UPDATE 2/22/17: I’m still trying to find a good time to get with the seller. We’ve traded text messages several times, but the stars aren’t aligning lately. I did ask specifically about rust, and said it is “minimal.” For me, any rust is a worry, so it would need to be nipped in the bud pretty quickly, in my opinion. As of today, the old truck and me are still together. Stay tuned . . .
For about a year now, I have toyed off and on with the idea of finding something new/fun/old/fast to replace my truck. In the last few months, that itch has gotten stronger, and I’m afraid of scratching it. Today’s Craigslist find might just put me over the edge.
I have always said that my truck would be with me till the day it dies, if not longer. When I picked it up five years ago for a song, I was happy as a redneck at the Golden Corral (I’m not judging). I have gotten a lot of use out of it, and it has plenty left to give. No matter how much I like driving it, though, I can’t avoid the fact that it’s just not the best choice for commuting, what with its bouncy ride, 5-speed, and sloppy steering. There’s also the annoying lack of air conditioning, although that could be fixed in a few days with some more sophisticated tools.
That said, here are three reasons why I am considering the sale of my old white truck. Tell me if I’m crazy.
1. The body, while old, is rust-free and straight.
One of the first things I noticed after moving to the Queen City is the astonishing amount of rusty, cancer-ridden cars and trucks. Even newer cars can be seen with bubbling paint and patches around the fender wells: it’s shocking in some ways. Conversely, my truck has spent its whole life in the western states, and the last 10 or so in Seattle, where it’s certainly wet all the time, but they don’t salt the roads, and the water lacks the high concentration of minerals that can be found in other places.
2. Everything (mostly) works.
My truck is 25 years old now, and any truck this age is going to be found with parts falling off, the interior a disaster, or both. As of today, I can proudly say that everything work like it should, with one notable exception – the AC hasn’t worked for years, and it probably never will. It’s a 1992 model, and has the R-12 refrigerant in it. Upgrading involves putting a vacuum on it, which I don’t own. If I could do this cheap, I might, which would increase its value a little.
3. The body is straight, original, and clean.
There is one spot of damage to the leading edge of the left front fender, which is highly unusual. I don’t know what could have damaged only that spot, and not the headlight surround or the hood; it had to be an awkward angle. Any ideas? Otherwise, there are no real dents, it’s never been wrecked, and even the bumper is straight. Again, if you know anything about these trucks, you know that a straight bumper is rare.
Bonus reason: it doesn’t fit in the dang garage. If I brush the passenger mirror against the garage door frame, and put the bumper against the tool shelf in the front, there are about six inches from the back bumper to the closed door. Plus, if our other car is in the garage, I can’t open the door. Getting out involves going out the other side, hopping across the bed, and sucking in my gut around the car. The house is a 1960, so I know the architect had seen a big car before: what the heck was the guy thinking?
Here’s the car that has me questioning everything I know. It’s a 1984 BMW 533i E28.
Details from the ad:
I have a 1984 BMW for sale I bought as a project car, it runs really good overall pretty good condition for its age all power windows everything works except the odometer it quit working at 149k overall no rust and it’s a solid runner or a good project car if interested please call or txt $2300 obo
Interestingly, it produces almost the same power figures that my truck’s 5.0 does, but it weighs almost a ton less than the heavy pickup. By comparison, this would feel like a Miata.
Am I crazy? Let me know in the comments.
Copyright 2017 Hooniverse/Marcal Eilenstein
[Source: Springfield Craigslist]
