Pedant here....

“’You put your little brother WHERE?’”

My ‘82 VW Rabbit came with rear lap belts, but only a shoulder belt in the front! Outboard end attached to the door with retractor between the front seats.

Wish I could star that 50 times! Lines are cheap-esp for what we ask of them. Use good penetrant and proper flare-nut wrenches tho: I learned that the hard, expensive way a long time ago...

I drove the Morris Minor yesterday, so I agree with the Lucas Electrics!

Watch out for the bats!

Hah! Just forced my memory to recall off-roading the 79 mustang my ex brought to our marriage. I was trying to kill it(it became mine in the sepparation). Straight 6 survived everything I could do it, but after hitting a >major< rock the tank capacity dropped by more than a 1/4. Amazing it didn’t leak-and kept running…

Uh Tav, gotta be That Guy here: ‘taught’ is teaching. ‘Taut’ is tight

Given that I cut my teeth on VWs-my first solely owned vehicle was a 72 Westfalia-and that I’ve been driving old diesel Mercedes over a decade now, this prompts some improper stirrings.

The serious weak point-aside from horrendous power-to-weight ratio-in these things is the the transmission. This is only worth considering if it has been overhauled with the stronger shift fork and(iirc) synchros. Otherwise it can brick at any time: my grandmother’s did. And it did so while being pulled forward…

I will! I have an 82 Rabbit LS we(parents) bought new. I put the first 500 miles on it. Was (relatively) quick & nimble for the era: a lot of fun to drive.

Iirc, the turbo version was auto @ AWD only. Never could find a worthwhile 5mt XT6 back when I was into Subarus. I’d go 2,500 on it given clutch issue-3k if timing belts and that irritating oil pump seal are less than 10k miles old

Don’t care >how< you power it; keep that puppy on the road!

Top Gear is dead: long live Top Gear!

You ought to consider posting your route out there a week in advance. Plenty of us would be willing to help with the roadside stuff when needed, and that way you can have a daisy-chain of contacts ready to go. I’d volunteer, but don’t see you coming thru VA on the way.

That was the one I thought of immediatly. XT6, right?

76 Dulon Formula Ford. Terrifying to a fwd guy like me, but incredible fun.

I look after a 59 MM1000 convertable. Fun little car. Manual everything. Good thing it’s not fast or corners hard: board-flat seats & no seatbelts

Knew #2 instantly: I >still< have patsd* from that hateful shitheap!

Great writing, Andrew! Always thought navigating was the rougher position as you have no direct control but much of the responsibility.