For fun and profit

When I was making plans for returning to civilian life after ten years in the Navy, one of my top priorities was to determine just how much money I would need to make to maintain the standard of living I was used to. This was not as simple a task as it seems. There was government housing, various tax breaks, meal allowances, etc.

One of the benefits I forgot to consider was the free cars.

That's right, free cars. You see, people give me cars. I'm not sure why, but they do. Or did, rather; I haven't been given a car in over a year now. I chalk it up to Sailors getting transferred and only being paid to move one car. If they didn't want to pay to have them moved, they would make a half-hearted attempt to sell. As the transfer date grew near, they gave them away. And I would always take them.

Here is a partial list of cars I have been given.

1993 Oldsmobile Achieva (the underAchieva) - given to me partially disassembled with a cracked head. The most expensive free car (in repairs), but also the one I put the most miles on. Sold on Ebay for a couple of hundred dollars.

1985 Ford Bronco II - Absolutely horrible condition, but it ran. I drove it until it wouldn't run anymore (about 2 months) then sold it on Ebay for the new tires that were on it.

1989 Ford Bronco II - Excellent body and interior, ran fair. All power options, etc. Sold this one for $800 on Ebay.

1990 Chevy Beretta - Nothing wrong with this car except that the legal owner was dead and his son didn't want to deal with the paperwork of getting the title in his name. I drove it for many miles with a tag from another car. I got lucky. Sold on Ebay as a parts car.

1985 Jeep Grand Wagoneer - 33" tires, huge truck. Ran well, needed transmission. Sold to a neighbor for $500.

1972 MGB Roadster - Beautiful car. Far and away the best free car I've ever had. Very good interior. Engine had a death rattle. I drove it for 6 months anyway. I wish I had kept this one and rebuilt the engine. Sold on Ebay for $1800.

There were more, that's all I can think of right now. If you have a car you'd like to give away, drop me a line at dorri732 at gmail dot com.

Do you have a story to tell?

I was talking to my buddy Steve a while back and I asked him, "Do you know why I hate working under cars?"

Without any hesitation he asked, "because one time you were working on the front suspension of an Opel when the jackstands sank into the dirt enough that the front crossmember pinned your chest just enough that you couldn't get enough breath to yell for help and it took you 45 minutes to wiggle free?"

I said "no, it's because dirt always falls in my eyes, but do you have a story to tell?"

He said "I think I just did".

Do you have a story to tell?