[DeTomaso] NPC (mostly): Cars you have owned

[Garth Rodericks]

Ok, I'll play. Here's my list...

1. 1966 Mustang GT Fastback - My first car; purchased in 1981 and I still own it. Reworked heads w/ GT40 valves, 4 wheel disc brakes, 5-speed, sub-frame connectors, etc.  Spent the last 30 years as a GT-350 clone, but now returning it to stock appearance. Just dropped it off at the body shop last week to be completely stripped, have any rusty metal replaced, and repainted. It will also get all new glass, upholstery, etc.
2. 1969 VW Bug - Bought for $800, restored it, and sold for $2200 to buy a computer (24 years ago). Wish I still had the car; I sold the computer at a garage sale for $10.
3. Yamaha 400sx - Bought it for $25, fixed it up and rode it through a couple years of college.
4. 85 Suzuki GS700E - Great bike! Many trips to Mexico, Death Valley, Big Sur, etc.  Sold it after 36,000 exciting miles.
5. 1977 Porsche 924 - Great handling car; good on gas too. Eventually developed a starting problem (black box related) and sold it.
6. 85 Honda Civic (5 speed) - The wife's car when we got married. Good little car.  Managed to hit 7 deer simultaneously (rather, they hit me!) one night only a quarter mile from my house.
7. 85 Peugeot 505 turbo gas - Style, luxury, and performance. One of the best suspensions/rides of any luxury sedan.
8. 98 Mercury Sable Wagon - The family hauler for many years. After 136,000 miles it started to manifest a bunch of electrical gremlins. Practically gave it away, but it still looked nearly new.
9. 96 Olds Achieva - Purchased with less than 30,000 miles from the proverbial little old lady from Pasadena for a steal. Overall a pretty good car, and pretty economical, but typical crappy GM interior build quality and materials. Amazing how trim begins falling apart after only 50,000 miles.
10. 91 Mustang GT convertible - Purchased with 110,000 miles for only $1,000. GREAT car! Lots of fun. Sold it after a few years for $4,200. Have regretted selling it ever since.
11. 72 DeTomaso Pantera - The Banzai Runner Pantera. Dream fulfilled!  Awesome car!  Does everything better than expected, and more practical than I ever imagined.
12. 95 Toyota Landcruiser - FZJ80. This is a great truck/SUV.  100's of trips to Tahoe to go skiing in this rig. Still going strong after 200,000 miles, but needs paint and upholstry to freshen it up.
13. 96 BMW 328i - One of the best bargains out there. Handsome styling, great handling, and superb brakes - this car does it all well!  It's clear why BMW is called the ultimate driving machine!  And, 25 mpg around town and 33 mpg highway.  Sure beats driving some econo-shitbox!  Sold it after 239,000 miles (was still going strong).
14. 91 Mazda B2200 - My son's truck - great little truck. 179,000 miles and still going strong.
15. 11 BMW 328i - The current commuter pod. Beautiful styling, great brakes and handling, but not nearly as economical as the 96. 17/27 mpg city/hwy. Sorry I purchased a car with an automatic transmission (concession for the wife).
16. 69 Olds Cutlass Convertible S - Inherited from my brother who owned it for the past 15 years or so. Just finished repainting and installed a shift kit. Great classic cruiser with handsome lines.
17. 06 Toyota Sequoia - Inherited from my brother; now the wife's daily driver (The Landcruiser went to my daughter). Large (I much prefer the form factor of the Landcruiser), but this is the current Tahoe hauler.
18. 70 Mustang Mach 1 - Inherited from my brother; was his first car. As teens we swore we'd keep our first cars forever.  It's a basket case car - a shell on wheels. He started a restoration 20 years ago and only managed to disassemble the car, so I have lots of boxes of parts, wiring, bolts, etc.  I hope to start work on it once the Pantera is back together, or maybe after the 66 Mustang is completed.  We'll see.

Now I just need a bigger garage!

Cheers!