cazalea
[Seiko Moderator]
17108
I've only been stopped 3 times in 55 years
Once for obviously speeding down an on-ramp to the freeway at 80 mph
I said, "Officer, the car MADE ME DO IT"
(and it wasn't the 2CV or the Peugeot 505 Estate), it was the Buick Turbo Regal
Then I got stopped in Prague by a cop who had been following me for 10 minutes, turning before a sign (rather than after) and ending up in a driveway only open to park employees. Traffic fine, roughly $10 US in cash paid to the Prague police beer fund. Because I was an American driving a German car in Czech the policeman was quite confused -- he even gave me a receipt.
Third time was in my own city, near Old Town in San Diego. I was driving around with a member of the EPA Smog Control team, who happened to be out from Michigan on a vacation. The policeman stopped us because I was trying to be extra-French, and kept yellow headlight bulbs in my 2CV which are not legal in the US.
He was about to let me off with a warning when my common-sense-deficient friend (!^&%^%#) started to insult the officer's Harley-Davidson -- "these things are gross polluters" and the insulted representative of the law did a full equipment inspection on me, forcing me to change the bulbs, fix the windscreen washers, and put the front US number plate on the car before I could drive it again.
I've found if you keep moving with the flow of traffic, always park on private property and not on the street, you have few problems. I've never put the front plates on my Lotuses, and on only a few of my other 2CVs.
A Voyager and True Grits
In 1984 I had been working for an automotive publisher for 5 years. I was 33 years old. My boss handed me a peachy assignment one day - "Go check out this new vehicle." That in itself wasn't unusual, but he wasn't sending me to the dealership across the r...
Great story...
...and a really fun read. The 'pre surveillance' good old days...gone but not forgotten : )
Awesome story! 6000 miles with no plates or registration? Wow!
And back then it was strictly 55mph in most states. You never got pulled over? Bravo!
No, never got stopped or questioned
I did have a card from the PR guy, and he said it was insured, but who knows? Maybe there was a manufacturer plate or something. I can’t remember… 37 years ago.
Yes, it was on a modified version of the K - the minivan was on an S platform
CHRYSLER CORP. FRONT WHEEL DRIVE CARS Platform Years Vehicle Type Chrysler Dodge Plymouth Eagle Jeep L 1978–1990 subcompact car - Omni 024 Charger Rampage Horizon TC3 Turismo Scamp - - K 1981–1989 mid-size car LeBaron Town and Country Executive Aries 400 ...
I've only been stopped 3 times in 55 years
Once for obviously speeding down an on-ramp to the freeway at 80 mph I said, "Officer, the car MADE ME DO IT" (and it wasn't the 2CV or the Peugeot 505 Estate), it was the Buick Turbo Regal Then I got stopped in Prague by a cop who had been following me f...
What a story
Didn’t really ze you’re such a great writer as well you man of 1,000 talents
Epic story Mike ! ...
I remember hiring a later version in Florida, it was a very comfortable vehicle for doing long distances, with a lot of kit onboard.
It is always a great pleasure to read your posts, you never disappoint.
Good stories, great pictures, merci!
What a fantastic read
Real history, thanks for sharing. I look forward to more of your 🚘 stories.
