Frazz by Jef Mallett for April 19, 2021

When I was a kid the “car-crazy” guys spent a lot of time "up"grading their rides. And money too, of course. Most of them weren’t “muscle cars” per se, they were 10 years old or so, and they had rebuilt engines (if the kid had access to a shop) and fancy carburetors, fancy mufflers, chromed shifters, plush steering-wheel covers and, since we lived near the border w/ Mexico, which made it affordable. a tucked and rolled Naugahyde upholstery.

When I was in high school, a group of my friends and I would frequently talk about cars while eating lunch. Some friends would hold out for American muscle cars – Corvette, Camaros, Firebirds, Dodge Chargers, and the like. Others were more into foreign sports carts – Ferraris, Jaguars, Porsches, etc. I was in the Porsche camp.

Several years later, at a class reunion, one of my lunch-time car friends asked me, “So, do you have your red Porsche yet?”

My response? “Actually, it’s white.” :)

A white 1986 Porsche 944.

Later, I had a black 1999 Porsche 991 but that’s another, and somewhat disappointing, story. (Short version: It was a lemon.)

Where I’m from, deciding to get a car as a teenager meant you chose to work in one of the underground mines for the rest of your life. I got my first car (so to speak) when I was 23. My wife bought it ’cause I was still in school… Now if you get good grades, Dad will pay your tuition aaaand buy you a Camry.

Naugahyde??!!!!? Horrible, driving those wonderful organisms into near extinction!

https://images.app.goo.gl/GVFqqupNuScHvWFUA

fusilier

James 2:24

The majority of what are now called “sporty” cars that I see are driven by old guys wearing Boston scaly caps.

I’m not sure if Caulfield actually said anything.

I didn’t get my first “muscle” car until I was in my 50s, but that ‘02 Mustang, with aftermarket Mach 1 pinstriping was a thing of beauty. (Not so) sadly, when my wife was forced into retirement in 2010 (it was political, so I’ll not comment anymore), I had to dispose of “Melanie.” We had worked together, but since she got a different job after retiring from this one, she told me “I’m not getting up early to drive you to work when the roads are slippery.” I’m on year 11 with my Ford Exploder and it’s been paid off for seven years and I just turned 207,000 miles and I could not be happier with my current ride. I can’t go 0 to 60 in four seconds, but I’ve rescued my share of “hot” cars from snow drifts and cul-de-sacs that were plowed in.

My ride was a ’64 Chevy Biscayne for which I acquired the engine, headers, tranny, and positraction rear end from a t-boned wreck of a Super Sport. I have no idea how fast it went, as the speedometer pegged at 120.

Muscle cars. Brings a tear to my eye. I’d like to build one of my old ones from my youth. 1971 Chevy Vega, 302 cu in Z-28 Camaro motor and 4-speed transmission, headers, 1964 Chevy Nova posi-traction rear end with 5.13:1 gears, B50-14 extra wide tires. I could pull a wheelie in ALL 4 gears! Not sure how fast the car would go but the hole shot was incredible. Next step was to buy and install some wheelie bars. I honestly do not remember what I did with car when I went in the service. I think my Dad sold it. Oh yeah, this was 1975! I’ve had a few other American muscle cars since, but that was my favorite.

“Victor Mature green tomatoes won’t hold up next to Leo Genn’s impatiens.” New Danish Gardeners Press

go to your local Cars&Coffee this weekend. A high percentage of the boys with muscle cars have grey hair..

“The only difference between men & boys is the price of their toys.”

I’m not sure it made any sense or not – two unrelated phrases.

Definitely not a question.