In 2001 my dad sold his property in the country...complete with his antique car showroom...and it was time to down-size. He had some dozen cars of varying ages and in different stages of repair...all were Fords. Of course! In the mid-seventies he bought a new Lincoln Town Car...which he drove only on special occasions. After many years...the car joined his other antiques in the showroom...with very few miles on the odometer. So when it came time to part with all his vehicles...we kids all got to choose one...and some of us chose a few. My sister in Texas wanted the Lincoln...since it was in perfect shape and should not need repairs any time soon. Her plan was to fly to Seattle...where we would pick her up...and she would drive the car home after her visit to B.C..
We crossed the border without incident, but were just barely on the I-5 when I noticed a slight vibration at highway speed. If I drove a little slower...it seemed OK. And so I drove a little slower. And then the vibrating began again...and so I drove still slower. What to do? We took 'driving slow' to the nth degree! The vibration became a thumping sound...and though the tires looked OK...I was quite sure there was a tire issue of some kind. But we decided we would just continue to drive slow...and eventually we would arrive at our destination. We passed the factory outlets...but there was no stopping! Lunchtime came and went...but we ignored. We had a plane to meet! A trip that should have taken three hours...took us twice that long...but we eventually limped into the airport parking lot...and ran to arrivals where my sister was waiting.
I gave her the car keys...and delivered the Lincoln safely into her hands. Now what? The area surrounding the Seattle airport felt less than safe...but we went in search of someone who could give us some good advice. The verdict? Though the tires looked fine from the outside...they had totally disintegrated from within. The car needed new tires. We limped to the nearest Wal-Mart...and my sister purchased new tires...then and there. She learned early on that old cars cost a lot...even when they are free!
Our trip home was smooth sailing that day...as was her 2561 mile roadtrip to South Texas a week later. She still has the car today. Her neighbour wishes it was his...her son cleans it...and it gets driven once in awhile. She agrees that ...'old is good...just not always reliable'.
Have a wonderful Wednesday!
Too true about old cars! Perhaps I shouldn't be too anxious for The Great Dane to get his '57 TR3 onto the road.
ReplyDeleteI think I'd have been most disappointed to have missed the factory outlets!
Still looks the same, still has that new-car smell, and still spends most of the time in the garage without admirers while waiting for my neighbor to get his windfall so she can move to his side of the street. Meantime I visited the outlet mall yesterday...alas, without the '76 Lincoln (although there was plenty of parking room even for this ship!).
ReplyDeleteWhy can I just see you doing that? I had to smile imagaining the look on your face and Heidi's face and even your sisters face. Has she had to replace them again yet?
ReplyDeleteGlad it was only the tires :0)
ReplyDeleteWhat a great old car. Wonder how much the gas was to get her all the way to Texas!!
What a fun memory that adventure was!
ReplyDeleteAnother great story! How fortunate that you all got to pick a car to keep. I can't get enough of the old car stories!
ReplyDeleteI read this post earlier today. and when I saw that Lincoln Towncar, I had to call my husband. I found out his dad had one around the same year as your dad, and his was light blue. I thought this post was so interesting. The fact that you made it to the airport on time was a gift from God, although it was quite sad to miss the Outlets.
ReplyDeleteMy FIL gave his TC to us to use for a weekend getaway in New York. We loved driving it. He sold it a few years later though. My husband would love to have it now. So glad you shared this story. I live in a family who love to share any and every old car story, and most of them are Fords.
What a fun memory!
ReplyDeleteOh wow, Judy, you are lucky you did not have a dangerous tire blow out that day!
ReplyDeleteI heard a news report that cautions customers to buy new car tires where there is a high volume of sales as there can be old tires for sale that will cause the same problem.
Wow what a BOAT! Just perfect for Texas...did she get the bull horns to add over the grill?
ReplyDeleteYea HAW.
Great old car! My grandmother owns a 1986 Chevrolet Caprice, which we call "The Queen Mary." Good to know that your sis still is enjoying her car.
ReplyDeleteThose antiques run high in your family. Your father sure loved his cars didn't he? I love how you have had the opportunity to make such special road trips.
ReplyDeleteFun story, the old cars are sweet!
ReplyDeleteWe must have left early that day. I can tell by the slicked back wet ponytail hair and the coffee mug in hand.
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