The Garage

When I first started looking for a car a few years ago, it was almost assumed that I would get a Dodge, like the rest of my family. My mom has a Shadow, my brother has a Ram, and my dad has a Caravan. I really wanted something cute like the Shadow, but I knew they were unreliable. Then I looked at Neon's, and found them WAAAY out of my price range. So then my insurance agent suggested something small, like an 80's model Accord or Civic. I looked all over for something I could afford, but nothing seemed to fit my criteria.

Then one day I was driving to my mom's office when I saw this green thing in the front of someone's yard with a "For Sale" sign in the window. My first reaction was "My God. That is just about the ugliest car I've ever seen."

But every day after that I would drive by on my way to pick up mom from work, and I would see it sitting there. After a while I started really looking at it and decided it wasn't really THAT ugly, in fact, it was kindof cute, in a weird sort of way.

Eventually I did have my uncle, a mechanic, come look at it and he said that for as old as it was it was in just about the best shape he'd ever seen. No rust, good alignment, clean oil, no leaks, except the clutch master cylinder, no body damage, and the same owner for it's whole life.

So as soon as my tax refunds came in, I bought my first car. A 1979 Datsun 210 (no, not B210) Hatchback 5speed. But because I didn't know how to drive a stick yet, I let my brother borrow it for a couple days until I could learn. Big mistake.


		My 1979 Datsun 210 HB - Thelma When I first started looking for a car a few years ago, it was almost assumed that I would get a Dodge, like the rest of my family. My mom has a Shadow, my brother has a Ram, and my dad has a Caravan. I really wanted something cute like the Shadow, but I knew they were unreliable. Then I looked at Neon's, and found them WAAAY out of my price range. So then my insurance agent suggested something small, like an 80's model Accord or Civic. I looked all over for something I could afford, but nothing seemed to fit my criteria. Then one day I was driving to my mom's office when I saw this green thing in the front of someone's yard with a "For Sale" sign in the window. My first reaction was "My God. That is just about the ugliest car I've ever seen." But every day after that I would drive by on my way to pick up mom from work, and I would see it sitting there. After a while I started really looking at it and decided it wasn't really THAT ugly, in fact, it was kindof cute, in a weird sort of way. Eventually I did have my uncle, a mechanic, come look at it and he said that for as old as it was it was in just about the best shape he'd ever seen. No rust, good alignment, clean oil, no leaks, except the clutch master cylinder, no body damage, and the same owner for it's whole life. So as soon as my tax refunds came in, I bought my first car. A 1979 Datsun 210 (no, not B210) Hatchback 5speed. But because I didn't know how to drive a stick yet, I let my brother borrow it for a couple days until I could learn. Big mistake.

My 1979 Datsun 210 HB - Thelma