cazalea
[Seiko Moderator]
20745
New cars flooding in for many guys, while my old car has slipped away
I first saw it here, in Canada, and I deduced that A Vendre in the rear window meant For Sale. A group of crazy Frenchmen from Lyon were driving from Montreal to Vancouver, in 1986.
The owners had bought this car new intending someday to take it to Canada and drive across with their daughters. You know how those French guys are -- always itching for a "Raid"
We made a deal on the spot. They continued on their journey, I flew home to San Diego, and I went back to work while my wife went to visit my family near Seattle.
Soon the French guys got to the West Coast and this picture is from the day it was delivered to my mother's house in Kirkland. My wife drove it down to San Jose, I flew up, and we drove it home together.
This was her daily driver to school when she taught at a college nearby, and in addition it's been almost everywhere on the West Coast, from the bay to the desert.
Even out to Area 51 (no aliens seen)
On a trailer driving skills really don't matter but she had to look authentic, and who was I to object?
Gary, wearing his Vietnam era Rolex.
We went on a few trips together in whatever cars I had at the time, such as this burgundy/black Charleston.
Soon the French guys got to the West Coast and this picture is from the day it was delivered to my mother's house in Kirkland. My wife drove it down to San Jose, I flew up, and we drove it home together.
This was her daily driver to school when she taught at a college nearby, and in addition it's been almost everywhere on the West Coast, from the bay to the desert.
Even out to Area 51 (no aliens seen)
and deep into Baja.
The car starred in Killer Tomatoes Attack France; Angela Visser Miss Universe sat in here with me, I helped her relearn to drive a 2CV... while she smiled at me, I just grinned at her beauty and charm.
On a trailer driving skills really don't matter but she had to look authentic, and who was I to object?
We loved our cats and our cars. This is about 25-30 years ago.
At one time I foolishly had custody & maintenance resposibility for 7 2CVs and variants, and in a moment of weakness, I let my Navy Seal pal Gary talk me out of the gray car.
Gary gave it lots of love, a new paint job, and the woody treatment using panels he'd built for a trade show car.
Gary, wearing his Vietnam era Rolex.
We went on a few trips together in whatever cars I had at the time, such as this burgundy/black Charleston.
We talked him into new vanity plates - TREE CV
Sadly Gary died just a few years later, and his nephew Jim inherited the car. Jim and I had already done an epic voyage with Gary's yacht up to Seattle, and another trip to Alaska, so we were pals.
The time wasn't right for Jim to take possession (Job, moving), so he sold it back to me for a pittance with an agreement to get it back later at the same price... and now 10 years have passed, I'm older and Jim's retired.
He drove down from Washington for our 50th anniversary celebration, and we made the swap today.
If you see this rig heading back up Interstate 5 to Whidbey Island, give it a wave.
Sadly,
Cazalea
I kept this sign for now, because when a spouse dies, the partner doesn't clean out the closet too quickly...
New cars flooding in for many guys, while my old car has slipped away
I first saw it here, in Canada, and I deduced that A Vendre in the rear window meant For Sale. A group of crazy Frenchmen from Lyon were driving from Montreal to Vancouver, in 1986. The owners had bought this car new intending someday to take it to Canada...
Yes, it was
but this one is still here for awhile, albeit a bit rustier than shown ...
That has a long tale too, maybe a separate thread
Born in 1964 in Belgium, it was brought to a salvage yard in about 1970 with a broken chassis. My friend Chris was working at the cash register and gave £12.50 for it. He took the body home and used it as a garden shed. It was LHD originally and when Chri...
What an amazing, charming and wonderful journey!
Somehow I am sure the car will make another appearance in your life - 3 after all is a lucky number in some cultures. Maybe you’re approaching the CV in a Patekian spirit of taking care of it for successive next generation 😊👍🏻👏🏻
Thanks for reading; here's a part of the story I forgot to tell earlier
Way back in 1992 or so I was sent to China by my company. Not too many westerners in the regions we visited, and very few cars... anyway traveling over there I was spending the night in a Peninsula Hotel in Hong Kong. The bellhop guy took me up to my room...