Car Accident

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This post is dedicated to my friend John Yager.  Fellow car enthusiast and a true connoisseur.

In 1969, my new husband Billy gave my sixteen year old brother his car. Well, technically he sold it to him at an advantageous, “still on the honeymoon, brother-in-law” price.

A couple of thousand dollars, as I recall.

My brother liked it a lot.  And it took him back and forth to school, on dates, the prom.  You know, typical teenage stuff.

But early on, it was car-jacked.  Somebody stole it and joy-rode around in it for a couple of weeks.

Then, to everyone’s surprise and relief, it got returned (!) in pretty good condition. (!!)

(I think the radio had been removed and the horn never worked properly again, but all in all, it was a miraculous recovery and Kenny was thrilled to have it safely back in the fold.)

Kenny and his reunited car were a happy pair for a year or two more.

And then he got tired of it, or wanted something else, or whatever.

And my parents sold it.  Probably for what they had paid Billy for it.

No big deal.

Fast forward to now.

This was the car Billy handed down to Kenny.

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For the non-car buffs amongst you, this is a 1965 Shelby GT-350.

According to Bloomberg.com, today worth in the $150-200k range. (In great condition- and a radio.)

Kenny and I are still heartsick over this total lapse in car-ownership judgement.

Are there two sadder words in the English language than “If only…?” ***

***(Well maybe.  “What party?” has always been a contender in my book.)

Here it was.  The Norman Rockwell painting hidden in the wall, the Rembrandt etching in the attic, the Hope Diamond at the yard sale, the $200,000 patchwork quilt on Antiques Roadshow.

The big one that got away.

Gentlemen, start your handkerchiefs.

I’ll never get close to a car this valuable again.

This is what the new version of the Shelby looks like, btw.

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Sweet.

If someone wants to sell it to me at a “honeymoon” price, I’m game.

But truth be told, I’m more of an Audi girl.

And the next time I go shopping for one, I want to buy it from dis guy.

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22 Responses to Car Accident

  1. The great thing about having your own blog, Ellen, is that you get car-te blanche to write about anything you want. But knowing you, you like to keep it Audi in the family. Don’t know whether you (Robert De) Niro-ly laughed or cried …

  2. Kennedy Hawxhurst says:

    I feel similar remorse when I think of my 1957 Gibson Les Paul Custom, bought for $125 from the disinterested brother of a friend, sold for not much more than that to avoid eviction form my college digs…. and now worth appx $32,000

    • Ellen Ross says:

      Ouch! I feel your pain. My son collects guitars and I know that this one had to hurt. Thanks, Kennedy.

  3. Ken Roffe says:

    I thought it was a 1967. What a great high school ride!!

  4. x-1 says:

    Still my favorite car I ever owned. Better than suburb SVX, Mercedes 280 SLK and even my Aston Martin. Cop stopped me on the highway and had me rev the engine just to hear what it sounded like. Then suggested I slow down and let me go!

    • Ellen Ross says:

      Glad you concur. But I want to see that Aston before I decide for myself. The Catalina convertible was pretty nice. And your mother’s yellow Lincoln Continental convertible kicked major ass. Thanks for ringing in here. And slow down.

  5. Kevin G says:

    Your Audi A8 and TT are two of my favorites.

    Or as you called it, “the black car.”

    You have great taste.

    • Ellen Ross says:

      Yes I do. In cars and accountants. I LOVED that TT. It was lipstick red to match my fingernail polish and a blast to drive. That was the most fun I ever had behind the wheel. So far.

  6. Steve Wolff says:

    Some day, after Letter From Elba launches you into super stardom, all of your things are going to be worth way more than they are today (much like the Shelby).

    If I print out this blog and you sign it (and don’t sign any others)…hmmm, and then if I bury it in the glove compartment of a Shelby GT-350…between the two, can you imagine how much that would be worth???

  7. Vivian Kramer says:

    I feel your pain. When we were first married, Loren had a new 1963 silver split window Corvette Sting Ray. It was amazing looking and it took off like a rocket! It was a 2 seater and by late 1968 we had two children and one car, which didn’t work very well. We were very sad to sell it for very little, but enough to buy the first of a series of horrible used Ford sedans. Today, that car would be worth upwards of 200k… but it wasn’t what we needed at the time.

    • Ellen Ross says:

      Oh if only. We sold a little Mercedes 450SL for the same reason. And even though we later became friends with the couple who bought it for their Palm Springs house, I wish we had kept it. Well Loren can always but another Corvette now. You’re both young enough to pull it off.

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