Gather 'round the campfire yuh young Buckaroos, all you 'ol wrench-hands, and you women-folk with dirt under your nails, and sly smiles....Cause it's story time again.

I was just up to the RX-7 Forum Lounge, and they had this nice post a-goin' 'bout "what was your first car?" Suffice to say, it was pretty good readin'...But it got me to thinkin', then I was smilin', and finally laughin' at mahself...

So anyways, I thought it might amuse you folks if'n I spoke to a few motorin' memories....

You're lookin' down the other side of the hill when you can recall:
Fender Skirts, and twin antennas
Paintin' your girl's name or your favortie song on the rear quarter panel...(Only the Lonely)
Moon hubcaps (Moon equipped)
California Rake (nose down low, rearend up high)
Lake pipes
Cutout exhaust cable operated
Layin' down rubber, peelin' out, leavin' a patch
Three on the tree
Headlight dimmer switch bein' a button on the floorboard
Clear turn lenses WITH clear bulbs behind 'em
Hollywood mufflers
Foot pumped windshield washers
Wipers that automatically slowed down when you went uphill
Suicide ***** (some with partly clad girls on 'em)
Straight weight oil...Winter oil and Summer oil
Drum brakes...All around
Bench Seats
Pushbutton automatic transmissions (some in the steering hub, but usually on the dashboard)
Wide Oval tires, or Goodyear Blue Streaks
Takin' the hubcaps off after you left home for school, for that just got done racin' look. Put 'em back on so mom don't see.
Takin' the airfilter off, so you could listen to the carb hiss and know you had some extra hosses flowin' in...
Riggin' up a tube thru the trunck to drip auto trans fluid onto your rear tire so you could REALLY lay down a mean patch!
The ache in your right shoulder (from havin' your arm up on the seatback) after takin' your girl home from the drive-in movies...Not to mention the other aching parts.
Gas....20 to 25 cents a gallon...
VW boosted engine horsepower from 36 to 40
The State Police ran Dodge 413's
Some of the highways were still paved with brick!

Well, that's enough for now...You all come back another time when we'll talk about some of our scariest, or funniest moments on the road....

Thanx for bein' patient with me,
That 'ol wrenchin' philosopher wearin' that damned Stetson,
Denny....

 

California rake... dimmer switch (YES that's what it's called :-) ) in the floor... bench seats with room for two couples to, uh, sit (yah that's it), big torque and zero traction (who needs burnout spray when you have a big-block?), header dumps... clear turn lenses factory (BEFORE they were rice)...

*cries* Now you made me miss my first car again... :cry:

The best part were the Hurst floor shifter, and the Goodyear white letter tires on stock steel wheels, and dog-dish hubcaps with no trim rings, MAN that looked killer.

I doubt I'll find another T-bird, but '67-69 Cougars seem to be getting plentiful. *cries again* I wish I'd bought that '69 Cougar Eliminator when I had the chance... it had a 351-4V and a 4-speed!

*feels like Foreman on tonight's episode of That 70's Show*

 

Older buddy of mine is looking to get a car. He wants to being back those memories. Lo and behold, what pops up for sale? 1962 Ford T-bird. Mmmm. Sweet lookin too. Needs a bit of work, but looks straight. I'm urgin him to take it.

See, this is what I'm building the garage (See my post in the lounge "Lift or Pit") for. Those days of wrench turnin aren't gone. Rice is a fad for people who wish they knew how to work on engines. All of my buddies are gonna be in that garage workin on cars. One lookin at a 60 something Stingray. Another with an 86 Cougar which we'll find the engine outta a T-Bird turbo coupe or Cougar XR-7. And me with good ol' Puff.

Fun times for all.