Posted on 04/02/2012 12:10:23 PM PDT by rawhide
After 576,000 miles--or more than a trip to the moon and back--in the same 1964 Mercury Comet Caliente, the 93-year-old Orlando grandmother is stepping on the brakes due to age-related macular degeneration in both eyes. She realized her vision had completely failed her in early March after running a "bald-faced red light," Veitch told FoxNews.com.
"I am legally blind, so I can no longer drive my lovely Chariot," she said by phone. "They don’t have to take it away, I would not dream of driving that car again."
Veitch,a retired nurse who told FoxNews.com in July 2009 that the car had outlasted three marriages and three sets of shocks,said she last drove on March 9.
"I know I'm not safe enough to drive,"she continued."But I have taken it in stride."
Veitch bought her beloved ride for $3,289 in February 1964 from a dealer in Sanford,Fla.
She credits her near-obsessive dedication to the car as the main reason why it's spent nearly half a century in her care.
"When I buy gas,I write down the mileage,the date and how many miles per gallon I got,"she told FoxNews.com in 2009. "I've never been a destructive person and I've just taken care of everything, except my husbands."
Veitch,who appeared on "The Tonight Show" in August 2010, said she might consider selling it to host and classic car aficionado Jay Leno if he's interested.
"I haven't talked to Jay Leno yet,but I'm wondering if he's interested,"Veitch said early Thursday."But I don't think I should start talking about it now."
Asked if any of her 4 children,9 grandchildren or 11 great-grandchildren have expressed interest in the car, Veitch responded:"It wouldn't matter if they did, they're not going to get it.They couldn't take care of it like I did."
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Lenpo will probably buy it! That would be nice if he did, to honor her.
Lenpo=Leno
(fat fingers)
Hell, Al Bundy’s car went 999,999.9 miles. Now, that’s something.
Video: A 101-Year-Old Woman and Her 81-Year-Old Packard
http://editorial.autos.msn.com/blogs/autosblogpost.aspx?post=0dc6b93c-8569-4504-a262-7f8a3d6dcdcd
That's just sad.
She must think all of her family members are like Clint Eastwood's in Gran Torino.
That’s not excessivley high mileage for a 48 year old car.
(Snicker) She's honest, too.
:: I’ve just taken care of everything, except my husbands. ::
After reading that, her statement against her kids/grandkids was not surprising...in the least.
ZZ TOP
MERCURY BLUES
Had my money
I tell you what I’d do
I would go downtown
Buy a mercury or two
Cause I’m crazy ‘bout a mercury
Cruise up and down this road
Up and down this road
I’m goin’ to buy me a mercury
And I’ll cruise up and down this road
Up and down this road
You know that gal I love
I stole her from a friend
Fool got lucky stole her back again
Because she knowed he had a mercury
Cruise up and down this road
Up and down this road
Well, she knowed he had a mercury
And she cruise up and down this road
Hey now mama
Where’d you stay last night
Your hair’s all down
Your clothes don’t fit you right
Had my money
I tell you what I’d do
Go downtown and buy a mercury or two
Cause I’m crazy ‘bout a mercury
And I’ll cruise up and down this road
Up and down this road
I’m going to buy me a mercury
And I’ll cruise up and down this road
Up and down this road
I’m going to buy me a mercury
Going to buy me a mercury
Going to buy me a mercury
Cruise, cruise up and down this road
Up and down this road
I’m going to buy me a mercury
Buy me a mercury
Going to buy me a mercury
Cruise, cruise up and down this road
Up and down this road
(Original by Steve Miller)
1964 Mercurys helped hold-down health care costs. No seat belts. All steel dash with protruding metal switches. Slippery plastic-covered bench seat. When you had an accident in one of those babies, you splattered against the dashboard with the steering column protruding from your face, and died, period.
White car.
Sanford, Florida.
Racist.
Is that ***Christine***?
That ain’t nothin’ - my 65 chevy has gone over 1.2 million miles (took 5 engine re-builds, and replacements though.)
Watch it go on sale after she croaks with 57,600 miles on the meter. “A little old lady drove it to church on Sundays”
Dennis Guilder: Arnie would have never bought that car if he’d known somebody died in it.
George LeBay: Either you’re dumber than you look, or you don’t know your friend very well. He had the same look in his eye that my brother always had. Probably the only thing my brother ever loved in his whole rotten life was that car. No shi**er ever came between him and Christine, if they did... watch out! He had a five-year-old daughter choke to death in her... he wouldn’t get rid of her. He just rode around with the radio blaring, not a care in the world except for Christine. Only time I ever interfered with it was when Rita killed herself.
Dennis Guilder: Who’s Rita?
George LeBay: His wife! He didn’t care a rat’s a$$ about her! She died the same way he did... then I made him get rid of it... for decency, ya know? Of course, the car came back three weeks later.
Dennis Guilder: What do you mean “came back”?
Kinda sad. The organist from our church is about the same age, and the state just told him he had to quit driving for the same reason.
"...we have a car. Not one of those cheap things made of chromium and spit but Isotta Fraschini. Have you ever heard of Isotta Fraschini? All hand-made. It cost me twenty eight thousand dollars."
"The whole thing was upholsted in leopard skin and had one of those car phones. All gold-plated."
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