CARS IN MY LIFE

CARS IN MY LIFE

Cranky and Pop in 1963 with my 1958 MGA 

Some things in life you just do not forget, your dogs, your cars and your ex-wives.  In an older post I have chronicled my dogs http://joeh-crankyoldman.blogspot.com/2013/08/dogs-in-my-life.html, I try to forget my ex-wives.   Here is my life as represented in the cars I grew up with or have owned.

1951 Buick - Pop’s- traded in 1959 for the Ford Galaxy.  It took us from NY to California in ‘51 and back in ’55.  (Summers and salt air at Jersey shore took its toll…traded in ’59.)

1955 VW Bug – Pop’s- It was totaled in an accident 1961 by my oldest brother (It was either brake failure or too much beer.)

1959 Ford Galaxy – Pop’s (Mine for a while in College) Older brother almost totaled running a red light in ‘60. I pretty much just ran into the ground.

1962 Pontiac Tempest – Mom’s - Broke down on a ski trip to NE 1967 with my older brother,  had to replace the fuel pump, don’t remember what happened to it after that.

1958 MGA Bought used in ’63 – Broke down 1967…scrapped (Still makes me cry thinking about it)

1964 VW Bug – Pop’s – Stolen 1968

1959 Volvo – Not mine, my friend Charley’s, but we spent a few summers in it not picking up chicks.  The engine caught fire on a test run when Charley was trying to sell it.  He told the prospective buyer, “It’s never done that before!”

1968 VW Bug – Sold for $50 in 1994 (it was still running great)

1972 AMC Hornet Station Wagon – Traded in 1981. (It was a dog, but all I could afford. Four years at $30 a month.)

1981 Honda Accord – The engine ran great, the body and chassis dissolved 1994.

1976 Cadillac Seville- (bought from mom in 1986)-Sold 1988 for $300. (A little beat up, but my first taste of luxury.)

1988 Mercury Sable station Wagon – Son took to Colorado 1993 and ran it into the ground...karma for me and the '59 Ford.

1990 Jeep Wrangler – Traded in 2007 (Ex-wife ruined clutch…did not believe in neutral at stop lights. Also major rear end dents…see 2006 Sequoia.)

198? Saab - Came with second wife, clutch turned to mush (see 1990 Jeep Wrangler), gave to charity for tax break.

1993 Saab – Bought used in ’97 Traded in 2000 (Stalled all the time, would not idle…best mechanics could not fix.  A cousin suggested the gas pedal cable connection had stretched; shortened the connection and it never stalled again.)

1998 Jeep Cherokee – Traded in 2006 (Do not miss it, it stalled going around sharp turns periodically…not good.)

2006 Toyota Sequoia – Lost in divorce, Son drives today. (Can be recognized by matching huge dents on rear bumper…reverse is not ex-wife’s strong suit.)

2007 Jeep Wrangler - Still running…love, love.

2004 Toyota Sequoia - Came with my third wife, traded in '12 for a Forerunner (The car; wife still runs good.)

2012 Toyota Forerunner- Still like new. (Wife will not let me drive it.)

My next and last car (unless my wife lets me drive longer) a new Cadillac CTS Sedan…Year yet to be determined.