Molly Holly’s Passion for Classic Wheels Rides on Queen of the Road
October 2003
By: Brian Solomon
Most fans see Molly Holly as the “girl next door” of the WWE Divas. And for the most part, they would be close to the mark. But if they ever saw Molly cruising through town in her 1969 Camaro Z-28, they might understand that there’s another side to her – one that’s attracted to the power and freedom of classic muscle cars. A side that isn’t afraid to go under the hood and get her hands a little dirty.
Her 1969 Camaro is a very recent acquisition. After recently making the purchase in Minnesota, she decided that instead of shipping the car to her home in Florida, she would instead drive it 1600 miles cross-country herself.
“It doesn’t get many miles to the gallon, which some people may see as a bad thing,” she says. “But I looked forward to every gasoline stop I made during the trip. Every time, strangers would come up to the car and say, ‘Oh, man, that brings back some memories. Great car!’ Even while I was driving, when I would stop at a light, people would come up alongside and give me a thumbs up. It was great to be able to put a smile on people’s faces like that.”
As with many lifelong passions, it all started in childhood. Molly’s father Rick is even more of a classic car enthusiast than his daughter, and always had an impressive collection of vehicles when Molly and her brothers were growing up. He spent much of his time restoring these older cars, and when he got one ready and waxed up perfectly, the family would ride around to show it off.
Molly remembers that there were always from 10 to 15 classic cars around at any given time. Over the years, they included a 1959 Ford Fairlane, a 1960 and ’67 Chevy Impala, a 1970 Buick Riviera and a 1956 Chevy Bel Air. Not all of them were always insured and drivable, but there were generally a few to choose from. From time to time, Rick would find a buyer for one, or somebody would spot one and make an offer. Still, Molly insists that it’s always been about the cars, not the cash.
“He may have made a profit on the cars,” she says, “but that wasn’t his sole purpose. He just loves cars, and fixing up something old into something new. If he sells it to someone who’s really gonna love and appreciate it, then it’s worth it to him – even if he just breaks even.”
Where does her mom stand on all this? Although she also gets a kick out of classic cars, Molly points out that her mom takes a decidedly more moderate approach than her dad.
“She likes to cruise around in the cars with my dad,” says Molly. “It’s a thing they can do together. They’ve been married for 30 years, and they’re just a wonderful couple to watch. One of their pastimes is cruising around. My mom actually owns a red 1969 Chevelle. It’s show-worthy. So she definitely likes classic cars, but her biggest complaint is that my dad always had too many. She likes to have a classic car, but she doesn’t need to have 15 of them! Even though she complains about them, she doesn’t really mind too much, because they’re fun to have.”
Although Molly no longer lives at home, she makes sure to check out the cars in the family garage whenever she visits. Today, she is the proud owner of a 1965 Oldsmobile Delta 88, as well as the aforementioned Camaro. She’ll never claim to be as much of a grease monkey as her father, but she does have an interest in learning whatever she can from him.
“I wish I knew more about the mechanical side of things,” she says. “I have worked on my cars. The ’65 Olds had a bad radiator when I first got it, so me and my dad took it out and put in a new one. I’ve fixed thermostats and spark plugs. Little things. I haven’t put in a new transmission or anything like that. I haven’t done major repairs, but my dad and I have worked on things together.”
It’s all about finding the time, and with the arduous schedule of a WWE Superstar, Molly usually finds that in short supply. If a car is in really bad shape, unfortunately, there just isn’t the time for her to make it look good. But if it’s in need of paint job, a new bumper, or the interior is torn up, Molly will look on it as a welcome challenge.
Although she doesn’t have as much of a chance to go to classic car shows as she did when she was younger, she is still always on the lookout for a great set of wheels. While on the road, she’ll always stop if she spots one for sale.
“There’s a classic car dealership in Clearwater, Florida,” she says. “Sometimes I drive by there and look around. They have a showroom inside and some cars outside, too. I could just spend hours looking at things and dreaming. Some of them are huge Cadillacs that I know I’d never be able to park anywhere, but I still enjoy looking at them. So, it’s definitely a fun pastime, just to dream about things and hope that someday I’ll have the time to leisurely cruise around, instead of just running errands all the time.”
They don’t have to necessarily be big muscle cars, but it certainly adds to the appeal.
“I love looking at muscle cars. To me, they’re so awesome. So much power. They’re so intriguing. The thing about a big car is, you own the road. No one’s gonna mess with you. If you change lanes without looking and somebody’s in your blind spot, they’ll move. There’s safety in big cars. Nobody’s gonna get in your way.”
Power is one appeal. Freedom is another. And for that, it doesn’t have to be a muscle car. For that matter, according to Molly, it doesn’t even have to be what would fall under the strict definition of “classic car.”
“There’s definitely a certain freedom in owning a car – no matter what kind it is,” she says. “The idea that you can drive just about anywhere, whenever you want, especially if you’re in the car by yourself. I just love the freedom of the open road.”
Even old beat-up cars that might not necessarily catch someone else’s attention catch Molly’s eye. To her, each of those cars has a history and personality all its own.
“Sometimes, I think about all the memories that may be associated with those older cars. Maybe that was somebody’s first car, or something they worked so hard to get when it was new. So much history could be behind it. Even if you never meet the people who first owned it, you can just imagine people’s dreams coming true by owning a car.
“When I get an older car, that’s what I think about. I think about all the people who had memories (associated with it), and now I’m gonna make memories of my own.”
The Antique Appeal
It isn’t just classic cars that grab Molly’s attention. The love of old automobiles is just part of an overarching fascination with all things used or antique.
“I like used things in general, whether it’s furniture or clothing. One of my favorite T-shirts is one I got at this place on the road in Amarillo, Texas. It was on historic Route 66, at a vintage clothing shop called Six Penny Dame. I just stopped in there to look around. They had a lot of neat clothes, but the one thing that really stood out, and that I kept coming back to, was this Aerosmith conecert T-shirt. The sleeves had been cut off, it had been cut off along the bottom, and it looked like it had probably been washed 100 times. It was originally black I’m sure, but it had faded to a gray color.
“The thing was so interesting to me. I just pictured that some guy went to this concert, had a great time with his friends, really had some great memories, and that shirt was a symbol of it. Ten years down the road, maybe he got married, or had a girlfriend, and she said, ‘What’s this old piece of junk? Why don’t you get rid of this?’ And of course, they throw it out or give it away, and it’s never seen again. But to me, I thought, maybe I can make someone else’s memories live on by really appreciating the clothes that were once special to someone. So I bought the shirt, and although $5 is a lot for a used shirt, I splurged (laughs). It’s just worn in perfectly, and it’s become one of my favorite things.
“So I guess somehow that ties into why I like cars that aren’t always nice, perfectly restored show cars. I’m also into the 1975 Oldsmobile that’s a little bit beat up and has a little character to it.”