|
In 1996 after graduation from Law School I bought my first car, a full trim 1989 6 speed Corvette with 43,000 miles on it (I know this is the Z newsletter it heads that way soon). My wife related it to her father's gold 1983 280ZX. She was the only one of the three sister he trusted to drive the car. Very sadly, dad passed away in October of 1998 of a sudden heart attack.
Since that October the car has not left their Long Island driveway. I started her in 2000 only after I charged the battery; turned over like a charm. The gold 1983 suffered from the ever formidable rail rust and a hole above the exhaust pipe in the trunk but I was determined to fix her (I still am, really). That was Z start of Z bite.
Late 1999, I found a 1983 T-top that I thought would be a good donor for parts. Extra special, the engine "had just been gone through" the year before and sounded strong. The "how much" was only $250 that I thought to be the bargain of all bargains. Heck, I could sell the T-tops on E-Bay for that much. Using the out-of-date British Vic. catalog found in the car, I began calculating costs for dad's car and quickly concluded the $250 was awesome (Yea, the car sat in my driveway through months of snow until my new flame was discovered. (Hey, I bought a new battery and I start her regularly))
On a warm, bright sunny day in July 2000, I was delivering chairs back to a nearby town after an office party. While filling the truck at a one pump gas station, I looked across the street at the local salvage dealer and there she was, my 1981 280ZX. I had to go over and look at her, I wanted her. Clearly the car was just restored (and wrecked), everything was new and I had already priced such things, it would be out of my price range I thought. The front quarter had been crushed to heck and the wheel and tire were in the trunk along with the air dam and skirt but I could only see a beauty even that early in our relationship. After a couple of visits, we struck a deal, I paid enough to get me through the Rochester Theft Bureau/Salvage Title inspection. Paint would have to wait for spring because the dealer took so long to repair my diamond we were already into the winter/snow heavy season.
He finally completed his end of the bargain in late November 2000 and I was more than ready to take it to my parent's new house and garage. I'd have to wait for a "clear" day to pull her out of the snow bank around her and jump the battery. The 20 mile drive was great, boy was this car tight and that was with two 15" tires in the front and two 17" in the rear. The Centerline Wheel I had ordered from Summit Racing wasn't in yet (that is a whole story in itself!). I didn't even have the wheel for the inspection in February, I drove to Rochester with a taped and rough screwed front air dam, the two 15" front tires and a black quarter panel off a 1981 donor the dealer had bought. I sighed relief when the inspector can into the waiting room to tell me I was good to go, he didn't even want a copy of my receipts. I am sure the "new" Mercedes in the next bay over drew more attention to the theft inspectors than did my Z, though I had the better car for sure.
With some determination, a little money, some blue loom and silicone hoses, the car's fog lights and roll bar bought back from the prior Gettysburg, PA owner, she is back to what his dream car looked like before he looked down into his lap for the hot drink that was the demise of the car he took so log to build..
Dumb Luck he wasn't just a soda drinker she'd still be his. Boy he must miss her, I know I do just on the weekdays I don't drive her. This winter looks to be a very, very long one.
|
|
