Posted by: Richard
03/07/2002, 19:56:48
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I first laid eyes on my 1974 Ford Maverick in 1988. Her bronze colored paint shining in the sun. The chrome exhaust tips, and the new interior. I told myself, that I have to own this car. I took my step dad to the car lot with me. He talked them down to $800 cash. I was very proud of it. I drove around town for hours, showed all my friends and took my brother for a ride.my brother was very impressed with the fact that a caught a third gear scratch. A couple of years later me and my new wife was at the grocery store, when the carry- out boy said"one of these days I will own a car like this". not too long after that we drove the Maverick to Six Flags on our first family vacation. My wife dropped me off at the airport when I left for operation Desert Storm, when I returned my wife picked me up in the Maverick. A few months later, to the airport again for another deployment. In the fall of 1992 it was off to Germany I go. I didn't see the car again until 1995. her paint wasn't quite so shiny anymore it was badly faded and had graffiti scratched on the sides, trunk and hood. The wind shield was cracked and had hail dents. some rust was starting to show its face. I dusted off some of the leaves, wrestled the door open and sat down behind the wheel. After brief battery charge couple dollars of gas she cranked right up. But, the reunion was short-lived off on another assignment I went. The next reunion was in 1998 when I got out of the Army. She was still there sitting in my backyard still more worse for the wear. I was too busy though, with my new career to pay her much attention. Aside from the occasional starting up to see if it still ran. One day in 2000 I decided that I would like to drive the car again. By now, the gas tank was rotted out. The gas tank was replaced. Soon discovered that the water pump was also rusted out. Also there are rusted spots in the floorboard from the leaking windshield. The paint is now badly oxidized. I have a new Pick-up and another car, but i like to drive the Maverick to work. so, anyway, I have been on this two-year process of stuff breaking and replaced. To numerous to count or list. I personally and lovingly rebuilt the transmission two weeks ago. Next week she gets a new radiator. But, so far no cosmetic improvements. But do you want to know something? People still turn their heads when I drive by, and somtimes I look down to the parking while at work, watch people back track to take another look her.
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