Wellll, I'm 50, single, with no pets, debts or anyone to nag me :)
I work as a corporate legal assistant in a large NY law firm which is OK but
not exciting as my former career which was photography, but being laid off
too many times led me to a career change. I did my first album cover when I
was 17 for BB King, subsequently I had photos on a Jeff Beck album, Led Zep,
Melissa Manchester, Kiss and a few others which escape me. I worked for
Columbia and Atlantic records in their former photography studios. I have a
BFA in photography from the Fashion Institute of Technology.
I got my car jones from my Dad who bought a used 57 MGA in 62 and then sold
it in 66 for a used early 63 289 Cobra with wire wheels. I remember
"helping" him work on the cars and I even waxed his cars, and once, even his
windshield, as a present. He took me to many races at Bridgehampton and
other tracks around Long Island to see demolition derbies, fuelies and
midgets race and other kinds of cars I can't remember.
While my Dad was into owning muscle cars (and had a lot more money than me)
I was into owning smaller sports cars. I was smitten by the MGA but not
terribly impressed by the mucho faster Cobra which my Mom made him sell when
I reached driving age. I totaled his 69 396 Camaro which replaced the Cobra.
Maybe my Mom was right after all :)
I had my first ride in a Roadster in about 68 when my friend, Rick, whose
Dad owned a Datsun dealership, gave me a ride in his used yellow 67.5 2L to
photograph a tennis match. I bought my first car at Rick's dad's dealership
where I purchased a used 67 1600 in 70 for the princely sum of $1200, but
that included new tires, a complete tuneup and a repair manual, as well as
great discounts on car parts. That car lasted about 1.5 years when it was
'kissed' by a truck on the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway. I replaced it with a
68 2 door 510, which to be honest I didn't like too much and kept it for 1.5
years. I replaced it with a used 71 240. I sold the 240 because of the high
cost of insurance and I never really drove it as I lived in "the City" and
only used it on weekends when I went to visit my folks. All the cars were
purchased at Rick's dad's place. I still get my car parts there at a great
discount but he doesn't own it anymore.
I bought my current Roadster in 79 from the original owner (it was a wedding
present to her) and it was in horrible condition - probably a junk yard car
by west coast standards. Too young, too naive, too stupid and too stubborn
to stop me from restoring it though. It was finished in 81. It was stolen in
91 and I did another body off in 92 which coincided with me being laid off
again. I finished the car in 3 months. The timing couldn't have been better.
In 83 I restored a rust free early 74 260Z which was totaled after being
rearended at a stop light in 90 on my birthday :(
I got to keep the car and I disassembled it and put all the good stuff
(almost the entire car) in my basement. 3 years ago I bought a 73 240 which
is in the slow process of being worked on as soon as I fix my stupid
Roadster motor again - soft camshaft.
Mike
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