For those of you who were following on Twitter (thank you!) and for those of you who were not -this is my story of the world's most incredible car.
GM has always been a part of my life. From my dad's two toned Oldsmobile, fresh off the line after WWII...to the 52 fin tailed Chevy - yellow - that everyone coveted...to endless station wagons et al...but the one that will always stay in my mind...that I would give the world to have today...was the '63/64? Pontiac Grand Prix. What a car that was. It defined moments of my life forever.
I can still see her sitting in the used car lot shining brightly under the warm California sun. I was drawn to her immediately. Under instructions from my husband to find a car to replace his ailing Volvo...and knowing ahead that he would most likely balk at the sales price...I quickly headed toward the sales door. Pointing to the midnight blue beauty, the salesman threw me the keys and I was off on my own special journey of GM magic at its finest. VROOOOM!
The magic of a V-8 engine...4 on the floor gearshift...leather bucket seats....teak interior...were more than the beating of my fragile heart could stand as I tooled over the California hills and up and down El Camino Real. I was lady of the land. No one could touch me. I was a part of that gorgeous machine...and all that magnificent power. VROOOOM!
It was with a trembling hand that I returned the keys and begged the salesman not to sell until my husband could see and buy. I offered a ten dollar bribe and a show of the leg (a bit). Then I went home and called my husband. "I found the car!" When he heard the pricetag of $3,000 he hit the roof. "NO WAY! Ridiculous price for an automobile. I won't pay it."
"But," I pleaded, "I have looked everywhere and this car is YOU!" (So I lied.) That seemed to somewhat mollify. Every day I stopped to make sure the car was still there. It was. I saw that as a sign...and the following Saturday I proudly showed off that gorgeous beauty to my husband. "$3,000! 8 thousand miles? NO WAY!"
No dummy the salesman, he handed the key to my husband who, grumbling about not buying anything so ridiculously expensive, stepped on the throttle. VROOOOM! A quick glance I noted my husband's face had changed ever so slightly. Was that a small grin I spied?
Driving away twenty minutes later, ownership papers in hand, my husband turned to me and said..."This is a manly man's car. We will get you something a little less ostentatious." And true to his word he did. I got 'the bug' and he kept the passion of my life. VROOOOM!
Shortly thereafter, my husband was reassigned to the East Coast and we drove across country. That's when that car came alive. Crusing at 110 mph over the desert...flying down Route 66...
WHOOSH!...we sailed into Ohio in two days time. Hitting Ohio we had to begin obeying the speed law and it took us another day to hit our destination...Massachusetts. VROOOM!
Over the years, that midnight blue beauty got waxed by me. Lovingly dusted inside and out. I did not have my own set of keys but I would sit in the seat...close my eyes...and VROOOM! I was off on my own special journey.
My husband was generous. I got to drive her four times a year. VROOOOM!
The years sped by and the odometer sped by with it. 50,000...80,000...100,000...120,000...140,000, 160,000....and finally...
Cruising down the highway from Lake Placid...on the way home to Massachusetts...that midnight blue beauty gave out one long last sigh...vrooom...and coasted with no power into a small service station at the bottom of the mountain. Where my husband left her. I never knew who took her after that. My heart was broken forever.
Other GM cars have since come and gone. But none will ever take the place of that incredible Pontiac Grand Prix. It was the pride and glory of the company that year - and in my heart and mind always will be - for in those days when GM made a car - they made it right. The bucket seats were wide and deep...one could sit in them forever the comfort was incredible. Ones knees did not hang over the edge as they do now. And yes there are other modifications in today's vehicles...but when one comes across perfection - it is always perfection - and no other description qualifies. And that midnight blue, bucket seat, 4 on the floor, teak interior, V8 engine Pontiac Grand Prix was perfection at its finest. VROOOOM!
We all send our good wishes to GM for the future. Their executives did their best over the years we do believe. No one sets out to deliberately fail. Besides folks...we need them. Someday they just might return to building a car like my special beauty. VROOOOM!
And wouldn't that be a wonderful day for all of us!
God speed, GM!
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