Pimp My Ride is a popular television show on which some lucky person has his or her current vehicle upgraded by automotive experts to a level beyond their wildest dreams. We have all owned vehicles that needed “pimped”. Unfortunately, in our serendipitous life paths our rides didn’t get the 52-inch High Definition TV, ultra Bose sound system, 5-digit paint job, or supercharged engine that those beaters deserved. So let’s do the next best thing for them. Let’s show a little love to all of our cars, past and present. We can think of this as a eulogy of sorts, or as I call it, A Bucket (of Bolts) List.
Here’s how it works. On your paper (or word processor), write down the number “1”. Next to that number write the first car that came into your possession. It could have been one you bought, one that was gifted, hopefully not one stolen, possibly one that was re-gifted from Mom or Dad, or one that was pulled from behind a barn. Think about that vehicle and cherish the memory. You’ve probably already shared the story with others. So now is “your time” to kick back, find peace, and maybe a laugh or two at the joy (or frustration) that each vehicle brings to mind. Next write down the number “2”, then, write down the number “3” etcetera, until you have listed every car, truck, or van you’ve ever owned. The last vehicle on your list is the present set of wheels in your driveway. Now the fun begins.
#1 on my list is a 1949 Mercury painted in battleship gray. It looked like a hippopotamus. I called it the Hippo. It had suicide rear doors which I later found out meant, “don’t open them while the car is in motion!” Boys will be boys. My dad always wondered how the hinges got all “whopper-jawed”. My guess is that #1 on your list has a story too. Enjoy it now!
A wicked 1962 black Chevrolet Impala was #4 on my list on my list. This car was so cool that my little brother borrowed it to take his girlfriend on a date. Two weeks later I borrowed that same girlfriend and the two of us went on a date in that same car! Crazy stuff like that makes going down the Bucket (of Bolts) List so much fun! Well… maybe not, if you are my brother! The Green Meanie was the 6th and best car I ever owned and I already told that story to the faithful on Yahoo.
Your list may be long. Your list may be full of trucks or Volkswagens (heaven help you). I bet some of your lists contain some of Detroit’s biggest blunders. So at this point some of you are staring at your Bucket (of Bolts) List and seeing names like Corvair, Edsel, or Pacer. It makes no difference. The list is a timeline of your life, unique only to you! I know a gorgeous woman in Texas that credits a 1965 pickup truck for her being the “tomboy” her dad always wanted! Have you heard the cliché, “drive it until the wheels fall off”? I did exactly that with #13. One of the wheels did fall off. It wasn’t really #13’s fault and I invested in a torque wrench shortly thereafter. Oh my, what we can learn from our lists!
I am guessing that the year of manufacture tends to get more recent as you go down through your Buckets of Bolts. However mine is odd in that #1 is 1949 vintage and the last entry on my Bucket List is older, a 1929. Indeed, #31 is a Model A Ford Coupe pushing in excess of 400 horsepower. Am I regressing? Do you have too many station wagons on your list? Is the word “Mercedes” on your list too often? Do your kids find it hard to believe you actually owned a Corvette and now you drive a Civic? Who cares, it’s deservedly all about you, and well… you are Pimping Your Ride… at least in your mind!