i was just reading in one of the forums about the older 3.8'*, and it got me thinking about my first car - an 82 cutlass supreme with the old skool 3.8 rwd (oh yeah, it had that screamin 2 barrel carb). by my current 3800'* standards, it really didn't hold a candle, but i loved that car. just gobs of torque (even though it'* way less than what i have now, it just felt like you could pull a semi with it), and super fun to drive.
*sniff* bought it used from a dealership that wanted it off their lot. It had been owned by one old lady, and at 19 years old only had 62,000 miles on it. The interior was bar none perfect, except for the headliner (which soon got replaced). every time i think about that car, it brings back fond memories.
*sniff*
it'* the car i learned how to wrench on.
it'* the car i learned how to swap out a headliner on.
it'* the car i almost completely stripped a spark plug hole out of (and that was in the block)
it'* the car i stripped the fuel inlet nut on the carb.
it'* the car that i broke a wratchet on while trying to swap out the fuel pump.
it'* the car i learned how to change valve seals on, and learned the importance of only putting valve seals on valves that had them in the first place.
*sigh*

may she rest in peace. in my mother'* yard. threw a rod at 80 some thousand miles. very sad.

anyhew, just got thinking about it a little bit.

anyone else have some car that they're dealy fond of that'* passed away?

matt

My dad'* GN. We had to get rid of it years ago. I wish I could have driven it.

16lbs of sweet sweet boost, and I can't drive it.

when it'* all said and done, thinking back, the best thing i ever did for that car was the headliner. it cost only like 40 bucks for the kit from some online store, and several (i think about 8 ) hours of my time.

but when i was done, it was a completely different car on the inside - i couldn't believe the difference. the headliner had always dropped to just above my head (i'm short, but some of my taller passengers complained), so i really wasn't in too much of a hurry to get it fixed. but the first time i had everything back in place, i was in shock. absolute shock.

anyhew, back to your regularly scheduled lives...

matt

This isn't really the same, but after my dad died we have to give back his 2000 VW Jetta VR6. It was hard to watch that peppy lil German being towed away...

Two, actually.

First, my dad'* 1970 C20 Pickup. It had a special order factory installed 396, split rim wheels, green interior and white exterior, with a long bed. That thing could lay down some rubber. At only eight mile per gallon, my dad gave it away to a fellow medical student in need back in 1981 or 82. It was one of the first vehicles my dad taught me to drive (back in 1977). I didn't get my license until I was old enough--1984. I used to "help" my dad turn wrench on it. At the time, I was small enough to sit in the engine bay and hand him tools. That is where my dad and I bonded. We have been close ever since (even though he lives on the west coast).

The other was my 1969 VW Bug. That was my first car--handed down from my German Grandfather to my Puerto Rican dad (father-in-law to son-in-law transfer), to his brother (my Uncle), back to my father, then to my sister (who wrecked it several times--she couldn't drive a car with a manual transmission), back to my father, offered to my brother--who wouldn't accept it after my sister made it look ugly, and finally given to me after the very tired engine finally gave up (over 300,000 miles--using a quart of oil every fill-up, and nearly zero compression). I swapped out my first engine and did numerous repairs -- few of which were to the body. Then I couldn't wait till I had my license. I took that car everywhere. When my folks moved to California, I had to leave it back in Michigan. I left it at a relative'* house to sell. They were tired of it sitting in their yard, so they sold it for $25.00 and pocketed the money as a storage fee. I learned how to drive a stick shift on that car at the tender age of 11. My dad would take us out on a country road and park it on a hill. He would then let by brother and me take turns starting it up and driving it up the rest of the hill. We really did learn pretty fast how not to stall it out.

There have been countless other cars that I have owned and loved, but no one wants to read a novel.

My mom'* 88 Chevy Nova...it didn't die, but it was sold for 500 bucks.

Every time I see an 88 Nova (are they all sky blue like that?) I wonder if she'* still on the road somewhere...

I'm gonna get a lot of eyerolls for this one, but I miss the tractors and the farm. Our family sold out of farming last February.

--Christine :(

My first car...metallic light blue '80s VW rabbit...*sniff*
My brother and his friends did sort of give it a re-birth when they turned it into their school'* solar car and took I think third place in the "Tour de Sol" one year...
but now it'* a parts car I think...

My first car was a 89 ford probe gt, 2.2L intercooled turbo 5spd. I bought it last year for 2200 dollars with 33K miles on it. That was my first 5spd i had, the first car i actually raced, worked on, etc. If I wouldn't had a probe I wouldn't have 2 friends that I have now and my current job. That car brings alot of memories and emotions but thats all past now. Every time I hear a blow of valve my probe comes into my mind. I sold the car for 800 dollars and bought a 2001 ford focus zx3 that got stolen 5 months later and till now never recovered.

My parents at one time had this little 1987 (or something) Mazda 626. I think that little thing would run forever...I kinda miss it because now I think I could mod it out and make it look really cool (but probable really ricey too). I was going to look for one of those before I decided to take over the Bonne.