OK, OK...
I once thought about posting in that "Are you into other vintage areas?" thread when I first started hanging out here, but told myself "No... it's in the past - let it go!" (Basically, I've had to struggle my whole life not become a mulleted, ******* motorhead, and bikes are supposed to be my salvation.) But I'm obviously surrounded by like-minded and sympathetic people here, so what the hell. In my case, most of my life story can be told through references to old mechanical things that I've owned - right up to my current obsession with vintage mountain bikes. It's who I am, I guess, so no point in being ashamed.
Based on some of the vehicles above, it appears that great minds think alike.
In about 1980, at 14 years old, I rescued a 1967 firebird from the junkyard. I restored it in time to take it to college, and then slowly ran it back into the ground. Just like Laffeaux's, it was my only car for about 10 years - which is quite amazing considering the amount of snow where I live. Thank god for bicycles. Here's one of a few photos I have, from spring break, senior year, 1988. 400 Pontiac big block, tri-power, Muncie M22 4-speed, limited slip differential, and many shared adventures. I ruled, man:
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After I had my first kid in 1991, I parked the Firebird with the intention of restoring it again some day. But when I had a
2nd kid in 2003 it became clear it was never going to happen. So I traded it for a very original 1967 Airstream Caravel, which I still have and use regularly. (Much more family-friendly hobby). During most of the interim period, I also drove a really nice 1970 Bronco, which I had to sell when I was building a home, but I can't find any pictures of it at the moment. I'll have to edit this when I locate one. But here's the airstream, from this last summer:
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Then, after having a 3rd kid in 2006, I suppose I had a mid-life crisis... and I tried the classic car thing once again - partly restoring a 1977 FJ40. But I sold it shortly after, in 2008, to put the oldest kid through college... and at that time decided/realized that tinkering with old mountain bikes, which have always been in the picture anyway as you can see, is every bit as satisfying as tinkering with old cars - plus a whole lot cheaper and healthier.
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I don't need to explain to anyone here why I'm attracted to "classic" things over newer, mundane alternatives - but I often think about how my preference and tastes for
certain bikes - Bridgestones, Bontragers, Ibis (Ibi?), etc. - were being formed before I even understood why. I think they must represent the best of the "production class" or "working-man's" rides. In the same way that I'm not likely to own a Ferrari Barchetta or Airfloat Navigator, I don't hold out hope for a Ritchey Annapurna or a Cunningam Indian. But I can have a hell of a nice Pontiac if I want it bad enough!!!