Defining moments

The worst car I ever purchased, I bought from a buy here pay here lot, long many years ago in Denver. The best car, or one of the very top, I also bought from one of these lots. It was a 1973 Gremlin; clean as a whistle, plain Jane, metallic mint green, black wall tires and beauty rims.

I saw it from the street, and I had to get close. The salesmen came up behind me with the keys. I started it, and once I did, I had to drive it. V-8 powered, and no doubt about it. When I drove it, I had to buy it. Three speed on the floor and power enough to pin you in the seat. It would do seventy before getting out of second with your foot in it.

I did some minor modification. Twin pipes with glass packs and a four barrel carb, but I kept looking straight. I drove that car until some one stole it while I was at a movie one night. I never got it back.

The worst car I owned was 1972 Vega wagon; black. I came onto the lot with my hat in my hands and I was happy enough to be driving away in anything that ran. Trouble was it only ran for a short time. It had a four speed standard that became a two speed; second and reverse. I salvaged a tranny from a junkyard and spent a weekend replacing it. It took a dive a week later. You can imagine how much I wanted my money back, or at least another car, but that was the last thing the dealership wanted. Caveat emptor. I was faced with a dilemma, fixing this car which wasn’t that great to begin with, walking away from the loan or toughing it out.

I toughed it out. You might call looking to the future. I might want to buy another car sometime, but you might call it ethic. That’s what I call it. I’m the one who bought it and I couldn’t blame anybody but myself. I rode the bus for months while I paid off my loan and bought another car afterwards. I put myself higher than someone who would sell a piece of crap like that to someone, and I certainly rose above anyone who would steal a car from another.

Life has defining moments. What are you yours?