Post by Mike B on Mar 8, 2009 17:13:02 GMT -4
Gloria Sooby replaced her beloved Datsun 1979 280ZX with the next best thing
By Laura Lane 331-4362 | llane@heraldt.com
February 28, 2009
NASHVILLE — Sometimes, it makes sense to give up the car.
Gloria Sooby so loved her blue-and-silver 1979 Datsun 280ZX that she drove it every day for 15 years, endured its affinity for rust and refused to trade it in for a newer model.
She bought the car new in Lafayette in 1979 at John Shaver Pontiac-Datsun. When she and her husband Don moved to Brown County a few years ago, they left the Z behind with friends. It sat outside for three years, abandoned by the Soobys.
Eventually Gloria retrieved her car and decided to invest some money to restore it. The body was rusting away and the interior was not in good condition. The car had 160,000 miles on the odometer.
Still, she wanted it back to its original state.
So she approached Larry Webb, whom she described as “a body shop artisan.” He told the Soobys he would get back to them with a cost estimate.
“He didn’t roll his eyes,” she said. “A good sign.”
Gloria Sooby’s original 280Z. Courtesy photo
When he called back, Webb told Gloria he had found a 1979 Z just like hers but with only 29,000 miles. Same color, and also originally sold from the John Shaver car lot.
It was for sale in nearby Morgantown, so the Soobys drove there to check it out. “Strong frame, no rust, slightly damaged interior,” she said. “Great potential.”
Webb estimated the Soobys would spend more money fixing up their old car than they would spend for the one there in Morgantown. They bought it. And kept the original one in the driveway, unable to part with it.
Webb refurbished the “new” car and hand-painted it with dragon fire markings before the 2007 Midwest Regional Z Heritage Show, where Gloria Sooby’s second-hand Z took second place. It was the car’s first show.
They have since re-done the interior, anticipating the next one. It’s coming up June, at Nashville’s Brown County Inn.
Gloria Sooby’s original 280Z. Courtesy photo
Sharp-eyed readers
I wrote about Corrine Sereni’s 1967 Cadillac DeVille last week and called it a four-door coupe.
Coupes have two doors; Sereni’s Caddy has four big ones.
After I took a picture of the beast, I returned to the office to write the story and realized I wasn’t sure how many doors the car had.
A close look at the picture revealed two handles on the driver’s side. So I changed the story to say the car was a four-door, but forgot to change the word “coupe” to “sedan.”
Oops.
And, the car’s drum brakes would have shoes, not pads.
I appreciate my careful, devoted readers who keep me in line.
A special thank you to George Rehrey, whose e-mail address — which contains the word “cadilacgeo” — made me laugh.
Got a story to tell about a car or truck? Call 812-331-4362, send an e-mail to lane@heraldt.com or a letter to My Favorite Ride, P.O. Box 909, Bloomington, IN 47402.
By Laura Lane 331-4362 | llane@heraldt.com
February 28, 2009
NASHVILLE — Sometimes, it makes sense to give up the car.
Gloria Sooby so loved her blue-and-silver 1979 Datsun 280ZX that she drove it every day for 15 years, endured its affinity for rust and refused to trade it in for a newer model.
She bought the car new in Lafayette in 1979 at John Shaver Pontiac-Datsun. When she and her husband Don moved to Brown County a few years ago, they left the Z behind with friends. It sat outside for three years, abandoned by the Soobys.
Eventually Gloria retrieved her car and decided to invest some money to restore it. The body was rusting away and the interior was not in good condition. The car had 160,000 miles on the odometer.
Still, she wanted it back to its original state.
So she approached Larry Webb, whom she described as “a body shop artisan.” He told the Soobys he would get back to them with a cost estimate.
“He didn’t roll his eyes,” she said. “A good sign.”
Gloria Sooby’s original 280Z. Courtesy photo
When he called back, Webb told Gloria he had found a 1979 Z just like hers but with only 29,000 miles. Same color, and also originally sold from the John Shaver car lot.
It was for sale in nearby Morgantown, so the Soobys drove there to check it out. “Strong frame, no rust, slightly damaged interior,” she said. “Great potential.”
Webb estimated the Soobys would spend more money fixing up their old car than they would spend for the one there in Morgantown. They bought it. And kept the original one in the driveway, unable to part with it.
Webb refurbished the “new” car and hand-painted it with dragon fire markings before the 2007 Midwest Regional Z Heritage Show, where Gloria Sooby’s second-hand Z took second place. It was the car’s first show.
They have since re-done the interior, anticipating the next one. It’s coming up June, at Nashville’s Brown County Inn.
Gloria Sooby’s original 280Z. Courtesy photo
Sharp-eyed readers
I wrote about Corrine Sereni’s 1967 Cadillac DeVille last week and called it a four-door coupe.
Coupes have two doors; Sereni’s Caddy has four big ones.
After I took a picture of the beast, I returned to the office to write the story and realized I wasn’t sure how many doors the car had.
A close look at the picture revealed two handles on the driver’s side. So I changed the story to say the car was a four-door, but forgot to change the word “coupe” to “sedan.”
Oops.
And, the car’s drum brakes would have shoes, not pads.
I appreciate my careful, devoted readers who keep me in line.
A special thank you to George Rehrey, whose e-mail address — which contains the word “cadilacgeo” — made me laugh.
Got a story to tell about a car or truck? Call 812-331-4362, send an e-mail to lane@heraldt.com or a letter to My Favorite Ride, P.O. Box 909, Bloomington, IN 47402.