Father, son and a V8

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WhoreSaab

Original Poster:

2,732 posts

217 months

Sunday 9th October 2011
quotequote all
Today is the 5th anniversary of my fathers death due to a heart attack. A week or so prior I sold what would turn out to be the last car he ever bought for me.

Now if this had been a Fiat Punto or Ford Fiesta (I was 23 at the time), I probably wouldn't be writing this. The car was the culmination of a mutual interest, we always said that we would own some form of American car at some point and this car was what I hope to be one of many.

In the short period of ownership I used it as my car of choice for the Student Gumball Rally, where it performed amazingly....until the second day. The resultant chaos of being stranded in a foreign country with limited funds, a broken car and a mobile phone that was soon to be cut off would become the stuff of legend among my friends.

Burnt out from the cost of the rally (7 days and over £2k) I made the then sensible decision to sell the car to pay off my debts, I talked it over with my Dad who I think must have been a little hurt but the child that I was, I ignored and focused on trying to make a profit. Then the 8th of October came and life took a different path and to an extent we are still dealing with the financial fallout today. Throughout this difficult period of my life, I have felt an overriding sense of guilt for throwing away my fathers last gift so brazenly.

Like you, I always trawl both the classifieds on here and eBay for my next motor of choice, I have also certain saved searches setup to monitor for the make and model of the car. Over the past five years whenever that search returned an item, I would avidly review it in the vain hope that it would be the one, but not once had it shown up.

Until last week.

When I clicked expecting the usual suspects, only to find the one I had been looking for I was simply speechless. No shouting from the rooftops, calling my friends or tears of joy, just a simple 'oh'.

If you excuse reference of a film character, Optimus Prime said 'fate rarely calls us at a time of our choosing' and never a truer word has been spoken. I was not what you could say 'flush' with cash and the prospect of a car purchase with my current diminutive finances was, sketchy at best.

For a week I watched the bids slowly creep up, I talked it over with my partner and waited. I was coming to the realisation that I would, most likely have to watch the one car I wanted slip away. It would be made all the more visceral by the fact it was an online auction and that the clock was quite literally, ticking.

We reach today, the anniversary of my fathers death and the end of the auction; finances have been juggled and I've come to an amount that I can just about afford which at a stretch is £2300, the auction had already hit £2000.

As a seasoned eBayer, I knew that as the auction was in the middle of dinner time on a Saturday the odds of heavy sniping were slim.

Three Minutes to go, still no other bids, I waited.

Two minutes left and I make my bid and pray that it's enough. One minute thirty left and there was a time for a bidding war, this is it.

Silently I wait for my high bidder status to be removed as the auction ticks down to its inevitable conclusion.

I want this moment to last, even if I lose the auction for this brief moment, the car was mine again.

Fifty seconds to go, still no other bidders.

Thirty, Twenty, Ten, You've won this item.

I miss you Dad, every day.



A shot of me with the car way back in 2006.

Edited by LincolnLovin on Thursday 17th April 16:22
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Edited by LincolnLovin on Saturday 26th March 07:00

lionrampant

577 posts

189 months

Sunday 9th October 2011
quotequote all
Awesome story is awesome sir. Glad you found it.

JoPo1

386 posts

156 months

Sunday 9th October 2011
quotequote all
Lovely story.

My Dad passed away when I was 13 so I never got to enjoy the 'car' stuff with him and it hurts when my friends dads help them with their cars.

It's now that I enjoy cars that I wish he was here and so I could understand more, If that makes sense?

But nice story and I'm glad you found it!


Big News

1,937 posts

178 months

Sunday 9th October 2011
quotequote all
Wonderful.

My dad bought me my MGB back in October 2009, as a project for us to have it ready for when I passed my driving test - he died on the 19th October last year. Could I ever sell it? Not a chance.

ClintonB

4,721 posts

212 months

Sunday 9th October 2011
quotequote all
smileclap

However, I hope your taste in jeans has improved

RevYob

3,560 posts

173 months

Sunday 9th October 2011
quotequote all
Great story, glad you finally found the car.

Life Saab Itch

37,068 posts

187 months

Sunday 9th October 2011
quotequote all
Keep it and treasure it.

My Dad has started to make noises about selling the Morris Minor that has been in the family since 1986. :/

YesItsARover

2,721 posts

164 months

Sunday 9th October 2011
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Fantastic, I hope you can keep it for a very long time!

Shotgun Rider

816 posts

169 months

Sunday 9th October 2011
quotequote all
Well done!

Mr Pies

8,842 posts

186 months

Sunday 9th October 2011
quotequote all
Cracking story op, enjoy the car (again).

croyde

22,702 posts

229 months

Sunday 9th October 2011
quotequote all
Nicely written mate. Think I've got something in my eye.


Vieste

10,532 posts

159 months

Sunday 9th October 2011
quotequote all
Good story well done thumbup

LooneyTunes

6,781 posts

157 months

Sunday 9th October 2011
quotequote all
Well done, mate! A great story, and sure your Dad would be pleased that you've been able to bring something so special back into your life.

cheesyblob

370 posts

174 months

Sunday 9th October 2011
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Nice story.

is may be a really stupid question, but what is it?

JakesterUK

869 posts

198 months

Sunday 9th October 2011
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Brilliant story, well done on winning the old girl back

XitUp

7,690 posts

203 months

Sunday 9th October 2011
quotequote all
Cool story, bro.

Congrats on finding the car again, now, make plans on how you're going to keep it to pass on to your kids if and when you have them.

If you don't mind me prying, roughly how many acres of velour does that beast contain?

ClintonB said:
smileclap

However, I hope your taste in jeans has improved
Easy mate, have you seen his goatee? You don't want to piss him off.

WhoreSaab

Original Poster:

2,732 posts

217 months

Sunday 9th October 2011
quotequote all
Hey, I was a poor student, thus the 'interesting' jeans and general hairyness.

I now need to figure out logistics of storage and insurance. Less fun smile

LuS1fer

41,086 posts

244 months

Sunday 9th October 2011
quotequote all
Great story. Try R H Classics then Classicline, limited mileage, should be peanuts to insure. I know someone with a Mustang who pays £84.

QuackHandle

3,100 posts

186 months

Sunday 9th October 2011
quotequote all
Great post OP.

crofty1984

15,830 posts

203 months

Sunday 9th October 2011
quotequote all
croyde said:
Nicely written mate. Think I've got something in my eye.
Me too smile Absolutely chuffed to bits for you.