New
Yorker Memory LaneNew
Yorker Memory Lane
I will miss this car. It served me more or less faithfully for almost four years. I rebuilt it's engine with my own two hands, drove it all around California and gave it all the care it needed. It survived hits from BMW's and Chevy trucks, but it was severe engine overheating followed by electrical and gasoline fires that finally did it in. The poor thing was the most unlucky car I ever owned. Since it's build date, it has a history of vandalism, poor care, and several unfortunate occurances, but has the most interesting stories to tell. This web page outlines the life of this car under my ownership, from the first cruise I took it to, all the way to it's last day. It has been asking me to pull the plug since last April 2001. It is now that I finally cave in (February 2002). The organ donor card has been signed, so the heart and soul of "The Incredible Hulk" will live on. I will miss you, my friend. The UCSB Sports Car Club will miss you.
It started out as a $400 engine donor for a 1967 GTX clone project. The first time I saw it, I thought it was the ugliest car I'd ever seen. It was dented, shot up, dirty, wearing bias-ply tires from the 70's, but loaded with spare parts and a lot of soul.
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First Cruise Night, April 1998 |
Pulling the engine for rebuild, Fall 1998 |
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Twin-Sonic light bar, Fall 2000 |
Flippin' a U after a failed trip to the drag strip, Winter 2000 |
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The Dyno Pull - electrical fire at 4500 RPM's, March 2001. Later that day, I rear ended a huge Pickup on the 405 Freeway in LA on the way home and it busted the radiator. 3 cans of stop leak and I still got it home- lights flickering the whole way |
Where it sat for months after catching fire and overheating. After a 100 mile drive, the radiator blew open 2 miles from my house. (March 2001-July 2001) |
The Next Generation: The New Yorker's 440, 3.23 Sure Grip, Exhaust, dash and other peices will live on in my 1968 Newport Custom 2-dr. |
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A day full of electrical nigtmares eventually led to smokey burnouts at a friend's house followed by the final cruise home through the scenic mountains.
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Goodbye, old friend. It was an unforgettable relationship which I will never forget. (Feb 2002) |
Two cars in one. A 1987 Turbo RX-7 will forever rest in peices when the two cars get crushed into a box, together.
Hauled away 2/22/02. |
2/22/02
