Hi All--
I was driving to the grocery store and spotted a 1961 Series II for
sale. I took notes; 70K original miles, series III Weber carb, lots of
other little improvements I didn't understand. I peered into it and
looked it over very thoroughly and wrote down the telephone numbers,
meaning to call later.
I drove back from the grocery the same way, and I spotted a new green
Disco pulling into the driveway of the home in front of which the Series
II was parked. A young woman got out; I rolled down my window and asked
if she were the one selling the Landy. She nodded, so I stopped and
explained that I wasn't interested in buying. I would, however, like to
sit in it and smell it and stuff like that; it was research for a story.
"Want a ride?" she asked, jingling her keys and grinning.
Oh, indeed, I did. She tooke me around several blocks and then made me
drive the last half-block back to her house. I actually managed it
without ruining any gears; not bad for someone who hasn't driven a stick
for over twenty years.
No one told me there was no insulation on the doors and that you could
see all the parts for the latches. When people said Series vehicles
don't have very good heaters, I didn't realize that meant that there was
a small black box next to the steering wheel that was supposed to heat
up the entire interior, and that if you weren't careful you could bang
something on it. Shifting and using the clutch, though, those were as
described. Now I know what the yellow and red knobs do.
But most of all I got to smell it. It smelled like the jeep I drove in
the Army thirty-one years ago.
I was scared to ask her how much she wanted for it. Good thing, too. I
got home and said to my wife, "I spotted a Land Rover for sale. ..."
and she interrupted me to say, "I hope you didn't buy it!"
<g>
<but-now-i-know-what-the-attraction-is>-ly y'rs,
Ivan;-)
----------------------------------------------
Ivan Van Laningham
Symantec
http://www.pauahtun.org/
http://www.foretec.com/python/workshops/1998-11/proceedings.html
Army Signal Corps: Cu Chi, Class of '70
Author: Teach Yourself Python in 24 Hours
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