Spoke to the Original Owner of my XR4Ti Yesterday

[R Code]

I had his name from the warranty card, and (luckily) I have every receipt and scrap of paper associated with my car's history, so I just dialed him up at his home in NJ.

Interesting conversation, he was happy to hear the car has been lovingly cared for since he sold it in '96, and that it still looks like new w/just 37.5k on the odo. He talked about how he'd take it for a 1/2 hour drive & then spend 2 hours detailing it, told me about his "new" car: a T bird he bought in '04 & is maintaining the same way. I told him about my plans for the car, recent parts acquisitions, and the upcoming divestment of the "69 R Code, which will free up time & $ to fulfill the XR's promise.

Neat for me to have access to the original owner, and that he's a nice guy/enthusiast. We exchanged #s, and made a loose plan to meet up at a car show (TBD) in NJ next summer. It shouldn't be too much of a struggle to arrange something that works.

My kids roll their eyes that the old man is such a car nerd , but I figured you guys would understand.

[andyofcolumbusmerkur]

I took some pics of my 89 today for the previous previous owner. Ya we understand.

[eaton53]

I've run into my car's previous owner several times at car shows.
Nice fella... he says the car's been kicked up a notch or two since he owned it.

He's got a T-Bird now.

[R Code]

I've run into my car's previous owner several times at car shows.
Nice fella... he says the car's been kicked up a notch or two since he owned it.

He's got a T-Bird now.

That's cool, he must get a kick of seeing the car so well preserved. Funny that both our OOs drive later model T Birds now.

[Bob Weir]

As time passes we reflect on cars we had, and some we regret selling. We wonder what happened to it and what condition it's in. A few years ago, while wondering the Radisson [Camp Hill] parking lot scanning the Merkurs an "IMON" sticker caught my eye. There are very few "IMON" stickers, especially in the rear window of an XR I regretted selling years before.

87 xr4ti Right side Rob.jpg (93.55 KiB) Viewed 5333 times

No, the current owner didn't want to sell it to me.

[eaton53]

I've run into my car's previous owner several times at car shows.
Nice fella... he says the car's been kicked up a notch or two since he owned it.

He's got a T-Bird now.

That's cool, he must get a kick of seeing the car so well preserved. Funny that both our OOs drive later model T Birds now.

We voted for each other.
That's how ridiculous "participant judging" works. Everyone votes for their buds or the homies.
It often has little to do with how good the cars are so I usually abstain from such events.
I go to a lot of cruise ins, which have no judging. I'll go to a "judged" event if it's free.

[R Code]

I've run into my car's previous owner several times at car shows.
Nice fella... he says the car's been kicked up a notch or two since he owned it.

He's got a T-Bird now.

That's cool, he must get a kick of seeing the car so well preserved. Funny that both our OOs drive later model T Birds now.

We voted for each other.
That's how ridiculous "participant judging" works. Everyone votes for their buds or the homies.
It often has little to do with how good the cars are so I usually abstain from such events.
I go to a lot of cruise ins, which have no judging. I'll go to a "judged" event if it's free.

Agreed. I'm more of a cruise night guy: low key, short duration, come/go as you please.

[eaton53]

That's cool, he must get a kick of seeing the car so well preserved. Funny that both our OOs drive later model T Birds now.

We voted for each other.
That's how ridiculous "participant judging" works. Everyone votes for their buds or the homies.
It often has little to do with how good the cars are so I usually abstain from such events.
I go to a lot of cruise ins, which have no judging. I'll go to a "judged" event if it's free.

Agreed. I'm more of a cruise night guy: low key, short duration, come/go as you please.

Yeah, there is the part about it taking up the whole day on Saturday, especially when it's hot.
3 hrs max is good, later in the day when the weather is cooler is even better. Our club cruise-ins are 5pm to 8pm, which is perfect.