Them, and can't live without them.
1973 . . Parent's buy a used rental car from Hurtz.
1991 . . My Dad and older sister rebuild the used rental car. High School year book for that year claims it is the fastest student vehicle at South Tahoe High for the year. LOL.
1994 . . The fastest student vehicle is retired to the back yard.
1997 . . I am 17 years old. Dad tells me, "Well, the old car is in the backyard, or you can save your money and buy your own." That was the winter of '97. Spring of '97 my friend damn near blows his clutch on his 86 SR22 Toyota pickup pulling the "Beast" out of the backyard.
1998 . . First year of college, I decide the "Beast" needs some more power. Edlebrock 4v intake, carb, and a set of Hedman Headers with cherrie bombs completes the power upgrade.
2000 . . The "Beast" is retired to backup duty when I get a 65 Mustang.
2003 . . The "Beast" is finally used for some 4000 miles due to my now ex-wife taking off with the good vehicles.
2005 . . The "Beast" sits at my house in Silver Springs. I have a broken leg and now in the middle of a nasty divorce. My brother helps me get it started, as my ex-wife stole the keys for it. We get the "Beast" on a car trailer and soon discover that it needs a new water pump. February of 05, my buddy Eric and I stand out in the freezing fog and replace the water pump. But alos, it wasn't going to happen. It wouldn't seal up properly. So, I give up on the "Beast." It goes into a storage unit.
March, 2005. I am the proud owner of a brand new 2005 WRX STi. Shortly there after MattR finds me on imprezawrx.com, or something like that. He points me to SECCS.org. Been here ever since.
Sunday, Sept. 30th 2007. My Toyota blows it's engine. GRRR!!! Major stress starts setting in. I drive to work for a week in my Smoke-stang without a passenger window. Brrrr...
Sat. Oct. 6th. My brother helps me put the Toyota on a car trailer, and off it goes to my storage unit. Out comes the "Beast!" That evening, I rebuild the Edlebrock carb.
Sunday Oct 7th. My little sister's birthday. My present to her is, a phone call and letting her hear the "Beast" purr in the background. (She still wants the car, and won't leave me alone about it.)
So, long story short. I am now driving the "Beast" which is a 1972 Ford Gran Torino with a 351 Cleveland. It was one of the first cars my parents ever bought together. My Dad was a car junkie, his old 32 Duece Coupe is still around. It was at the Reno airport on display for about a year back in the mid 1990's.
It is so nice to be driving a car again that actually has power. It will excelerate up a hill in third gear without downshifting.
And no, it is not a Starsky and Hutch car. Wrong year.