buy is what we want,” says McPherson. “They’re just fun.”