Author Topic: My Sons New Car  (Read 625 times)

roadking77

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My Sons New Car
« on: May 29, 2023, 05:55:55 AM »
My son, until recently when he has taken a liking to my trans am (which is a good thing) never really has been a car guy. Guitars are his thing and he is an accomplished player and collector. I have lost count of how many he has but its in the dozens. As a kid the ONLY car that ever caught his eye was the then new(sh) GTO. Saturday his dream came true. He had been looking seriously for about 6 months or so. He is very particular and knew exactly what he wanted. Something with low'sh miles, and as original as possible. Like you guys probably know these cars fall into two camps, either they were taken care of and held onto for awhile or were run hard and put away wet. Most of the original, good condition cars were going for what we thought was stupid money, 25k and up. So finding one in his price range was a bit limiting. Year was the big factor as he was set on a 2004. Of the three it is kind of a one year only model and he likes the understated features more than the 05/06. Second was colour. Black was the most abundant and he did not want that. He found a nice red one in NC but the seats were bad. Miles ok and price was right. Found a nice Purple (his first choice and the rarest colour) in Chicago but it was sold too quick. Thanks to Larry for his help. Finally found one in Conn. Brought it home Sat. I will post the adventure in another thread, that is a story in itself!
2023-05-29_07-28-11 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr
2023-05-29_07-27-41 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr
2023-05-29_07-27-29 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr

Finished!
77 T/A - I will Call this one DONE!
79 TATA 4sp-Next Project?
79 TATA - Lost to Fire!
86 Grand Prix - Sold
85 T/A - Sold
85 Fiero - Sold
82 Firebird - Sold
'38-CZ 250
'39-BSA Gold Star
'49-Triumph 350
'52-Ariel Red Hunter
'66-BSA Lightning
'01-HD RoadKing

kentucky yeti

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Re: My Sons New Car
« Reply #1 on: May 29, 2023, 06:18:07 AM »
Nice!  Love the GTO's.  And that one looks exceptionally well- taken care of. 
Mike (aka Yeti)

1977 Y82 W72 Auto
2015 F-150 Lariat 4x4 (twin turbo)
2016 Explorer Limited
2012 Mustang

Wallington

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Re: My Sons New Car
« Reply #2 on: May 29, 2023, 06:33:58 AM »
Very nice. Snap up any NOS genuine parts while you can.

5th T/A

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Re: My Sons New Car
« Reply #3 on: May 29, 2023, 07:05:59 AM »
Kerry, congratulations to you and your son. Every day that passes will make it harder to find a clean, low mileage original. Prices will only go up. Having never set foot in a late model GTO I am curious to hear about both of your driving impressions of this car. Personally I find this yellow color much more appealing than the purple. I think it shows well without being gaudy.

A little bit of advice for whatever it’s worth from someone who has regretted selling all of his Trans Am’s, tell you son DON’T EVER SELL THIS CAR.

By the way garage is looking pretty good!
1980 T/A with a Pontiac 461

Gone but not forgotten;
1973 T/A 455
1975 T/A 400
1978 T/A W72
1982 T/A cross fire injected

Two wheel toys;
2014 Harley Ultra Classic Limited
2013 Honda CB1100
2010 Yamaha Vmax
1982 Yamaha Seca 750

roadking77

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Re: My Sons New Car
« Reply #4 on: May 29, 2023, 08:23:48 AM »
Thanks all, Yea he plans on keeping it. In fact he told his 11 yo nephew 'if youre good to me this will be yours someday', LOL. The purple cars look nice and they are pretty dark so not really a tacky looking colour. I do like the yellow though. Yes he has the same thought on finding parts.
The car is a 5.7 LS1, most people's thoughts are to 05 and 06 for the 6.0 ls2 but he wasnt concerned about that. Its a 6 speed and other than his dirt bike he has never driven a manual. I took him out yesterday and he did pretty well. I dont think he is ready for a solo yet, but he is getting close. Car runs great, its a one owner a couple of minor modifications but nothing that cant be reversed easily enough.
Finished!
77 T/A - I will Call this one DONE!
79 TATA 4sp-Next Project?
79 TATA - Lost to Fire!
86 Grand Prix - Sold
85 T/A - Sold
85 Fiero - Sold
82 Firebird - Sold
'38-CZ 250
'39-BSA Gold Star
'49-Triumph 350
'52-Ariel Red Hunter
'66-BSA Lightning
'01-HD RoadKing

Re: My Sons New Car
« Reply #4 on: May 29, 2023, 08:23:48 AM »

roadking77

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Re: My Sons New Car
« Reply #5 on: May 29, 2023, 08:37:50 AM »
Found the car on the net in Connecticut. U haul would not rent a trailer because my 2013 truck was too old. So, I borrowed a trailer (from the guy that is building my motor, LOL.). I am in the extreme N E part of MD. We left the house at 530 am. Being a holiday weekend I figure everyone travelled on Fri as the roads were pretty clear, no problems. Got to Waterbury about 1030 am. Finalized everything, loaded and back on the road by about noon. Our trip up went through NJ and around NYC on the Cuomo (tappanzee) bridge. Its a bit hectic and we wanted to take the little bit longer but easier ride home. Went on I84 west through Conn then NY into PA. I was working in the area awhile back and knew a bit of a shortcut through the Pocono Mountains off the beaten path. Gave us a break from the interstate. All is good. Saw the signs for I81 south which is what I wanted to take us towards Lancaster PA then backroads home. I have travelled this route a hundred times. About an hour in I did not recognize anything, we pulled the map back out and realized I made the mistake and got on I80 West instead of I81 South. This had us going in the upper third of PA in the WRONG direction. I claim stupidity at this point. As soon as we realized we were on the wrong road a tire blew on the trailer  :shock: :shock:. So, we unloaded the GTO, I drove it with the map and my gps, Aleks followed me in the trailer limping along. We came home at 45 mph! The next exit off of the interstate was about 10 miles. We got off, filled the GTO with gas and headed south. After about 45 minutes we hit a road I was familiar with and knew where it ended so we go on 61 south. Another hour in we reached a town I was familiar with (one I had worked in for about a year, also by the way very near where esteemed member Decaff was from). From this town on a good day its a 2-1/2 dr home. But not at 45mph! We pulled into the drive about 1030 pm. It was a long, nerve wracking, frustrating, exciting day all in one. We already have a story to tell, and we got home safe and sound.
Finished!
77 T/A - I will Call this one DONE!
79 TATA 4sp-Next Project?
79 TATA - Lost to Fire!
86 Grand Prix - Sold
85 T/A - Sold
85 Fiero - Sold
82 Firebird - Sold
'38-CZ 250
'39-BSA Gold Star
'49-Triumph 350
'52-Ariel Red Hunter
'66-BSA Lightning
'01-HD RoadKing

kentucky yeti

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Re: My Sons New Car
« Reply #6 on: May 29, 2023, 09:36:28 AM »
DeCaff... hadn't thought of him in a long time  :lol:
Mike (aka Yeti)

1977 Y82 W72 Auto
2015 F-150 Lariat 4x4 (twin turbo)
2016 Explorer Limited
2012 Mustang

TATurbo

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Re: My Sons New Car
« Reply #7 on: May 29, 2023, 07:24:51 PM »
Congrats on the new family member! Glad you all got home safe. I loved those GTO’s. 
I hope your son enjoys it.
Tom
King of Prussia, PA

1981 Turbo Trans-Am
Build thread - http://transamcountry.com/community/index.php?topic=83354.0

scarebird

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Re: My Sons New Car
« Reply #8 on: May 29, 2023, 10:40:39 PM »
I had a 2004 (Torrid, M6), liked it better as the 6.0 was a real pig on fuel and not much quicker.

hakitup

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Re: My Sons New Car
« Reply #9 on: May 30, 2023, 10:45:46 AM »
Great purchase, GTOs look fun


Tom H
"I don't know what you call it, I only know the sound it makes when it lies!!"

ryeguy2006a

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Re: My Sons New Car
« Reply #10 on: May 30, 2023, 11:21:58 AM »
Congrats on the purchase! Sorry to hear about your navigation and car trailer troubles. Hopefully you weren't on the phone with me when you took the wrong direction...

1976 Trans Am LS1 and much more...SOLD
1968 Camaro LSA, T56 Magnum, and much more...SOLD

Current Project: 1955 Nomad LC9, 4L80e, C5 brakes and etc...

roadking77

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Re: My Sons New Car
« Reply #11 on: May 30, 2023, 12:12:45 PM »
Nah, it was about 40 minutes later. Just plain stupidity.
Finished!
77 T/A - I will Call this one DONE!
79 TATA 4sp-Next Project?
79 TATA - Lost to Fire!
86 Grand Prix - Sold
85 T/A - Sold
85 Fiero - Sold
82 Firebird - Sold
'38-CZ 250
'39-BSA Gold Star
'49-Triumph 350
'52-Ariel Red Hunter
'66-BSA Lightning
'01-HD RoadKing

TATurbo

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Re: My Sons New Car
« Reply #12 on: May 30, 2023, 09:11:22 PM »
40 minutes isn't too bad...
My dad once added 4 hours to a 11hr trip from Philly to Nashville via a navigation error.  Instead of picking up I-81 @ the PA Turnpike in Harrisburg PA he accidentally went up the PA Turnpike's 'North-East Extension' two hours North to pick up I-81 all the way up in Wilkes-Bare PA.  Then 2 hours South on I-81 to get back to the I-81/PA TP interchange @ Harrisburg. 
Luckily I wasn't on that trip with them...But my poor brother was following...He thought something was wrong about 20 minutes into the trek North.  With no cell phone for car-to-car communication, and no GPS or map to double-check...He hung along for the ride all the way.
Tom
King of Prussia, PA

1981 Turbo Trans-Am
Build thread - http://transamcountry.com/community/index.php?topic=83354.0

roadking77

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Re: My Sons New Car
« Reply #13 on: May 31, 2023, 05:35:55 AM »
NoTom, The 40 minutes was after I was talking with Ryan. My stupidity along with the flat tire added at least 4 hrs to the trip! By hitting 80 instead of 81 it put us about an hour and a half further north in PA than what I wanted. THEN limping home at 45 mph on back roads. It was a nice route through the middle of PA and the roads were nice. Would have made a great motorcycle trip (in fact we passed a lot of bikes along the way). However being 7-10pm after starting on the road at 530 am it was miserable to say the least.
Finished!
77 T/A - I will Call this one DONE!
79 TATA 4sp-Next Project?
79 TATA - Lost to Fire!
86 Grand Prix - Sold
85 T/A - Sold
85 Fiero - Sold
82 Firebird - Sold
'38-CZ 250
'39-BSA Gold Star
'49-Triumph 350
'52-Ariel Red Hunter
'66-BSA Lightning
'01-HD RoadKing

rkellerjr

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Re: My Sons New Car
« Reply #14 on: May 31, 2023, 07:10:28 AM »
Found the car on the net in Connecticut. U haul would not rent a trailer because my 2013 truck was too old. So, I borrowed a trailer (from the guy that is building my motor, LOL.). I am in the extreme N E part of MD. We left the house at 530 am. Being a holiday weekend I figure everyone travelled on Fri as the roads were pretty clear, no problems. Got to Waterbury about 1030 am. Finalized everything, loaded and back on the road by about noon. Our trip up went through NJ and around NYC on the Cuomo (tappanzee) bridge. Its a bit hectic and we wanted to take the little bit longer but easier ride home. Went on I84 west through Conn then NY into PA. I was working in the area awhile back and knew a bit of a shortcut through the Pocono Mountains off the beaten path. Gave us a break from the interstate. All is good. Saw the signs for I81 south which is what I wanted to take us towards Lancaster PA then backroads home. I have travelled this route a hundred times. About an hour in I did not recognize anything, we pulled the map back out and realized I made the mistake and got on I80 West instead of I81 South. This had us going in the upper third of PA in the WRONG direction. I claim stupidity at this point. As soon as we realized we were on the wrong road a tire blew on the trailer  :shock: :shock:. So, we unloaded the GTO, I drove it with the map and my gps, Aleks followed me in the trailer limping along. We came home at 45 mph! The next exit off of the interstate was about 10 miles. We got off, filled the GTO with gas and headed south. After about 45 minutes we hit a road I was familiar with and knew where it ended so we go on 61 south. Another hour in we reached a town I was familiar with (one I had worked in for about a year, also by the way very near where esteemed member Decaff was from). From this town on a good day its a 2-1/2 dr home. But not at 45mph! We pulled into the drive about 1030 pm. It was a long, nerve wracking, frustrating, exciting day all in one. We already have a story to tell, and we got home safe and sound.

Making memories, you guys will have some laughs later in life about the trip. Glad you guys got home safe and congrats on the car!

Re: My Sons New Car
« Reply #14 on: May 31, 2023, 07:10:28 AM »

Raven

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Re: My Sons New Car
« Reply #15 on: May 31, 2023, 06:53:56 PM »
An excellent find there sir, congrats to you both! Glad to hear you made it home safely, got a few road stories like that myself!
1978 Mayan Red Trans Am, '74 455SD, 4-speed.
1977 Trans Am SE, Y82, 400, auto. (Sold)
1999 Navy Blue Metallic Trans Am, LS1, auto. (Sold)
Time Flies in a Trans Am!
https://www.yellowstonecomputing.net

Re: My Sons New Car
« Reply #15 on: May 31, 2023, 06:53:56 PM »
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