Poor Justine, Showing Her Age

Poor Justine.  She’s showing her age. This winter wasn’t good to her.  I hear creaking.  She’s much less nimble.  I think it’s time for her to take a break, spend some time at the spa, and get a makeover.  Maybe I should put her out to pasture?

I took her a bath the other day and realized how much she was showing her age.  After hosing her down, I found flakes of rust under her carriage.  I know she has some problem areas.  We all do.  The bits of rust seems so disconcerting.  While playing with her, I heard the back wheels grind as we took a turn she normally flies through.  I noticed her CV boot torn in the front passenger side earlier this winter.  Luckily, I haven’t heard any clicking.  She begins to whine more as we drive.  Depending on the weather, her exhaust system is super loud.  She also isn’t communicating with me as well as she used to.  The speedometer operates intermittently.

We’ve been through a lot.  I bought her in St. Louis from a guy that wasn’t taking good care of her.  After taking her home, I realized she experienced some trauma under his watch.  She taught me how to operate a manual transmission.  She helped me send Fred, my cat, to a better home.  She’s a bit slow but tons of fun to drive in.  I can’t see myself leaving her.

She needs a new role in life, a new path.  She taught me before.  She can teach me again.  With all the work that needs to be done with her, she can teach me how to use a wrench and other tools around the car. I know how to jump a car battery, change a flat, and other minor repairs.  It’s time to get intimate with Justine. I’ll know her inner workings.  I’ll treat her right.  I will spoil her.  This summer I will spend a lot of time under her bonnet.

Once we’re done getting intimate,I want to totally overhaul her from the inside out because she’s my first.  She’ll be treated with higher end parts, hotter engine, a hand sculpted body, and more.  I have a good idea of what I want to do.  It won’t be too over the top.  It will look OEM.  She will look sexy.  I plan to use the rebuild many of the old parts and use  it in another project I have planned.

Another winter would be devastating to her body.  Her lack of air conditioning makes it uncomfortable on hot summer drives.  Short summer drives, fall, and spring are left.  That isn’t too practical for a daily car.  I believe much of her time will be at car shows and autocrosses. I think it’s time I search for a new workhorse while I pamper Justine.