THEN & NOW

Only a car person would understand, but for the enthusiast, automobiles define events of our past. The passage of time allows you to forget the troubling frustrations of the period, and the vehicle, along with all of the reasons as to why you were glad to grow-up, and why you sold the car involved. As the details fog with time, milestones of your past are etched in your memory based on the GTO, the Mustang or the VW that you were driving at the time. These are nostalgic memories just like in the movies; romantic auto events in your life like your first kiss at the drive-in, your first road trip, or your first flat tire. For the car nut, as important as whom you were with and what you did is what you were driving. High school reunions take care of what happened to the “whom”, but did you ever wonder what happened to the “what” you were driving?

There is now a Web site designed to find that lost love that got away or at least for the car. If you ever had sellers’ remorse, check out THE LOST CAR REGISTRY at http://www.lost-car-registry.com/main.html. The site was created by Keith Ingersoll of Michigan who never got over the selling of his father's Mach I. The Registry lists cars and trucks in both “Found” and “Lost” categories with the hope of helping those in search of lost loves (or their past). Most vehicles listed are the traditional muscle cars of the 60’s and 70’s, some are just plain cars. I gave my past cars a try.

Unfortunately, my auto heritage does not quite live up to the romance of the cars in American Graffiti or Steve McQueen’s Mustang in Bullitt. As a result, THE LOST CAR REGISTRY does not list my 1959 or 1971 VW Bugs (my first two cars, long ago disintegrated by rust). There are no 1974 Dodge Colts, a car that was guaranteed to require three turnover attempts for it to start, regardless of the time of year. My 1982 Mazda RX7 might qualify for The Registry, but it does not show because the engine blew on my brother-in-law. Good thing I had sold it. How about my 1989 Thunderbird? Nope! My 1998 Honda Accord? Who would care! It seems that these do not show because they were not really lost loves, maybe they were just cars. Maybe we need to separate fantasy from reality.

The past may seem to have been a better time, and that car was the best that you ever owned, but there was a reason that you sold it. Remember, those romantic cars of yesteryear wallowed as they drove, they smelled of exhaust, their muffler and exhaust systems had to be replaced regularly, they needed constant tune-ups, they stalled, they hesitated, and after you gave them your best years (and dollars), they rusted and/or died on you.

In reality, the best cars of our lives are actually the ones that we are driving right now. The stainless steel exhaust systems last for the life of the car, the onboard computers keep all of their systems running smoothly regardless of the weather and driving conditions, the tires have never been safer, nor have they provided a smoother ride. A live span of well over 100,000 miles is now expected for a car. I say enjoy the state-of-the art technology, luxury and reliability of the cars of today. Keep the cars of the past for a fond memory and an occasional visit to a vintage auto show. Move on to your next car and stage in your life. I wonder if my Scion TC will ever make the Registry?