[Pat Newton]

After seven years, one month and 16 days, my relationship with my Firebird is over.

I've been trying to sell this car for months now, but when the new owner came by last night, looked at it and said he wanted it, it was really difficult to let go. It was truly heartbreaking when he drove it away and out of my sight for the last time tonight. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

I've been through so much with this car. It all started back in 1995, when I joined the national "f-body mailing list" e-mail group while I still had my old '84 Z28. Within a couple months, I saw a picture of a fourth-gen Formula, and knew I had to have one.

A year of massive overtime later, I placed my factory order on September 20, 1996. Due to a factory strike the following month, I had to wait two and a half months for delivery, most of that time driving my dad's POS Ford pickup after I sold my Camaro. I was overjoyed when I finally took delivery on December 7th of that year. I paid $22,898 for the car, at a time when I was only making $25,000 a year. It was quite an investment, but it was my first new car, and my dream car at that. Man, what a rush.

I got it with 11 miles on the odometer, and put 238 miles on it the first day. Seven years and 84,500 miles later, the car and I have been through countless car club events, car shows, dyno days, dragstrip nights, DEs and lapping days, mod fests, and of course, drives to work.

This car also allowed me to meet some of the best people I've ever known, and I'm very grateful for that.

The good news is that I know the new owner will take good care of the car. Really nice guy, paramedic, married to a girl who also works for Medic One.

So goodbye, old friend. Thanks for the years of faithful service. Your sacrifice will allow me to keep racing, at least for the next year and a half or so. Now I know how my dad felt when he had to sell his '63 Stingray because his son came along. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

Here are some of my favorite pictures of the car. Yes, I know I look like a tool in the last one, but it was raining and we didn't want to re-take it. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

At the dealer, delivery night:

(IMG:http://home.comcast.net/~patrick.newton/f-body/images/first_night.jpg)

Early 1997, after the first of many four-step detail jobs I did on the car:

(IMG:http://home.comcast.net/~patrick.newton/f-body/images/97_detail.jpg)

After 2000 detailing, with Camaro SS wheels:

(IMG:http://home.comcast.net/~patrick.newton/f-body/images/00_detail.jpg)

After 2001 detailing, with polished WS6 wheels:

(IMG:http://home.comcast.net/~patrick.newton/f-body/images/01_detail.jpg)

New hood, new front end paint:

(IMG:http://home.comcast.net/~patrick.newton/f-body/images/newhood1.jpg)

After 2002 detailing:

(IMG:http://home.comcast.net/~patrick.newton/f-body/images/02_detail.jpg)

Tonight, just before the new owner took it away:

(IMG:http://home.comcast.net/~patrick.newton/f-body/images/last_night.jpg)

And there it goes...

(IMG:http://home.comcast.net/~patrick.newton/f-body/images/bye_bird.jpg)

[KeithO]

I know how you feel. I sold my beloved 88 IROC and a mint 83 Monte Carlo SS that had been in the family since new to fund a tow vehicle, trailer, and race car. I know how you feel.