The Junkman

I'm grateful that the Mustang II saved the Mustang name plate. But OTOH, I've driven a Pinto and I have no interest in driving another, even with a different exterior.

The location of my highest speed ever on a BMW K-75 motorcycle. Twin Falls to Wells, NV. 90-95 mph for 45 minutes. Funny thing was the faster the BMW went, the smoother it got. Must have been that Autobahn DNA. Nobody out there but me and sight distances are ridiculous. Now, hitting a jack rabbit at that speed might have been problematic... Went back years later with my wife in her Acura TL. Normal/rational speed then. When I told her about it her response was: "That was stupid".

Austin-Healey 3000, cream white with red side coves, trunk luggage rack and matched leather suitcases. The occupants appeared to have smiles. (saw for about 3 seconds going the other way on the freeway). Also a dark red Alfa Romeo GTA in good though not prime condition. Again, going the other way. Not bad for a Wednesday.

On Saturday in Healdsburg, CA (the kind of town where you take your spouse for a romantic weekend, or your affair partner if your spouse isn't available). 1970 Chevelle SS396 and parked nose to tail with the Chevelle was this 1969 Pontiac Firebird 350

Brand new Hobby Lobby opened in town so I bought an unneeded AMT '67 Mustang Fastback kit (along with a Revell 1/72nd F-15E Strike Eagle). I REALLY didn't need them but I wanted the store management to look favorably at keeping kits in stock. Plus the 40% off didn't hurt.

Is it OK to hate you now?

To say nothing of those charged with making this work. Not the ones imposing this idiocy, talking about the working types. (Trying really hard to not insert political commentary, I think I'm doing OK)

Shock upon shock: we got a Hobby Lobby in my Northern California (15K population) town. Something I never thought would happen. Michaels in town raised hopes up by getting several Gundam kits, pretty large and involved ones too. Then in the following 5-6 months-nothing, bupkus. Now I fear the HL will just smother and kill the Michaels. We'll know in about 6 months.

No problem. Just take the photo I posted, remove the rear doors and continue with life. I've been a Ford guy since my dad worked at a Ford garage in the early 1960s (Johnson Bros service for Fords, Inglewood, CA). GM to me always meant "Giant Mustang".

1966 Olds 442, white over seafoam green just leaving an Asian market as I was walking in. Not seen one of that vintage in quite a while. This color combo although a Tempest and not a 442

The Quick and Dirty? Nobody knows, including those implementing the changes. All we can do is wait for it to shake out.

A real varied collection of cars today. A straight and clean (about a) 1966 VW Beetle convertible, tan over red-parking lot of a frou-frou grocery store. Just before that a very clean, cream colored (coloured for our friends in the British Empire-if we still have any) 1967 BMW 2000CS. I've not seen one of those in many years. Lastly, something called an Ineos Grenadier (think Land Rover Defender-ish with touch screens). I'd never heard of the company but a local Costco had it on display touting their auto purchase programs ($2000 off at $100,000 vehicle). I don't think it will find a home with me.

Its "Upper Income Group" season for wine tourism in the Nor Cal wine country. Yesterday I saw a group of 1% types on US 101 just as they were exiting to turn toward Sonoma/Napa. Late model Porsche GT4 RS, Porsche Carrera, 3 (likely Dinan enhanced) BMW 4 and 5 Series. And leading the group was an early '80s Ferrari Mondial. Still looks good 40 years on.

I was around when that was a current model. Recall it also came out at the same time as the Maverick which I believe took over the Falcon's place in the lineup. I figure its as much a Falcon as an electric SUV can be a Mustang. Ford has had a long history of messing with nameplates. The aforementioned Mustang being one. Also my first vehicle handed down by my dad was a '65 Ford window van that was also tagged with a "Falcon" nameplate from the factory. Recall the Ford Taurus was redesignated the "Ford 500" for no discernible reason and then magically returned to Taurus. Likely because everyone knew what a Taurus was but 500 held no name recognition at all unless you recall the even older Galaxie 500. AND note the current Ford Maverick which has nothing in common with a 2 or 4 door economy car.

You could fudge a bit with this one, up until the 2024/2025 year model. The photo just above your post illustrates those years with the double throttle body intakes. I'm loving the power those intakes provide. And I'll be buying at least 2 kits even if they are snappers.