I love cars. I love love love them. Someday, I hope to work in the automotive industry, but I hate math, so engineering's out, and I'm not very good at drawing, so design probably is too. So it might have to just be a hobby, something to keep me sane after a day at the office or whatever.
Regardless, right now, the objects of my affection are '60s American "compacts." I saw a 1964 Mercury Comet convertible on eBay a few weeks ago and it had me breaking my piggy bank, looking under couch cushions, and checking my trade-in value on Edmunds to see if there'd be any way I could swing the Buy-It-Now price of $10,500. She was black with red bucket seats and white top, and a little red pinstripe tattoo running down the side and back of the car. 289 V8, 4-speed manual transmission, unassuming steel wheels with chrome hubcaps. I could just see myself, cruising over to Sonic, my friends piled in and waiting for those delicious slushes and milkshakes, with some Jack Johnson or Ke$ha playing on the radio (You never know what the mood of the car will be. Make sure your music's prepared.) (That could totally be a slogan for iTunes).
I'm also totally into Ford Falcons, Chevy Corvairs and Dodge Darts. Like I said, those older American compacts really have me going. But then, there will always be a place in my heart for the 1963 Buick Riviera. Mine would be silver with a black leather interior. And my garage will always have a small space set apart for when I come across the perfect MG-TC roadster at the perfect price.
This is going to be a regular segment, I think. Cars are probably the only things that can effectively compete with queer-mo for my attention, so it's only fitting that they get some brainlove too...
Not the exact car, but you get the idea...
Ok I'm super late to this party but I want a corvair sooooo bad. Have you read the book Engines of Change by Paul Ingrassia? Great book and the Corvair figures prominently with a very interesting twist.
ReplyDeleteI'm a gearhead too, so we have that in common.
Not to be petty, but if you were a real gearhead you'd have gotten the Golf R or a Passat TDI 6-speed instead of the DSG. A manual-transmission apologist never forgets... :P
DeleteI'll have to check out that book! I know the second-gen Corvairs fixed almost all of the handling problems Nader bitched about, so it's a dang shame that customers didn't forgive them. They're way too cool and I'd love a 66 Corvair sedan or convertible!
Ah yes, I should have known YOU of all people would bring that up. That Golf R was mighty tempting. Even now I do the "what if" thing. But then I do that every time I buy a car. I love the Passat, there are just times when the idea of that Golf R is sooo appealing. If only I could have had both...but then that's the story of my life.
DeleteAs for the 6-speed in the Passat, I would have loved that but: (1) good luck finding one - no one wants to shift for themselves these days, and (2) the SEL top-of-the-line version which I really wanted could not be had with one at any price. Grrrr....
I had a 6-speed 2004 Acura TL that I loved. That thing was a rocket and had one of the sweetest shifters I've ever driver. Someday I will have a manual again. The new GTI is appealing.
That book has a long discussion of the Corvair, Nader and the impact of the car. One of the most interesting car-related pieces I have ever read.