Has it been 20 years?

I discovered this old photo in with my old report cards and memorabila stuff that I didn't know I had.

Thats me on the driver side and my best friend at the other side. You may recall I've mentioned him a few times.

My dad bought this car right before we moved to Texas. Someone owed him some money so he took the car as payment. It sat in the driveway for years but I kept it in running order in the extreme unlikely event that I would be able to drive it when I turned 16. If I remember correctly this pic was taken sometime around January '86.


With the little gas money I could scrounge up, we would cruise around and look at stuff. We weren't able to afford anything except a dollars worth of gas here and there but the sense of freedom was good enough.

For all you non car junkies out there the car in the picture is a 1974 Dodge Dart Sport.

It had been wrecked and put back together before my dad got it and they forgot to put a seal on the firewall. Everytime it rained or I drove through a car wash, gallons of water would pour all over the feet of the front passenger. This defect also gave the car a mildew smell.


I never had to worry about anyone stealing this car because I was the only one who knew how to drive it. The operator of this vehicle had to stand outside to start the car because any pressure on the drivers seat would disable the starter unless the seatbelts were fastened.


The seatbelts were broken, as well as the radio, speedometer, air conditioner, etc...
But the car was mine and I was grateful to have it.

I was not allowed to drive to school even though I had a license, insurance and parking permit. I was forced to ride the school bus and explain to my friends why I wasn't driving them to school in my car. Pretty soon I realized that my mom left before me and got home after I did so I could drive with her being none the wiser. Yeah right! Someone who worked with my mom saw me and happened to mention it to her. Don't kids always get caught that way?

I miss the freedom of driving old junkers. Nobody wants to park next to you, people don't road rage on you because they know you have nothing to lose except some faded paint and a chunk of bondo. It's also great being able to fix your own car on the side of the road with duct tape and a coat hanger.

I missed the old Dodge after it went to the great used car lot in the sky. If there is any justice in the world my car went on to donate parts to it's brethren then was melted down and reincarnated into a Caddilac or something.