What I Saw Today...

[neonsport]

Back in 1986, I was living in Austin, TX, and had a buddy whose stepfather had a series one E-Type roadster. He'd bought it from an enthusiast who was going through a divorce several years earlier. He was afraid to drive the car, so he'd start it a few times a year and warm it up just to make sure it ran. The car was black, with a show quality lacquer job on it. It still had the original (worn) red leather interior in it, but had a complete new interior still in the boxes. It also had a factory hardtop. I inherited about $20k that summer, and heard the roadster was about to be for sale. I went and looked it over, and talked to the stepfather in depth about it. The body was absolutely perfect, and needed nothing but a good cleaning. Knowing a little about old Jags, I knew all the seals in the engine and transmission would need replacing, and the brakes would also need an overhaul. The asking price on the car was $9k, but he was willing to negotiate since I was a friend of the stepson...

Of course, I didn't buy it. Within 6 months, my inheritance was gone, and I had almost nothing to show for it. I also didn't have $3500 in February of 1987 to buy a Plymouth Superbird I'd been lusting after for a few years. It was rough overall, but a one-owner 4 speed car with an Autobahn history. Deals like that just don't pop up like they did back then.

[ARCHINSTL]

Talking about missed opportunities....
Right before I turned 16, back in 1956, a friend's uncle let us guys know he was selling his Ford Coupe for $25, which he had put up on blocks in a dry and secure garage when he went off to the War in 1942 - and there it still was.
We checked it out.
It turned out to be a '38 2-window Coupe with - get this - a rumble seat! It had a huge factory radio mounted above the rear-view mirror - one of the first installed in cars. The body was perfect, the wirewheels were not rusty, and no animals had made their homes in the interior. New tires were do-able, at only about $60 for 4....
However - the V8 (the 85, not the 60) had seized from sitting for 14 or so years. A rebuilt would have been a hundred or so ('member, this was 1956), and Dad said "No!".
I later found out the axles were taken off to mount under trailers (this happened a lot with the pre-'49 Fords), and the car was then scrapped.
This would have been worth a lot nowadays (and even as early as the later '60s).
So I bought my '46 Ford V8 Convertible dog and the adventures began....
Tom M.

[Typrus]

I have a buddy with a 2-door Ford V-8 FlatHead coupe. No rumble unfortunatly. At least I hope he still has it.... I think it was a 42? I'll have to ask him... Jet black, all original, still runs.... Heh.

My dad really wants an "A" Convertible with rumble seat. And a Split-Window Stingray. Both georgeous...
Me? Lamborghini Countach LP5000 Quattrovalvole 25th aniversary edition in either stainless steel grey (Silver?) or DAAAAARK blue. Man....


I still haven't been able to get that 89 MR2... He still has it for sale. Heh... I can't believe his wife won't drop the price at all. $2k stands if I remember right..... Wonder if this will be one of my "Wish I had"s...?

[waynehoc]

So I bought my '46 Ford V8 Convertible dog and the adventures began....

Cool! My very first (on-the-road) vehicle was a '47 Ford coupe with the old flathead V8. I had so much fun with that car, and learned a lot about mechanical stuff - most of it the hard way.

First time I had the engine apart (was only 16 at the time) I didn't know you had to put the pistons and rods all back exactly where they came from - no Internet or library anywhere close back then, and not too much common sense on my part either. When I went to start the engine, it wouldn't turn over. Got my dad to pull me down the road ( with his '55 Monarch 4-door V8 ) and let out the (new) clutch to try and start it. Burnt out a brand new clutch. Was pretty stupid back then - adventurous, but no knowledge or experience. Ended up paying the mechanic at the garage next door to tear it down and put it back together the right way.

I was more than a little crazy driving the coupe, and really abused it - maybe that's why I treat my vehicles so good these days, or, maybe just older and wiser, with a bit of old fogey thrown in.

I became quite expert (and very fast) at changing rear axles and the trans, as I busted up way too many with my abusive driving. But boy, was it fun!