GREENFIELD, Ind. — The love for vintage cars usually grows stronger as the driver ages.

People realize the vehicles their parents drove were pretty good after all and served the family well at the time.

Floyd L. Meeks of Greenfield, Ind. certainly fits into that mold. Meeks grew up in Sullivan County in southwestern Indiana in a coal-mining area.

His parents, Alvin and Thelma Ruth Meeks, had a 1930 Model A Ford hardtop pickup truck when Meeks was a boy. He loved that truck and dreamed someday of owning one.

Born in 1934 in Dugger, Ind., where his parents lived in a modest home and struggled to make a living for the family, Meeks was raised with his two sisters.

His father worked in the coalmines and developed Black Lung disease. His father could barely walk across a room at age 72 when he died as a result of the disease.

Meeks has been a businessman in different industries.

He recently sold his gas station and motel units, which enabled him to put his dream into action.

The Kruse International 35th annual Auburn Classic Car Auction and Show during Labor Day weekend in 2005 expected 5,000 cars and more than 180,000 spectators. Along with the display of automobiles, they had 3,000 vendors and 200 food suppliers for visitors to enjoy on the 480-acre auction park.

Meeks arranged through a buyer at the Auburn Auction to try and purchase a 1930 Model A Ford Ragtop pickup truck. He had heard there were only 60 of these manufactured by the Ford Motor Co. and the chances of his getting one were slim.

Good fortune was on his side, along with a five-figure purchase, he became an owner of the Model A pickup truck. Then when he went to purchase the license plate, he received a shock and more dollars were shelled out.

Since his purchase he has taken the Ford truck to parades and shows and received awards in all eight shows. The last event he received a three-foot trophy and two $100 bills.

Meeks’ next dream is to get a 1934 Ford Deluxe Cabriolet Convertible this fall at the auction. To do this he will need to expand his garage in Greenfield. He is working with a contractor to get a permit and build the extra garage space.