Well.. here is another story from a 52+/- yr. old... using mid-life as an
excuse to have
fun. I bought my '57 TR3 earlier this summer and spent most of the first month
paying tow
trucks to get it back home again. I have never had a car that is just so much
fun to
drive!!!
This purchase was the result of needing a new car (yes.. we *were* looking for
something
practical...Oh well), finding that there were no new cars I liked, and my son
(a recent HS
graduate, natural born mechanic and reason that the Subaru needed replacing)
urging me to
buy what I would *really* want. Little did he know that I would return with a
side draft
SU, positive ground, whitworth infested LBC...rather than a 55 Chev that he
could hop up
and play with.
My love of old cars started when I was 4 or 5 ... my father bought a new '52
Chev. and
gave the '28 Oakland to a farmer to make into a trailer !!!!!. We did keep the
Chevy thru
HS though.
My first vehicle was a '53 BMW R51/3 cycle that I traveled on as a student in
Europe
('69) and still runs beautifully. Others included..'59 VW (lived in for 6 mo.
while
traveling in Europe... sold for 5 lbs at a junk yard in London).. '63 '66
VWs....'62
Willys Wagon (currently in my sons care..IE spread over the garage floor, walls
and
clg..but well on its way back to a new life as a serious off road beast)....'77
Datsun 710
(character car of dubious value..for my daughter in art school)... '86 Subaru
ready for
junk yard and a '96 Geo Metro (the practical one that gets used).
So much for cars, and a little about me.. I went to the U of Illinois, practiced
architecture in Chicago and Seattle for 15 years then started my own studio
doing
architectural renderings for another 15++ years. My wife, Sandy (a weaver and
elementary
school secretary), and I have been together for 24 yrs and have two kids
(nearly on their
own).
I am now back to where I was in HS.. learning again about cars and *really
glad* to find
this list....as this *IS* the only place where I can relearn everything that I
forgot in
the shop class I took 30 years ago. Many thanks to all of you for your help
and
willingness to share your knowledge and experience. I am sure I will continue
to keep you
entertained with dumb questions as I continue my love affair with the TR3.
Thanks, Bill Hook, Seattle, WA
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