This week we are heading to Gravette, Arkansas, where long-time automotive enthusiast Ryan Watford shares the story behind his remarkable collection of cars. From childhood posters to analogue icons, Ryan’s garage is a tribute to the machines that shaped his life.
What cars do you share on DRIVESHARE?
I currently have a selection of classics and exotics listed, including a 1979 Porsche 911 Super Carrera, a 1980 Ferrari 308 GTSi, a 1984 Jeep Grand Wagoneer, and several others. Each one represents a moment in my life and a memory I did not want to part with.
How did you come to own them?
I bought my first import classic, the 1979 Porsche 911 SC, in 2008. I had just finished graduate school and found it on eBay. By chance, it was located close to home. From there, the collection grew one car at a time as the right opportunities came along.
Growing up in the 1980s, my bedroom walls were covered with posters of Testarossas, 911s, and Countachs. Those cars defined the decade. When I saw them in films and TV shows, I fell in love with the design as much as the performance. My first love was the Magnum P.I. Ferrari 308. I was lucky enough to drive one in high school when a family friend handed me the keys. I was terrified, but it shaped everything that came next.
As I got older, buying the cars I once idolised felt like bringing a piece of that era back into my life. I also developed a love for what I call modern analogue cars, like the early Gallardo and the Aston Martin V8 Vantage. They still give that raw, connected driving feel before technology changed everything.
What memories stand out most?
There are almost too many to count, but here are two. Every year, a few friends and I would take the 911 to PCA Palooza for a weekend of drives in the Ozarks and catching up with fellow Porsche owners. I also loved surprising my son by picking him up from school in the Lamborghini. His face said everything.
Have you carried out any restoration work?
Two projects stand out. The most detailed was restoring the interior of my Ferrari 308. The car had been altered over the years with aftermarket upholstery and non-original gauges. I stripped it back to bare metal and rebuilt it piece by piece to bring it back to its original 1980s look.
The 911 was another long project. I planned a simple respray, but it became a five-year bare-metal restoration. It was a labour of love and something I would think carefully about before doing again, but seeing it finished was worth every hour.
How do you store and maintain your collection?
All the cars are kept in my shop. I do some of the maintenance myself, but there are too many to manage alone. My Porsches are cared for by the team at Ehrlich Motorwerks, who live and breathe Porsche. My local shop, BMS Auto, looks after the others and always treats them with the respect they deserve.
Do you hope to pass these cars down?
Not the whole collection. That is a big responsibility, and my kids are still young, so their interests may change. But there are a few that mean a lot to our family. The Aston, the 911, and the Corvette hold special memories, and those are the ones I would like to see stay in the family.
What do you enjoy most about sharing your cars?
I have made so many great memories because of these cars and met people I would not have crossed paths with otherwise. Many of the cars feel like part of the family, and my kids have grown up around them. Sharing them through DRIVESHARE allows me to pass that feeling on to others.
Thank you, Ryan, for sharing your story and your incredible collection. You can explore Ryan’s curated collection of vintage and exotic cars here. They're available for photo shoots, events, and chauffeured drives.
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