sorry i just droped out, power for several blocks went out, so no computer
until i got home.
too bad kyle a mustang with the 289 shelby (4 duces and the racing cam) was
my dream car. never got it. we were too poor to pay attention. and i
remember the vega. not one of gm's better models. my dad drove a studebaker
for a while i though the hawk model would have been cool, but dad went with
the 6 cylinder instead.


-----Original Message-----
From: Cleveland, Kyle E.
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: 6/3/2002 3:24 PM
Subject: Re: first cars,  how fun  , a little long.

My first was a '65 Mustang.  I saved a long time for that car bacsue I
was
the youngest in my class--I could get a job long before I was old enough
to
get a license.  I worked in a chemical factory after school, 40
hours/week
in the summers, and saved every penny.  I made $4.50 an hour when the
minimum wage was $1.5, so I was "rich".  My friend's dad owned the local
Ford dealership and he save back this Mustang for me while I made
"payments".  I payed it off ($450) about the same time I got my license.

It was strictly "stock" when I got it--289 V8.  I burned the engine up
pretty quick by running it without exhause manifolds (made a real loud
exhaust).  I lied and told my Dad that the oil plug had fallen out of
the
oil pan, so I needed to buy a new engine.  I still had plenty of cash,
but I
wanted something hotter than a 289.

Lo and behold, my Dad's boss (Dad worked for the same chemical co. I did
until we moved to Ohio) had a son who was in to hot cars.  The kid was
about
25 and spoiled rotten.  The old man had bought him a Lotus Europa, which
he
wrecked within a month.  When I found out that the engine was still
good, I
badgered my dad to ask his boss to sell me the engine out of the car.
The
beast had a 351 Cleveland with 2 staged 4-bbl carbs.  Neither my dad or
his
boss had any clue that this engine was designed by Shelby himself, so
the
boss said I could have the motor for free (I had my dad snowed into
thinking
I was a responsible driver.  Can you believe that?).

Anyway, we had to cut the shock towers to drop this think in my Mustang
and
then beef-up the front springs because it was so heavy.

I drove this car until I was a freshman in college.  One day, my dad
(who
had never driven the car) decides to take it out for a "bread and milk"
run.
To this day I can't beleive my dad was so dumb as not to know this was a
"muscle car".  Anyway, he gets down to the 7/11 and keeps stalling it
out
because he didn't know how to use the "competition clutch".  He got mad,
floored it, popped the clutch and the front end lifted up so far that he
had
no steering.  Drove off the road, down a culvert and into the roof of a
telephone "switch house".  The car was totalled.

I was furious, so he said he'd buy me a brand-new car to make up for it.
I
was still pissed, but I figured a new car was better than a 12 year-old
car.
Next day I came home to find a brand, new Vega in the drive.   I
actually
cried!  I think I got 50K miles out of it before the engine completely
siezed.  Just before it died, I was burning one quart of oil for every
tank
of gas!

True story.  Not as good as yours, Ken, but true story.

-----Original Message-----
From: Barber, Kenneth L. [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Monday, June 03, 2002 2:33 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: first cars, how fun , a little long.


i guess thare are advantages to that too. my problem is when i do find
an
honest mechanic, i go to them exclisivly until all of a sudden they get
transfered and replaced by a crook. then i have to try to find another
honest one.

-----Original Message-----
From: BG Greer, PhD [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Monday, June 03, 2002 2:22 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: first cars, how fun , a little long.


My first car was a '54 Chevy BelAir. Now we lease two Saturns with
bumper to
bumper warranties. We have not found an honest mechanic in Memphis,
ever.
Now, when something goes wrong it's Saturn's problem.

Bobby