06-21-2015, 12:43 AM
I don't as a rule.
But I've had cars with...CHARACTER, over the years.
Practice started with my old man. He had a Ford Model B in college, just after the war. The Ford V8. He named it "Old Henry" - it was as cantankerous as the man who founded the company.
Following on that, when I owned MY old Ford - a 1973 Pinto Squire station wagon that I'd got for $300 in Texas, no rust - I named it Blazing Saddles because of the Pinto fires in the news. Even though the station wagon had a different design and wasn't affected. It was just SO incongruous - me, a 22-year-old kid, driving a tiny station wagon with the fake wood-grain on it. But...hey, it had a four-speed!
It was actually a great car; but I was too broke to paint its faded flanks and remove the Di-Noc wood trim. Although I did spring for a gasoline Haz-Mat placard. Those were the days when you could do that without getting a ticket.
Later on...I bought another beater, which I came to love. A 1995 Geo Metro hatchback...this time the rust-free car came to me. For some reason, someone from California traded it in in Buffalo, where I was living - saw the California title, and there wasn't a spot of rust on it. Just general wear.
I named it Enko-San. Enko, we learned from Esso's aborted move to rename its gas stations Enco (before settling on Exxon)...it means "Stalled Car" in Japanese. The "-san" is an honorific. So...my Suzuki Cultus, disguised as an American Geo Metro, I named "Honorable Stalled Car."
And then, of course, was my Jeep CJ - which I just had to name EUGENE. I was gonna get personalized plates, but someone in Ohio already had that.
Since then, I haven't found the wit to name any of the vehicles I've had...but if the mood strikes me, if my wit slaps me in the face...
But I've had cars with...CHARACTER, over the years.
Practice started with my old man. He had a Ford Model B in college, just after the war. The Ford V8. He named it "Old Henry" - it was as cantankerous as the man who founded the company.
Following on that, when I owned MY old Ford - a 1973 Pinto Squire station wagon that I'd got for $300 in Texas, no rust - I named it Blazing Saddles because of the Pinto fires in the news. Even though the station wagon had a different design and wasn't affected. It was just SO incongruous - me, a 22-year-old kid, driving a tiny station wagon with the fake wood-grain on it. But...hey, it had a four-speed!
It was actually a great car; but I was too broke to paint its faded flanks and remove the Di-Noc wood trim. Although I did spring for a gasoline Haz-Mat placard. Those were the days when you could do that without getting a ticket.
Later on...I bought another beater, which I came to love. A 1995 Geo Metro hatchback...this time the rust-free car came to me. For some reason, someone from California traded it in in Buffalo, where I was living - saw the California title, and there wasn't a spot of rust on it. Just general wear.
I named it Enko-San. Enko, we learned from Esso's aborted move to rename its gas stations Enco (before settling on Exxon)...it means "Stalled Car" in Japanese. The "-san" is an honorific. So...my Suzuki Cultus, disguised as an American Geo Metro, I named "Honorable Stalled Car."
And then, of course, was my Jeep CJ - which I just had to name EUGENE. I was gonna get personalized plates, but someone in Ohio already had that.
Since then, I haven't found the wit to name any of the vehicles I've had...but if the mood strikes me, if my wit slaps me in the face...