[BaadAssGremlins] Ms. Toad's Wild Ride (kinda long)

["lumina333" <lumina333@xxxxxxxxx>]

Yesterday was my first time actually driving a Gremlin. It was white, 
but it was not mine. A few months ago, John spotted a newly painted 
white Gremlin way out in a rural part of Alabama. We drove out to the 
man's trailer yesterday to see if it was still there. Sure enough, 
the white beast was sitting right in front of his porch steps. The 
white industrial paint that he had applied was dirty, but the body 
was in good condition ? no visible dents, dings, scratches, etc. I 
noted that the grill was from the 1976 ? 78 era, had aftermarket 
aluminum rims, and the seats had covers over them. He answered the 
door barefooted and with a miss-buttoned shirt that looked like he 
had slept in it. After the usual introductions and handshakes, we 
proceeded with our fact finding mission about the car. He said it was 
a 1976 model but he registered it as a 74 since he had no title and 
the state of Alabama didn't require titles on cars from 74 back. He 
has owned it for five years after his brother gave it to him. When he 
opened the hood, we noticed that the car was originally tan but the 
engine was still good old AMC blue. A 258 1 bbl was under the hood 
with various hoses either cut or missing, but overall most of it was 
still there. Yep, it cranked right up and made a familiar farting 
sound. All of us AMC'ers know what this sound means ? yes, the 
exhaust manifold donut gasket was shot and gases were escaping. (My 
brother, the Jeeper, told me to always have a bag of those donuts 
around as AMC engines eat them right regular). He revved the engine a 
few times to prove that it could, and John asked him if we could 
drive it. "Shore ya kin", he said through hopelessly snaggled 
teeth. "You can go just down this road here and back since there's no 
exit. This road ends in the river." John looked at me and 
said, "Okay, you drive. You have never driven a Gremlin before so 
here's your chance". I was excited and scared at the same time. We 
got in and the car promptly died when I tried to move it in reverse. 
Keeping one foot on the brake and one on the accelerator, I managed 
to get it moving down the road toward the river. "You'd better test 
the brakes before we go further" John warned. I wasn't going very 
fast, maybe 25 ? 30 mph or so, but I hit the brakes anyway. The 
wheels immediately locked up and we slid awhile toward the river 
bank. I was luckily able to whip it onto a dirt road and dodge a bank 
of mailboxes to avoid plunging into the water. After cranking it back 
up again (it died after the sharp turn), I recaptured a lost memory 
of non-powered steering experience and got the thing back to the 
trailer house in one piece. Yes, I did offer to buy it, but the 
man "wasn't sure if he was ready to sell it yet" and pointed to a 
wrecked Plymouth Belvedere parked on the other side of a shed. He had 
rear-ended a truck on the way to a local liquor dealer ("damned pint 
cost $12 but I sure as hell wuddn't goin to town fer it"). So I 
politely left my name and phone number in case he decided to change 
his mind. Maybe he will sell it as he stated he wasn't working on 
account of his bad foot. A very entertaining afternoon and a unique 
birthday gift ? my first Gremlin drive! ~Lu~





 
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