I thought I was cured, but it looks like a relapse...
Posted: Wed Aug 22, 2012 11:38 pm
Greetings all,
Well it appears that I have fallen for the Roadster once again. I had one for many years back when they were a new car, in fact it was one of the first good cars I ever bought. Sold it to my brother once, bought it back and eventually sold it for good in the 80's. Went the Z car and dime route for some time and sold my last one of those a few years back. Came across some roadster info on the web and the Sirens' song was stong, next thing I know I start actually looking for one...
Saw a 2 liter on the CL not too far from me over in the Baltimore area a few weeks back and went to see it. The first look was "Oh man, what am I thinking?", but looked a bit beyond the crappy faded Macco paint job. All the pieces are here and dang the floorboards, rockers and rear fenders are solid. Got it up on a lift and the uderside is solid as well. Turned out to be a two owner car that spent most of it's life in sunny CA and the rest sitting around under cover out here. Fresh engine and gearbox, servicable interior, decent top and covers, and it ran just great on a test ride -except for the brakes were a bit scary trying to get it stopped in a straight line. Not bad for a car that had been sitting for several years.
I had to have it. So now I am back as a crazy roadster owner.
Trailered it home and good thing too as the radiator hose blew out driving it off the trailer followed shortly by the fuel pump. Both were fixed with the spares that came with the car so it was on to sorting the brakes and then driving it. So far I have gone almost 200 miles and every mile has put a smile on my face. I had forgotten what great fun the Roadster is. I just drove it around for about an hour earlier tonight and it was a blast but had to turn for home too soon as that crazy long heater hose started to leak some fluids.
The work list is already long with a decent paint job and all new rubber on the list near the top. The purchase cost is the tip of the berg for sure; at least I know that up front. Best part is my wife thinks it is the coolest car; she likes riding in it and can't wait for it to get painted. I think I will keep her - the roadster of course...
Well it appears that I have fallen for the Roadster once again. I had one for many years back when they were a new car, in fact it was one of the first good cars I ever bought. Sold it to my brother once, bought it back and eventually sold it for good in the 80's. Went the Z car and dime route for some time and sold my last one of those a few years back. Came across some roadster info on the web and the Sirens' song was stong, next thing I know I start actually looking for one...
Saw a 2 liter on the CL not too far from me over in the Baltimore area a few weeks back and went to see it. The first look was "Oh man, what am I thinking?", but looked a bit beyond the crappy faded Macco paint job. All the pieces are here and dang the floorboards, rockers and rear fenders are solid. Got it up on a lift and the uderside is solid as well. Turned out to be a two owner car that spent most of it's life in sunny CA and the rest sitting around under cover out here. Fresh engine and gearbox, servicable interior, decent top and covers, and it ran just great on a test ride -except for the brakes were a bit scary trying to get it stopped in a straight line. Not bad for a car that had been sitting for several years.
I had to have it. So now I am back as a crazy roadster owner.
Trailered it home and good thing too as the radiator hose blew out driving it off the trailer followed shortly by the fuel pump. Both were fixed with the spares that came with the car so it was on to sorting the brakes and then driving it. So far I have gone almost 200 miles and every mile has put a smile on my face. I had forgotten what great fun the Roadster is. I just drove it around for about an hour earlier tonight and it was a blast but had to turn for home too soon as that crazy long heater hose started to leak some fluids.
The work list is already long with a decent paint job and all new rubber on the list near the top. The purchase cost is the tip of the berg for sure; at least I know that up front. Best part is my wife thinks it is the coolest car; she likes riding in it and can't wait for it to get painted. I think I will keep her - the roadster of course...
