I was down the Jersey shore over the weekend at the house my brother, sister in law and I share on Long Beach Island. My 17 year old niece, Bernadette, was there with a friend of her's, Samantha. In Beach Haven is a little area called Bay Village. It's been there forever and is where all the teen agers go to "hang out" and be seen. 40 years ago, I used to go there and it still is the place to go during the summer nights. Anyway, she asked her Dad what car she should take as they their Suburban, her brother's Explorer and a '97 BMW convertible were all available. I just assumed she'd want to take the convertible but since my Colony Park was all washed and shiny, I asked her if she wanted to take that. I fully expected a reply such as, "Oh, no way Uncle Chris, I wouldn't be caught dead in that old thing." Imagine my surprise when she excitedly said, "Really, you'd let me take the station wagon, really I can take that? Oh, that is such a cool car. I can't believe you'd let me take it". I was shocked that out of all the vehicles she could have taken, she wanted the Mercury. So, off they went after I showed her how to turn on the headlights; isn't that a riot? All of their cars have the autolamp system; she didn't even know how to turn on headlights. Well, she had a great time with it, even though Samantha told me it took her 5 tries to get it into an angle parking spot. Some boys came running over to help her get it into the spot and, they said, to check out the car. Oh right. Two gorgeous 17 year old girls in the front seat and the kids are coming over to check out the car. She was so thankful and asked me if maybe she could take it to her prom next Spring. There is hope, ladies and gentlemen, for the upcoming generation!!
Excellent! On a similar note, a number of weeks back my 13-year old daughter asked me to drive her and a couple friends to a pool party. When we got to her friend's house, the two girls came out and were all excited about the Custom Cruiser. "Cool, a classic car." (OK, that makes me feel old as it's my newest car. ) "Yeah, I want a Vista Cruiser like That 70s Show?" "Is this a Vista Cruiser too?" They had a blast. Go figure.
What a great story, snoot. Almost brings a tear to the eye. I'm both surprised and delighted that your niece would appreciate your wagon. It IS a gorgeous wagon, but, I am still delighted that she could grasp the beauty of a wagon. I sure HOPE that there is hope! It would be such a wonderful sight to see the future streets adorned with restored wagons driven by young people. If the G keeps its collective nose out of itmad....who knows? It could maybe happen. Give my regards to Bernadette!
Smart lady! I'm always glad to hear younger folks are digging these. My 17 year old brother thinks my wagons are cool and fun to drive.
Well, Yes! It is a Vista Cruiser like "That 70's Show"! Just like the 60's and 70's models the skyport windows were available only on the Buick and Olds. And the "classic car" remark? Maybe those kids somehow know that less than 12,000 Olds wagons were built in 91 &92 ?! Nah!! More likely just identifying the car as being from before they were born!
Great story, snooterbuckets. My 28 year old daughter was in town from Chicago last weekend and saw the Bonneville wagon for the first time. She told me that she never quite understood the appeal of my Caprice wagon, but she thinks the Bonneville is pretty cool. Actually, she said it was "cute". She and her husband have even talked about buying an old car that they could keep at our place in Michigan. There's hope for these young ones!
Hope there is. I'm 22 and can't wait to get the Olds out on the streets of Tucson. All of my friends keep bugging me about when its going to be streetable!!
Great story. My Daughter turned 16 last week and she, my wife and I were talking about her looking for a car. Sadly, tho she loves old cars, she's not necessarily interested in getting a wagon. Oh well... Her mom mentioned her brother (re. my link below) was growing weary of the Buick,... Abby, my daughter, enthusiastically responded, 'oh, no he isn't." (I paraphrase.) http://www.stationwagonforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11968 Hope indeed. (That he will grow weary of it, buy his own and give me my car back,... I want him to get an '82 -'86 Lebaron Town & Country wgn.
My brother needed a new car after his Dodge finally gave up and he begged my parents to let him buy my Avocado green 1979 Buick Electra. I would have gladly sold it to him, for next to nothing, but they told him 'no ghetto cruisers'
