Reminisce Extra – September 2019

BACK IN TIME

54 REMINISCE.COM * SEPTEMBER 2019

THE MAKER billed

the model as “the

dream car you’ll learn

to love for the thrill

of sheer pleasure.”

T

herearethreeenduring

lovesinmylife—my

wife,Pat,motorcycles

andfastcars.

WhenImarriedPat,she

drovea 1968 Chevelleconvertible,

redwithwhitetopandwhitebucket

seats.Afterawhilewetradeditfor

a 1968 SS 396 Chevelle—red,white

vinyltop,four-speed.Itwassweet

andfast.

Unfortunately,myloveforspeed

eventuallycaughtupwithme,and

ourinsurancecompanycanceledmy

coverage.WesoldtheSSandgota

stationwagon.

Atthatpointwealsoneededa

secondcar.Ifoundalittlewhite

importwitharedtop,four-cylinder

engine,four-speedtransmissionand

13 -inchtires.Itdidn’thavealot

ofpowerbutitgot 45 milestothe

gallonintown.Itwasagreatlittle

cartokickaroundin.

AcoupleofyearslaterIfellinlove

withanElCamino.Iusedtheimport

asadownpaymentontheChevy,and

almostimmediatelywewere

missingthelittlecar.

Foryears,Iscouredcarshows,

swapmeetsandclassifiedadsin

searchofareplacement.Wefinally

spottedonein 2015 inanautotrader

magazinefromMassachusetts.

Afterhavingthecarshippedto

Florida,wegotitinsoundrunning

orderandtookittoshowsandon

rodrunsatDaytonaSpeedway.

Brightyellowwitharedstripe

downtheside,she’sanattention-

getter,evenwithabodythatstill

needssomeworkfromherprevious

lifeintheRustBelt.Wecallher

MissDucky.

Atacruisenightgatheringof’ 60 s

musclecars,ourlittleimportisa

rarebird.Heck,it’sararemachine

anywherewego.Atonerecentshow

wewerehailedwithanenthusiastic

“Hey,mate!”inanaccentedvoice.

Tothatchap,ourcarwaslikealetter

fromhome. •

1

Themakerisa

subsidiaryofa

manufacturerbased

inDearborn,MI.

2

Initshome

country,thecar’s

steeringwheelwould

beontheright.

3

Themodelname

istheLatinname

forthecountry

whereitwasbuilt.

4

In2002’sHarry

Potterandthe

ChamberofSecrets,

thesamemodel

appearstofly.

5

StirlingMoss

racedtohisfinal

Formula 1 victoryat

theGermanGrand

Prixthemodelyear

thiscarwasbuilt.

CLASSIC

Solid little import is jolly good fun. CLUES

DRIVING MISS DUCKY

BY DAVE BOWLING • HOLLY HILL, FL

HOW’D YOU DO?

Share your car challenge: Answer on page 56.

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Name

That Car