I had no choice!

Two days after Christmas the car’s original owner’s son offered to buy the car. What was I going to say? Apparently, when his dad died his step-mother hid the car from him, and eventually sold it to me. When he found the car, he asked me if I would sell it, and I gave him a number that I thought was fair. What was the right thing to do, I asked? The answer was clear. I agreed to sell it, and he picked the tangerine ’69 912 of my dreams up today.

Even though I knew from the moment I met him what I had to do, it was still hard. Yes, it is just a car. And for me, I have a few. But, the tangerine ’69 912 was what I thought was a culmination of a 1 1/2 year search for the right car to keep and drive forever. First there was the ’65 that I bought in November of 2019. Too much rust to get on the road quickly.

Then I found the ’67 in March of 2020, just as COVID was causing lockdowns. The car was in much better shape than the ’65, but, still needed considerable metal work. That car is currently in Virginia undergoing a complete metalwork rebuild. Again, too much work to get on the road quickly. Frustrated with my failed searches to find the right car to begin driving quickly, I stewed all summer long. To help with my mindset I built a tangerine color workbench for the car I was searching for, even though I hadn’t located it yet. I knew I was going to find one. It was just a matter of time.

I thought the ’69 was the car. When I found Charlie I was elated. It had been some time since I was that excited to buy a car. Yes, it needed a little rust work, and a paint job. But, it ran. And for me, that was unique. My family joked that I had to buy three cars just to find the right one, and they were right.

Back to the search I go. I know that there is a plan. And I know that I will find the right car. The search is part of the fun, and that makes this a little easier. But, I will miss Charlie number three.