from the hurt to the happy

Rick V · 11-06-2005, 02:44 PM

It all started 26yrs. ago when I bought my first car. A 1967 Chrysler Newport convertable, The tuna boat as it became known. I drove this car all through high school and all over the east coast, man was she a blast to drive. At a staggering length of 22 feet bumpers excluded it comanded respect from anybody not willing to yield. I loved this car until one day the oil pump locked up and the mighty 383 was a smoking pile of hot metal. But fear not fellow pelicans, a doner was found and a mighty 440 interceptor was transplanted into the heart of the beast. About 15 yrs ago someone decided to take a knife to the top on my beloved Tuna boat. Being just married and having a rug rat money was tight to say the least so she got parked. The mighty rust worm made a home in the rr floor pan within 2years and major work was going to be required. We purchased the current house and the mighty Tuna boat was delivered and placed in the garage prepairing for the complete re build that never came.
I made an exhaustive search to find the person deserving to recieve my car and yesterday she went away. She didn't go without a fight, This thing strained the wench on the roll back so bad the clutch now has to be replaced. Fortunatly the guy who owns the rollback is a friend of mine and he just laughed.
Now after a weekend of work the SC has a safe heated home right below my feet and it looks great under the new lighting and fresh wall coverings. I realy miss my old car and the garage seems empty but when you remove that much car anything would look empty.
End of rambelings.

Hugh R · 11-06-2005, 02:48 PM

I feel for you. I've owned the DB4 for 33 years. Not sure how I'd feel if I sold it. My wife says I should and we can use the money to pay off debts, like my daughter's college. I just know we'd up the debt again, and I wouldn't have the car. Wifey says she'll sell it right after I die, but before she calls the morgue to haul my carcass away.

yellowline · 11-06-2005, 03:23 PM

Sometimes I wonder how long I'm going to keep my '44. I could try to keep it running well beyond college, with 120k on the clock, she's got some potential for serious mileage.

It's strange. When major work needs to be done, I tell myself how I'm just going to do the bare minimum needed to keep the 44 running until I can find a decent E36.

Then when I get her running and double the limit on your average backroad, it makes me want to spend $, fix up the interior, and keep enjoying it.

Guess the first car can be a bit of a roller coaster of emotion. Few others besides the gearheads understand why some enthusiasts go to great lengths for cars that they've bonded with, like their first car.

Rick V · 11-06-2005, 04:45 PM

Yellow I strongly recomend the E36 I use one as my daily driver and with over 210k on the clock. It uses very little oil and is fairly good on gas. I just drove it this eve for the first time in 8days (been too nice to let the P-car sit) and it was like coming home.
I will post pics of the tuna boat when I empty the camera.

yellowline · 11-07-2005, 07:18 AM

Well, right now it's "good times" with the 944...it runs well. Maybe next month if something goes wrong with the Porsche, I'll think about saving for the E36.

I drove my cousin's '98 323iS, with the 325 six. Pretty good dynamics, nice to haul more than 2 people, sharp looking car, too. But I sat in the 944, and I feel at home in it. I actually rather like sitting lower than the doorsill.