RE: IML: 1962 LeBaron

I used to commute, but too many close calls due to lack of consideration by fellow commuters. A couple near misses and near death experiences convinced me to drive a car with disc brakes when driving into Seattle on I-5.

787 Service Ready Leader
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This week I had to schedule my regular driving car for some much needed service. Anything that is driven very much requires it, and though mostly still capable, I haven't got as much time to devote to car maintenance myself as I would like or once did. I chose to allow my 1962 LeBaron the opportunity to become my daily driver for these few days. I am always well under my annual mileage limit for collector cars as specified in my insurance, and the need to drive the car is obvious. Indeed, for me the occasional drive is classified as maintenance.

I can barely describe the renewed feeling of satisfaction that I experienced behind the wheel of that old car. Having owned it since 1979, the two of us have been though a lot. Happily, at this point in our relationship of 27 years, we still hold our own together with the best of them. Merging with traffic on our high speed morning thoroughfare, the old girl steps right up to the challenge of "inserting herself" into rush hour freeway traffic with tremendous grace and absolutely NO fuss. The announcement begins with a flick of the turn signal lever, followed by a firm plunge into the accelerator pedal. Amazingly, we are "up to speed" instantly, at least it seems so compared to my normal routine. The steep, clogged, streets of early morning Seattle present no difficulty whatsoever. As the need arrives to leap forward from a 45 degree angle stop, pointed towards the clouds, a touch of the accelerator is all that is necessary to briskly move the old colossus forward without the slightest hesitation. Pedestrians simply stare in awe.

Cruising I-5 on the way home, during brief interludes of extreme serenity, at 75 mph with the Southampton's windows fully lowered, makes up for the fact that the old R-12 A/C system has long since lost its initial factory charge. This week's mild temperatures of the mid to upper 70's add to the delight of the experience. The superb manners of the car, highlighted by its still amazing handling characteristics top the list of my favorite features of these cars. Thankfully, in spite of its many well earned warts, this car still excels in that department.

Tim , Take a look at www. recycler. com Geoff Simpson

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