I finally did it! I'm 58 years old. I've subscribed to Hot Rod Magazine since 1992. In December 2006 I read a HRM column by David Freiburger entitled "All the Vintage Conveniences." He said that the 1968 Dodge Dart, with its simplicity, directness, and fixability, is "the pinnacle of automotive convenience and driving pleasure." That spoke to me, but I've never worked on my own car or driven a hot rod. Until now. On May 27, I bought my purple hot rod. It's a '64 Mercury Cyclone with a 289 (?), 4-speed, gray Torq-Thrusts, black interior. It's LOUD. At idle it's rowdy and boomy; at low speeds there is lots of valve clatter and gear whine; at high RPM the engine gets even louder. "Automotive convenience?" I check the driveway for leaks at the start of each day. I make sure the oil pressure comes up as soon as I start the engine. Driving requires total concentration or there will be stallouts, ground gears, and missed shifts. After a drive I distrust the parking brake and park in a flat area, and check the taillights to make sure they are actually off. The heater core sprung a leak, so I removed it and sent it to The Brassworks for repair. In the meantime, the interior looks like a junkyard. Damn, this is fun!
The Jalopy Journal
