Hannah Cohen discribes herself as, “a girl who has a slightly inexplicable obsession with classic cars, one who believes they should be driven and thoroughly enjoyed on a daily basis. I’m not talking about running errands in a cool car, I mean really driving.”
Hannah has always been attracted to classics. Six years ago, she purchased her 1955 Ford F100 to help promote her bakery business. The truck was a mobile pop-up shop selling pies all over Southern California.
Hannah Cohen: Classic Car Driver
Hannah shared how she first got into classic cars. “It all started with pie. About five years ago I had gone from being a pastry chef to owning my own pie business. I decided to take the pie’s mobile and didn’t want a traditional food truck, so I used my business as a reason to finally get my first classic car, a ‘working truck’. Butters, a 1955 Ford F100, named after one of the main ingredients, fed my classic car infatuation.” Butters is now retired from the daily grind, but is still driven on weekends or for those occasions when a girl just needs a truck. While Butters was fun, the truck wasn’t super practical for road trips, and with Hannah’s list of road trip destinations growing, she started to look for a practical classic to take on the road.
“At first I didn’t think of the Falcon, I was originally looking for a Volvo P1800, but then this Falcon came up and it just fell into place,” said Hannah. The Squire has been affectionately named ‘Birdie’ and was the perfect adventure mobile with room for the dogs, luggage, and equipped with power steering and air conditioning, plus, since it is powered by a small block Ford parts, if ever required, would be easy to find on the road. Birdie attracts attention everywhere Hannah goes, with people stopping to take pictures, strangers saying hello, and kids waving as she drives down the road.
The car is mostly original and well-maintained. Hannah quickly upgraded to disc brakes. Beyond the safety upgrades, the car looks period-correct, red with red interior, 289 V8 with an automatic transmission. After a minor service and some new tires, Birdie was on the road, and Hannah has been enjoying driving it up and down the California coast. “Driving a classic car is like getting unsolicited advice from your uncle. They have stories to tell, lives they’ve lived before yo,u and they don’t care if you’re in a rush.” Hannah said.
Check out more photos below and be sure to follow Hannah’s adventures on Instagram.
Michael Satterfield, founder of The Gentleman Racer, is a storyteller, adventurer, and automotive expert whose work blends cars, travel, and culture. As a member of The Explorers Club, he brings a spirit of discovery to his work, whether uncovering forgotten racing history or embarking on global expeditions. His site has become a go-to destination for car enthusiasts and style aficionados, known for its compelling storytelling and unique perspective. A Texan with a passion for classic cars and motorsports, Michael is also a hands-on restorer, currently working on a 1960s SCCA-spec Formula Super Vee and other project cars. As the head of the Satterfield Group, he consults on branding and marketing for top automotive and lifestyle brands, bringing his deep industry knowledge to every project.
3 Comments
you didn’t answer the most important question… is she single?
Michael Satterfield
you didn’t answer the most important question… is she single?
Need to go follow her on Instagram, she seems like my speed
Love to see real car enthusiasts