Monday, May 27, 2013

Cars I owned from 1976 - 1981.  I worked at a gas station and a shoe store, I graduated from High School in 1977.


Here's the list:  


1951 Studebaker Champion starlite coupe
1955 Hudson Hollywood Wasp
1957 Buick Super hardtop

1965 Volkswagen Dune Buggy (rail type)
1965 Jeep Commando pickup with 289 mustang GT motor
1965 Ford Econoline hippy van flower power/shag carpet
1966 Chevrolet Impala convertible (x2)
1966 Pontiac Lemans Sprint OHC convertible
1966 Thunderbird Town Landau 428
1967 Pontiac Bonneville hardtop
1967 Ford Torino 390 GTA hardtop
1969 Toyota Corona
1969 Buick Skylark convertible
1969 Volkswagen Van
1969 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia coupe


1970 Toyota Corolla sport
1970 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham
1970 Triumph TR6
1970 Mustang Mach 1
1970 Dodge Dart Swinger 340 GT
1970 Volkswagen
1973 Capri V6 (x2)
1973 Dodge Dart
1974 purple Gremlin
1976 Capri 2.3
1976 Mazda Cosmo twin rotor
1976 Mustang Mach 1 V6 four speed



 - and of course Dad's car, the car I learned to drive in, a 1970 Mercury Grand Marquis with the big 429 Marauder V8.

Born at the Right Time - The Cars of my Youth


Note:  Pictures are not period-original, but the colors and cars are correct.  Page down to see the complete list if you want to skip the essay.


Born at the Right Time.  This title was used by my Uncle in a book he wrote a few years ago to describe growing up on an Indiana homestead farm.  The same title applies to me.   I'm 16 in 1977, I live in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and I loved cars, cars and more cars.  I worked at a gas station, and used my money to indulge my car hobby.





Between 1977 and 1982, before I turned 21 years old, I personally bought and sold over 20 cars.  


In the 70's and early 80's, cars didn't last like they do  now.  Once a car was a few years old it was nearly worthless.  The most I ever paid for a car in that era was $1500.





I wasn't buying them to fix up and sell and make money, I bought cars to drive, and drive them I did.  I drove them hard, and with the exception of Dad's poor old Mercury, was fortunate to never have a serious accident.

Do I miss those halcyon days of my youth?  Yes I do.  But my memories are priceless, and every once in a while I'll be carving down a country road with my wife or my grandchildren, and I remember... and smile.





 

Here's the list:  


1951 Studebaker Champion starlite coupe
1955 Hudson Hollywood Wasp
1957 Buick Super hardtop

1965 Volkswagen Dune Buggy (rail type)
1965 Jeep Commando pickup with 289 mustang GT motor
1965 Ford Econoline hippy van flower power/shag carpet
1966 Chevrolet Impala convertible (x2)
1966 Pontiac Lemans Sprint OHC convertible
1966 Thunderbird Town Landau 428
1967 Pontiac Bonneville hardtop
1967 Ford Torino 390 GTA hardtop
1969 Toyota Corona
1969 Buick Skylark Riviera Convertible
1969 Volkswagen Van
1969 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia coupe


1970 Toyota Corolla sport
1970 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham
1970 Triumph TR6
1970 Mustang Mach 1
1970 Dodge Dart Swinger 340 GT
1970 Volkswagen
1973 Capri V6 (x2)
1973 Dodge Dart
1974 purple Gremlin
1976 Capri 2.3
1976 Mazda Cosmo twin rotor
1976 Mustang Mach 1 V6 four speed



 - and of course Dad's car, the car I learned to drive in, a 1970 Mercury Grand Marquis with the big 429 Marauder V8.


Sunday, May 26, 2013

http://politicalconservative.net/r-i-p-boy-scouts-of-america/

[quote]t’s a sad day for both Scouting and for freedom. Indeed, it’s a sad day for  America. The century-old Boy Scouts of America (BSA) – created in 1910 to  “prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes” –  has betrayed its own constituency, mission, oath and law.[/quote]

Shhhhh. Oh my, I think we have a conservative in our midst. Don't frighten it. They are vicious when disturbed, distrust everyone and won't share food even though they always have too much.
They are considered a pest and a nuisance almost everywhere in the world, but in the USA they seem to have some sort of protected status - probably because they so rarely breed.