Three years ago today...

"aberson Bresident of the FullyAssed Committe" (emaxxbl)
10/04/2016 at 15:00 • Filed to: None

I can’t believe it’s already been three years since I brought this pile home.

It was honestly a very interesting purchase that could have ended up very, very sketchy. See the guy who had the car was a college roommate of the guy who owned the car, and the owner lived in DC with the title and other important documents for the car. Also did i mention I did NO research about these cars except for resale value and parts availability? Yeah I had no idea that it was normal for any metal below the “speed grove” to turn into dust. Nor did I have any knowledge on how difficult it is to properly treat the rust cancer. But I didn’t care all I knew was that I wanted this car, and I was going to buy it, I don’t care if it wasn’t the smartest decision to make. Some would argue that I already had a nice Jaguar to drive and I should of put my money away to save it. But I wasn’t going to do that. The first day I looked at this car I made up in my mind this car was going home with ME and no one else, and it did. I looked at the car Monday, bought it Wednesday, and brought it home Friday.

Now you might be wondering where has this spur of the moment hardheaded decision gotten me. Well so far I’ve,

Pulled the engine, rebuilt the top-end and replaced every single gasket and seal on it.

Replaced driver AND passenger side floorboards.

Repaired dents and rust on both rocker panels and rear quarters.

Spent countless hours replacing and tidying up electrical connections everything forward of the dashboard.

There’s countless other small things I’ve done that I either forgot about or felt were too small to mention, but rest assured there is not one piece of this car I haven’t probed with 2-foot long craftsman flathead.

The best thing about this car is the ability to just drive it, anytime, anywhere. Of course I am limited both by law, Virginia law states antique tagged cars can’t drive more than 250 miles one way, and by my bravery in my own repairs, because for some reason I’m the only one without triple AAA, why? I’m not entirely sure.

Of course there is little reason to drive this obnoxiously loud, rusty, wore out sports car for any sizeable distance when I have a beautiful four door grand tourer with the worlds smoothest inline 6. But I would never take that Jag storming down a backroad, the experience just isn’t there, everything is flattened and mellowed out, like you’re playing it safe. It just isn’t as raw or visceral as the alfa, you never feel like you’re at the brink of having the rear end step out and lose traction, you never feel the weight transfer forwards when you trail-brake into a corner, and that’s the beauty of these small sports cars. You feel everything , every little bump in the road becomes a mountain of experiences for driver and passenger, and sometimes even a spectator or two. The entire car is just a show, a show of passion, skill, sometimes every bravery. It’s car that everyone can experience just from being around it. It’s just an amazing thing and I happened to stumble upon it completely on accident.

DISCUSSION (8)

Klaus Schmoll > aberson Bresident of the FullyAssed Committe
10/04/2016 at 15:06

R.E.S.P.E.C.T.! I remember when you bought it, and I honestly thought you would never get it this far. “Just another guy who’s in way over his head.”

What’s next, enjoy as or keep on improving?

aberson Bresident of the FullyAssed Committe > Klaus Schmoll
10/04/2016 at 15:22

I think I’m going to keep on fixing it but slowly so I still get a chance to enjoy it.

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > aberson Bresident of the FullyAssed Committe
10/04/2016 at 15:59

What city are you in again? I really want to get our two ratty sports cars together.

Milky > aberson Bresident of the FullyAssed Committe
10/04/2016 at 16:02

Hold up.

Virginia law states antique tagged cars can’t drive more than 250 miles one way

What in the shit is that? Have they never heard of road trips? Hell even crossing Michigan to goto my hometown is 258 miles.

aberson Bresident of the FullyAssed Committe > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
10/04/2016 at 16:20

I’m all the way in Kinsale, Virginia.

Roadster Man > aberson Bresident of the FullyAssed Committe
10/04/2016 at 16:38

VA really limits the distance you can drive a car with antique plates? How would they ever enforce that? Pull you over and look at your odometer?

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > aberson Bresident of the FullyAssed Committe
10/04/2016 at 18:19

yay! Glad to see someone using a Spider like they’re supposed to be used. For having fun! If you make it perfect, it won’t be as much fun ;) and I know how much fun they can be...

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > Roadster Man
10/04/2016 at 18:56

Don’t know about VA, but in Vermont we have yearly mileage limits for antique-reg cars, and required yearly inspection reports your mileage and plate data, so if you are found to be exceeding the limit they retroactively charge you the regular registration fee, plus a fine. If you daily drive an antique-reg vehicle the cops *WILL* take notice leading to a pull-over and/or investigation of your mileage. They’re fairly serious about it. My boss registers all his antiques at the full, regular rate to avoid difficulties (he often drives a Rolls or the Buick Roadmaster to work in the summer). You get a nifty plate, and yearly reg only costs $25 (as opposed to $70) if you register as Antique, but it’s frankly so limiting it’s barely worth it unless you have a model T that only comes out once a year for the 4th of July parade.

/Vermont