The_K_Wagon

"I would never own a station wagon!" I stated to my best friend's mother. "You can't get girls with a wagon." Little did I know back then that my very first car would be a station wagon; The very wagon you see here.

It was in 1992 when I bought it from my Uncle Joe for the amazing price of three hundred dollars. Even though I was working full time, I still needed help saving funds. Luckily, my brother, James, helped me out. Thanks James.

The car was built in Hamtramck, Michigan then sold at a dealership in Lexington, Kentucky. Somehow it found it's way back up to Michigan, where my uncle bought it, and then I bought it and kept it in Highland Park, Michigan which is right next door to Hamtramck.

My wagon was built in 1982 as a '83 model.

The person who ordered it was either really strained for money or really cheap since their were few options.

It had the standard 2.2 liter 4cyl engine

(94hp @ 5,200rpm........117lb-ft @3,200rpm)

Holley carb. (Factory!)

4-speed manual transmission (2.69 OTGR)

Power steering and brakes

Bench front seat

No air conditioning

An AM radio that my uncle switched for an AM/FM

Rear defogger

Roof Rack

It was painted "Silver Crystal Coat" on the outside with red pin-stripping. The interroir was "Madison cloth and vinyl in medium and dark red.

I mainly used the wagon for the usual needs. Grocery shopping, Supply hauling for work, Car Pooling, Trips to the laundrimat, and visiting friends and family.

While it completed these chores well; It's unique size and square shape helped it swollaw more cargo than expected. It was able to carry an eight foot ladder with the tailgate closed. It could carry more supplies from Sam's Club than my co-workers Ford Splash. And it carried as many people as my Friends then new Buick Regal.

The 4-speed manual transmission gave my wagon legendary status. It gave the wagon the ability to "roast" tires in first gear and chirp them in second. Many thought the wagon had V-8 Power under the hood. I just smiled.

I had many advertures and misadventures with my wagon.

I have driven succesfully in snow so deep that at least one third of cars that attempted this feat were lying in ditches off the road. From ten feet off the road to fourty yards off the road!

I crossed water so deep that it came up to the belt line of my wagon, while searching for a coworker who had shorted out his cars computer tryng to cross the same water.

My misadventures included the time when I drove to Casevill in the rain and my car would only run on three cylinders.

Or when the clutch died on the freeway durring rush hour. (Luckily, I was able to coast to the nearest off ramp.)

Then there was the time it died on the road due to distributor trouble when I was supposed to be house sitting. The house was still ten miles away.

The greatest memories I have of my wagon are the trips it allowed me to take. I drove the wheels off the poor thing. I went to Caseville, Michigan, Binghampton, New York via Canada (twice), and Port Charlotte, Florida.

I went to State Parks, scenic drives, and country roads. All for the sheer joy in driving.

Unfortunately, all this driving led to many repairs. Let's face it; put a 12 year old car in the hands of a young owner and things are going to break. Heres a list of items I remember needing to be replaced: Tires, Brake pads (3 times), Brake rotors, Alternators (3 times), Radiator, Shift linkage,CV boot (4 times- Dont get those Speedy boot covers,they don't stay on well.), Clutch, Exhaust system, Distributor, Wiring harness, and Tail Light bulbs (5 at least!). I also had to replace the "S" hook for the carburator because someone tried to steal my wagon while in my own driveway!

Below are some links I think you'll like.

First is Station Wagon.com The site for almost anything relating to wagons!

Second is My Trip to Binghamton, NY. Where I helped my brother relocate.

Third is The Best LTD web site. It's a great site about a group of friends and their life with a LTD wagon.

Fourth is The Site Fights. A comparison of family oriented sites.

I hope you enjoy this site and dont forget to sign my guest book!!!