While not a car enthusiast, I think this is a great story.

"A steam-powered car, considered the oldest vehicle in the world still running, has sold at auction in the United States for more than $4.6 million.

The De Dion-Bouton et Trepardoux Dos-a-Dos Steam Runabout, nicknamed La Marquise, which was built in France in 1884, sold for more than twice its estimate at auction Friday in Hershey, Pennsylvania.

RM Auctions listed its top speed as 61 kilometres per hour and said it had only had four owners over the past 127 years."

There's a great picture of it at the link.

It brings to mind, when I was first working as a 16 year old, a work colleague offered me an old Ford sedan in mint condition, for £50Aus.

I was talked out of it by family as they said I would not be able to afford to maintain it.

They were probably right.  

It looked something like this.