03:24 PM EDT on Friday, July 7, 2006

This '38 Special triggers many memories for Dan Manuepelli of Smithfield.

He inherited the big Buick roadster from his late father, one of several in his collection that stayed in the family. So it is very special to him.

Fred Manuepelli of Johnston had five collectible cars when he died five years ago, and he left them to his children. The others were a 1938 LaSalle, a 1938 Oldsmobile, a 1975 Cadillac Eldorado and a 1974 Mercedes 450 SL. All were convertibles.

"He was an avid collector," Manuepelli said. "He was a union plumber and he was into a lot of different things. He flew airplanes. And he always had convertibles."

The hobby became a family affair and included trips to car shows in Hershey, Pa., Topsfield and Amherst, Mass., looking for parts. "There were a lot of flea markets," Manuepelli said.

The Buick has a 248-cubic-inch straight-8 engine and a three-speed floor-mounted manual shifter. It has dual sidemount tires, Trippe lights, and dual side mirrors. It also has a rumble seat that's a little on the small side because, unlike most convertibles of the era, there was also a trunk along with the rumble seat.

And the trunk is still full of the stuff that Manuepelli's father left in it.

In a restoration 15 years ago, the Buick had a new top installed, and a new interior. And it was painted -- coral or salmon, Manuepelli doesn't really know what to call it -- with burgundy wheels, probably not factory colors but not too far off the mark.

"My father liked to pick his own colors; whatever he liked, he did," Manuepelli said.

Manuepelli, a property manager, likes to honor his father by driving the Buick. "We take it out to breakfast, to car shows and cruise nights, just enjoy it with the family." His cousin, Chuck Parillo, who used to ride with the elder Manuepelli, accompanies him at cruise nights with one or two of his mid-'50s Buicks.

The car is always garaged, of course, and there isn't much that needs to be done. "I just keep it clean, wash it and enjoy it," Manuepelli said. "I go to flea markets and sometimes pick up stuff for it. You inherit a hobby.

"It's an enjoyable car, a good road car, but I don't drive it fast, because there's no need to when you're driving something like this. I've got a 2006 Mustang when I want to go fast."

ENGINE/TRANSMISSION: 248-cubic-inch straight 8; 3-speed manual.

COLOR: Coral.

MILEAGE: PLATE: Antique 499.

CAN BE SEEN: Tuesdays at A&W, Smithfield, Wednesdays at Smithfield Elks. CONDITION: If you have a classic car you wish to be considered for this feature, please e-mail projocars@projo.com with a description of the car and owner contact information. Please put "Classic Car" in the subject field. The owner must agree to be identified by name and allow the car to be photographed.