Hello. New member from Gloucester, MA. The 64 part of my name is the year the Fab4 (The Beatles flew across the pond) I'm not an old man, nobody's old at 62, but I do have white hair and consider myself lucky to have any hair at all. My dad was a Master Mechanic and probably taught me everything I know about auto mechanics - That said, I'm nowhere close to the mechanic he was. I've had 3 Monster station wagons ( 2 Fords and Chevy Caprice ) 1 midsize Fairlane and 1 Olds Cutlass and 1 baby size, 88 Dodge Colt. Anything that had a rear hatch was called a wagon back then. My first car was a '68 Triumph GT6 which I think I could probably still fall into but have to roll myself out from. I drive a tiny Sunfire now which someday I hope to drive off the fish pier and never have to see again. I love wagons and have received permission from my sweetheart to search for another, as long as she doesn't have to get a second job, something I would gladly do if only it might leave me enough time for the wagon. Am I the only one who's noticed that wives have a way of smiling at you that doesn't necessarily mean they are happy with your decisions? So my wagon search has begun once again. This weekend I'm up to Littleton,NH where I've seen a car listed on NH Craigslist (82 Merc Grand Marquise). As I've told wifey, 'it doesn't hurt to look.' Come to think of it I think I said that at the beach this past summer.
Welcome from sunny FL. Gotta love a wife that supports our crazy taste in cars. Mine tolerates it, but doesn't want to do without her creature comforts. And let us know what you are looking for and we'll keep our eyes open.
Driving Somewhere' Thanks for the welcome. I appreciate your vacation comment. Driving to a vacation area was as much fun as being there. Here's one for you. Sometime prior to my being 8 years old my father drove an Olds Rocket 88. Of course I always sat in the back seat but there was one thing I could never figure out. It seemed everytime he put his right arm across the top of his seat and looked backward the car would move in reverse. It took a long time for me to see he changed gears. There I was thinking all that was necessary to back up was to turn your neck and look out the rear window. Maybe I was ahead of my time. Off to Littleton, NH to check out a Grand Marquise wagon I saw listed on the NH Craigslist.
I sure like that area of the country as I grew up in Walpole, Ma. Southern NH is great. My grandfather lived there in his retirement. He bought a house in Mont Vernon in 1945 and we spend fun summers at his place. My brother owns property near Lake Winnipesaukee. My favorite drive in NH is the Kangamangus Highway starting from Conway and going west. My mother lived here last years in Tamworth NH. What I don't like about the area, rusty cars. It seems hard to find a car without it. I hope the Grand Marquis is a good one.
NH Getaway You're right on about the Kangamangus - an incredible ride through dreamland. My daughter recently competed in a Timberman Half Ironman competition in Gilford NH. Back in the 80's we took the kids camping quite often at White Lake in Ossipee, around the corner from Tamworth. From there we drove straight up Rte 16 to the mountains. You're also correct about all the rust up there - having lived at the ocean my entire life I often wonder what it would be like to live in the mountains for a year. Aside from tourism and auto repair shops I don't know how anyone makes a living. Although I'll be in the area where the car is my time will be limited - I'm hoping she sends along the pictures I requested before noon today. We'll see what happens. There aren't too many full size wagons in my area that I'm aware of, or that I can afford, still the urge to drive another again burns deep within. I don't recall seeing one at any of the local car nights. I'll keep you informed, with pictures if and when possible.
to the wagon train, fab. Great intro. My dad was a mechanic too. Hope you find the wagon of your dreams. They are difficult to find sometimes and even more so in the rust belt. Good luck in your search.
Here There or Everywhere? Is it me or am I the only one here from New England? Here's another non-wagon story: Forty years ago I drove the Mount Washington road in New Hampshire with my sweetie pie in the GT6. Mount Washington is the highest peak in the northeast, over 6200 feet. The road is a little over eight miles with twists and bends that'll set your tires practically over the edge. The view is more than 3D, that is if you chance a glance to either side. The temperature was in the 80's at the foot of the mountain, in the low 50's at the summit (That's mountain talk I haven't used in 40 years). The drive down was even more spectacular - I used as many turnouts as possible - but my breaks were smoking! Anyway, I was exhausted, those were the days you didn't go anywhere overnight with a girl unless you were married to her. It had been a day trip from Boston, 3 hours up and three back. I couldn't see straight and tried to talk her into getting a room. No way. At least not when she's from a Catholic family with eight brothers and sisters. I offered to get seperate rooms just so we could prove to her father that we were on the up and up and there wouldn't be any grandkids in the near future. Again, no way. Needless to say it was a long, quiet ride back home. But forty years can go by in a flash, I know it, you know it, we all know it. What she doesn't know is, weather permitting, we're driving up the mountain again, tomorrow. I hope she doesn't expect another anniversary gift - this is all I've got planned. AND, we're staying overnight - reservations already made. WaHoo.
Welcome 64 Fab. Great introduction. You're going to fit right in. I think quite a few of us have seen that ad on the '82. Another member was also looking to get a wagon and Krash Kadillac, (who lives in Vermont, by the way), found the one I think you're going to look at. Good luck. From the ad, it looked pretty straight. My brother and I own a house in Chester Vt, so we do have some New England representatives on board.
64, my step mom, (and now my step sister and brother) own a house in Gloucester. It's right next to the lighthouse and used to be the keeper's house. I wonder if you might be familiar with it.
Welcome Fab64! You're going to fit right in! That wagon you're going to look at in Littleton NH has a part in this thread... http://www.stationwagonforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=15678 Fairly new member Xavier is looking for a new (used) wagon, is working on getting a different Mercury wagon looked at, but I posted this one as another he might be interested in.. See post 29 in the thread.
Welcome Another New-Englander, about 45 minutes south of you. If you get a chance, you should swing by for "Coffee and Cars" at our Street Rod Shop tomorrow.
