Garage Challenge--Winner!

At this late date I'm embarrassed to declare myself the winner of the 2011 Garage Challenge.

Now just to finish a couple school assignments and I can get to work on re-engining Ludwig. Cross your fingers for me.

They Did It!

In the final minutes they surpassed the $25,000 they needed, so I guess we'll be taking a trip down the road to The Wilma when this thing is finished.

"The Bus" Trailer from Damon Ristau on Vimeo.

April 25 1991

Twenty years ago today I bought my first VW, a 1973 Type III Fastback I dubbed "Gretchen", at a used car dealership in Valley Nebraska for $995 (about $1600 today). I smashed her into the back of a 1990 Chrysler LeBaron not seven months later, on November 5th. (Thanks to Mom Grady for verifying these dates.)

This is the only picture of Gretchen of which I'm aware.

Prisoners

This pair is doing time in what I think is Anaconda-Deer Lodge County's impound lot.

The Bozone

Shantung Yellow, 1971. Just like Gertrude.

Downtown Anaconda Freakshow

For whatever reason, Anaconda seems to have more than its share of oddball and/or interesting cars. Admittedly, many of them are in this one lot downtown....

The only way I know how to tell if a Jeep is old is if it says "Willys" on it and/or has flat fenders.

A Fiat (from a distance I thought it might be a Trabant) and a Corvair, which I don't hate.

What? Srsly?

It is: an Avanti, though research shows it's a 1980s model "Blake Era" car--technically not a Studebaker, despite the badging--and not particularly desirable. This one looks to have had a dash fire and sits out in the elements with no windshield.

Big Blue Wallet

I'm told that this wallet is made out of material recovered from Big Blue's recovered seats.

A custom-made product from Platinum Dirt.


Thanks, Big Blue's Drivers!