My father raced when he was younger, so I've grown up around racetracks... He did open-wheel dirt oval racing, and he dragraced his '59 Corvette (well before I was born). We still went to the tracks after he quit though, and being that he's a motor inspector/mechanic (Just retired Friday actually) for a steel mill, and my oldest brother's a mechanic, and that my family in general always do our own car work all the time... Well, I guess we're into cars.
Currently I own a 1992 Thunderbird SC, and a 1994 Chrysler Le Baron Convertible.
My Le Baron's my daily use car that I put miles on (has 68k now, 58k when I bought it last year), and I have to say that it's impressed me. It's powerful, solid, sporty, fun... 6 cylinder automatic, but there's a 4-cylinder with Turbo that's supposedly nice (but hardtop only). I get complements because most of these when you see them aren't in nice shape anymore. I have people test me (mostly just with cars they are overly proud of) at stop lights and short of them having an obviously more powerful sports car, my Le Baron rarely fails me.
I don't do customizing to my car, though if I had extra $ I probably would at least do a little bit. Mostly cosmetic stuff. The engine's fine as it is, since I don't race, and it's powerful enough for commuting in the city.
My T-Bird's a whole other story. Stock, it looks like it's been custmized actually. When people test me at lights in this I personally have come against nothing that was able to match it, though a Vette and I one night did horse around and he easily went past me once he hit his higher gears.
It's a Supercharged 6-Cyl. 5-speed with *drumroll* 158k on it. Surprisingly it's not got a lot of problems, but, I need to do work on it. First in line's welding new floorboards, and having a new left rear fender piece cut as the people who've owned it before me never took good care of it.
The engine's solid, but at 158k needs a rebuild because I know some of these have been hard miles put on it by the last owner. I need to redo the interior (black leather) because it was a daily use car that nobody took care of again, so there's tears and worn out spots (especially on the driver's seat).
The Transmission is the only major problem area on it, as it'll slip out of gear, or simply NOT go into gear when shifting. Besides wanting to rebuild or replace it, I've got that little problem.
In general, this car's a project that my wallet can't handle right now, so I have it in storage in this old lady's garage down the road from me. I have it running, but never drive it. They're actually fairly "rare" cars, as the SC is tempermental and prone to breaking. The local Ford garage was shocked I had one, and one in such good shape. They had to special order the lubricant for it because they thought there weren't any more left running in the area (even at a 12 year old car, it's being considered rare).
So, I like it... It's unique, not something you see every day. I've thought of selling it because they do exist, you just don't see them creep into the green sheets often for sale, but what it's worth to me and what I'd get are prbably two different things.
So it stays till I have greater ammounts of cash.
EDIT:
Adding photos of what my cars basically look like. Don't have a camera to do otherwise. My Le Baron's in pristine condition, but the T-Bird's not, so adjust accordingly. From a distance you couldn't tell on the T-Bird anyway.
T-Bird... Mine's the exact same color red but had a limited edition detail job only available on the SC's. I don't like it though (it's an aqua/black pinstripe that runs the entire way around the car... That red's a spot on match though, which red isn't a color I'm fond of either. I plan to paint it some day.
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The Le Baron GTC Convertible... This is the exact color combo of mine. It's a dark green with a metallic flake in it, a gold/tan top, gold trim, etc... I think this car's sporting t he same aluminum rims as mine too, which are surprisingly nice for factory. They have gold highlights in them. Really nice to me. I got my car from some people with too much money for a mere $3400. It was under warranty when they put it in a garage and didn't touch it again. I was quite fortunate...
Funny note. I've found out that Le Baron's are a covted item in Europe I guess. They're "rare" there, and considered quite an automotive prize to many in Europe, especially Germany. I find that funny I guess because Le Baron's are a commn car seen in the States still. There's a girl at my college has one IDENTICAL to mine but beat to hell and back. I guess in Europe they're popular and have their own "club" and stuff though... So, whatever. Weird.
