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1962 Jaguar XK-E Roadster
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Why
is this car #1 in my book? Why, nostolgia of course!
It all
goes back to a hot,
lazy summer day in Santa Rosa, California in 1971. I was
in High School pumping gas in a long gone Chevron Gas Station
owned by "Hammy" Hamilton on Mendocino and College Avenue.
One
Saturday afternoon, a dirty, dull black 1961
XK-E whips into the outside island driven by a mid-20's
looking blond that looked like a cross between Heather Locklear
and Helen Hunt. Nonchalantly she said, "Fill it Up".
Iwas ready to faint
on the spot--but I couldn't decide between the girl or the car!
Well, I figured the girl wouldn't go for a 16 year old guy,
but maybe I could buy a 10 year old Jaguar. After all, these
things could be had for about $1,300 USD at that time.
So in an effort to drool over both her and the car,
I asked her if I could check under the hood. "Sure", she said,
tossing her hair back only the way woman that know they have it
do.
While I would have
loved to have seen underneath her bonnet, I had to
settle for this lousy sight (actually, her engine didn't look
a tenth as good as this one). I then approached her with the
bad news. "Miss, your dipstick isn't showing any oil", I said
with genuine concern in my voice. "Put in two quarts", she
snapped back, tossing her head as she put her sunglasses
back on. I put two quarts in and checked again. Nothing.
"Well, put in a couple more quarts", she said again cooly.
Eight quarts later,
it finally read full. She paid cash and tore out of the
island, a small chirp of the rear tires as she hit the
pavement. I caught a closing glint of that lovely aluminium
dashboard as the E-type disappeared out of the driveway.
I never forgot that girl--or that car.
I will never know who this
mystery woman was, but one thing is certain. I may
may never get her, but I can and will someday get this car...
and I'll never forget to check the oil.
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