Chrysler 64

1964 Chrysler New Yorker - I learned to drive in my Dads' 64. It had a 413 4-barrel. Drum brakes all around, lots of play in the wheel. At 80mph, it was all I could do to just keep it on the road. But it had chrome. I could spend a whole day just polishing the chrome. Oval steering wheel, push button transmission, did I mention chrome?

The collection will include all body styles, all kept as original as possible. The daily cruiser will be a bit customized, and will definitely be outfitted with Keystone Klassics.

Check out this wagon!

collecting from main blog

I found a few posts that are driving related, but were on our 'main' blog. Since I looked for them here first, I thought I'd set up a link post;

Slip slidin' away

The Carnage , Sunfire Pics 2 , Sunfire, all the pics of it's final showing

The Replacement , Cleaned up

Now I think even I will be able to find them again.

Today's commute - God protects!

A few weeks ago, on the way to work, right in front of the building you see below on the left I saw a SWAT team converge. They were preparing to enter the building, and I was getting myself out of there as fast as possible. I'd never seen a SWAT team in real life, and I didn't feel the need to witness their operation.

Fast forward to today; I'm approaching the bridge just before this spot and I'm steering to avoid one pothole on the right and "BOOM" - I hit a pothole on the left, and thought "wow, that was bad enough to blow a tire". Sure enough, I crest the top of the hill and I can tell. I've got a flat. Here. At this spot (I stopped just before the stoplight). Yeeikes! I don't even like waiting at the light here. Should I call AAA?

Ok, God is still in control. I look at the clock; it's 7:16. I pop the hatch and go to the back and check out the tire changing equipment. I guess I'll change the tire. I continue guessing and find the spot for the jack, loosen the lug nuts (tip - do that while the wheel is down) and start jacking up the car. All the while I'm thinking I sure hope no one walks over and offers any help. Cars are passing me and I'm thinking I sure hope they all see me. God is in control.

I get the spare on, the flat thrown in the back, the jack lowered, get back in the car to leave and it's 7:29 (and I am so out-of-here). God is in control. He says, when you walk through the fire I will be there, not if you walk through the fire.

I drive to work at a nice leisurely 55 mph on the temporary spare tire and show up just a little late.


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How was your drive to work?

Jon's first car - day 1 of shopping

We went out and looked at some cars today. I went test driving cars, and I didn't drive! Life is really changing.

09 Focus - comfortable for front passengers, drivers height adjustment, interior lights time out if door is left open, AUX jack on stereo, good space in trunk, 15" wheels, 47mpg hwy
09 Fusion - outside of price range new, 16" wheels, roomy front, back and trunk

08 PT - 16" wheels, roomy - lots of headroom front and back, seats are high off the floor, good to drive - Jon was impressed as he didn't like the PT until he drove it
09 Caliber - 17" wheels (15 on base model), also roomy front and back, CVT, Jon likes styling better than PT, stiffer suspension than PT

RX-7

I was just e-mailing an old friend, and then came over here to see how little I've posted so far. WK and I used to "trade up" from one dealer to another (in the days when used cars had license plates on them), but on this day I think we just went direct to the Mazda dealer in one of our Honda Civics.

I had never driven a rotary before, and was very "faked out" by the lack of perception of engine speed. I was blasting through some winding turns, downshifted to 2nd, hit the gas - and never noticed by the engine sound that I was revving at about 9,000. Yikes - quick upshift and a sigh of relief. I learned that the tachometer was your constant companion in an RX-7.

Overall, it was one of the most fun cars I've ever driven. It'd be a great car for the collection.

The beginnings

This one started it all. A 1964 Chrysler New Yorker 4 door hardtop. In Canada, the Salon roof trim and the Newport side trim was used.

The first time I drove it, my sister was learning to drive so I would have been 12. My dad was in the front seat with me, my sister was in the back after her lesson. We were in the mall parking lot on a Sunday, back in the days when malls were empty on Sunday.

I remember clearly giving that 413 4 barrel too much gas, then stepping on the power brakes too hard. My dad banged his head on the rearview mirror.

I think it was a short drive, but I was definitely hooked.