My Cars

I've owned a few cars over the years and as best as I can remember, here's the list:

1962 VW Beetle Convertible - Michigan

To be honest, I'm not too sure of the year. What I bought was a partial body. There was no body behind the windshield except for the pan and front seats. The windshield was there and nothing much in front of that. I had some straight pipes welded up from water pipe for the exhaust and some oversized retreads for tires. I never had the title, but sold it back for the $50 I'd paid for it. I used it to run around on the farm. I learned quite a bit from it.

1971 Chevy Nova - Michigan

My first real car. I bought it in high school. It was gray and had a 307CID engine with a three speed on the floor and vinyl interior with bench seats. My parents told me if I let them pick the color and engine they'd help pay for it - they lied. I think the 350 engine which was much better was only about $50 more. I ended up adding some black stripes down the side and an Amoco 8-track with rear deck speakers.

Eventually I jacked up the rear with air shocks and added a glass pack dual exhaust system along with chrome reverse wheels. I tried to add header but couldn't get them to fit, and a couple of experiments with four barrel carbs didn't work out too well either.

1971 Opel GT 1.9L - Michigan

Again, I'm not too sure of the year. This car was a blast. It would do 120 mph and get mileage in the hight 20s. It was also gray and I added some black pin-striping. The headlights were stuck in the upright position. It handled amazing well for someone who was brought up on Chevies and Fords. It took a lot of maintenance. I think the I had the brakes redone twice in the roughly one year I owned it.

1969 VW Fastback - Michigan

One of my lemons. White. It had a fuel injected engine and the injectors kept leaking. I bought it in Michigan during the 70s gas crisis while I was in the USAF. I drove it to Dover and it didn't last too long. Most of the time in Dover it was sitting in the parking lot.

1972 Chevy Nova - Delaware

My only beater. I think (I hope) I only paid a few hundred for this wreck. Pieces would actually fall off as I drove down the road. On one trip, the passenger window collapsed into the door and the driver's side mirror fell off, and something else - never did find it, fell off as well. My USAF roomie almost laughed himself to death, until he almost fell out when the passenger door opened. It's funny, but I don't remember what happened to it in the end.

1975 VW Thing - Delaware

My funnest car. It was originally white and later gained an olive drab paint job. The doors came off, the top folded down and the windshield folded flat. It had a gasoline heater that sounded like a jet engine warming up. I had the VW roll cage mounted and added some aftermarket steel wheels. I also added a brush bar (made of water pipe) to the front and moved the spare to the front as well. I added large backup lights and additional driving lights for the front. I actually coasted the VW Fastback into the dealer's lot as a trade in.

It went to England with me where the engine was replaced. My dad did help pay for a paint job (to olive drab - he wanted gloss and I wanted matte) and a new top. It was showing its age. It was a great off road vehicle but could only get to around 60 mph on the highway. And it was COLD in the winter. This car lasted me ten years! Yes, there was an engine change in those ten years, but still, not bad.

1985 Chevy Cavalier - Colorado

The old Thing was traded in on a new 1985 yellow Chevy Cavalier. This was the best car I've ever owned. In the ten years I drove it, the only problem was the odometer died just after 50,000 miles. It had cruise, no A/C, and a manual transmission. About all I did was change oil. In 1990 I was planning on taking it up to Alaska via the Alcan and took it in for an engine block heater and to have all the hoses and belts replaced. The engine heater popped on the way from the dealer - what a mess, but they fixed it. Finally towards the end, the steering got a bit stiff until it warmed up. I sold it to a neighbor of my dad who wrecked it a couple months later.

1995 Chevy S10 Pickup - Michigan

The worst vehicle I ever owned. It drove nice, when it ran, and I liked the looks and handling, but it was a lemon from day one. I bought it in Michigan while on leave and drove it to Merced, California where I was stationed. The cruise died about half-way there. I got really familiar with the dealer in Merced. The backup lights, radio speakers, under -the-hood light, and driving lights all stopped working at one time or another. While being worked on the dealer's mechanic dropped his tool chest on the front which required the grill to be replaced and the front end repainted. About six months after I bought it, I totaled it at an intersection. A couple of folks helped me put it back right-side up and even though it was totaled, I still drove it over 50 miles back home. I ended up getting sued two years minus one day later too.

1995 Saturn Wagon - Michigan

Just plain basic transport. A bluish green without much to say about it. I bought a wagon, in case I couldn't find a job after finishing the USAF and needed a place to sleep. Actually, that was the same reason for the unlamented pickup. The best part was the no hassle buying. I also liked the plastic body panels and it drove OK. Towards the end of five years, it started to slowly fall apart. So I traded it in on my current vehicle.

2001 New Beetle 1.8L Turbo - Michigan

I have mixed feelings about this car. After a few years of dealer hassles, it's finally running pretty good. The dealer in Bay City, just plain sucks. They fussed with it for 5 years - until past the warranty swapping parts and not accomplishing anything. I love the looks, but yes, the drink holders and sunshades suck. It runs just fine, gets good mileage and can really move along when pushed. There's lots of room with the seat folded down and once fixed, it has been giving great service. I just wish there was another VW dealer nearby. I have started taking it to an independent mechanic who seems to be pretty good. And thus ends the car saga for now...