12 Comments

Fun read, Matt. I just recently bought a 1989 Toyota van with four-wheel drive. I haven't really loved a car like this in a long time. The last couple that I have had are modern affairs that lock when you leave them and get great mileage and have no performance issues, where is this one has almost 300,000 mi on it and requires me to be constantly thinking of it while I drive. It reminds me of my very first car, a 1972 Volkswagen bus that my dad had bought new from the lot. I don't have any pictures of that one.

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Sounds awesome, J. There’s something nice about actually having to think about your car ... to know it. Also, driving older cars takes a lot more focus and attention, which can meditative in a way. Newer cars, to me, are so driver-friendly that they take zero skill. I get bored.

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Fun read. I wish I had pics of all my cars. First was a 1967 Dodge 440 Magnum monster machine. Then came a string of 1963-1967 Corvettes. And a bunch of others including a hopped-up Jeep CJ that could do wheelies all day long. Fun stuff.

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Wow, David! That is quite the lineup. Cars are great fun. And great ways to make memories all alone or with others. As much as I try to resist their pull, I'm always brought back. I recently picked up yet ANOTHER Miata, which I'm thoroughly enjoying.

Thanks so much for reading and for your comment. Have a great week and weekend :)

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Miata's are fun. Way back when I had a Triumph TR7 and an MG. Those were fun to drive. On the other end of the spectrum, my latest car a few years ago was a fully restored 1955 Ford Crown Victoria I picked up at auction. Beautiful car. BUT, I eventually realized I couldn't really tinker with it because it was fully restored to original. I ultimately sold it for that reason and don't have anything right now. Sad.

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Really fun to read. Makes me think back yo my cars… first one being an AMC Hornet for $300.00. After living in Lake Tahoe for 7 months upon graduating college, I was broke and needed transportation to get to work. It did the trick- but was a real clunker. I was happy to have a car!

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Oh man I love hearing car stories like this! Sounds like a little tank, its imperfections making it all the more of a miracle that it continued to chug along, and in Lake Tahoe no less -- at elevation and with snow!

It's funny how cars become such unforgettable aspects (markers, even) of our lives. Thanks for sharing this one. Cheers to every $300 car out there that did their jobs -- or are still doing them -- admirably.

Have a great week and weekend :)

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Love the "life story in cars". You should read my friend Melissa Stephenson's memoir Driven. It's a similar angle and a great read.

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I'll have to look into it! It's fun to think of life using our cars are various markers or waypoints. Love them or hate them, they are a central part of life as an American.

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Love this.

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Thanks, Josh! Appreciate you.

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Impressive portfolio of cars past! Had an S2000 for 4 wonderful years. Would love a Miata, but looking like 3-row SUVs are in my future before I ever get another me-car.

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