but I did have five blissful uneventful months of SVT motoring, so I fell off the system in that interim.
I'm only writing this to dispel thoughts I might be a dilettante at this gathering.
My last fun car was a clapped-out 2002 brought by my brother from his German-US occupation duties around the VietNam conflict. He shipped to Nam,survived whole, and brought back one of his two cars.
I enjoyed the well-worn bimmer,rebuilt its carbs correctly, installed major bushings,ran it to 113 the night before I kissed it good-bye and put her in callow hands: Sold it to a kid friend who left the head open to the weather while he dealt with paintwork. By the time he got back to the guts, they were all seized, irretrievable.Kids learn, but not always by the least-cost path, yes?
I just wish my brother and his wife had brought back in addition HER ride, an Isetta. They're all getting restored to the nine-and-tens now, so it's hard to find one for a song, so that you could fire it up, go to the corner market, and just freak everyone out, young/old/etc. by opening the nose of the car to exit,using the steering wheel as a doorknob.
For public health, just as well no one here gadsabout in an Isetta: the average Shriner Clownmobile offers better occupant protection, I venture.
janthanj@earthlink.net