"crazedclay: SBC murderer" (crazedclay)
01/18/2014 at 23:43 • Filed to: Nostalgia
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"crazedclay: SBC murderer" (crazedclay)
01/18/2014 at 23:43 • Filed to: Nostalgia | 3
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Going through some old weathered photographs, mostly from around the time I was born to when I got my first car. My parents had an automotive bent or so it seems. Must have gotten it from them.
In the foreground, I can't even say what that is. Old triumph (confirmed, GT6)? I'm not up on the little red sports coupes that were available in that era. I can say for certain that I know what they both daily drove. Feast your eyes on old school Volvos in an era where most yuppies were shooting for e30's. I remember seeing a video of my dad extolling the virtues of scandinavian engineering (with a gleam in his eye) to my mom's billy beer swilling brother who showed up one day in a smoke belching trans-am (fresh off his second marriage) which couldn't have been much older than either of the Volvos pictured here. And something about billy beer saying the Volvos would never become a market force *burp*. Just picture Barney from the simpsons.
After the Volvos, and a Bronco not pictured, Dad somehow managed to buy the first available Ford Explorer that showed up in Alberta. It was a cool one, not at all like the second Gen units. Still primarily a utility oriented vehicle at that point. He was proud of it, but it did have some reliability foibles as it aged into year four or five. I will say that it looked damn sharp on those wheels in that colour. IMHO though, whenever I look at this photo I'm kind of drooling over that single cab GMC in the background with the louvers and the lights up top. Do badly want.
My dad's last bike. A Virago. Big and heavy, and swoopy, and oh so right for him after decades of building and breaking both himself and the bikes he rode.
Like this old unit. I can't name it (anyone got a clue?). Well before my time. He used to race competitively, in leagues for which I have no name and no documented history. By the time I was seven he had broken twice that amount of bones. In his blood I guess.
Even did it on ice.
This one. Poor picture. By the looks of it it's a full custom job, and I would guess that means aluminum through and through. he would have probably done that all himself or with the help of his brother, Brien (Who is still alive, and a major fixture in the bike community out in Campbell River, BC). The handwritten note on the back says "poor picture, but PLEASE bring it back to me." IF anyone can discern any info on what this might be based on, I'd love to hear about it.
And my first wheeled conveyance. 5hp Briggs and stratton, centrifugal clutch. Always ran a little rich. Only rolled it once. Don't know where dad got it from, didn't care, it was my world for a few summers when I was 11-14.
My first car. Courtesy of my mom. Driving ran really deep in my family home. After dad died, she spun out a bit hard in her personal life, and ended up losing her license to a DUI. I scooped the car from her for 18 year old son levels of cheap. 87000k, 500 bucks in instalments. 2.2 turbo. Automatic three speed. Never ever stopped loving this car. Few years later mom was dead, too, btw. I will never ever take for granted the ability to drive and live in a larger world. If I ever lost that ability it would be lights out, too. She lost her will to live around the same time as she foolishly lost her license. Something I definitely understand.
Legend has it that the first car my mother and father bought together was a restored Wileys jeep, pictured here in metallic green (and a guest appearance by either a ranchero or an el camino to the left. She spoke very fondly of that Wileys. Brought it up from California, I believe? I don't think it babied very well, though. and I think that's where the Volvos came in with the little red unit as a weekend car for dad. Must have gotten a good deal trading that Wileys in.
And the one I remember most fondly. After life had consolidated itself a bit, and I had grown up a bit, Mom and Dad went back to California and picked this up. It was a 1967, spec'd completely in black, with the big 7.something v8. Power everything. In 1967. Fuck I miss this one. When they split up, it got sold, not for financial reasons, but my dad just had to fuck with mom a bit. I think they fought more over cars than they ever did matters of flesh or money. More use as a bargaining chip than any kid is worth. And it wrenched my little heart out. because it was always promised to ME. Not some idiot who ended up, and I checked later, putting 22's on it and pimping it out. Asshole, whoever he was.
And finally. because I really don't want to go through too many memories tonight, my maternal Grandmother next to their old fox bod. Bought new off the lot. Cash. My mom somehow wrecked that one when it was loaned to her. Never EVER got forgiven for that I think. What saved her bacon in the family eye was that she was apparently pregnant with me when it happened. I've never owned a ford, and always get antsy around wild foxes. Perhaps subliminally, this is why XD. Of special note is that then new-ish C truck in the background. Grandfather's work truck. Kept it pretty pristine. later, he went to a dual tank four cylinder ford ranger, which at the tender age of six got to help change a head gasket on. Oh man. So many memories. Too many for a Saturday.
EL_ULY
> crazedclay: SBC murderer
01/19/2014 at 00:39 |
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Awesome pics dude. I always wanted a gokart. That was the prime age to own one. We had a mustang just like that.
A3R0
> crazedclay: SBC murderer
01/19/2014 at 17:50 |
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Looks like my dads fox body! His is for sale though. :(
Sorry if double post... Phone kinja.