[RR67GTO]

My first car that actually moved under it's own power was a 1966 GTO painted ugly green by the first owner. 389 Q-Jet manual. transmission and low optioned. It was 1970, and I was leaving for Duty in Viet Nam, and left the car with Dad on blocks and under a tarp. The side pipes were used to secure the tarp. After being over seas longed than I had hoped I told dad to sell the car and keep the money in an account for me. He said fine. I made it home, and after staying in the VA for a while. I went home to stay until I was able to go back to work. My Father never sold the car even though he said he had. I was so very happy, even though I needed a lot of work. A couple days later I had it running and took dad for a ride. Something he never really enjoyed doing with me back then.

I asked my Dad why he said he sold the car, but kept it and didn't tell me he had. My Father not one who was real emotional looked at me and with a small tear in one eye said that he felt that if he sold the car, I'd never come back alive. So, he decided to keep it. My Father is still alive and doing pretty well. It's hard, to understand the way I felt, knowing that the tough old man actually believed in thing's like this. After that, we got along much better, and I kept the car for a long time as a driver before deciding I wanted a .. Well, in those days gas was hard to get, and I bought a Honda CVCC. I ended up getting In 1998 I ended up getting the Pontiac bug again. Searched Hemmings, and newspapers for either a Judge, or a nice 67. I have a lot of photos of restored 69 and 70 Judges from Hemmings contacts asking between 12 and 14 grand. Oh I found a nice local rust free second owner 67 GTO. It's been a love hate relationship since I took it two months later for an engine rebuild. But, that's another 10 year horror story.. BY the way, My Father had a 64 Impala SS drop top. White with red interior and white top. 2 speed auto. When I was the only kid on the family we used to go places in it just for a drive. When my Brother the troll was hatched. Mom told day he needed to get a larger car. So, he traded it in on a 64 Dodge Polera Station Wagon. A couple years later, Mom bought a 66 Tempest 326, she loved. Thanks, and I'll read more of the posts I find wonderful. Good day friends.. Mike