CC is once again in need of some COAL contributors, our Cars Of A Lifetime series. If you have a desire to share your car-related stories, with the joys and pains that come along, this could be your chance.
And while the idea can sound intimidating at first, just look at the happy lot above. Just send us an email to [email protected], to let us know you’re interested.
I suggest anyone who did a series a long time ago and is due for an update or three.
I also nominate BIGTOMBROUGHAM. Many tantalizing bits and pieces, no whole story yet.
Our COAL is not a classic American car but an unplanned purchase when we were car shopping outside of Travis AFB, California. I returned from Iceland with my 1992 Ford Ranger pickup and newly married at 42. After we went through a major operational readiness inspection in September of 1993 (I was a squadron commander at Travis) we car shopped. We narrowed our choices to a new Nissan Altima or an Acura Integra. Well inside the Nissan of Vacaville show room I spotted a new and soon to be discontinued Nissan 240 SX convertible. We bought it. We had a crazy moment. I suppose living in California was a factor not thinking about our next assignment which 3 years later was in Montana. We didn’t drive it in the Montana winter. Well 30 years later and 35,000 miles we still have this now rare car. It’s been garaged most of its life and never driven in the winter. So I guess it qualifies as a COAL since we still own it. The kids at car shows like it. It’s not a Porsche 956 or a Corvette C3 but it’s like new and has a/c, power windows and cruise and is a fast runner.
Maybe somebody could explain the cultural phenomenon known as Big Altima Energy.
Having been a curbside classic car dealer/enthusiast, owning & selling well over 250 cars, 25 motorcycles, and 20 boats over a span of 50 years, I’m afraid it would consume far too much time to document and inevitably bore everyone to tears… too much of a good thing.
I’d think your story could still be told in a compelling way without losing the audience. Were there changes in your life that necessitated changes in the theme of the cars you were buying & selling? Going through a minivan phase while having kids for example, could you pick one standout to feature? Could you group purchases by specific time periods? I keep thinking about telling my stories but I think it’ll take one more acquisition yet before I’m ready.
I can’t top that. I’ve owned about 43. Cars since 1978 and some gems – 1968 280 SL. And a 1977 W-123 280E- both never ending money pits. The Nissan has been dependable but babied.
I’ll give it some thought. Before I married I traded cars every 16 or so months. I’m still getting in trouble thought. My used 2004 Corvette almost did me in!
That rendering of the blue Wildcat doesn’t look half bad. This is my ’68 which was rescued from a junkyard in the summer of 1987. I’ve owned it since that time.