Tuesday, January 17, 2006

Overview of cars


These are the cars we've had in my family. I drove all but the first three cars. I was given the Peugeot 504 and the Peugeot 404 forward are the historic cars I've bought over the last few years. Krista sold the '66 Fury III to her lawn boy and I am currently driving 1968 Chrysler New Yorker. The rest are no longer extant.
CarCar Color/NameA few memories...
Family Cars
1965 Chevrolet Impala
Our car in India, driven by Aziz. This was a rare sight in Hyderabad with its triple round tail lamps. Now the car has become quite collectable in America.
1968 Mercedes
Bought in Europe 1969, stacked headlamps, power sunroof. Classic white exterior with blue interior featuring the classic Mercedes nubby pattern. Headlamps came out in stalks, which eventually rusted.
1970 Plymouth Fury III Wagon
Family wagon, huge! That classic 'fuselage' style Plymouth look for the 1970's. With the third set of seats in the back that faced backwards and the gate that would fold down or open like a door.
1975 Jaguar XJ6
Bought it in '76, a beauty, when it ran. Excellent for road trips... dual gas tanks, full leather interior. Jaguar called the unique color of this car sand green.
1978 Oldsmobile StarfireOscar
The kids car, named Oscar. The one I shared with my sister Liz. I hadn't seen this kind of car much in the last 10 years and a few months ago I saw one parked in front of my apartment. This one was hilarious though, same color as our old one, but with the full redneck power pack on it... a giant blower as tall as the car coming out of the hood and tires about 2 feet wide on the back!
1979 Peugeot 504Lillian
I talked the family into getting this car we named Lillian. I was given it 12 years later. Demi luxury car, power for the front but not for the back. The back had to hold up the door handles to lock, but not the front. Dual carb, manual sunroof, strangest trunk lock configuration ever.
Cars I Bought
1968 Peugeot 404
I found this on a lot in the south end for $100! It had indestructibly comfortable seats and a sunroof. Had a slot in the front bumper for crank starting.
1967 Imperial LeBaronUmberto
The biggest, most luxurious piece of steel made in America in 1967. Four ashtrays and four lighters, all windows including vent windows were power. 6-way power seat, tilt and telescoping steering wheel, air suspension in the back (you could use the air hose at the gas station to lift the rear of your car, for heavy loads.)
1967 Chrysler New YorkerCarlo Carra
I flew to Columbus to pick up this car after I read about it in an Auto Trader magazine. The owner told me before I drove it off that it was really a race car in disguise as a 4-door. Scorching 440-V8 engine, plus real stylish hood and excellent tail lamps.
1966 Plymouth Fury IIIJade
Stacked Headlamps are back, a beauty in Jade green. One of the reasons I bought this car is my long attachment to stacked headlamps, started with our 68 Mercedes. Now since the two companies have merged, these cars are distant cousins!
1968 Chrysler 300Rustle
The best of the golds, hidden headlamps, concave body panels, plus the return of the 440 V-8 engine. This is my first 2-door fastback. Power windows, 6-way power bench seat, tilt and telescoping steering wheel.
1962 Crown ImperialEduardo

Oh my. The ult. Finally got the car that all of these were leading up to. Found this online at AutoTrader Online, it was in Valley Station, a 20 minute drive south west from the city. I've got some pictures (4-22-99) of me and my beauty!

1968 Chrysler New YorkerBeverly
I found this number stranded in Southern Indiana. Under 54,000 miles & I'd never seen a two-door two-tone beauty like this from the late sixties before. It was the brother-in-law of the wife of the bass player in a house band where I worked whose jalope it was.

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