Quite clearly, it began a long time ago, 1951 to be precise. However, I am not focusing on the car's beginnings but our first meeting at the beginning of the '90's. The Soviet Union was dragging the corpse of Communism, and George Bush, Sr. promised no new taxes.
Like all teenagers in those halcyon days, I was carefully planning my entry into the automotive world. My older brother, M-----, had established the pattern. He started searching for his first (used) car at least a year before his 16th birthday and license acquisition. He wanted a 1965 Chrysler Newport or something along those lines. It had to be big and luxurious. It also had to have an enormous engine with power. In the end, he got a nearly brand new 1979 Lincoln Continental. Part of the fun in searching for old cars was finding the rare gem with hardly any use, preferably owned by a really old person who had worked all their life to finally buy their dream car. Those cars were treasured by their owners and barely driven, and those were our prey.
I joined the family outings to look at these cars. Everyone had fun with it. Searching the newspapers and automotive journals was part of the great fun. Only my father didn't join into the searching part. He liked brow-beating car salesmen at new car dealerships. He loved the wheeling and dealing that eventually got him the brand-new car of his choice.
I never stopped searching for cars, even after M----- bought his car. I believe my Mom was starting to get worried as I found older and older cars. My mother understood the 1960's cars. Those cars had power options and good, strong engines. The 1950's were more chrome and less certain. My Great Aunt and her husband bought a new 1957 Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight with all the power-options. It was their pride and joy.
I wanted my pride and joy too! Cadillacs, Hudsons, Packards, Kaisers, Frazers, and Nashs were my interests. I really wanted a unique car, preferably an independent automaker. Then one day in the autumn, I found a 1951 Chrysler in the Tribune Classifieds for under $2000. Calling the phone number, I found out that the nephew of an old aunt was selling the car. It had been stored for many years, and the aunt had been a spinster teacher. So far so good...
Where was the car now? It was bought and owned in Marseilles, Illinois. Ah-hah! South of the salt belt of Chicagoland! Another good point! I asked if we could see it soon.
We saw it very soon. My mom and I went down to Marseilles to look at the car. Two uncles, my mom's brother and my mom's sister's husband, had given us advise on how to examine a car. Our favourite was the bondo detection method, aka the magnet test. Bondo is a filler used to smooth out damage on cars, caused by either collision or rust! We did not want a rust bucket. Using the tried and true method of examination, one person talked with the seller while the other examined.
There were three spots with bondo - the rear quarter panels (left and right) and the front left fender next to the headlight. No other apparent holes or rot on the car otherwise. The price was right, but it could be lower. The brakes needed work (duh...), and we'd still have to find a mechanic. In the end, we bought the car for $1500.
At the time, I had two things in my favour for purchasing the car. First, the car was old, slow, and cheap. It was very unlikely that I'd cause as much trouble as M-----. (He's something of a speed demon.) Second, the car was cheap enough that even with some repairs, it was far cheaper than a new car and could easily be re-sold at a later time.
It was not re-sold.
