Valkyrie Riders Cruiser Club

57 chev panel truck.  Traded my 65 C10 fleetside for it even up with Gary Sinese in 1971.   A 62 chev panel truck,  67 Plymouth furry,  65 dodge van,  68 Ford van with a hot rod V8, solid cam,  also had a Vega and a Pacer.  Hated the Pacer.  3 on the tree and WAY too much glass. Really had to be careful rolling up numbers.

Heh, maybe this will explain my.... lack of enthusiasm.... for "classic" cars.... My first car. A hand me down 1976 Dodge Dart with the slant 6 engine and a 4 on the floor manual.

(https://i.postimg.cc/d12wzMZ9/1976-Dodge-Dart-My-First-Car-circa-mid-80s.jpg)

Such a gutless, but unkillable POS. I literally was at a red light next to a school bus, light turned green, I floored it with all she had, and the school bus pulled away from me with ease.

I didn't appreciate my dad's wisdom until year's later... "If you can drive this POS with a manual, you can drive ANYTHING."... and he was right...

That moment I vowed to save my money for a real car, saved for and bought my first "I paid for it myself" car, a 1988 Toyota MR2, and never looked back.....

(https://i.postimg.cc/MG1CG7Z6/image.png)

LOVED that angry go-kart, my wife took it over after I got my 2nd "Bought it myself" car, a 1993 Toyota MR2 Turbo. That's how I knew she was "The One". I got a nice bonus from work, and she said "Hon, why don't you take the MKII to ATS Racing, have 'em put the upgraded CT-27 Turbo on it, the Apexi high flow intake, the Greddy boost controller, and have 'em chip it and dyno tune it."

(https://i.postimg.cc/zfYQ4yC9/image.png)

Even used it to haul things one shouldn't be hauling in a 2 seater mid engined turbo-charged sports car, when I was building my aquarium this was a frequent sight around town:

(https://i.postimg.cc/6qPjcq6b/image.png)

But then I got my first Valkyrie, and no car was fast anymore, so.......

Ironically, the "responsible 4 door family sedan" I got afterwards, was faster than any of my prior cars.... And the car Kali is currently tearing around Monterey, CA in. A 2008 Nissan Altima that I've had Nissan dealers tell me doesn't exist, the almost 300HP 3.5L V6 with the 6 speed manual. Evidently Nissan made maybe 30 a year of this configuration, at most...

(https://i.postimg.cc/d1xjPXML/image.png)

1st out of HS was a ‘55 Caddie Coupe de Ville. ‘65 Sunbeam Tiger I modified and slalomed/autocrossed for 5 years. Three Ducatis before marriage and various Hondas since then, except for a ZX14 Concours.

I never really became a car guy like some of my friends. But I’ve plenty that I wish I still had. My first car was a ‘59 Chevy Apache. Beast of truck. Even a 16 year old couldn’t kill it. A ‘69 Chevy Caprice with a 396 that I hopped up. That was a good cruising car. The problem was there were only about 6 miles of straight enough roads in Alaska to cruise. A ‘61 GMC 4x4 with a 351 V6. That was a deep snow eating mother of a truck.

The trick in threads like this, assuming you don't have actual pictures of it, is to google your make/model/year car/truck, go to photos, find one just (or almost) like yours, and post it with your story.  

My first car; 1962 VW Karmann Ghia.  Dad coached me on not looking too excited at the lemon and used lots, and walking away if the price was too high.  This was purchased for $600 and sat on the lot until my 16th birthday, when I got my license.  The next day, mom drove me to a little state park and taught me to drive a clutch.  This was a great starter car for a kid, and I didn't appreciate how good since it was the muscle car days and the 40HP was unimpressive.  It was more reliable and functional than the next 5 cars I had (except for the no heat in the winter thing).  And getting lucky at a drive in was a near impossibility, both because of the gear shift and tight quarters, and because I dated nice girls.   :)

(https://images7.alphacoders.com/499/499228.jpg)

Mine was not mint like this one.

My first ?

At 15 my grandfather told me it was time for a car. Been on the wrecker with him since I was in diapers. We had a '48 Ford coupe that was still virtually new with a flathead. We also had a cadillac Barritz with the dual carburetors. Outcome the Flathead and in went the cadillac. Couldn't figure out how to mate the driveshaft to the tongue tube so in went the Cadillac rear end. Then we took in a Chrysler with a 392. I was love with those big chrome valve covers with the spark plug wires disappearing into the center of those covers. Oh, and, the dual AFBs.
But by the end of that summer I saved enough to buy a blower manifold and drive. We had a truck out back with a 6 cylinder Detroit so I stole the blower from it. 16 yrs old driving a blown Hemi to school.

57 olds super 88. 371/277 hp
Front seat like a bed    (http://vrcc.photostash.com/vrcc_21179/57olfs.jpg)
My  summer night (2nd ) job was i worked at a drive in. No nice girls allowed jess
or maybe we have different idea of a nice girl

67. Dart with 273 v8 and 13"wheels
No ac black roof but got me 2 law school in lower Manhattan till  :uglystupid2: the west side highway killed it   I gave it to a friend who raced in am and came back at night with switched engine
It was undriveable as front wheels pointed in different directions the alignment was fubar from those giant potholes all the rods were bent  I think he put a blower in it

73 monte carlo great car

(http://vrcc.photostash.com/vrcc_21179/73%20monte%20carlo.jpg)
82 Mazda 626 1st New car

Learned to drive on 64 caddy and a 69 volvo
The Volvo was a piece  of garbage

Serk ! I to had a mid-70’s mopar slant 6. Mine was a hand me down (moms) plymouth scamp. Looked exactly like your dart. It was an auto, white, slow (which was a good thing at that time), and about as uncool as it got. All of which didn’t stop me and mine from making a lot of good memories in that thing. Use to load it up with buddies and drive it through fields & woods to bonfires. Drove it like like a ford raptor in Baja and it never broke, just kept getting slower.

I'll always have memories of this car... Buick Special...

(https://hubcapsc.com/misc/buick_rockwell.jpg)

(https://hubcapsc.com/misc/buick_daddy_carport.jpg)

-Mike

Reliant Supervan
Bond Bug
MkII Ford Cortina
Ford RS2000
Vauxhall Carlton

Buick LeSabre 2 door pillarless coupe
Buick LeSabre 4 door
2 door Chevy Tahoe Z71
4 door Tahoe
2013 Mazda 3 hatchback
2016 Mazda 3 hatchback

My first car that I purchased, 1959 MGA 1500 coupe.  

Story.  Parents purchased for me (or helped I forget) a used Ford (not sure of the year but it was "white") my third (and what turned out to be my last) year in college.  Car worked, no real issues, was reliable.  But not, at the time, my kind of car.

One weekend, returning to college in Clemson from my then girl friends house in Holly Hill, SC I let her drive while I "studied".   She had an event (its was raining and I she had not driven the car before) and the car left the interstate and went up the embankment and rested at the top, sort of hanging over the edge.  

Highway Patrol gentlemen came along, wrote it up and, if I remember correctly he either tried to pull the car back off the edge with coat hanger and it did not work or pushed it over the edge.  In any event, the car was at the bottom of the hill and somehow got back on the road to college.

Insurance company totaled the car and I got $600 to purchase a new car.  So, sometime in the summer of 1967, at the MG dealer in Columbia, SC I purchased a used 1959 MAG 1500 coupe.  

I don't have pictures but found some on line (link at end of message) that I have included below.  It is almost exactly like my MGA except the side curtains are different and the battery apparently changed to a single 12VDC battery instead of the two 6VDC batteries my car had.  

The MGA had two "cool" or unusual things.   One, it had a hand crank (which I used several times).  And it had a pull starter "knob".  

Almost exactly like my MGA which I took to Great Lakes for ETA School and where I met my wife at the Diary Queen in Kenosha, WI.  That is another story.

(https://i.postimg.cc/fLWz411g/Screen-Shot-2022-07-23-at-10-51-49-AM.png) (https://postimg.cc/wtP8L4qh)

Showing the hole for the crank.  It worked every time I tired. 

(https://i.postimg.cc/vByzGtvK/Screen-Shot-2022-07-23-at-10-52-47-AM.png) (https://postimg.cc/t1rP5Pwd)

The pull starter "knob" is marked "S" on the lower right (inside the view of the steering wheel).  Oh and the horn is that button under the "speaker" grill if I remember right. 

(https://i.postimg.cc/vZHwZ50c/Screen-Shot-2022-07-23-at-10-53-53-AM.png) (https://postimg.cc/ZCgMfvtS)



https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1959-mg-mga-60/ (https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1959-mg-mga-60/)

We're listing them,

'48 Ford coupe as mentioned
'60? Bug Eye Sprite I installed 289 Ford with C4 and 8" rear
'67 mini Cooper 1340
'61 Galaxie 390 4 speed
'68? Volvo P1800 I installed 289 Ford with C4 and 8" rear
'68 Ply Barracuda [ new] 340
'64 Ply belvedere 426
'64 Land Rover
'76 Land Rover I installed Chevy 350
'85 Cherokee I installed Chrysler 318 with torqueflite.
assorted others

Not the wow factor of my '69 Stingray, but my '69 SS 396 Chevelle convertible was the most fun car I ever owned.  More useful and functional than a corvette.

(https://cdn.dealeraccelerate.com/showdown/1/27/5244/1920x1440/1969-chevrolet-chevelle-convertible-ss396)

(https://cdn3.mecum.com/auctions/sc0508/sc0508-68378/images/sc0508-68378_1.jpg?1469118764000)

I would not want another Corvette, but I'd take another of these (without some goofy collector premium price).

 :cooldude: :cooldude:

Favorite early car I owned...'73 Plymouth Satellite Sebring 400 ci that I lowered and polished the dickens out of
(https://i.postimg.cc/KcKYxK5d/20190223-173541.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/MXSwYpND)

Most "fun" vehicle I had back in the day ...'76 Chevy 4x4 with 350 4 brl, headers & 410 rearends that I somehow survived some adventurous trips in through  the backcountry of Central and Northern BC with an old 4x4 club, before meeting the Mrs and becoming (a little) more mature ;D
(https://i.postimg.cc/j5MVD0kZ/20220718-153352.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/0MKX43vw)
(https://i.postimg.cc/Y005gn5k/20220718-153306.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/Mfk3JDZr)

My first car was a'49  2 door dodge with fake wood panels on the dash.  had a flat head 6 cyl engine.  Bought it for $90 in '62.  Got sold in '64 for $89.   Next vehicle was a two door '55 chevy.   Good car with a small block '64 engine.   Not a hot rod but close. 

My first car was a 1962 Olds Cutlass, 215 all aluminum V8 4bbl high compression engine but mated to an automatic.
(https://i.postimg.cc/J0XpqbxT/A3-FC4-F53-4930-4-FED-A473-0216124-F9547.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)

(https://i.postimg.cc/mDJdCdYz/EB5-B4-CB9-620-B-4-C3-A-B9-A3-A883-D4556473.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)

Mine was white with red guts exactly like the one in the pics. Well balanced little car.

Next was a 1964 Barracuda with 273 V8 and push button torqueflight. Actual car that I owned until the move to Richmond in 2018. My brother-in-law has it now. No pics from back in the day!



(https://i.postimg.cc/c4HqQjGC/DE612B43-A113-4E7F-939D-0E6F75565D27.webp) (https://postimages.org/)


(https://i.postimg.cc/zGb9QgB1/0C57921B-0287-4282-83EE-CA424C2A423E.webp) (https://postimages.org/)

 

Onlu pic of one of my favorites. 67 GTO Ram Air I car with a 4 speed and 4:33 gears. Sitting in the driveway of my first home around 72-73

(https://i.postimg.cc/x1wWV1JN/7E186FDB-C7F8-4B38-BAF4-A427B19C9670.webp) (https://postimages.org/)


A somewhat low point where I bought high (oil embargo) and sold low, just to get rid of it.

(https://i.postimg.cc/8Pn2wHTH/B8310334-F90B-4E22-A31D-47F567F1B907.webp) (https://postimages.org/)



My first new car. 75 Monte Carlo.


(https://i.postimg.cc/VsZZck2s/AD2B94DB-7650-454C-B60C-626599DCA3D1.webp) (https://postimages.org/)

Had a couple of cars in the eighties, a 1979 Lincoln MarkV that didn’t warrant a picture, I only had it 6 months. Next was my second new car, a 1985 Nissan Maxima, a great car that served the family well, but no pics of it either.

My next new car which I have pics of but can’t find is an 1986 Mustang GT 5 speed. Lots of fun but later traded for a new 1988 Chevy Silverado for practical reasons.

Bought this 1967 Chevelle in 1989 spent a lot of money on it the my son ran it off in a ditch in 1997. I still have it and it’s still a project car.


(https://i.postimg.cc/VN7dDtmX/51499AD0-6D45-43C2-A906-1B15FC901215.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/VSCfNdSN)


I got the itch for a forties big fender car and all I could find and afford was this 1947 Mercury. Had big plans that never happened and it now resides with my brother-in-law too since the move.

(https://i.postimg.cc/d3f5R5GZ/6CCF9F00-B50D-4B51-A5C2-4AB78C5979F1.webp) (https://postimages.org/)

(https://i.postimg.cc/GhB7311F/053CC743-9C34-40B2-8086-8D6F5B37CEA8.webp) (https://postimages.org/)

(https://i.postimg.cc/gkfMnBYf/E15D4F35-7A9A-42D5-8731-98C53821B48B.webp) (https://postimages.org/)


My wife’s first new car when she finished a mid life career change and became a teacher. 1995 Impala SS that was her daily driver for 20 years. 212,000 miles on it now and we still have it.

(https://i.postimg.cc/J00TBfHW/A449BD8C-4211-407E-9C15-F880D1B9C2CC.webp) (https://postimages.org/)

Right after my '69 SS 396 Chevelle, I got a '69 Buick Skylark GS California model in burnt orange.

Nicest (almost luxury) car I had in my youth.

(https://i.pinimg.com/736x/41/0a/58/410a587704edca4104e295e55b2193fe--performance-cars-buick-skylark.jpg)

(https://th.bing.com/th/id/R.8c7623f5c8abb2dbba12e73371d79301?rik=mRtyJbhVMpDudw&riu=http%3a%2f%2ftenwheel.com%2fimgs%2fa%2fb%2fi%2fm%2fs%2f1969_buick_skylark_california_gs_2_lgw.jpg&ehk=5ETYePHcW%2bl%2fk4e%2bhFLV5ugoW7BOwJwiXfJBlF94%2big%3d&risl=&pid=ImgRaw&r=0)

(https://car-from-uk.com/ebay/carphotos/full/ebay69582.jpg)

Back when cars had some design and character, and I was stuck on '69 GM  models for years.  Until I switched to Dodge Mopars.

1966 Impala SS, original 396, my first car, purchased in 1977 . . . still own it.

(https://i.postimg.cc/65GdmK4h/D154EDFA-8180-4B02-9678-9E0228F8A4EB.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/F7NdY2Zf)

(https://i.postimg.cc/85PRKrLF/5ABD6D58-BE07-41B0-9AF7-F62F4BA136A2.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/hJ6Qhvyg)

 :cooldude:

Now that's commitment!! She's a beaut :cooldude:

No pictures, but a story about the sale of Chevelle.

A few days after I sold it, a policeman came to our (my parent's) door and asked to see me.

I came out, and my dad stayed right there, giving me the what have you done now look.

The policeman smugly said some asswipe had mowed down a row of mailboxes, and someone got the tag, and it belonged to me.

I said that it did belong to me but I sold it a few days ago (and let the guy keep my tag on his promise to give it back in a couple of days, but had not yet done so).  I said I did not know the guy very well, but I could take him right to it if he'd take me in his patrol car.

My dad lit up (with great relief), and said that was a capital idea.  So that's what we did.    

We drove up to the north end of the island, pulled up a long drive, and there was the car.  We both got out, seeing no damage, but when we got around to the front, it looked just like some asswipe had mowed down a row of mailboxes.  I could not believe the guy had done that to MY car.

The guy and HIS dad came out, and the guy knew right away he was in trouble.  No poker face at all.  He gave me a dirty look and I gave him the finger.  

I went right to the rear of the car and pulled off my tag with a coin.  

I got back in the front seat, and the guy got in the back, and the policeman gave me a ride home before taking him to the station for booking.  His dad was not amused.

This is how I learned to never let your tag go with your car when sold.  

My dad was very happy with how I handled it.  He had once before been to court with me on a misdemeanor minor (16) in possession of beer charge (the only criminal offense conviction in my lifetime), and was glad it wasn't happening again.   :)

My first car was a 57 Chevy Belaire 2 door hard top with no engine.  I built a 283 for it and drove it during my senior year in high school. 

The summer after graduating from high school I traded the 57 for an old Chevy truck that had a 283 engine and a 1936 title.  The frame of that truck had been so seriously butchered for the installation of that 283 V8 that the truck was a night mare to drive …… very dangerous!  Also, the cab was actually a 35, not a  36.  Anyway, I got my hands on a rusty 57 2 door.  My brother and I took the frame from the 57, narrowed the main rails 8 inches so the truck cab would fit down over it, set the engine 12 inches to the rear of the original 57 position, mounted motorcycle fenders on the front wheels, traction bars on the rear,   and a few other small modifications.  I then built a 327 with 0.060 over 12.5 to 1 pistons, off road fueler (racing) cam, headman headers, two 600cfm Holly 4 barrels on an Edelbrock tunnel ram fed the beast and a Borg Warner T10 four speed sent the power to the rear.  I had a lot of fun with this truck!
(https://i.postimg.cc/cH2zLGQ3/0082-D925-A3-AB-4819-90-DF-0-D76-D7719-AD5.jpg)
(https://i.postimg.cc/cHrjWL8Z/43834-D5-A-BFF5-4116-B598-E11-A4809-E239.jpg)

Then after I painted it and made side covers for the hood.
(https://i.postimg.cc/x1f6Y1W7/11-A274-E9-B5-A4-4-BF5-97-A1-81239-D31-B344.jpg)
There were others, but the 36 truck was my favorite!  It would pull the front wheels when second gear was slammed hard and it handled like a go cart!

Great stories guys.  Parents had a VW square back sedan, great in the snow. And a couple of corvairs,. Screw Ralph !  First brand new was a 77 chev C30, dually, 4 speed with grannie gear.  Had a Miller 1J Trailblazer on it.  375 amp dc 500 amp ac.  Engine was a F head kaiser jeep engine.  Truck was 5k out the door!   Next new was 84 chev C10. 10,400.  Miss that welder!  And first  female experience was in the 57 panel. Thanks  Lieutenant Dan!  

Sorry to drift, but threads like this really make me miss RJ.....  :'(

And Solo 1

Had two I wish I still owned. In high school I had a 68 Mustang 289 V8. I followed that up with a 69 RS Camaro 327 2 speed auto.  Other than those I have owned a 70 Mustang Convertible with a 6 cylinder and an AMC Hornet. Both left a lot to be desired in performance but they took a beating.

Spittin' image of the first car that I drove that the ladies girls were attracted to.  Was a great handling, corner hugging car.

(http://smclassiccars.com/uploads/postfotos/1978-chevrolet-camaro-z28-90820-miles-silver-coupe-350-chevrolet-v8-turbo-350-3.jpg)

My Dad had one of these:


(https://topclassiccarsforsale.com/uploads/photoalbum/1976-dodge-dart-lite-10.jpg)



It was called a Dart Lite.

There were aluminum components that reduced the weight.

It came with the 225 Slant 6 and a 4spd manual transmission w/OD.

It wasn't a speed demon by any means but it would wind out pretty good.

My first REAL car was a 1975 GMC Sprint:

(https://i.pinimg.com/564x/cd/56/7d/cd567d813b7e61e4ce0df374374683db.jpg)


This was probably the coolest car that a high school kid could have, the chicks loved it.

It didn't hurt that it had the 350 with the 4 bolt main and 300hp heads.

It would run 150 mph.

I ran Volunteer rescue in high school.

Once after responding to a wreck on the interstate I had a state trooper ask me how fast that I was going.

I told him the truth which was that I didn't know.

He informed me that when I got on the Interstate in front of him that he was running 126 mph.

He also said that I walked away and left him and he was trying to catch me.

This is going to be expensive,

(https://i.postimg.cc/BvdtYc7F/6-C98-D2-AA-2-BD0-4-BD5-9166-C54-EBD288-FD7.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/HJ9pj5gW)

Friend got my 95 SS running again this summer. New battery, water pump, distributor, serpentine belt and new bolts and strap for the drive shaft which I guess I lost towing it to my mothers garage. And that’s just what I can see, oh and a oil change and transmission fluid change. All stuff I have done before but just didn’t have the drive to tackle it this time.

It was cool for me to drive it today out here in the country after it setting for 4 years. It’s going to have to set a while longer, after I pay the bill this evening it has to go back in mothers garage as it is not licensed or insured again.

I just hoping to come in well under Serks bill for his Wing :cooldude:

(https://i.postimg.cc/HxXnfcFh/941-B0-AAD-378-A-48-BC-B1-B2-CE5-BC41926-A7.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/MMZzBT67)

Most of the cars/vehicles my wife and I have owned were basically family vehicles.  Yes, the 1972 Chevy Blazer sort of stretched that but then there was a used VW beetle I purchased while working in Florida in the late seventies and then there was the 1976 Honda Accord, for my wife, while in Michigan, and a Chevy Van when we were living in South Carolina. 

But in 1985 I got to purchase a car for myself.  Having owned the 1959 MGA and a 1963 Austin Healy 3000, (both used and.... )....   I wanted a sports car but wanted something different.  So, in 1985 I purchased a 1985 Pontiac Fiero.   

Great car.  Did a few Autocrosses  and a lot of road rallies, mostly in South Carolina.  Oh, funny thing is I was not living in Newberry at the time but that is where I purchased the car, local Pontiac dealer. Joined the Sports Car Club of America and it was sort of a blast. 

The image below is almost exactly like the car I owned.  I don't remember when it was sold but my daughter did drive it a few times, before she managed to have an "accident.

Oh and one more thing, I installed an oil pre-lube system.  It had a hose connected to the oil pan drain (yeah I know) and when you turned on the ignition and pushed a button, a pump would run and get the oil pressure up so you did not start the car with "dry" bearings.  Never an issue but in hindsight.....

(https://i.postimg.cc/Z5mVW7cd/Screen-Shot-2022-07-25-at-1-20-26-PM.png) (https://postimg.cc/3dLg6Zz8)

Sometime in 1990 or so, I got re-intereseted in Astronomy.  The Fiero lost its appeal so.... I purchased a new 1992 Four Wheel Drive Ford Ranger XLT with a five speed manual transmission (I think it was five speed but it was manual for sure). 

The image below is almost exactly like my truck.

(https://i.postimg.cc/tgS5mXH3/Screen-Shot-2022-07-25-at-2-09-01-PM.png) (https://postimg.cc/PLDYCnJJ)

I got the truck mainly because I was getting back into Astronomy and needed a way to get my telescope to the observing areas.  Got a hard top bed cover so I could carry the telescope there on some wooden slide out "framers". 

The telescope below is the one I made and carried to star parties.  What you see in the foreground is my PC, video display, and telescope drive controller and power supply. (I made them all except of the board for the PC and the mouse and keyboard). 

(https://i.postimg.cc/cHZsssQP/Slides-082.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/67jscxbh)

Later I made a 24" telescope (the one above was a 10") and needed a trailer for it.  The picture below is of the Ranger, tent (from 1970) and the new (to me) trailer at a star party in Florida. 

(https://i.postimg.cc/J0J5nZHx/S17-0002.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/H8YyvJ28)

Long story.. I know.... One final thing.  On the way to the star party in Florida, some 50 miles from the party, the clutch in the pickup went south.   I found out I could drive it using engine speed to allow shifts up and down (up more easier).  And it would start in first gear when I had to stop at stop lights.  Drove it all the way home to SC. 

Those were some truly fun days......

Yes, a long time owner.  Had 8 warning tickets in high school with the machine; all with different LEO”s. I never ran from a stop though, the car was too recognizable in our rural area.  These days I suspect most of those stops would have resulted in a night of jail. The light body Chevelle’s and Camaro’s would easily take me off the line but by 1/4 mile I was winding them in.  And nothing could touch it on the top end, just don’t try to corner at speed.

The car sat in a shed for 18 years after I enlisted. Then pulled it out and started the process: engine freshened up, interior gutted and replaced with factory reproduction items, factory gauge package added, factory tach added, factory AM/FM radio added, new wire harness, etc. 

It was a fun process that took a few years.  All of us know that do these kind of things, one is never really done . . . especially if you use it and is not trailered from show to show.

My current daily ride for the last six years:  1997 Range Rover (P38)

Lucas electrical system and all that entails.   Bought it cheap and worked through issues with the help of the Brit’s on a forum.  Still not worth much as reputation of reliability is widely known.  


(https://i.postimg.cc/YC64khkg/9-AB3-D25-B-FD11-4-B8-C-AB21-D5070-B84177-B.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/FYKFVFYs)

You have great taste in cars Jess, those are two of my favorites. My first car was a 69 Grand Prix with a 400 cubic inch motor, I can't tell you how many race cars I beat with my Grand Prix, the rear wheels would chirp when it hit second gear, it was an automatic transmission. That car was a freak. I had it painted emerald green and gold flip-flop paint, the car was magnificent.

am jealous with most of your vehicles much better/cooler.  Nothing to write home about.  1978 3.8L V6 buick skylark 2 door coupe (1st real car and one of the best - good car),  1985 buick regal 3.8L V6 (crappy car), 1988 chevy silverado, 1994 chevy cavalier (piece of junk 2.2L engine), several 1990's chevy silverados.  Got smart in 2007 bought first toyota tundra after several silverados.

1st car ever drove was my dad's 1968 4 door chevy belaire burned more oil than gas, well almost.  Did not last long my older brother rolled it one night coming home from drinking in a ditch, was suppose to be mine next.  Drove dad's 1976 and 1986 chevy caprice classics, nothing special. 

Just missed out in the late 60's muscle car era thought they were the coolest looking cars made ever.

Couple others I've managed to dig out of the old photo album collection...

When I met the Mrs almost 41 years ago, she had a little Beetle that was like a lot of other little Beetles at the time...never-say-die tough as nails, but with a lot of quirks and not really the most attractive car for a pretty little 20 year old blonde to be driving around in. So never one to shy away from spending everything I had on a vehicle, I sold the Bug and bought this '67 Mustang for her to bomb around in. Was in very good shape body and interior-wise and was powered by a 289 with 302 heads, hotter cam & auto w/ shift kit. It moved out pretty good, and the Mrs got lots of comments about "driving the boyfriend's car"from guys in Firebirds, Camaros, etc.
(https://i.postimg.cc/Bn0qWNTQ/20220725-193756.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/xc6rMvpW)
Time moves on...we get married, have our first daughter, and the Mustang gets traded in for a 4 door Purple diesel VW Rabbit. Talk about a switcharoo...but the money we saved driving that pokey Purple 4 door Rabbit everywhere for a few years helped us save for the down payment on out first house!

About the same time I purchased the Mustang, I let my old Chevy 4x4 go and bought this late 70's F250 with camper. Tough truck and served us well on our camping/fishing trips for years, but with the 300 six /4 spd manual it sure was slow climbing the mountain highways here in BC, especially with the  camper on.
(https://i.postimg.cc/pX8213n6/20220725-193854.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/3d85kS1X)

Another sort of unique car I had for a relatively short time in the late 70's was a '69 Firebird with the OHC in-line six cyl engine. It ran good and the interior was gorgeous, but unfortunately I got trapped by a shiny new paint job as I was looking for a nice-looking car for "dates" since my 4x4 was usually covered in mud inside and out...lol. Before local laws mandating vehicle damage history was included with every private sale up here, a sucker like me could (and did) get taken in buying a freshly painted "bondo-mobile". One whole side of this car was bondo'd up obviously well enough for this over-anxious rookie...come Winter a number of months after purchasing it, I wrenched on the door handle one morning to break the frozen door seals, and the whole door handle almost came off in my hand. Needless to say this started cracks to start forming all through the door, and I soon discovered many other issues with the car's body, alignment, etc. A friend who worked at a body shop took it in to look it over for me and gave me the news I already knew...this car had been in a serious accident and was hastilly fixed up for sale. His boss gave me a decent enough offer to take it off my hands, and I gladly took him up on it. I've made a few iffy vehicle purchases in my day, but this one tops the list.
I have one photo of this car somewhere, just not somewhere I can locate it now, but this photo here is the same car, same model, same colour, etc.
(https://i.postimg.cc/rmtbw2c6/download.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)

After two Chevy Corvair my first nice car was a 1967 Camaro RS/SS convertible in red 350 cu in 295 horse     
In 1974 I bought a new green Ford Bronco with a 302 I cut the fenders for big tires which wasn’t that common back then I had lots of fun with that little truck.
When we got married we ordered a 77 Camaro drove nice but wasn’t all that fast.
After the kids were a little older I found another Bronco I put big tires on it and replaced the 302 with a 351W added a cam, headers, etc. Replacer the rear fenders and floors and a red paint job. Great looking truck but I sold before the prices went crazy I should’ve kept them all.
Then I had a 1988 Camaro IROC-Z convertible also in red 305 Lingenfelter intake and a 5 speed. Another fun ride.
Now I have a 2019 Mustang with the performance package lots of fun, fast and handles like a race car.
But my first love is motorcycle’s.
(https://i.postimg.cc/tgjPMQyx/IMG-0799.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/ZWwCWQWb).
(https://i.postimg.cc/g0ZVTNp0/6-BA52572-206-B-4-E3-C-9232-C5-F9-DC4-ABBAF.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/PLdvLbPG)

Don't yall laugh.....my most fun car was my first new car...an American Motors Gremlin.    Small car with a American Motors 305 v8 with 3 speed on the floor.    It was a very fast car.   small car with a v8.   1974 was my first new car.    Could run as fast as the camaros and firebirds of the time.   It was small and didn't weigh much and would absolutely fly.    The first year of the Gremlin you could get it stock with a 401 v8.    They were bad boys.   They quit making the stock 401 v8 after the first year they came out as too many people were crashing them due to too much power.    My 305 v8 came out after that and they only made them a few years and then went to a 4 cylinder I think.    It was a fun car.  

(http://vrcc.photostash.com/vrcc_25801/gremlin.JPEG)

Shortly after we bought it my new wife (the same one still with me after 48 yrs) went home to East Texas small town of Pineland Texas.  Her old friends there she grew up with were all making fun of her little car till she challenged them and beat everyone there through about a 1/4 mile.   They called in another guy who was king of the fast cars there in a chevy pickup with I think she said it was a 454 v8 and she out ran him.     They quit laughing.

The AMC’s were 304’s, just saying. :cooldude:  Never saw a 401 Gremlin but they would be big money today. The Roadkill boys recently put a 426 hemi in a Gremlin but I haven’t seen those episodes let.

My first was a 55 Chev 2dr hardtop with a 265 V8
Second was a 63 pontiac catalina 2dr with a tri power set up.
Next was a 68 olds 442 hurst
Then a 73 chevelle 2dr vinyl top 350

Fav was the 442

all that before 18 yrs old

you are probably right.....it had a "5 liter" emblem on the back.  I was coming home from work back when I had my Gremlin and saw a lady on the side of the road in a Gremlin and she had hit a mattress that had fallen off a truck and was stuck all in the frontend.   I stopped and in helping to get the mattress untangled I had to open the hood and there was the 401 engine.   Only one I ever saw.  I just googled the Gremlin with the 401 engine and there are some for sale around.  Ck this youtube out....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9w2e8SzuMc (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9w2e8SzuMc)

While I was going to College, my parents got me and my youngest brother a 1972 Gremlin with a straight 6 and 3 speed automatic that had been a campus cop car. We shared that sleeper until I bought my Ensignmobile (1983 Ford Ranger (2.8L V6 with 5 speed manual). I took that pickup to St Louis, Pensacola, Norfolk, Newport /Boston, Jacksonville FL, and to Dc - most of them towing a trailer that I had my motorcycle at the time on it.

We got married in Mayport FL on the ship I was stationed on, she brought a 78 Pontiac Lemans to Boston and Jacksonville. While we were in Jacksonville, we bought our 1988 Acura Integra (4 doors 5 speed manual, 1.6L 4 banger) . While we were in DC, we spent many weekends in Pinto Md visiting her Grandma - the trip there was always lots of fun with curves :). While in DC we also got rid of the Ranger and bought a 1990 Honda Civic Station wagon (1.5L 4 cyl, 5 speed manual). We eventually took both of these to Raleigh NC, where I had 45 / 60 mile one way commutes to work, then shorter. We bought the 2000 Beetle in March 2003 with 65,000 miles (still driving - currently at 382,400 miles), and we bought the Golf new in 2015. The Civic overheated one summer day and locked up about .5 miles from the dealer (leaking coolant hoses), and we gave the Integra to someone who wanted it when we came to KC in August 2018. That person fixed it up some and is still driving it as his daily driver.

The Beetle has had quite a history with us. At 252,000 miles, the 4 speed automatic crapped out and we had it replaced with a 5 speed manual (and had an instant jump of 8 MPG). At 297,000 miles the fuel pump crapped out (an $1100 item), and we got some much larger than stock fuel injector nozzles that had a slight impact on power and a LARGE increase in the amount of smoke it produced. The next summer, we had the ECU tuned and it makes 170% of stock horsepower / torque - while still getting 42-45 MPG highway.

The Golf was part of the VW Dieselgate - so all it has had done is the ECU tuning to fix that . (and this gave us an 11 year 165,000 mile warranty on anything under the hood).

Well, my bill on the Impala SS came to $1,400 dollars. More than I really needed to spend but as hoped for less that what Serks Wing bill is estimated to be. That’s only the third time in 27 years I’ve paid anyone to work on the car for me. Maybe I can handle the rest a little at a time.

(https://i.postimg.cc/13XQLHB4/7D65C4E2-4E39-4411-8C09-D975249B4F64.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/fJGpdY6h)

Spinning happily away on 4+ year old gas with a dose of Seafoam thrown in for good measure.

All new brake rotors, calipers and braided lines back before she laid down on me.


(https://i.postimg.cc/g2GyqLhg/724-EC3-C5-091-E-4-E6-A-B66-D-660381-B292-B3.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/WhfJs3XZ)


(https://i.postimg.cc/dVn2WQmw/84-E9251-A-645-D-4291-A4-B2-DA960-F98972-B.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/Hrc8nghh)

During my 2 year stay in 1994 in Moreno Valley, CA I bought a Lincoln Continental from the lemon lot.
Previous owner was an elderly man who took it to the golfcourse once in a while.
I think I paid $3000,- for it.
Car was in excellent shape and went to see most part of California with it.
Fantastic car, guzzler perhaps but I didn't care.
I was amazed by gadgets like a rain sensor, etc which I was not used to previously.
Sold it for the same price when I left.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52245517910_3fff36945b_b_d.jpg)

I visited all the lemon lots (used car lots) on my various bases.

The cars were mostly in better condition and nicer shape than off base, and priced reasonably for quick sales, and you might even find motorcycles there.

Before going overseas, I was going to put my old Ford on the lot until I got an offer from work.  

I shipped this over instead.  (with a matching silver camper shell)

(https://classiccarsbay.com/media/main/vehicle_photos/6a/94/22/6a9422a0c9adadd030ae948e5d85d9b4.jpg)

Unfortunately, by 1979, the SS model 350 4-bolt main had been downgraded to a 305 2-bolt (but it still moved out pretty well).  Drove it within miles of the Russian (Georgia) and Syrian borders in Turkey.  The Turk Jandarma (military police with machine guns) would not let you get to the borders.

The first owner had been the long serving female dispatcher for the Montgomery Police Dept, and they had already removed the catalytic converter and hacked out the gas hole to take leaded gas.  There was no such thing as unleaded gas over there, so it had to be done to any car shipped over.  Win, win.

When I returned to the States and the car arrived back, US Customs bungled the paperwork, so it never got restored to politically correct.

A friend of mine had the big block version, that car scared the crap outta me.. it was incredibly fast.

I never got to ride in the 401 version but bet it did have a lot of get up and go.  
Another American Motors car that was quick was the Javelin AMX with a 390 I think it was.   Muscle car.

The first and second generations of AMX cars came with either  a 343, 390, or 401, depending on the year and options.

(https://i.postimg.cc/bw9wPftn/1977-Triumph-TR7-British-Racing-Green-Paul-Dorman-000.jpg)

This is a fun little car I commuted in for 280K miles as a 4 cyclinder 2L engine. There is a TR8 version of this car with a 3.5 liter V8 derived from the old Olds 215 aluminum V8. I built this V8 into a 4.3L that ran like crazy and drove for another 100K miles.....a lot of fun. Its a long read but below is the saga of building the engine......this pic is the same color and has a full moon roof like my car.



Buick/Rover/TR8 Aluminum 215-V8 Conversion
By Wil Bridges (USA)
        Date: Fri, 19 Jan 1996           Published: 22-may-98     
See also extract from HOTROD magazine (Aug, 1985).

In the summer of 1993 a friend presented me an article published in your 1985 ABC issue of ABC Magazine detailing how to rebuild the humble little Buick aluminum 215 V8 into a potent powerplant for street/race use.

Since I had been driving a 1977 Triumph TR7 for some 8 years and 280,000 miles, I saw a chance to build my own TR8 engine and convert the wimpy little TR7 to a real roadster.
I began the process of collecting three or four 215's. four sets of '64 Buick 300 aluminum heads and three 300 cranks. I could not bear to pass up on of these little engines in the local "Pick Your Part" salvage yards. As luck would have it, another friend told me of two 1980 Rover 3500 SDI sedans for sale as a pair. This engine is the 1961-63 Buick 215 with some minor block, head and rocker arm assembly changes. The nice thing is, it is multiport fuel injected and solved my problem of smogging in California. The friend that gave me the article decided he wanted a Rover to drive so we bought the pair, he got his driver and I got an engine, transmission, smog equipment and a 3:08 ring /pinion and cluster gear set to replace the 3:90 gear set in the stock TR7 rear end. Obviously, I now have a surplus of 215 parts! This began a 14 month saga of my friend rebuilding his Rover and me building the engine of my choice based on your menu of part mix and match. I decided on the stock bore, 300 crank and heads, Chevy 283/327 rods, Vega pistons and Nova flywheel (more about this later on). This combination yields 4.3 liter displacement.
   
Since there is some machining involved with this project it gave a a wonderful opportunity to justify to the wife the purchase of a used 15 X 40 inch metal lathe from the local Maritime Academy Training School who was updating their machine shop. The selection of engine internals was heavily influenced by the fact that this car would continue to be my daily commute vehicle in San Francisco Bay Area traffic. Of 32 miles one way, about 20 miles was stop-and-go clutch-foot numbing traffic, so, I wanted an engine that would behave decently in that environment but still have impressive go-power when stood on. The choice of fuel system was the stock Rover (Lucas) system and control unit with the modification of machining a new adjustable top for the fuel pressure regulator so the fuel pressure could be increased from 36 psi to about 45psi at zero vacuum. The fuel pump is from a 280Z just because a new one was available at the right price. I also used a stock TR8 inertia switch in-line with fuel pump supply voltage. The Cylinder heads selected were 1964 Buick 300 aluminum heads( slightly larger intake valves than stock Rover heads) milled .060 to produce a cylinder head volume of about 43cc and yield a compression ratio of 9.25:1. The rocker arm assemblies were from the Rover heads as the rockers are significantly beefier. I wanted to use adjustable Volvo rockers (a nice light-weight steel unit) and had machined a set of inserts to match the Rover shaft diameter but closer measurement of the rocker ratio showed t hey were 1.5 and not 1.6. The cam had already been ground based on a 1.6 ratio. The rocker assembly supports were shimmed .045 to give good valve stem end wipe geometry and about .050 preload of the hydraulic lifters. The lifters are aftermarkets that are supposedly good to 6800 RPM. The cam profile selected is identical to stock Rover and Buick 215/300 with the exception that lobe height (intake and exhaust) was increased to yield .440 lift at the valve and take advantage of the slightly larger intake valves and assist in venting exhaust through slightly smaller exhaust valves. To contradict the immediate preceding statement, the flow test of the Buick 300 heads show that between .300 and .440 valve lift that little gain in air flow is realized. The 300 heads have significantly larger diameter intake and exhaust ports than the Rover/TR8 heads-they must really be restricted. Original intake valves were retained and a set of exhaust valves were machined from used junk yard valves( gimme a break-I just bought a new lathe). Additional head work only included light port polishing, slight relieving in the intake port area for injector spray clearance and valve guide reconditioning (note no mention of replacing the valve seats---leaded vs unleaded).

Block preparation included usual cleaning at ABC Machine Shop in Dublin, Ca. and the machining of an adapter( oh darn) for the rear main oil seal. The Rover crank is larger in diameter than the Buick 300 crank at the oil seal area so the adapter/spacer is needed to house the Chevy big block rear main seal. The top of the adapter is screwed to the block and the bottom is secured to the rear main cap as in your article. I elected not to bore the block oversize this go round so the cylinders were only honed to assist ring seating. Using the Buick 300 crank required reducing main journals a total of .200 and was the single most expensive expenditure in the project ($200 at ABC Crank regrinding in San Leandro, Ca). The block was very slightly relieved in one spot to allow crank counterweight clearance. Not sure if this is necessary with the Buick/Olds block. All freeze plugs were replaced- since I could not readily obtain the rear cam plug I had to machine one (oh darn). Other block components were stock Vega pistons and rings, late model 283/early 327 rods milled a total of .100 for journal fit on the big end. The bore for the Vega engine is listed at 3.501 inches-between this and not too much cylinder wear in the Rover engine, piston clearance ended up at .0025-.003 inch. Main bearings are stock mail order Rover/TR8, rod bearings are stock 283/327 bearings machined (oh darn) to make a wide as possible bearing surface and chamfered for crank filet clearance. The stock Rover timing chain/oil pump/distributor housing was discarded in favor of an early model Buick V6 housing. This allowed using a high capacity '64 Buick 300 oil pump and direct replacement of the Rover (Lucas) distributor with a stock post '74 Buick
 HEI distributor. The stock Rover oil pump is about 25% greater capacity than the stock 215 but about 15% smaller than the high capacity Buick 300 pump. Pump by-pass pressure is set at about 50 psi hot at 2000 rpm. Oil delivery channels in the Rover block and pump housing were left stock dimensions. The rope oil seal in the Buick front cover was replaced with a press-in neoprene seal. The Rover pan did include a windage tray that was retained as was the stock oil pickup. Using the 300 crank required modifying the flywheel as follows to accommodate using the stock Rover/TR8 5 speed gearbox and bellhousing. The Rover flywheel ring gear was retained and installed on a remachined surface on a Chevy Nova flywheel. This flywheel has an offset toward the block that made it easy to reposition the starter ring back into its original relationship with the starter. No starter mods were needed. The machined surface on the flywheel was left about .030 larger than i.d. of the Rover ring gear. The ring gear was heated in an oven at 450 degrees for an hour then shrink cooled onto the flywheel with no other means of retaining. The clutch disk side of the flywheel has a stepdown where the clutch disk mates. The step was machined off and the remaining groove in the flywheel surface was left. The stock Rover/TR8 clutch disk diameter ends at the groove and does not affect clutch performance. One of the flywheel-to-crank mounting holes was relocated (enlarged) about 1/8 inch to mate with the corresponding thread in the crank. The stock Rover clutch cover mates perfectly with the Nova mounting holes. The three clutch cover locating pins must be redrilled. The 300 crank/Nova flywheel combo results in the flywheel clutch surface extending into the Rover/TR8 bellhousing an additional .200 in. from stock. There is adequate clearance inside the bellhousing to accommodate the flywheel/clutch cover combo with no interference and the hydraulic clutch actuation mechanism (slave cylinder, pivot pin, throwout arm, throwout bearing, etc) needs no modification.

The engine components were fully balanced by ABC Machine Shop using the stock Buick 300 harmonic damper and appropriate drillings in the flywheel for external balance. I was lucky enough to find a TR8 in one of the Bay Area self service junk yards--needless to say I stripped it from bumper to bumper. This find shortened the install process immensely by using stock components vs fabricating many brackets, motor mounts, and other fasteners. I did not change to power steering as the increased front end weight is minimal and steering is not really much affected. The Lucas alternator was discarded in favor of a GM 78 amp unit. Since just the radiator fans draw some 32 amps when running at high speed (80 amps on startup) a 100 amp unit probably would not be over-kill for an A/C equipped car in hot climates. For a couple of months I had both fans running at high speed any time they came on and they slowly cooked a 68 amp alt. The distributor has 12 volts supplied through a relay that is energized from the ignition switch lead for the old distributor. This is probably overkill since I later measured only 2-3 amps consumption by the distributor. There is some interference between the dist housing and block at the front intake manifold hold down bolt. The bolt can be replaced with a oval head or hex head and/or the dist housing can be relieved slightly. There is just enough clearance for the sparkplug wires to clear the hood (touch lightly).

You can also use a Buick water pump and I even mounted a flex fan on the water pump to assist air flow in the engine compartment when radiator fans are not running. The radiator was custom built from a Saab (as I remember-checked out a lot of rad's). It has a high fin density and is a 3 core unit. It was already the right height and only had to cut about 3 inched off the length on the radial arm saw (50 tooth carbide blade) and resolder the end plate. Slightly reshaped the end tanks from a bad TR8 radiator and soldered them on. Used the stock TR8 mounting position for the radiator and stock electric fans wired in a low speed(series)/high speed(parallel) configuration based on radiator temp (180) and high speed if block temp exceeds 190.
I have been driving the engine for some 18 months and 37K miles with the following problems showing up.
At about 8K miles the #3 exhaust valve spring broke( yes they were the original '64 Buick springs) so I replaced them with aftermarket springs that at installed/compressed height have spring pressures of 95/200 lb.
At 18 K one of the bolts holding the even bank rocker arm assembly stripped out (increased spring pressure?) allowing some flexing and eventual breakage of the rocker arm shaft before I could get it home in commute traffic. I re-tapped the hole to the next larger metric size and reused one of the Rover shafts. I was very disappointed with this shaft breaking because I was lucky enough to find two NOS 300 Buick shafts to put the beefier Rover/TR8 rockers on and now have to go back to a used shaft. That's life!

The last 21K miles have been problem free as far as the engine rebuild/conversion goes--had to recondition a throttle position potentiometer that had worn through the resist compound and was causing a slight flat spot when running at steady throttle pressure. Also replaced the ignition module in the GM distributor (yeah it was used too), it would tend to quit entirely for about a half second on really hot days.
Of course, considerable time has been spent tweaking engine timing (currently 10 deg BTDC) and choice of sparkplugs. I would like to experiment with advancing cam timing some 2 to 4 degrees but it is such a pain to do. I don't have verified specs but, 0-60 mph seems in the 5.5-6 sec range. The engine winds 6000 easily and still has significant "set you back in the seat power" when accelerating from 100 mph. I estimate top speed to be 150-160 mph.
One thing is for sure--it is a kick to drive and it gets 20 mpg in commute traffic. I can't wait for the next rebuild, maybe bore and re-sleeve it to 5.0 liter!

Manoman....you sure seem to know a lot about rebuilding engines and restoration projects.  Sure wish I had learned more about mechanics at a earlier age.

Had a lot of old cars over the years but the only one I
held onto was this 1969 Ford LTD with a 429-4V. I bought
it from the original owner a retired North Carolina
State Trooper for $800.00 in 1991 after years of talking
him down from $4800.00. When I bought it it was running
on 6 cylinders because of two bad plugs. He had a full set
of new plugs but only let me have 2 to get it running right.
Every other car he had left had the GM 5/8 plugs in them.
Tightwad  ;D
The second one a 1977 Chevrolet Monza 2+2 came out with
a 305 2 Barrel. Gave $2100.00 for it in 1986 The guy I bought
it from took a 1969 350 LT1 engine bored it 30 over and put
TRW 13.1 pistons it over with a Crower cam. 350 Turbo with a
shift kit. Fastest car I ever owned. At 55 mph I could pull it
down into 2nd gear and ease the throttle to the floor and it
would tear the tires up. Better judgement made me sell it
before I got in trouble.
(https://i.postimg.cc/KYzhQGrz/1898247_722787491140654_5638213814343391941_n.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/WdQy1PyL)
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Yep, I got addicted to these for quite a while but all of mine were 88 Formulas, never had any engine oil pressure issues but, we did a bunch of different drivetrain swaps.   Four cylinders to V6s, V6s to V8s, you name it, if we could figure out a way to swap one, we tried it.   Over the 15 years I had Fieros, there were as many as nine on my property at one time.   My total count was 22 Pontiac Fieros.   Kind of miss the last one, we dropped a 3800 Supercharged engine coupled to a 5 speed manual.   Was a blast to drive and there wasn't much it didn't leave at the traffic lights.

After my last one left, I missed not having a fun car to drive so, I went and bought another (no longer produced) Pontiac Solstice convertible.   I love driving it and will most likely keep it until I can't drive any longer.   It's just a 4 cyl. 5 speed car for cruising.   But, have considered a turbo upgrade just for grins and giggles.  ;)

Rams

At one point I had 4 TR&'s and a TR6 that were destined for restoration except one......it had a chevy 350 with 4 barrel and auto trans....i would go like crazy straight line but turning corners/curves sucked!!!!!

At 16 I took a 69 Galaxy XL with a 429 Cobra Jet for a test drive.

A thunderstorm hit and the car hydroplaned.

I managed to bash in all 4 corners while bouncing off of a bridge.

It came back to the dealer on a hook.

The salesman was livid, until my brother (the one I always called when i was in a jam) pointed out to them that the car had 4 bald tires and a fresh inspection sticker.

They changed their tune when he threatened to call the state police.


A friend of mine in high school had a Monza 2+2, if I remember correctly his came from the factory with a 305 CI engine.

Still it was a fast car and it stuck to the road pretty well in the turns.