|
story by
Erik Ievins
|
|
|
Shelly Dagg approached our mailing list with a dilemma.
It seemed that she had recently become the owner of her Aunt's 1965
Canadian Barracuda with 68,000 miles on it, bought on a whim when
her Uncle wanted it out of the garage. She knew it had been undriven
for years, and she knew it would need a little work, but after her
trusted local mechanic gave her a laundry list longer than her arm,
reality began to set in. New tires, brakes, fluid changes, all rubber
parts, fuel system cleanout...
 |
She loved the car, wanted it very much. But perhaps it would be
more of a hobby than a car. Besides, what would she do with it for
6 months of the year? "For those of you unfamiliar with Canadian
winters - if I have to explain, you wouldn't understand....! :)"
Maybe a true car enthusiast would love to have it, instead. But
should she fix the leaks before selling it, or leave it completely
original? Aside from a repaint 10 years ago in the original color,
everything was correct and in place. No torn seats, no cracked dash,
and negligible rust. A really nice car. If only it weren't so impractical
to keep. |
The quantity of energetic replies astounded her, as we all drooled
over her gem of a time capsule. Opinions varied, but in common seemed
to be the concept that, although the car needed work, it might not be
as bad as she feared. Her Aunt's mother (the original owner) was thrilled
to learn that there was still any interest at all in her old car.
| Whether the stars weren't lined up in the universe properly for
a sale to happen, or maybe some of us realized it would be cruel
to purchase such an amazing car from someone who clearly wanted
to keep it but didn't know how she could, Shelly started convincing
herself that she had some good options available. A short time later,
her solution materialized, when a mechanic friend offered to store
the car over the winter and then get it in driving condition for
the following spring. That would take care of the first winter's
storage problem, too! "I knew I could feel confident driving
it when the mechanic hopped in the car in the spring and delivered
it back to me - a five hour trip - just because he really wanted
to drive it!" |
 |
|
Shelly has lately been enjoying driving around every day in her
aunt's time capsule, and reports that it really turns heads. "I
have no problem with the non-power steering, brakes, etc.,"
she said, "and if I want tunes I throw a transistor radio
in the glove box." The little slant 6 powered car is now
clean enough to eat off of, inside and out, and she seems a little
surprised to see how much her husband enjoys keeping it so spotless.
Is it a show car, then? "I really have no interest in putting
it in any car show but someday I might. I know there aren't any
other ones like it around here. There's usually just the same
purple sparkle metallic '70 cudas all the time." She laughs
at the notion that her car was made in a feminine pastel color,
and admits that she would have chosen black. But it's too good
(and too original) to change.
|
Note the Canadian model uses a 65 Dart (US) dashboard. |
Yea, I'd say the car is a keeper. And is being enjoyed in a good home,
which was Shelly's original hope.
Shelly enjoys her Barracuda up in the Wilds-of-Manitoba, whenever there
isn't any snow.
|
