The all too brief bit of warm, sunny weather we had in Atlanta earlier this week has reminded me
that spring is not too far away. And, as everyone knows, in spring a young man's fancy turns
to thoughts of love.
For those of us closer to middle age however, our fancy turns to thoughts of a shiny red
convertible. And baseball. Oh, and yes.... love.
After all, I did promise the G/F I'd
help her plant azaleas in her yard this year.
I got bitten by the convertible bug early; when I was about 3 or 4 my grandfather had big ol'
mid-60s Chrysler or Dodge droptop - I'm not sure exactly what year or model it was, and
apparently neither does anyone else in the family.
I just remember loving to go for rides in "Grandpa's big red car" with the top down. I had
to sit in the back, with a seatbelt on and blanket on my lap, and promise not to put my feet on
the upholstery (no feet on the seats!)
Years later, my grandmother confessed that she HATED driving that car and made my
grandfather get rid of it, because at 5'2" she was too short to reach the pedals!!
My dad had a dark green '53 Mercury convertible for a little while, he used to let me sit on his
lap and 'steer' when we went for drives down to the Jersey shore – what a thrill for a six year
old! For some reason, it wasn't quite the same after dad traded the Mercury in for a Rambler.
My first convertible was a '69 Karmann Ghia which I bought for $500 back in April 1985.
However, it was far too small (I'm 6'3") too slow (50 hp) and too unheated to be practical, so as
soon as the weather turned cold, I traded the Ghia for a guitar and amp, a box of albums, a
bong shaped like a skull and $250.00 cash, which I used as partial down payment on a 1983
Ford Escort. (The cash, I mean. Not the other stuff.....
)
Once the Escort died (it was the absolute worst piece o' crap car I ever owned) I bought
an '84 Mustang with T-tops - not quite a convertible but, hey anything was better than that
Escort!! As great as the T-tops were when the weather was nice, they had their downside -
they leaked! And the car creaked and groaned going around every corner. Eventually I decided
I needed a 'grown-up' car (I think about the time I turned 30) and bought a 1988 Olds Cutlass
Supreme - albeit with a sunroof.
When I moved to Atlanta in 1995, the convertible bug bit me again and I managed to find a
beautiful 1966 Pontiac Catalina convertible for sale in Jacksonville for $2500.00. I had to tow
the car home, but after a few months and few hundred dollars worth of work under the hood, I
was able get her to move under her own power.
Man, what a car!! My very own "big red car", just like grandpa had! And yes, I kept my feet off
the seats!
She was a real head turner too, I had more than one offer to sell her on the spot
for more than I had invested in her.
My plan was to eventually do a full restoration on the Cat, but fate intervened when my landlord
got into financial trouble and the house I was renting got foreclosed on. So, I was forced to sell
the Catalina to come up with a down payment on a house.
Later, when I measured the garage of my new house, I realized the Catalina wouldn’t have fit
anyway – it was about 6 inches longer than the garage!
I miss my "big red car" and over the years have toyed with the idea of finding a replacement,
but something that will actually fit in the garage. Last year, I saw a big ol’ Chrysler convertible
at a car show that reminded me of the one my grandfather had, although it was blue, not red.
The nice weather we had earlier this week has re-ignited the desire for a convertible (although
it is snowing in Atlanta at the moment.
) so I have spent most of Sunday morning looking
through the paper and surfing the 'net for one. There's a '72 Malibu for sale not to far away
from me, I think that's my first stop.
Interestingly enough, my G/F has NEVER ridden in a convertible!
Her parents were/are too cheap, er... I mean frugal, to ever think about owning something so...
frivolous. (Imagine what they think of me!
) So that has just strengthened my
resolve! The thought of pulling up to the front of their house in some flashy, completely
irreverent piece of late 60s Detroit iron, with their daughter AND granddaughter, and parking
next to their 10yr old Buick (beige, of course) brings a big smile to my face!
I can already feel their disapproving stares burning holes in me.
that spring is not too far away. And, as everyone knows, in spring a young man's fancy turns
to thoughts of love.
For those of us closer to middle age however, our fancy turns to thoughts of a shiny red
convertible. And baseball. Oh, and yes.... love.
help her plant azaleas in her yard this year.
I got bitten by the convertible bug early; when I was about 3 or 4 my grandfather had big ol'
mid-60s Chrysler or Dodge droptop - I'm not sure exactly what year or model it was, and
apparently neither does anyone else in the family.
I just remember loving to go for rides in "Grandpa's big red car" with the top down. I had
to sit in the back, with a seatbelt on and blanket on my lap, and promise not to put my feet on
the upholstery (no feet on the seats!)
Years later, my grandmother confessed that she HATED driving that car and made my
grandfather get rid of it, because at 5'2" she was too short to reach the pedals!!
My dad had a dark green '53 Mercury convertible for a little while, he used to let me sit on his
lap and 'steer' when we went for drives down to the Jersey shore – what a thrill for a six year
old! For some reason, it wasn't quite the same after dad traded the Mercury in for a Rambler.
My first convertible was a '69 Karmann Ghia which I bought for $500 back in April 1985.
However, it was far too small (I'm 6'3") too slow (50 hp) and too unheated to be practical, so as
soon as the weather turned cold, I traded the Ghia for a guitar and amp, a box of albums, a
bong shaped like a skull and $250.00 cash, which I used as partial down payment on a 1983
Ford Escort. (The cash, I mean. Not the other stuff.....
Once the Escort died (it was the absolute worst piece o' crap car I ever owned) I bought
an '84 Mustang with T-tops - not quite a convertible but, hey anything was better than that
Escort!! As great as the T-tops were when the weather was nice, they had their downside -
they leaked! And the car creaked and groaned going around every corner. Eventually I decided
I needed a 'grown-up' car (I think about the time I turned 30) and bought a 1988 Olds Cutlass
Supreme - albeit with a sunroof.
When I moved to Atlanta in 1995, the convertible bug bit me again and I managed to find a
beautiful 1966 Pontiac Catalina convertible for sale in Jacksonville for $2500.00. I had to tow
the car home, but after a few months and few hundred dollars worth of work under the hood, I
was able get her to move under her own power.
Man, what a car!! My very own "big red car", just like grandpa had! And yes, I kept my feet off
the seats!
for more than I had invested in her.
My plan was to eventually do a full restoration on the Cat, but fate intervened when my landlord
got into financial trouble and the house I was renting got foreclosed on. So, I was forced to sell
the Catalina to come up with a down payment on a house.
Later, when I measured the garage of my new house, I realized the Catalina wouldn’t have fit
anyway – it was about 6 inches longer than the garage!
I miss my "big red car" and over the years have toyed with the idea of finding a replacement,
but something that will actually fit in the garage. Last year, I saw a big ol’ Chrysler convertible
at a car show that reminded me of the one my grandfather had, although it was blue, not red.
The nice weather we had earlier this week has re-ignited the desire for a convertible (although
it is snowing in Atlanta at the moment.
through the paper and surfing the 'net for one. There's a '72 Malibu for sale not to far away
from me, I think that's my first stop.
Interestingly enough, my G/F has NEVER ridden in a convertible!
Her parents were/are too cheap, er... I mean frugal, to ever think about owning something so...
frivolous. (Imagine what they think of me!
resolve! The thought of pulling up to the front of their house in some flashy, completely
irreverent piece of late 60s Detroit iron, with their daughter AND granddaughter, and parking
next to their 10yr old Buick (beige, of course) brings a big smile to my face!
I can already feel their disapproving stares burning holes in me.