I liked the bit about kids still want a sports car, or fast car, or status
car.
I never got into any of the raging debate about Miatas, as I know little
about them. But the specs make it sound like the kind of car I would want
and could afford if I didn't still have Bluebell. The big thing is a new
car requires less maintenance.
(start bio)...I'm now 42, have 2 young kids, too many non-billable hours
spent on my company, and an old house. Lately, I just don't care enough to
spend the time on my old dear. It makes me very sad to see how much work it
needs. For instance, it wouldn't start a year ago last month so I left it
until last May. I was in a panic to get it going for an event so queried
the list and got excellent advice. The coil had shorted out, burned up the
wire in the distributor and melted the points. I still haven't got it
running again. In the past it has always been started every 4-6 months. I
get embarrassed when I read about the fanatical attention to detail some of
you have for your cars and feel a responsibility to maintain my little
piece of history. Problem is, to me it has always been a toy. Something to
play with. I enjoy drifting around corners (by myself) as fast as I can go
and have never been hurt doing so. (nothing requiring medical attention
anyway) The car looks in good shape to the uninitiated, just don't look at
the 200MPH duct tape around the ball joints with the grease oozing out.
My oldest brother (11 years older) bought a 57 TR3 about 1966, when he was
at The University of British Columbia and so, of course, I always wanted
one too. He died in 1971 after a short illness so my other brother got
Marigold and drove it for a few more years. It is sitting in his garage and
hasn't run in 30 to 35 years. All that time he has intended to get back to
it, maybe next year.
I bought my TR4A in 1975 while in grade 12. I wanted a convertible and had
$2000 in my pocket from working part of the previous year. I headed to the
big city (Vancouver B.C.) to get me a cool car. I really wanted a Healy
3000 lightning but they were selling for around $2200 to $2500 and up. (An
E-Type Jag was $6000) I got the TR for $1400 and had money left over for a
new clutch and insurance. After the first couple of years I only drove it
in the summer. The only time I seriously thought of selling it was as a
down payment on a house in 1989. My wife said no. She would rather wait to
buy a house if it meant giving up the sports car. We are in our 2nd house
now and are staying here. That is if we can keep finding work for my
business. Anyone need a map made?
It seems writing is cathartic - to hell with making money - it's a
beautiful day here on The Island and I'm going to get old Bluebell out of
the garage.
Rod Knox
1967 TR4A - CT 67907
purchased 1975
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