Many years ago we purchased a Ford Escort from our church (we are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints aka LDS aka Mormons). It had been purchased new by the church and served as a missionary car for around five or six years before we purchased it. I need to point out that this car had no other owners except the church and us. After over ten years of our ownership the driver's side rear shock rusted out at its attached point. I emptied the trunk and pulled up the carpet to inspect how bad the damage was. To my surprise I found a nickle bag of really dry weed and a very rusted Smith and Wesson 38 semi-automatic pistol. No idea how those items got there. ... View more

I had to laugh about the "Crowbar to the head" method of auto repair. On my 1976 Triumph Spitfire 1500 I had to replace the leaf spring that travels across the back of the car to the wheels. It had to be carefully lowered by hand onto four bolts under a removable cover behind the seats. My fingers still hurt from that experience but I got it done and the car is still on the road (for now).  ... View more

I own a 1976 Triumph Spitfire 1500 that I work hard to keep up to snuff. We love to take it up the Metroparks roadway up to Lake Erie to get ice cream at Huntington Beach. Last week we decided to use it to do our errands and to save time took it on I-71 into the city (Cleveland). To say the least it was an "exciting" ride. At the top speed of 60 (that is the fastest that I dared) we could feel every crack and seam in the road. It was a great ride but not one I would do on a regular basis. Another reason to own vintage is the "Wow" factor. When you pull up to a light and get thumbs ups and hoots. that is worth all the hours of wrenching. ... View more