You bring up an interesting point that I am constantly arguing with other art collectors. IMO what I do is not art. I didn't create anything nor was the degree of difficulty such that anyone with basic metal working skills couldn't have duplicated my work.
However, if you want to think my work is art, far be it from me to disuade you.
You're right, I'm not a quitter. It made me crazy waiting a month to settle with the insurance company. I was most pleased to start work on it again.
I am an electrician by trade but I grew up in an artistic environment. My father wasn't handy at all but my mother was. She was the one with the tool set. Actually, she was the only one with a set in that house.
I'm fairly new to car collecting. After many years of collecting original works of art I ran out of space and started collecting outdoor art. Cars were just an extention of the collection.