20 Years Later
Posted: Mon Apr 01, 2013 6:02 pm
Here it is! My 1993 Buick Park Avenue. This car has been around the forums since I got it, and has treated me very good for the 5 years (this month actually) that I have had it. She is a tough old bird that is showing her age, but it comes back more every day.
I am going to start out with the battle scars (beauty marks?)
The right front bumper is tweaked (happened before I got it)
Right front door has taken 2 hits. One swipe down the rubber strip (it had red paint on it for a while) and another hit that buckled and creased the front of the door. The second hit pushed the car over (1 inch) in a dirt parking lot (with pics confirming it).
Aftermath from the dog I hit
Bumpers need a repaint, and a broken front grill (broken since I have had it)
The hood, with paint chips and scratches. Still shiny though!
Drivers side front fender, nicks, scratches, but overall holding together well enough, it still needs to be replaced from the innards being blown out from the dog hit.
Paint fried off the mirrors, nicks, scratches, etc
Drivers side, door dings, paint scratches, and loose trim in front of the drivers door (again, it was like that when I got it). Also some damage where it was hit at the front of the LR wheelwell (can't really see it)
Swipe on the LR quarterpanel, again, it was like that before I got it
Crappy repair job coming apart, clear coat peeling, bondo cracking, not even counting they clearcoated over the pinstripe
Paint off the back bumper
Trunk lid looking good enough with light scratches and a ding here and there
Now, the really sad part, the onset of GM Pattern Baldness. 3 spots over the back window, as well as the roof trenches.
Couple brief interior shots. Faded and battered, although the camera is not helping any either. Intact for the most part, with exceptions being the passenger assist handle, overhead console and a few other odds and ends. Please pardon the not vacuumedness.
So I decided to go on old hwy 185, heading north. Farm country.
First stop, just up the road, when the trees cleared, I knew it was time to stop.
And I found an interesting sign right up the street
Move up the highway a ways, turn off a side street, to a new home development. Parked in an empty lot, and went for the Haro walkaround.
And knowing I have now hit just about every possible shot I possible could, and clearly violated each and every picture limit there is, I knew the only thing left to do was change the scenery. So, I hopped back on the road!
Random shot!
Next stop, the remains of Fort Seldon, a local field trip hot spot.
Along with a couple of scenery shots:
Just up the street a bit, Leasburg Dam State Park, and Leasburg Canal. According to Park Services, the place got trashed up pretty good on Easter, which is a really sad thought.
Few more scenery bits:
Back on the road, a mile or so up, I found me another cool sign. Cue the pose!
At this point, I was in uncharted territory. The road started getting twistier, hillier, and the car was getting temperamental. This was the final stop:
At this point, I started shooting video, which, with an old point and shoot, leaves a lot to be desired. I will try editing it to make it interesting, and putting it on YouTube. But we were nearing the end. I was going up to the next town, and finally caught I-25. Then, life was better. The car was home.
Big Red, was finally home!
With the cruise control set around 78, and open interstate in front of it, this car is unstoppable. No drama, no worries. Nothing else matters.
I mean sure, when I feel like, I can pull the car up on a berm right by my house, and grab me a couple of great back drops:
But, even after this car is long gone, I will always remember it for what it really was. A car, that with the cruise set at 78mph, completely smooths out, and will drive you in to the night.
But I do take comfort in one thing, however. This car is living to the typical GM standard. The drivetrain just keeps going. Sure, the car may be coming apart around it, but it still has a lot to give. And I take comfort in knowing that when this car finally goes, it will be nothing short of spectacular. Only time will tell if it drops dead first, or gets killed (my money is on this outcome).
The mileage count, at the end of the day:
I am going to start out with the battle scars (beauty marks?)
The right front bumper is tweaked (happened before I got it)
Right front door has taken 2 hits. One swipe down the rubber strip (it had red paint on it for a while) and another hit that buckled and creased the front of the door. The second hit pushed the car over (1 inch) in a dirt parking lot (with pics confirming it).
Aftermath from the dog I hit
Bumpers need a repaint, and a broken front grill (broken since I have had it)
The hood, with paint chips and scratches. Still shiny though!
Drivers side front fender, nicks, scratches, but overall holding together well enough, it still needs to be replaced from the innards being blown out from the dog hit.
Paint fried off the mirrors, nicks, scratches, etc
Drivers side, door dings, paint scratches, and loose trim in front of the drivers door (again, it was like that when I got it). Also some damage where it was hit at the front of the LR wheelwell (can't really see it)
Swipe on the LR quarterpanel, again, it was like that before I got it
Crappy repair job coming apart, clear coat peeling, bondo cracking, not even counting they clearcoated over the pinstripe
Paint off the back bumper
Trunk lid looking good enough with light scratches and a ding here and there
Now, the really sad part, the onset of GM Pattern Baldness. 3 spots over the back window, as well as the roof trenches.
Couple brief interior shots. Faded and battered, although the camera is not helping any either. Intact for the most part, with exceptions being the passenger assist handle, overhead console and a few other odds and ends. Please pardon the not vacuumedness.
So I decided to go on old hwy 185, heading north. Farm country.
First stop, just up the road, when the trees cleared, I knew it was time to stop.
And I found an interesting sign right up the street
Move up the highway a ways, turn off a side street, to a new home development. Parked in an empty lot, and went for the Haro walkaround.
And knowing I have now hit just about every possible shot I possible could, and clearly violated each and every picture limit there is, I knew the only thing left to do was change the scenery. So, I hopped back on the road!
Random shot!
Next stop, the remains of Fort Seldon, a local field trip hot spot.
Along with a couple of scenery shots:
Just up the street a bit, Leasburg Dam State Park, and Leasburg Canal. According to Park Services, the place got trashed up pretty good on Easter, which is a really sad thought.
Few more scenery bits:
Back on the road, a mile or so up, I found me another cool sign. Cue the pose!
At this point, I was in uncharted territory. The road started getting twistier, hillier, and the car was getting temperamental. This was the final stop:
At this point, I started shooting video, which, with an old point and shoot, leaves a lot to be desired. I will try editing it to make it interesting, and putting it on YouTube. But we were nearing the end. I was going up to the next town, and finally caught I-25. Then, life was better. The car was home.
Big Red, was finally home!
With the cruise control set around 78, and open interstate in front of it, this car is unstoppable. No drama, no worries. Nothing else matters.
I mean sure, when I feel like, I can pull the car up on a berm right by my house, and grab me a couple of great back drops:
But, even after this car is long gone, I will always remember it for what it really was. A car, that with the cruise set at 78mph, completely smooths out, and will drive you in to the night.
But I do take comfort in one thing, however. This car is living to the typical GM standard. The drivetrain just keeps going. Sure, the car may be coming apart around it, but it still has a lot to give. And I take comfort in knowing that when this car finally goes, it will be nothing short of spectacular. Only time will tell if it drops dead first, or gets killed (my money is on this outcome).
The mileage count, at the end of the day:
!
), but they run and hold up beyond well beyond their life spans.
that thing still has PLENTY of life in it..if it were 170K of illinois driving that thing would already be toast from the ground up..all your dealing with is sun damage really.. a good paint job and some new wheels and shell be good as new again and ready to run another 20 years..