This is what happens...

[plateaucal]

Until my son blew the engine on my 69 Saab, it was my daily driver. There are things you just cannot explain behind the wheel of an old car and the Saab 96 is my favorite of all time. It draws more attention than a new Vette. If cars were people it would be George Carlin (rest in peace). Never have I seen a vehicle generate more smiles, waves and just outright excitement from kids to old guys. I would tell folks that I have no idea what the MPG is but it does get 20 smiles per gallon, a lot of them mine. I miss him (yes pretty sure it's a guy) but my son will be back in December to get him back on the road.

It's a blast to drive, not fast, but I feels like it. It as a four speed transaxle with a column shift. A Ford V4 sits way out front giving it incredible snow traction. It will seat five very friendly people. Think of it as stray puppy, with mange. It is just begging to be loved.

And to think that all of this belies it's proven racing heritage. Baja? Monte Carlo? Ummm heck yah.

I gotta go now...feel a tear welling up.

[moore_rb]

Until my son blew the engine on my 69 Saab, it was my daily driver. .

He blew the engine? Did you kick his ass....?????

here are things you just cannot explain behind the wheel of an old car and the Saab 96 is my favorite of all time.

Ok, THIS I can say that I don't fully understand...However, just like the guy I recently posted that has the pristine AMC Pacer, I can honestly say that I respect your devotion to your favorite vehicle of all time...

[plateaucal]

I am allowing him to bask in his shame. It last longer and is more entertaining for me.

[moore_rb]

here are things you just cannot explain behind the wheel of an old car and the Saab 96 is my favorite of all time.

Ok, THIS I can say that I don't fully understand...However, just like the guy I recently posted that has the pristine AMC Pacer, I can honestly say that I respect your devotion to your favorite vehicle of all time...

Ya know... I often tease on this forum (jocularity is a part of the experience with any hobby or pastime); but I would never tease plateaucal (or anyone else) about your personal choice or devotion to your favorite vehicle of all time; but I wasn't being a smart-alec when I said I didn't understand... and your viewpoint has had me thinking for about a week now...

and you know what? I can't think of any specific vehicle that goes down as my #1 "favorite of all time".... and I think by now most of you know what a complete basket case, lost cause car-guy, hot rod gearhead I am...

I can list several "favorite" vehicles that I've personally owned throughout the years, and each one of them is a fond memory of a particular vehicle, during a particular time period. During these timeframes, these vehicles/models may have owned my attention, and my "desire to acquire". but do any of them really reflect a timeless devotion to a particular model? hmmmm.....

I do know that (to me) the 1964 Corvette Stingray hard top convertible is, always has been, and always will be, the most beautiful car of all time, and that owning one has been (for a car guy) comparable to what a mint-condition St Gauden's $20 Gold Coin is probably like to a die-hard coin collector, I suppose... But it's not that that it is a Corvette that makes it perfect in my mind; nor is it the fact that it is a generation2 Corvette, because even among the Gen2's, I believe the 64 hard top convertible is perfect, and every other model year C2 is less than perfect. (and yes, I can list every reason why I think that, but each of them comes down to a very minute detail where the 64 checks my preference, while the equivalent detail on the other model years does not... I also understand perfectly that my personal viewpoint does not "jive" with the Corvette world - In fact, it is 100% diametrically opposed to the general consensus. 64's are typically the WORST gen2 Corvettes, from a resell/collectibility standpoint.

AND- even though the 64 Corvette hardtop convertible checks all the aesthetic boxes for me, the engineering (while top notch in 1964) is still sub-prime today, which is why I further infuriate the Corvette purist crowd, with front disk brakes, dual master cylinder, more HP, and wider wheels/tires... It's still a car, and a car is meant to be driven (and further more: If it's Rob's car, then it's meant to be driven hard )

So, if I were to measure my personal fondness for any particular model, then does patholigical neurosis about details regarding a specific model count as the qualifying criteria? Or, might I establish a sense of "favoritism" for a model based on how many I've had? or how many years I have devoted to them?... or should I weigh my preferences based upon a reluctance to sell a particular car once I owned it?

If I use the criteria of how many years I have devoted and invested into a single model, then Nissan Patrols win- I've owned 6 (4 which ran and drove) over the past 25 years. Statistically, most people are "in and out" of any given classic vehicle, within a 5 year timeframe.

What is it about Patrols that has held my interest??? I don't exactly know; but they are still as cool today, as they were when I first laid eyes on one, way back in "whenever it was" (it was either late 95, or early 96)

And, I've actually owned more Jeeps than Patrols throughout the years, but the Jeeps were always purchased with the explicit intent to fix and flip- I've only purchased one Jeep (my 98 TJ Wrangler) that was officially "Mine" - all the rest were just temporary guests in Rob's automotive Bed and Breakfast...And to my psyche: a Jeep is just another Jeep, but you'd never hear me say "Yeah that's cool, but it's just another Nissan Patrol"..... Nissan Patrols are cool BECAUSE they aren't Jeeps. I think that's what sums it up.

Corvettes are also right up there for me- I've owned 5 throughout the years (well, 4 actually- One was my wife's, and it was yellow, so I don't think I'll count that one, ) but even with that, I was never (and I am still not) a "Corvette guy" - I'm just a car-guy who happens to like very specific Corvettes. I don't hang out with "Corvette people", and I don't have (nor have I ever had) a David Carey Corvette shirt; and again, every one of the Corvettes I have bought (and eventually sold) along the way was never a 64 hardtop convertible, so each one was never that difficult to let go.

and comparing Corvettes to Patrols...? yeah it's apples to oranges.

Now, from a sentimentality standpoint and a reluctance to sell a specific vehicle? That's easy.... There is only one, and there will always be only one, and I've already told that story:

viewtopic.php?f=21&t=1839&p=24207#p24207

Maybe my blue blazer is the analog to plateaucal's 69 Saab... I would not have sold that Blazer if I hadn't had to in order to make tuition payments, and if I hadn't sold it, I would most certainly still own it today, which is probably why I can understand plateaucal's sentiment about his Saab.

But that still doesn't make the Gen1 Blazer my "favorite of all time" as a model.

so, I've been thinking about it for a week, and typing about it now for nearly an hour... and as I sit here typing, It dawns on me that my fondness and eclectic interest in so many varied, classic 50's,60's early70's cars has grown to be more like a baseball card collector's devotion; only with one notable difference: I don't grow my collection. in fact, it drives me CRAZY to own more operational vehicles than I can drive at any one time (just like it drives my wife crazy to have so many "non-operational" vehicles sitting out under tarps in her back yard ); so I am always "thinning the heard" as projects finish, or as new projects come along (As evidenced by the recent transfer of ownership of the El Bondo Patrol- If a buyer hadn't approached me about the Patrol, then this green Blazer was probably going to get demoted to "For Sale" status.)

The green Blazer doesn't fill the 25 year old sentimental void left by the blue Blazer.. it can't, because the decision to buy or sell vehicles today doesn't carry the same gravity it did back then (and yes, I do count my blessings for that)... but the green Blazer is a baseball card. Fun to have, fun to look at, fun to drive, but it will be easy to trade, when the day comes.

Likewise, letting the El Bondo Patrol roll on down the road was a decision made easier after spending a few minutes in the backyard staring at the two more Nissan Patrols that are sitting there, patiently waiting their turn... (although, again.. I don't have the same sentimental attachment to any of my other Patrols that I have with El Bondo... I appreciated that Patrol so much that I rebuilt it TWICE, for crying out loud..)

But, If I had 3 Pete Roses, the left side of my brain would be constantly harping on me about WHY I had (or needed) 3 Pete Roses....

Or, perhaps my devotion to cars has grown to be more about the projects, than the vehicles themselves...? again, I don't know.

but yeah, it's like baseball cards.... My 72 Blazer was the 1st edition Pete Rose that I had to trade in my early years (which I still regret), and the 64 Corvette is the well-worn Mickey Mantle that I will never trade, unless/until a better Mickey Mantle comes along.

My 62 Patrol is hopefully going to be a Roger Maris when it's done.

All the rest have all been Randy Johnsons, Curt Shillings, and Johnny Benches... fun to look for, and great to have and admire, but easy to trade when the next "better one" came along...


This has been a fun thought experiment, and a fun trip down memory lane... All thanks to Chris's comment about the Saab 96...

[plateaucal]

We are car nuts. Think how much better off we'd be if we were investment banking nuts.

The greatest fail of my car buying history was the 1971 Plymouth Superbird that popped up in the Omaha World Herald about 1981. The asking price was $5k. I had exactly $5k in my bank account. I was also paying rent, tuition, etc. I pondered....and walked away from my dream car. Now $150k might get you one.

Old cars are an emotional, irrational pursuit. It gets into you at birth or shortly thereafter. But it was shortly after I purchased my first Saab that I had an epiphany. As I was staring it, I had a flash back to when I was about four or five. I suddenly remembered that characteristic Saab headrest from my youth. At that age all I could see of my Aunt's odd little car was the headrest as I stood on my tippy toes peeking into the window. Go figure, but now I know the rest of the story.

Robert, I would never tease you either. You are a gentleman and smart guy. However, I can proudly say I have never and would never intentionally own a GM product. And I cannot (maybe will not) tell you why.

[L60Boerne]

You know what? What a great romantic obsession! Great rigs that stand the test of time. Is there any better hobby for a right minded person?

Keep the faith, keep the values of our fathers and keep the eye on the future,

Patrolling in paradise,
L60Boerne