I’ve been passing by this collection of CCs not far away for years, and it’s change some with time, but a few months back I decided I needed to finally shoot it. These all belong to the same house, and it’s a pretty eclectic collection. But the big surprise was when a new CC joined the family about a month or so ago. I would never have guessed it, given the US-centric nature of all of them except for the Kia Soul, which I have reason to believe belongs to the wife of the owner of the rest of them.
But let’s check these out first before we get to the surprise addition.
The Dodge conversion van is called “Happy Miler”. I havn’t seen it leave the driveway in all the time I’ve lived here, but maybe once upon a time, or maybe I’ve just missed it. it does look road-worthy.
I’m quite familiar with the blue Cavalier and the brown Dodge van, as I’ve been seeing one or the other every morning as the dog and I walk by our local elementary school two blocks away. My assumption is that he’s the school custodian, based on the cars and where he parks.
The Cavalier is a later version, but even these are starting to get a bit thin on the ground here.
The ’71 (or so) Dodge Maxivan is a survivor, and has been the featured subject of my CC on these extended Dodges.
Bringing up the rear is a Buick Century. Curiously, I’ve never seen it parked at the school, so I’m not sure whether it’s used by another family member or whether it’s not in current use at all. It seems to be here whenever I go by.
I don’t exactly need to show you, do I? The most familiar car shape if you were around in the 80s, and 90s, and the 00s. Maybe one of these days when there’s so few left I’ll be able to appreciate properly. Not yet.
About a month later as I rolled by in the car, I couldn’t believe it: a Jag XJ6! Whoa; that was highly unexpected. And the Buick is gone, at least for the moment. Is it visiting, or here to stay? I got an answer soon.
A day or two later, as doggie and I walked by the school, there it was, parked in the spot reserved for him. And quite a nice specimen, at that. These are starting to get scarce on the streets too. probably picked it up for scratch.
Well, I hope it serves him well. Worst case, if it breaks down on the way to school, he could just walk the rest of the way, as it’s only about 12 blocks from his house.
Woah, I am loving that old Dodge van, which could be as new as a 73. Paint it Top Banana yellow with white sides between the moldings and this would be the van of my best friend’s family that I spent hours and hours in as a teen. The 360 suited those really, really well.
As for the Soul, perhaps that belongs to the nice code enforcement lady? 🙂 Oh wait, this is Eugene and you don’t have to bother with those.
It would not surprise me if the Jag had a Chevy V8 in it. That seems to be what folks do, it and the Chevy trans mate up easy enough.
There is at least 2 of that vintage in columbia and both have Chevy V8 engines in them.
That was my first thought. Since he seems to be a domestic oriented car hoarder, that makes the idea of this English exotic more likely. He could get there mentally if the drivetrain was in his comfort zone. Really nice looking car! Perhaps Paul can sleuth out the engine answer for us.
I’ve never sat in one, driven one, or paid the repair bills for one, but I would LOVE to have a clean example of this generation XJ6. I’ve been watching from afar, too afraid to walk up and introduce myself, too aware of the pain I would be in for.
I briefly owned an early 1970’s XJ6.
Between the manual choke, dual fuel tanks and the Lucas (“The Prince Of Darkness”) electrical system spitting out light, wiper and A/C fuses at the most inopportune times; it didn’t last very long. It got to the point that I was the only one in our extended household that would drive the Jag.
A beautiful car to look at and sit in; not so much a reliable driver.
My Father kept asking me when I was going to sell my ’71 Buick Riviera Gran Sport, the car I thought the Jag would replace. The Buick outlasted several “replacement” cars!
Perhaps it’s Keith, and he moved to Eugene with the CC XJ after swapping the fuel tanks 🙂
That is certainly about the last car I would have guessed as the new addition to that stable, good for him if he can keep it going, possibly it’s been a long-time dream come true.
There is a very good kit from a company in Texas for that upgrade from Jaguar Six to Chevrolet V8 and the TurboHydramatic is a better automatic transmission than the stock Borg Warner, too.
Having driven both the stock XJ6 and the SBC/TurboHydro conversion; the V8 Chevy option would be the only way for me to own one.
I have some friends who are very much into camping. Me, not so much. However, they’re trying their level best to get me to buy a travel trailer, but I hate the idea of a trailer. I’d be stoked with the Happy Miler, that’s the kind of camper I’d like to find. Especially with a 360 or larger.
Alas, all of those kinds of things are long gone in my part of Michigan…
Well since it is a camper seems like a good reason to get a one way ticket to the west coast and drive one home, camping along the way.
THAT would be fantastic. I’d love to tour the West at my own pace, rather than having to be somewhere at a specific time. However, my dream will have to wait for a while.
The last time I checked on pricing on one of those old Dodges (that were capable of driving long distance and camp ready) was in the low $20K to $40K area. Unfortunately (for me) I don’t have the cash for that right now…
Attached is a pic of my dream camper…
The brown Dodge maxi-van reminds me of the one my heedless Father swapped my Mother’s beloved Ford Country Sedan station wagon for; without “consulting” her.
Man, did Dad ever pay for that stupidity-in-action! I do believe this was the start of the “Woman’s Liberation” movement in our conservative suburban household.
She grimly referred to the new Dodge as “The Bus”. Mom flatly refused to drive it after a couple of attempts; stole my 4 year old Corvair or my Dad’s Ford Courier pick up truck instead.
We used the maxi-van only for family road trips 3 or 4 times a year. It was sold, 6 years old, with all of 9K on it.