1968 Olds

Cars & Me

For as long as I can remember I have had a passion for cars.

DEMOLITION DERBY 

My first car was a "clunker" that I purchased for $400.00 before I was old enough to drive.  My high school car had me climbing underneath every other day with a soup can, some muffler tape and a coat hanger to patch the exhaust.  I wasn't cheap I was poor.  When it was time to put it out of its misery, I had a plan!  I removed the glass, a neighbor welded the doors shut, and I hand painted the car. Then I proudly drove her down the highway to the Westborough speedway for demolition derby night. Ya I'm that kind of girl. I am not going to lie, it is scary when you look in the rearview mirror and see a car come barreling at you with the intent to hit your vehicle as hard as they can to crush your car and take it out of commission.  Just in case you are wondering, it doesn't take long for the cars to get WRECKED! 

1968 CAR ABUSE

I bought my 1968 Oldsmobile Cutlass S (7/5/1983) for $200.00.  I was at home when my brother Bob drove in the driveway with her.  I fell in love immediately.  I ran outside and said who's car?  He said it was his.  I said I'll give you 200 bucks.  He owned it for less than a day!   $200 was all the money I had.  Luck was with me that day.  I knew this car would end up crashed if my brother kept it.  So basically I saved her life.  Ya, I'm that kind of girl.  

She had some problems - the engine head was cracked and welded and just one winter later cracked again.  I didn't have any money to throw at her, so I just drove it until she wouldn't drive any longer.  She sat outback in my yard with my intent to save enough money to fix her.  She sat and she sat and when I moved, I took the car with me and had her dropped off in the back yard of my new place.  She sat out there very patiently while I raised my son.  As the years went by the thorn bushes grew over and covered her.  Nothing sadder than watching a classic rot away.  I was still poor and couldn't give her the life she deserved.  But I had dreams.  Big dreams.  Somethings are worth the wait.

OLD GAS TANKS STINK 

2014 was THE YEAR.  The year that I could invest some time and some money and make something old new again.  In February 2014, I began a frame off restoration project which was long over due.  It all happened so accidently.  I only wish I had done it much sooner.  As luck would have it I found the perfect person to work on my car!  My brother John just had his car worked on and it came out beautiful.  While I was at the garage admiring it, I just had to tell Dave what an awesome job he did. As we chatted I heard him talk about someday retiring and that is when the light bulb went off in my head.  I have to get Dave to do my car and do it now.  He accepted the challenge.  The timing was perfect.  My brother owed me some money and it was enough to put into the car and get her running.  Yes, originally I was looking for just fixing her up, not a complete restoration. Both Dave and John devoted many hours to bring this car back to life.  Before long, we were replacing everything. I am sure that most folks don't think about the condition of a car after sitting 28 years outside, but Dave enlightened me.  Apparently an old gas tank can be pretty disgusting and turn your stomach.  It took about 14 months to complete and the transformation was unbelievable.  

SAFFRON YELLOW 

My cutlass needed everything.  John and Dave worked on it with passion and perfection.  When Dave asked about what color I wanted it, I said yellow. I could sense that he wasn't really getting the yellow - but I pulled out a 1968 car magazine advertisement of my car, in yellow. I asked him to make my car look like the picture. Saffron yellow with a black stripe on the front fender.  Ironically Saffron yellow was also the original color of my car although the Westborough locals would remember it as a red car.  

SUNBURN RED

My first ride after her restoration was a blast.  Words cannot describe.  My brother suggested that I stay local, and take a short trip - because we are still "testing the waters".  After 2 hours he called me and asked me where I was.  "Halfway to Maine" I said, but I was only kidding.  The car was fine, I just couldn't stop driving it.  When I finally returned, my head was completely sunburned, my face, my neck, my scalp - I was RED red red.  I now carry sun screen all the time.

LOVE! - She was worth the wait.  She's my princess sunshine and dreams do come true.