Best Car Finds Ever: Here are the five winners of our storytelling contest

Last month, in honor of the world’s largest swap meet in Hershey, Pa., we asked readers to submit stories for a chance to win one of five $100 gift cards. They simply had to tell the tale of their most memorable car find ever. The winners, selected based on the number of comments they received, are listed here:

• Son finds and buys dad’s old muscle car: Loren B. grew up hearing stories about his father’s glory days drag racing the 1969 Mercury Cougar Eliminator he purchased new upon his return from the Army on Dec. 31, 1969. In summer 2006, Loren knew he wanted to do something special for his dad’s birthday, and decided to find the car he’d lusted after since his youth.

• My 13-year-old son and his love of turning wrenches on this: Kevin’s son Richard was just a boy in 2009 when the two found a 1955 GMC 100 pickup truck to restore together. The pair worked for several years to bring the truck back to her former glory. Did they finish her in time to make Hot August Nights in 2014? Read to find out.

• Car find story! 20 years later…: It was 1993 when Johnny S. first spotted the tantalizing image of a 1990 Consulier GTP Targa with a unique color scheme in an outdated calendar hanging on the wall of a repair shop. He educated himself on the model, but always found these desirable cars to be out of his price range. Fast-forward 20 years, when he received an unexpected phone call.

• The back room at Central Garage: Doug K. was tagging along with his wife and her sister-in-law during an antiquing outing, when he spotted a building labeled “Central Garage” next to one of the shops. You won’t believe what he found inside.

• I dream of Miriam: David S. first bought his 1969 MGB GT Mk II in 1998. After a “budget refurbishment,” he christened her “Miriam.” He sold the car a few years later, only to seek out another MG nearly 20 years later. This is the story of how Miriam found her way home.