This recent Hagerty article is titled, “7 Oddball Cars That Got More Expensive This Summer.” While I acknowledge that one or two of the cars, like the AMC Pacer, have an almost universal reputation as an oddball I would argue that oddball is in the eye of the beholder, and not just for cars.
Our genomes may be 99.9% identical across the human race, but environment matters as does that one-tenth of one percent. Our growing intolerance for people who do not share our view of the world is most disturbing. To quote Jerry Seinfeld again, “We are nothing but raindrops on a windshield.”
Back to the Hagerty piece…this car, the Fiat 124 coupe from 1967-75, has seen an average increase in #2 condition (excellent, but not concours) of 29 percent, although that value is still just $12,000. Without further ado and from Hagerty:
Hagerty describes the exterior design as “understatedly handsome.” I would agree. Oh, you want to see a Pacer. OK…
You may not know, or care, that a reason (allegedly) why the car was so wide–particularly the front end–is that originally the car was supposed to be powered by a rotary engine to be supplied by General Motors. However, GM cancelled development of its rotary engine in 1974 for many reasons, not the least of which was concern over the engine’s ability to pass ever-stricter emissions standards.
Sharon Weinberger’s book, The Imagineers of War: The Untold Story of DARPA, the Pentagon Agency That Changed The World, has been described in reviews as the story of the oddballs who changed the world. Of course, not all of DARPA’s ideas–such as a proposal to power a missile-destroying particle beam by draining the Great Lakes–were “good” ones, because ALL of us, no matter how smart, are imperfect. For not the first time I will write that EVERY endeavor of human beings is flawed because EVERY human being is flawed. Those who are excessively dogmatic about their beliefs fail to recognize this fundamental truth.
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Our gate at the south end of the house that provides access to the concrete pad is now complete. Belatedly, and thankfully not suffering any consequences for waiting, a robust latch/lock has been installed.
Don’t know if she will be happy that I am writing this, but my wonderful wife shocked me yesterday when she told me she was worried that her 2018 Corvette convertible might not be able to traverse the concrete lip at the front of the concrete pad. When I asked her why she would ever park her Vette there, she answered that she might buy something newer, but keep the Vette.
Needless to say, her answer really surprised me, but in a good way. I mean, that’s why we went through the time, effort and money to have a motorized gate installed, for the possibility we could park cars on the pad and behind a solid gate.
I don’t think this will happen, but it is possible that she buys something before I buy a Supra. I believe it is a virtual certainty she will buy another convertible although, perhaps, it could be of the hardtop variety. It could even be another Corvette.
I have told my wonderful wife that even though I am not a fan of the C8 design, if she wants to buy one then she should. I like to think that we have a marriage and not a dictatorship.
Again, as tomorrow is an NFL Sunday I will not post. See you on Monday, I hope.
#OddballIsInTheEyeOfTheBeholder
#SoManyCarsJustOneLife