thehazmatguy
06-02-2006, 12:28 AM
OK... I have to admit, I feel pretty down tonight.
I parted with an old friend tonight. My 1968 Mercury Cougar. I got it in High School back in 1986, it only had just a tick over 20,000 miles on it then. I did all the stupid things that high school kids do in cars, and that poor old car managed pretty well. It got me through high school and even stood on shaky legs to get me most of the way through college. It won a little money for me bracket racing too.
It hasn't been licensed or insured since 1997. I kept it drivable, but the trans was toast and the motor just didn't have the juice it needed. The valve springs were totally shot, red line was about 4,000 rpm. I kept it clean, moved it from place to place, driving it about once a month in parking lots and such just to stretch it's legs a bit.
I have a really young friend I met though a sportbike club. He and I were talking, and one thing led to another... and I sold the car to him. I am really happy he got it, he seems really excited to have it.
For a long time the car had been an boat anchor, always a problem I had to think about. It even got stolen a couple of years ago, and turned up a year later... $300 in towing and storage fees got it back to me. I really, really was tired of looking at that thing. I was pretty happy to think it was going to be someone elses problem! I have money to fix it up if I wanted, but the idea just didn't sound like any sort of fun.
But....
Then I followed the guy who bought the car home (to make sure he made it ok). I drove behind him for about 10 miles. It was a real bummer to see it drive down the road, just like it used to. No smoke, no overheating in the Phoenix afternoon heat... it drove just fine. The trusty old Cougar.
Oh well. It had to be done. I have to make room for a 55 Sedan!
One funny note: The guy who bought it was driving away from my apartment complex, he was maybe 300 feet away. This older bearded guy on a bicycle rides up, and yells, "Keep the cat! Beautiful car!" and giving the guy a huge thumbs up! I couldn't believe it!
I parted with an old friend tonight. My 1968 Mercury Cougar. I got it in High School back in 1986, it only had just a tick over 20,000 miles on it then. I did all the stupid things that high school kids do in cars, and that poor old car managed pretty well. It got me through high school and even stood on shaky legs to get me most of the way through college. It won a little money for me bracket racing too.
It hasn't been licensed or insured since 1997. I kept it drivable, but the trans was toast and the motor just didn't have the juice it needed. The valve springs were totally shot, red line was about 4,000 rpm. I kept it clean, moved it from place to place, driving it about once a month in parking lots and such just to stretch it's legs a bit.
I have a really young friend I met though a sportbike club. He and I were talking, and one thing led to another... and I sold the car to him. I am really happy he got it, he seems really excited to have it.
For a long time the car had been an boat anchor, always a problem I had to think about. It even got stolen a couple of years ago, and turned up a year later... $300 in towing and storage fees got it back to me. I really, really was tired of looking at that thing. I was pretty happy to think it was going to be someone elses problem! I have money to fix it up if I wanted, but the idea just didn't sound like any sort of fun.
But....
Then I followed the guy who bought the car home (to make sure he made it ok). I drove behind him for about 10 miles. It was a real bummer to see it drive down the road, just like it used to. No smoke, no overheating in the Phoenix afternoon heat... it drove just fine. The trusty old Cougar.
Oh well. It had to be done. I have to make room for a 55 Sedan!
One funny note: The guy who bought it was driving away from my apartment complex, he was maybe 300 feet away. This older bearded guy on a bicycle rides up, and yells, "Keep the cat! Beautiful car!" and giving the guy a huge thumbs up! I couldn't believe it!