This story brings back so many memories of the cars, trucks, and vans I have owned and loved. From the 1965 Ford Galaxy 500 that was my first car (my parents gave it to me while I was in high school, they used to store horse feed in it) to the 2014 Dodge Grand Caravan I now drive ( inherited it from my wife when I bought her a new truck). So thanks for bringing back all those great memories.
Without meaning to, you pointed out something I'd never noticed. All of the cars I mentioned with the exception of the Roadster were part of my first marriage. My first wife didn't appreciate horsepower so stayed away from the cars. It's probably just as well I don't have any of them right now as my current wife would never let me drive them as she's a horsepower fan and I'd spend too much time bailing her out. Her current car, a late model Maxima had 330 hp and she keeps saying she needs more. Did I mention she's a red head?
The only car that I regret selling is a Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.3-16. When Mercedes decided to build the 190E, the "Baby Benz," they wanted to make sure that buyers didn't think MB was going down-market. So, they built an "economy car" that was hell for stout, way, way over-engineered, one that really fit their motto "The best or nothing at all." To add to that cred, they wanted to go racing. Originally they wanted to rally a version of the 190, and had Cosworth (yep, THAT Cosworth) design heads that turned a 2.3L, 8 valve, 136 hp "economy" engine into a Cosworth with 16 valves (hence the car's name: 190E 2.3-16) putting out 320 hp! But, Audi came out with their Quattro that year, immediately killing off any competition that didn't have 4WD. So, MB asked Cosworth to detune the engine to 183 hp to go racing in the DTM (German Touring Car Championship series). The engine also had lots of trick parts (lighter but stronger pistons is one I recall) and a Getrag dogleg 5-speed manual transmission (back when 4 forward was considered a gracious plenty). They tweaked the aero, brakes, and suspension, too. Only problem was, DTM regs required homologation. So, MB made a bunch of these race cars and sold them for road use, just 5 in 1983, and about 2400 in 1984. It all evolved later into the Evo. Anyway, MB absolutely cleaned up in the DTM, and the road car was...something that could get you into a lot of trouble. I bought mine as a second owner. A buddy of mine is an MB mechanic who had tended to a 2.3L-16 until its original owner passed. The widow asked him to sell it to "an enthusiast" and so he did. Man, what a car - lots of power, flat torque curve, fantastic handling and brakes. Just my daily commute was fun, and weekends driving out to the airport, well, like I said, that car could get you into trouble. I finally had to sell it, though, as our circumstances changed and my wife just hated that Getrag tranny (even though she's a great stick driver). Admittedly, it could be a real slog in Atlanta traffic with the heavy clutch and stiff shifting. So, I sold it to another "enthusiast" who then restored it. Last I heard, it's living a pampered, weekends-only existence up north of the perimeter. Still, I wish it was in my driveway instead of his garage!
I bought a 1952 MG-TD for $500 in 1965, drove it for 18 months in Colorado (!) including two winters (try that with wooden floorboards with holes cut out for the pedals and a windshield wiper that works better in "manual"). I then put another 400 into a new exterior paint job, and sold it in 1967 for the unheard-of price of $1,800, which financed my escape to California. 10 years later I walked into the Sacramento Sports Car Club Show and saw three that weren't as original as mine, with asking prices of $25K+!!!!
Just the fact that you drove it that long in Colorado. Not a lot of HP for that altitude. I've ALWAYS like TDs. Actually, like TCs too. Very classic, yet utilitarian lines and machinery.
I'm a Mini man at heart. First car I owned at 17, and after 15 of them over the years, the current one will be last car I own. It a 2000 BMW built Knightsbridge. One of the last few hundred built before they switched to the new MINI ( not a Mini at all) . I am old enough now to know not to sell it.All my other cars were really just transportation .....well except for the 96 Acura NSX, I let go....stupid me.
I've had 2 of the Gen 1 Beemer MINI's. I found them to be great fun, reliable, good mileage, and handle like nothing else I've driven. The 2nd had suspension mods and was stiff, and the wife almost refused to ride in it.
Sold it the beginning of the year after a 3500mi trip in her RAV4. Good SUV but not built for a full size American.
Bought a '17 Caddy ATS with a 2.0T. Been impressed with it so far. Actually gets better mileage than the MINI and is PDQ.
Last year I saw something on Bring a Trailer.com I didn't know existed: A Cad Escalade with a 5 speed stick from the factory!!! People bid like crazy on it!
Back in 2016 when I was shopping for a nice sports car, I had an opportunity to buy an NXS which I really wanted. But during the test drive I realized I just didn't fit in it; with the seat all the way back, my head touched the roof headliner and there was no way to avoid that and maintain a proper seating position. Broke my heart to walk away from it, but I ended up getting my first Mustang GT convertible, a 2008 model which I loved. I sold that to start building my RV-8 and eventually replaced it with the 2014 model I have now.
In all other respects I did fit. But I would have either had to move the seat forward or recline the seat further back, both of which spoiled my ergonomics. At rest, my head was just barely touching, but every bump translated to a bump on the top of my head. I knew I wouldn't be able to tolerate that.
‘66 tripower GTO, ‘68 SS/RS396 Camaro(stolen), ‘69 Impala SS427, Mom’s ‘64 Grand Prix, Mom’s 421 ‘65 Bonneville. And then there was the 289 Cobra my friend from school offered to sell me for $10k, I didn’t have the money…
I once test-drove a used Tri-Power GTO that was scary fast when the engine decided to cooperate, but it was a ratty car that needed a lot of sorting out, so I passed on it. When my older brother passed his Bar exams and got his first job as a lawyer he celebrated by buying a GTO. That car disappeared under mysterious circumstances; I'd heard some pretty wild stories of what may have happened to it (stolen at knifepoint by a hooker?!) but my brother always denied them. But then, he was a lawyer, so of course he knew when to manipulate the truth.
I had a 1966 MGB and a 1975 L82 Corvette. I sold both for more than i paid for them brand new.However today? Lord have mercery ? However what we don't realize is the cost of keeping those cars alive and insurance plus storing them? can really out weigh the profit. However nothing is more fun!
BMW built it but it is the the classic original version,but with 13 ' wheels (original had 10") and has taller gear ,an air bag, throttle body injector, electronic ignition and adjustable suspension. So yes it is a better highway version then the original .The later model BMW MINI's are a completely different car and not considered a mini except by name.
Budd, I still have my ‘36 Ford Street Rod, come August I will have owned it 50 years! I purchased it with no engine but it had a Lincoln Zephyr transmission, as you may remember they had better gear ratios-supposedly the hot ticket back then. Someone had converted it to juice brakes and it had a dropped front axle.
Of course I sold all of that stuff eventually, being young and foolish!
I might bring it down here to Phoenix next winter.
You and I traded car stories for hours; you know about the '67 XKE that I let go for $6500 (my biggest foolish sale), which is why you were kind enough to share your friend's Jag restoration shop with me. I wish I still had the '73 Ford station wagon that carried me and all my belongings from Michigan to California, in which I had an accident the same day I moved into my first apartment. I also really wish I'd found a way to hang on to the '69 Mercury Marquis station wagon that I hot-rodded by stripping off the wood grain, applying rattle-can camo paint and having the stock 429 engine built into a fearsome 460 that I loved. I drove it until that engine wore out every other component of the car. I pulled the engine and scrapped the rest, another foolish mistake. Amy really misses the '69 VW Fastback that was her first car in CA. She had to sell it when her sudden disability required all of her vehicles to have hand controls. I've offered many times to find an automatic model that we could convert, but she wisely sticks with newer, more reliable vehicles. There have been so many others I could type for hours, but these are the important ones... and don't get us started on motorcycles, right? I currently have my second Mustang GT convertible and I'll never let it go. Still hope to find another Ford station wagon in which I can install a modern drivetrain and turn into an ideal towing vehicle. I know where my old Jag is; it now resides in Texas. I'd need to win the lottery to get it back now. So many dreams, so few dollars... and so many other unforeseen priorities. I'm really glad you still have the hot rod and the banger. I was grateful we found the time to go over both of them in detail; I really enjoyed that and will treasure my photos of them forever.
This story brings back so many memories of the cars, trucks, and vans I have owned and loved. From the 1965 Ford Galaxy 500 that was my first car (my parents gave it to me while I was in high school, they used to store horse feed in it) to the 2014 Dodge Grand Caravan I now drive ( inherited it from my wife when I bought her a new truck). So thanks for bringing back all those great memories.
Without meaning to, you pointed out something I'd never noticed. All of the cars I mentioned with the exception of the Roadster were part of my first marriage. My first wife didn't appreciate horsepower so stayed away from the cars. It's probably just as well I don't have any of them right now as my current wife would never let me drive them as she's a horsepower fan and I'd spend too much time bailing her out. Her current car, a late model Maxima had 330 hp and she keeps saying she needs more. Did I mention she's a red head?
:-)
330hp - that’s wild! I had no idea.
Nissan V6 with 6speed automatic. I'm impressed with it.
bd
Great article, Budd! Sorry, this gets long...
The only car that I regret selling is a Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.3-16. When Mercedes decided to build the 190E, the "Baby Benz," they wanted to make sure that buyers didn't think MB was going down-market. So, they built an "economy car" that was hell for stout, way, way over-engineered, one that really fit their motto "The best or nothing at all." To add to that cred, they wanted to go racing. Originally they wanted to rally a version of the 190, and had Cosworth (yep, THAT Cosworth) design heads that turned a 2.3L, 8 valve, 136 hp "economy" engine into a Cosworth with 16 valves (hence the car's name: 190E 2.3-16) putting out 320 hp! But, Audi came out with their Quattro that year, immediately killing off any competition that didn't have 4WD. So, MB asked Cosworth to detune the engine to 183 hp to go racing in the DTM (German Touring Car Championship series). The engine also had lots of trick parts (lighter but stronger pistons is one I recall) and a Getrag dogleg 5-speed manual transmission (back when 4 forward was considered a gracious plenty). They tweaked the aero, brakes, and suspension, too. Only problem was, DTM regs required homologation. So, MB made a bunch of these race cars and sold them for road use, just 5 in 1983, and about 2400 in 1984. It all evolved later into the Evo. Anyway, MB absolutely cleaned up in the DTM, and the road car was...something that could get you into a lot of trouble. I bought mine as a second owner. A buddy of mine is an MB mechanic who had tended to a 2.3L-16 until its original owner passed. The widow asked him to sell it to "an enthusiast" and so he did. Man, what a car - lots of power, flat torque curve, fantastic handling and brakes. Just my daily commute was fun, and weekends driving out to the airport, well, like I said, that car could get you into trouble. I finally had to sell it, though, as our circumstances changed and my wife just hated that Getrag tranny (even though she's a great stick driver). Admittedly, it could be a real slog in Atlanta traffic with the heavy clutch and stiff shifting. So, I sold it to another "enthusiast" who then restored it. Last I heard, it's living a pampered, weekends-only existence up north of the perimeter. Still, I wish it was in my driveway instead of his garage!
Like I said at the beginning: All of us has automotive regrets of some kind. Yours are more complicated than the rest of us.
bd
I bought a 1952 MG-TD for $500 in 1965, drove it for 18 months in Colorado (!) including two winters (try that with wooden floorboards with holes cut out for the pedals and a windshield wiper that works better in "manual"). I then put another 400 into a new exterior paint job, and sold it in 1967 for the unheard-of price of $1,800, which financed my escape to California. 10 years later I walked into the Sacramento Sports Car Club Show and saw three that weren't as original as mine, with asking prices of $25K+!!!!
Just the fact that you drove it that long in Colorado. Not a lot of HP for that altitude. I've ALWAYS like TDs. Actually, like TCs too. Very classic, yet utilitarian lines and machinery.
bd
My early wild and crazy days (as opposed to the later wild and crazy days).
I identify
I'm a Mini man at heart. First car I owned at 17, and after 15 of them over the years, the current one will be last car I own. It a 2000 BMW built Knightsbridge. One of the last few hundred built before they switched to the new MINI ( not a Mini at all) . I am old enough now to know not to sell it.All my other cars were really just transportation .....well except for the 96 Acura NSX, I let go....stupid me.
Is that the Mini you were transporting north when you and your wife stopped at our place? That was a long time ago.
bd
Yes ! It was the Knightsbridge we were driving home after finding it a collection in Scottsdale.
That's a long haul in a Mini. However, is the BMW version more roadworthy and comfortable?
I've had 2 of the Gen 1 Beemer MINI's. I found them to be great fun, reliable, good mileage, and handle like nothing else I've driven. The 2nd had suspension mods and was stiff, and the wife almost refused to ride in it.
Sold it the beginning of the year after a 3500mi trip in her RAV4. Good SUV but not built for a full size American.
Bought a '17 Caddy ATS with a 2.0T. Been impressed with it so far. Actually gets better mileage than the MINI and is PDQ.
Good info. Thanks!
Last year I saw something on Bring a Trailer.com I didn't know existed: A Cad Escalade with a 5 speed stick from the factory!!! People bid like crazy on it!
bd
Back in 2016 when I was shopping for a nice sports car, I had an opportunity to buy an NXS which I really wanted. But during the test drive I realized I just didn't fit in it; with the seat all the way back, my head touched the roof headliner and there was no way to avoid that and maintain a proper seating position. Broke my heart to walk away from it, but I ended up getting my first Mustang GT convertible, a 2008 model which I loved. I sold that to start building my RV-8 and eventually replaced it with the 2014 model I have now.
It's surprising you didn't fit. You're big but not huge.
bd
In all other respects I did fit. But I would have either had to move the seat forward or recline the seat further back, both of which spoiled my ergonomics. At rest, my head was just barely touching, but every bump translated to a bump on the top of my head. I knew I wouldn't be able to tolerate that.
‘66 tripower GTO, ‘68 SS/RS396 Camaro(stolen), ‘69 Impala SS427, Mom’s ‘64 Grand Prix, Mom’s 421 ‘65 Bonneville. And then there was the 289 Cobra my friend from school offered to sell me for $10k, I didn’t have the money…
You had some admirable, impressive hardware but your mom was definitely no slouch. I love it when horsepower runs in the family!!!
Do you guys have any trips headed this way in the future?
I once test-drove a used Tri-Power GTO that was scary fast when the engine decided to cooperate, but it was a ratty car that needed a lot of sorting out, so I passed on it. When my older brother passed his Bar exams and got his first job as a lawyer he celebrated by buying a GTO. That car disappeared under mysterious circumstances; I'd heard some pretty wild stories of what may have happened to it (stolen at knifepoint by a hooker?!) but my brother always denied them. But then, he was a lawyer, so of course he knew when to manipulate the truth.
Hmmmm...!
I had a 1966 MGB and a 1975 L82 Corvette. I sold both for more than i paid for them brand new.However today? Lord have mercery ? However what we don't realize is the cost of keeping those cars alive and insurance plus storing them? can really out weigh the profit. However nothing is more fun!
We shouldn't apply logic to what is obviously an illogical, largely emotional subject. 'Still with I had my Goat.
bd
Manual Transmission = Millennial Anti Theft Device
A guy I work with said a neighbor in Baltimore woke up to her window being broken but nothing else. Was a stick so they left it!
BMW built it but it is the the classic original version,but with 13 ' wheels (original had 10") and has taller gear ,an air bag, throttle body injector, electronic ignition and adjustable suspension. So yes it is a better highway version then the original .The later model BMW MINI's are a completely different car and not considered a mini except by name.
Your's is the only one I've ever seen!
bd
Budd, I still have my ‘36 Ford Street Rod, come August I will have owned it 50 years! I purchased it with no engine but it had a Lincoln Zephyr transmission, as you may remember they had better gear ratios-supposedly the hot ticket back then. Someone had converted it to juice brakes and it had a dropped front axle.
Of course I sold all of that stuff eventually, being young and foolish!
I might bring it down here to Phoenix next winter.
A coupe? Flathead? Brakes and axles are easy to come by. 36 Fords, not so much.
bd
You and I traded car stories for hours; you know about the '67 XKE that I let go for $6500 (my biggest foolish sale), which is why you were kind enough to share your friend's Jag restoration shop with me. I wish I still had the '73 Ford station wagon that carried me and all my belongings from Michigan to California, in which I had an accident the same day I moved into my first apartment. I also really wish I'd found a way to hang on to the '69 Mercury Marquis station wagon that I hot-rodded by stripping off the wood grain, applying rattle-can camo paint and having the stock 429 engine built into a fearsome 460 that I loved. I drove it until that engine wore out every other component of the car. I pulled the engine and scrapped the rest, another foolish mistake. Amy really misses the '69 VW Fastback that was her first car in CA. She had to sell it when her sudden disability required all of her vehicles to have hand controls. I've offered many times to find an automatic model that we could convert, but she wisely sticks with newer, more reliable vehicles. There have been so many others I could type for hours, but these are the important ones... and don't get us started on motorcycles, right? I currently have my second Mustang GT convertible and I'll never let it go. Still hope to find another Ford station wagon in which I can install a modern drivetrain and turn into an ideal towing vehicle. I know where my old Jag is; it now resides in Texas. I'd need to win the lottery to get it back now. So many dreams, so few dollars... and so many other unforeseen priorities. I'm really glad you still have the hot rod and the banger. I was grateful we found the time to go over both of them in detail; I really enjoyed that and will treasure my photos of them forever.
I feel your pain!!
bd
We are West of you now. We’ve been in Las Vegas since Wednesday. Thank goodness we head home in the morning. I will wave as we pass.
cu