Post by jjr on Oct 31, 2009 17:10:22 GMT -5
The story of "Red"...
In my stable of fire breathing Trans Ams, there
does exist a few cars (not Trans Ams) that are just
plain nice looking cars or have some special value.
This story starts in about the year 2000. An older man
in my apartment complex drove this red firebird and
noticed that I drove several different 'birds and that
all of them sounded "good".
Eventually he approached me asking if I knew anything
about cars... <grin> oh yea!
To be honest, I usually kinda avoid spending my precious
free time so some character can avoid paying for his maintenance.
This older man, who was retired, had a very pleasant and
appreciative nature. It turned out he was retired from the
very company I worked for.
Anyways, I ended up doing occasional repairs, and got to
know both the car and the man. He had little but social
security and lived a pretty basic life. The car, which he
bought new, was just old enough to confuse a local garage
that usually over-estimated their skills.
Somehow, I thought a few times, that I'd probably end up with
it. It wasn't a TA, and only had a 6 cylinder that seemed to
have had decent early maintenance.
We, the man and his car, eventually saw less of each other as
a very well matched (to me) girl friend entered my life. She
was a "car" lady to be sure.
He caught me one day, happy to see me after a while and asked
if I could help? His over-weight condition had sorta broken
down his seat and it was very difficult to be comfortable.
Luckily, I had 2-3 used sets of third gen car seats just
sitting around. Since I had no need for the extra seats (my '86
was all set by then). I think ultimately he got new (used) seats
for like a 6 pack of beer. I was happy to help the guy, and he
might have had a tear welling up as I returned his 'bird in
very drivable (now) condition. The seats I removed were trash
to be sure.
Once again, we didn't see each other for a while, since I spent
more and more time with my girlfriend.
The next crossing of paths was startling news... My bud was going to get rid of the red firebird, and wanted to know if I wanted it.
Having bought and sold so darn many cars, I stayed cool - but didn't know if I was interested. He said it wasn't running very well and the "boys" in the garage didn't know what to do next...
But his real question was if I'd help and go with him to the dealer, so he'd not have to pay full retail.
We made a few day/time arrangements to see what would happen...
Somewhere along the line, and trips, I mentioned a number that I "thought" he could get for the 'bird... But in his mind, (as I found later) I had made a solid offer.
Eventually, we found a deal he could live with, (not full retail) and
as we figured out the numbers he asked when he could get my offer.
Oh darn... now what do I do?
Mentioning the predicament to my lady, yielded extreme interest and she begged me to make sure I bought it. Ok then... Turned out she just loved red firebirds!
Here is the machine, actually after I got it and cleaned her up though.
and it did run pretty flat...
The problems it actually had were only a bad ecm and TPS, which was about a hundred bucks or so.
Thinking it would live on as a driver, was blocked by my girlfriends pride in seeing it in the fleet. It was made officially "special" and got a very coveted garage spot...
It was my girlfriend who coined it's name as simply: "Red" and it proudly stays all cleaned up, garage kept and driven on nice days.
Joe
In my stable of fire breathing Trans Ams, there
does exist a few cars (not Trans Ams) that are just
plain nice looking cars or have some special value.
This story starts in about the year 2000. An older man
in my apartment complex drove this red firebird and
noticed that I drove several different 'birds and that
all of them sounded "good".
Eventually he approached me asking if I knew anything
about cars... <grin> oh yea!
To be honest, I usually kinda avoid spending my precious
free time so some character can avoid paying for his maintenance.
This older man, who was retired, had a very pleasant and
appreciative nature. It turned out he was retired from the
very company I worked for.
Anyways, I ended up doing occasional repairs, and got to
know both the car and the man. He had little but social
security and lived a pretty basic life. The car, which he
bought new, was just old enough to confuse a local garage
that usually over-estimated their skills.
Somehow, I thought a few times, that I'd probably end up with
it. It wasn't a TA, and only had a 6 cylinder that seemed to
have had decent early maintenance.
We, the man and his car, eventually saw less of each other as
a very well matched (to me) girl friend entered my life. She
was a "car" lady to be sure.
He caught me one day, happy to see me after a while and asked
if I could help? His over-weight condition had sorta broken
down his seat and it was very difficult to be comfortable.
Luckily, I had 2-3 used sets of third gen car seats just
sitting around. Since I had no need for the extra seats (my '86
was all set by then). I think ultimately he got new (used) seats
for like a 6 pack of beer. I was happy to help the guy, and he
might have had a tear welling up as I returned his 'bird in
very drivable (now) condition. The seats I removed were trash
to be sure.
Once again, we didn't see each other for a while, since I spent
more and more time with my girlfriend.
The next crossing of paths was startling news... My bud was going to get rid of the red firebird, and wanted to know if I wanted it.
Having bought and sold so darn many cars, I stayed cool - but didn't know if I was interested. He said it wasn't running very well and the "boys" in the garage didn't know what to do next...
But his real question was if I'd help and go with him to the dealer, so he'd not have to pay full retail.
We made a few day/time arrangements to see what would happen...
Somewhere along the line, and trips, I mentioned a number that I "thought" he could get for the 'bird... But in his mind, (as I found later) I had made a solid offer.
Eventually, we found a deal he could live with, (not full retail) and
as we figured out the numbers he asked when he could get my offer.
Oh darn... now what do I do?
Mentioning the predicament to my lady, yielded extreme interest and she begged me to make sure I bought it. Ok then... Turned out she just loved red firebirds!
Here is the machine, actually after I got it and cleaned her up though.
and it did run pretty flat...
The problems it actually had were only a bad ecm and TPS, which was about a hundred bucks or so.
Thinking it would live on as a driver, was blocked by my girlfriends pride in seeing it in the fleet. It was made officially "special" and got a very coveted garage spot...
It was my girlfriend who coined it's name as simply: "Red" and it proudly stays all cleaned up, garage kept and driven on nice days.
Joe