Vintage Photo Friday - Cars

1970 Buick Skylark.  Mine was Gold with a Cream Landau Top.

I love cars.  You'd never know it by the cars that I've owned.  In my driving history, since around 1969, I've either owned Japanese transportation cars or inherited my parents' old cars.  The best and most "classic" car I owned was my Mom's 1970 Buick Skylark.  It was gold with cream interior and a cream Landau top.  I loved that car.  There was LOTS of chrome on that baby!  It was a dream to drive.  In Driver's Training at Beverly Hills High School we drove 1969 Buick Skylarks, so I was perfectly prepared to take over Mom's car when I finally got it around 1975.

My auto history:  Before inheriting Mom's Skylark, I drove a 1972 Dodge Colt, built by Mitsubishi.  This car was great transportation during my college years.  It was red and very zippy.  I drove it into the ground and then received the Skylark.

This looks just like my little red Colt!

After the Skylark bit the dust I bought another red Japanese car, a 1982 Toyota Tercel.  This was a very sweet car.  It served me well through my rock 'n roll years....very dependable driving home late at night.

1982 Toyota Tercel

When the Tercel was on it's last legs my Dad gave me his Pontiac Station Wagon.  It was boxy and cumbersome, like a "K" car.  At that point, I didn't care much about looks.  I was just happy to have transportation.  I was also painting and hauling around large canvases at the time, so the station wagon was very convenient.

Late 1980's Pontiac Station Wagon

I must have been in dire straits in the mid-1990's because the car I inherited after the Pontiac was my Mom's mid-1990's Mercury Sable.  Whoa!  I'm not even going to post a photo of that car.  Ack!  It was a nightmare....ugly and a lemon!  Fortunately, some old guy hit the Sable and I got a nice chunk o' change from the insurance company.  

I parlayed that money and bit more from my savings into a car I really wanted, the 1997 Toyota RAV-4.  I loved that car.  It sat high above the ground, had plenty of storage space, was zippy and very dependable.  Mine was black with grey interior.  We still have this car.  Larry has been driving it since around 2004.

1997 Toyota RAV-4

The only reason I gave my beloved RAV-4 to Larry was because my Mom gave me her 2003 Honda Accord.  It was a very nice sedan, gold exterior, cream interior (just like the old Buick).  I liked having a sedan....very comfortable.  HOWEVER, this particular Accord was rather sluggish.  It never had the zip that my Toyotas had.  The car had low mileage, so I traded it in and bought my current car, a 2006 Toyota Matrix.  I like the Matrix.  It has been a very serviceable car.  It's great on mileage and even though it's compact, we can pack a lot of gear into it.

2006 Toyota Matrix - The Crochet Car

Thanks, Mom and Dad for all the great transportation over the years!  I'm hoping to upgrade within the next year to a more luxurious model.  We'll see what 2013 brings!  Have a great weekend!