Way back when I had a Triumph Spitfire Red Roadster. It was a blast to drive. I however did not watch the oil level and it got too low and I blew the engine.

I had it rebuilt for $850 (big bucks then) and the butchers who committed felonies on this car failed to reassemble the carbs right and every time I started it I had to open the hood and push a button on the rear carb to get them in sync again. I eventually made up a cable push thingie that I could work from the seat after starting.

When I sold it I explained the home made cable as an anti theft device and I expounded on it's virtues and I sold the car for a decent price to a younger fella. It was red.

Next car was a Fiat two door coupe (also red) and I drove the bajabbers out of it for two years until it developed a cracked head. I took that engine apart and reassembled it over and over again until I realized that this was a losing battle and I took it in to the local Plymouth Fiat dealer for a valve adjustment. I had epoxied the crack and as long as I did not get the car into 3rd gear it would hold ok.

They had given me a fair price for the job and when I returned to get the car they had a much different price. I paid the price and I made sure that the mileage on the bill was correct.

I traded in the car for a new '74 Plymouth Duster (Green) with the bulletproof 6 cylinder engine. They examined the trade and I parked it in a gas station across the street for two days whilst the paper work went through.

On the the big day I had the wife drop me off at the gas station and I drove the wounded but still running well Fiat across the street to the dealer. I knew the repair to the engine would give out the first time it was put into 3rd and they gave it the gas but I was annoyed that they screw me over on the valve adjustment.

The deal went through and they gave me a low ball price on the wounded Fiat but a good deal on the new Duster.

Two months later I was back at the dealership for a part and I noticed the Fiat on the used car lot. I walked over to it and opened the hood. Wonder of wonders a brand new engine resided therein. The price they wanted was a grand more than they gave me and they had still not sold that car 6 months later.

That was the only time I ever got over on a car dealer and I have not lost a minutes sleep about it.

I do not buy red cars anymore.

07 Speedmstr, Long Tors, bags, sissy bar and rack, windshield, engine bars, 2 ww lights, 2 fast eddy stickers and a .45 ACP.