It was the Fall of ’72.
My Son Tom was just born on 9/2.
Saw an Ad in newspaper for:
Baltimore City Auction.
That was the same year as the ‘Gas Crunch.’
Wanted an economical 4-Cylinder.
Saw this little 2-Dr White Volvo -
All Glass and Tires Good.
I was Only Bidder -
Got it for the Minimum - $26.00
Friend, Will Yingling towed it Home
To my Driveway in Reisterstown, Md.
NO KEYS! Bought Universal Ignition Set
At Western Auto for a couple Bucks.
Had to Drill Out Ignition from Dash.
WHOA! What is This?
Ignition Wires from Dash down to Coil
Were totally encased in Double-Reversed Wrap
Steel Windings - No Way Could ever ‘Hot-Wire’
This Baby!
Pulled and Stretched and Hack-Sawed
Until I got about 2 inches of Wire Exposed -
Taped all securely and installed.
Also, put in a new Battery.
Fresh Gas in Tank.
Rrrrrr .... Rrrrrr ... Brrrrr ...
Sputter - Sput - Ker-Plunk!
Va-RooooooooM! She Kicked Over!
Was running really Rough -
But it was a Success.
Turned the Radio On -
Windshield Wipers Started!
Pulled the head-Light Switch -
Horn Blew!
DUH?
Other ‘Stuff’ Mal-Functioned Also!
Seems ‘She’ had been Submerged
When Hurricane Agnes hit in June ’72.
Apparently the Main Harness
Melted, and Fused Wires Together.
Went back to Western Auto
And bought several rolls of Colored Wires.
Painstakingly re-wired each thing -
One wire at a Time!
This ‘Baby’ was only a 4-Cylinder -
But it had Dual Suction Down-Draft Carbs.
A Friend had the Special Tool Kit needed
To Synchronize them.
Once Tuned, She could ‘Blow-Off’ Any Six!
Drove her for about two Months -
And then, One Night it Happened!
It was a Sunday evening in January ...
Mom, Dad, Ann (age 2), Tom (infant) and I
Were on the way Home from visiting Wife In Hospital -
Doing about 60 on the Jones Falls Expressway When ...
Bam! Something Blew!
Black Smoke was pouring through the Firewall -
Got Off at Park Heights Avenue Ramp
Hailed a Cab - put them All in it -
Paid the Cabbie extra $10 to give me a Push ...
Rolled all the Windows Down -
Popped the Clutch and - Bam! She kicked Over!
Floored that Baby All the way out Reisterstown Road
And got her into my Driveway -
KER-PLUNK!
My Dad ‘jury-rigged’ a ‘Jim-Pole’ -
Using a 6X6 Beam, strapped to my chain-link Fence -
Then, a Block & Tackle - and we hauled her engine out -
And put it on the Deck.
I Knew Nothing about Re-Building an Engine!
Friend Will, told me each step.
Broken parts in Oil Pan told him Story -
Two Sheared Wrist Pins!
Pulled the Head - took to shop to get ‘Shaved’ -
Two BLOWN Piston Heads!
Bought 4 Pistons & Ring Sets,
New Head Gasket, et cetera.
Took a month or so, but Dad & I -
Put Her back Together just Fine.
Fired Her Up! Purred like a Kitten
After Re-Tuning & Re-Timing.
Drove the Old Gal for almost 3 Years After.
Saved Money on Gas - had Plenty of Fun -
‘Blowin’ Off’ newer cars at Stop Lights -
And then Sold Her for a Hundred Bucks!
Whole ‘Sha-Bang’ including Purchase Price
Cost me about $526.00 -
For the Peppiest - Best Dang 4-Banger -
I Ever Owned!
Western Auto.....aah me....those were the days. Even with all the extra expenses, it was probaly the best money you ever spent on a car. My "pepere" (gradfather to you non frogs) used to say "If it costs more than $500.00, make sure there's a basement under it!"
It seems you've reminded us all of those truly Good Old Days when we didn't care about having the newest or the most expensive things - just things that we were extremely glad to have. Mine was a '61 Chevy Belair Convertible with a very leaky transmission, and a stubborn ragtop that often needed several hands to pull it back up.
How times have changed - most young people today insist that their parents buy them brand new rides - God Forbid they were to be seen in anything old and used like we all once enjoyed.
Boy oh boy do you have a way of igniting those long lost memories! Your story reminds me of my 55 Chevy (no frills). Hand signals, no air conditioning, but did I love that car until one evening it slid down the hill from too much ice and I did not know to turn the wheels toward the curb. It stopped after it slipped "kerplash" into Long Island Sound during the height of a blizzard in the late 70's. Air conditioning was leaving all windows open and a five pound bag of ice on my lap. Ah, but I still say it was the best car I ever owned. Enjoyed the memories Tom...
Jersey's memory ran off the road in 1972. You are closer than he is about the first gas crisis. By odd coincidence I bought my first car in the fall of 1972, a 4 cylinder piece of dog shit made by Triumph. It was a "Herald" model, a convertible, floor pan rusted out, no significant heater, gas pedal dangled in the breeze till I fixed it. Paid $450 but put very little into it for the year I drove it. Horrible cold weather car. Wouldn't start below 30 degrees. Went through cases of starter spray in a can. Got hit one day by a car that skidded on wet pavement and banged it up some but didn't hurt the running. Other drivers insurance paid $300. Sold it for $75. Cost me $75 for the year plus ether, plates and insurance. Not bad. Patrick
To my memory, as I was pumping gas when the first gas "crisis" hit, it was in 75' but it doesn't matter as this was a fun story that I can identify with to the enth degree...was your car like a little 4 door model...I saw pics on google that you could have used with the story...enjoyed this one alot...Jerseeeeeeeeeeeey
Asa D Seeley, a young Afro American man, shares his struggle to leave his past behind as he reaches for his future. In his one-of-a-kind style, he searches for answers...from the visible & invisible. A Memoir in Poetical/Prose form.
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Regis
Chip Bergeron
How times have changed - most young people today insist that their parents buy them brand new rides - God Forbid they were to be seen in anything old and used like we all once enjoyed.
Be always safe,
Karen