Chapter 6 -Conclusion - NEVER sell to family ..!!!! by Anno Nymus 6 of 6

 

Chapter 6 - Conclusion

It should be noted ... Pat had a firm rule .. NEVER sell to family ..!!!!

Alas – he was a softy, and he broke it often for mum. Curiously, he never let me make any payments no matter what fancy car I wanted to buy! It was always a gift, or loaner ONLY, but no payments - period!

The 1961 Corvair 'Greenbriar' Van Episode

1961 Corvair Greenbriar Van.

Mum and sis drove it till it wouldn't play anymore and they had to send it back - thru some sleight of hand and hard core horse swapping - mom's brother, uncle Jerry ended up with it.  All this happened .. whilst I was away on my Federal World Tour and Get Away in Vietnam .. what a story goes along with that old Corvair … if the wheels could talk?

The Corvair was another stalwart car that made many long treks, and was a great camping van. It traveled many trips to Mexico, and even to Vancouver, and BC ! Alas, it always leaked a lot of oil .. and we finally had to give it back .. when it was finally in the shop more than on the road ! Pat gripe'd, but made good on his 'warranty'.

Rear mount,  air cooled engine 

A flexible cabin – Easily converted from seating to cargo. 

OK engine, but endless oil leak !

A real " Soldier "

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He always groused in a friendly way, and said he should never have sold us any cars !! … saying it always cost him tons of money out of pocket to fix our situations. He knew we couldn’t pay on our own with our ultra tight budget .. so he covered it all .. groused a bit along the way of course in his kidding way, but he always made sure we were covered and well taken care of .. and secretly we were all very proud that he did – including him !!!

I think we got a Ford LTD Crown Victoria next – from Uncle Pat of course.

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When I was 9 he gave me a ukulele for Christmas .. and whilst learning to play it for the next months, I dragged and carried it everywhere I went – in the car, to the park, inside outside .. anyplace but school, shower or the pool.

I plunked on it constantly .. learned and sang all sorts of union organizing, Pete Seeger, and Woodie Guthrie, and general fun campfire songs, like “ the Crawdad Song” .. “Froggie went a Courting” and such like – I mastered basic chords, and chord changes – I was on my way at 9!

Pat was a great uncle ! He always fixed me and the family as best he could. He really got me my start in music .. and kept us in cars … Music was Rockin'!! … Cars was Rollin' !!

Pat made me a genuine ... “Rock-er, 'n … Roll-er” ! ... 

... Bless Uncle Pat Forever - Scoundrel-ism Lives On   !!!

End

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All photos: free, public domain, or by permission

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