Junked My Wagon Today..Sort of Bummed (OT)

[JerseyHarold]

After many months of trying to sell it, I drove my '89 Pontiac Safari to the junkyard this morning. Had it for over 13 years, and age caught up with it. It needed head and intake gaskets and the carb was screwed-up....the registration, insurance, and inspection (would never pass emissions here in NJ) expire in a few days. Not to mention the rust and sagging headliner. So away it went.

I even listed the wagon on eBay and some yahoo living 500 miles away bid on it. He wanted to derby the car, but kept giving me excuses about picking it up. (Meanwhile he was the winning bidder on two other much more expensive wagons even farther from his home than mine). So maybe getting parted out at the junkyard is a better end than getting painted in weird colors and being smashed to bits.

We took many trips and hauled mountains of stuff with the wagon and I'm sad to see it go. Sorry about the rant.

[RobertKB]

Love those Pontiac wagons. I bought a '77 Grand Safari in 1983. It had 72,000 miles when I bought it and 180,000+ when I sold it last year for $500. Guy bought it and drove to Vancouver which is nearly 800 miles. Mechanically the car was still good but the body was starting to go on it. Used it like a pickup with a cap on it for the longest time. Don't think I will ever own a better car! Never did a thing to it but regular maintenance stuff.

[Plymouthy Adams]

Its hard to retire a car after so many years of faithful service to you..kind of like having to put an animal down to to ill health...

[RobertKB]

Tim, you are right. To a lot of people a car is only a tool to use and then get rid of. I think to old car guys, vehicles have personalities and to get rid of them is like parting with an old friend, especially if they treated you well!

[oldmopar]

I had a better experience I sold a 88 ford ranger pu I had since new that had 200,00 miles on it. sold it on ebay for I think $200. Buyer was from Michagan he did pick up the truck towed it back. Said he built mud trucks with the frames and it was hard to get good frames where he lived because of the salt.

Ed

[PatS....]

I know the feeling. I had to retire my '84 Pontiac that I had owned for about 6 years. Trouble free reliable and comfortable wheels, but in the course of about 2 months it just fell apart body-wise.

My nephew bought it cheap and hauled out the engine and trans which are still good for his Camaro.

The old girl is in his driveway stripped and waiting for it's final journey.

Sad to see a faithfull old friend go that way.

[52B3B108]

I had to get rid of my '83 Ram last spring because I bought a '00 Ram. It didn't look like much and the wife and kids always made fun of it, but it was a real workhorse and always started. That 318 could go forever.

[james curl]

I sold my 75 Toyota Celica which I had for twenty years and 300,000 miles to a fellow who loves it more than I did. I had been buying new parts to start total restortation and he got all of the parts. He has already rebuilt the engine, not because it needed it but because he wanted to modify the engine. I had a four barrell manifold for the engine and a 390 cfm carb that I had not installed. It is on the rebuilt engine now which he had bored, new hot cam and balanced the rotating assembly. It is nice to sell to someone who wants to keep the car as a driver and enjoys having the car.