I have owned a lot of cars in my lifetime, and I mean a lot of cars. Domestic and foreign, new and used (mostly used), coupes, vans and sedans.
I’ve even owned a Yugo.
But of all the vehicles I’ve owned, the best for me and my favorite so far has to be my 1983 Jeep CJ-7.Shiny black despite its age, with a soft top, solid body and removable doors. Her smooth running inline 6 cylinder motor and five speed manual transmission made her a kick to drive, and power brakes and steering made her seem like a Cadillac compared to my first Jeep: a re-bodied CJ5 with power nothing.
I drove her most often with the top down and the doors off, laughing to myself as I rode down the street in what felt to me like an over-grown skateboard with 102 horsepower. About as basic as can be, Jeeps are known for being the only vehicle in which you can actually see parts falling off as you drive… actually feel the vehicle rust as you go… and yet still keep going. I didn’t care, I loved her anyway.
After my first divorce, I used that Jeep as a sort of therapy. An hour or two of wind-in-my-face motoring seemed to cure just about any emotional trouble I could imagine. From the Renaissance Faire in Wisconsin, down lonely back country roads in northwest Indiana, through Chicago’s loop and all over the suburbs, I always felt better when I got home than I did when I left.
Probably my favorite memory of her was the day I decided to drive to Chicago to see the city’s 4 th of July fireworks display – traditionally held on the 3 rd of July. I left straight from work and drove north along Lake Shore Drive until I reached Grant Park and the police shut down all traffic. I sat there for 2 hours, stranded in a sea of fellow motorists, a captive audience to the best fireworks the city had to offer, with the top down and my feet on the dashboard and the fireworks reflecting off Lake Michigan.
Although I eventually traded her in for a stodgy, practical sedan (a trade I regret to this day), I’ll never forget that old CJ-7. I can only hope she’s with someone who loves her as much as I did.