NO headlights, NO windshield, NO seatbelts

[Sixty8panther]

Back in high school, before I even had my drier's license,

I worked at Star Market (later bought out by Shaw's) in

No. Reading, One day I helped an elderly couple get their

groceries in the trunk of their Lincoln TownCar, they

frequented the store once in a while and one day they

asked me, wile I was again putting their groceries in the

cavernous trunk of their (almost new 1993) Lincoln, if I

would be interested in doing some landscaping for them.

Well that was 1996 an over the next few years I spent

many sat. & sun. mornings mowing their lawn, planting

trees or laying down bark mulch and a million other things.

Our families grew close and we used to go out to dinner

with them & at times get together for holidays. Their story

is an amazing one, Mrs. Salazar was the daughter of a

French/Spanish Belle & a American Soldier (WW1 era!) She

grew up in Panama was married and had a son, her

husband died and she subsequently moved to NYC in the

1930s.

Mr. Salazar was the son of a very wealthy land owner in

Costa Rica, he wanted him to get the finest education so

he too ended up in NYC in the 1930s. He bought a car, with

dad's money (back then he had a silver spoon in his mouth)

and not too long after rolled it and almost got killed.

The car was a 1936 (or there-abuts) Plymouth coupe.

After that Plymouth he wen without a car for a few years,

not hard in NYC, ad then he only ever bought one brand for

the rest of his life: Lincoln.

Also, he worked for western electric as an engineer for

over half a century and worked hands on with the

first prototype "Microwave Ovens" as well as the first

L.A.S.E.R.s. As a hobby, ad to help supplement their

income, he traveled around the USA to give lectures on

cutting edge technology, esp. the L.A.S.E.R. and in a

3-ring-bound binder dated 1961 he once showed me the

notes from his lecture at some University on the West

Coast, I believe it was UCLA where he predicted that

in coming decades L.A.S.E.R.s; it was not yet a word but

an acronym, might even be used to perform very delicate

surgeries possibly even EYE surgery.

He predicted this based on his working knowledge of the

laser in 1961. And that's just scratching the surface.

All told he had almost a dozen of them, including an early

1960s Continental 4dr faux-hardtop. (seen a few photos)

They also had a mid 1970s Mark IV that had factory CB

and every other extra cost option, and they LOVED it, but

one day it was stolen ad stripped to a shell, found under

the power lines a few towns over.

Well, to make a long story longer, the Salazars passed on

a coupel years back, both in their 90s. I recently talked to

their daugher and said if she ever felt the need to get rid

of that old ride-on lawn-mower inthe shed I'd love to keep

it, esp. for the sentimental value attachedto it.

After all, this was the vehicle I first leared to drive a manual

transmission on, and from 1997 - 2003 I was the one who

used, maitained and kept it running.

So I got "the" phonecall the other day since Mrs. Salazar-Prolux

has been slowly cleaning out their house, and I immediately

made plans to rent a Uhaul truck.

And here it is:

I always was under the impression that it was a 1962 but

it looks like, according to a few quick google searches,

that it is actually a 1969.

(International Harvester 'Cub Cadet')

(more pics. & detail later, gotta send some QT with Sofia)

-

Edited September 14, 2008 by Sixty8panther

[Sixty8panther]

Check out that '64 Super 88 Style H.O.

[Oracle of Delphi]

Are you Dislexic? Just wondering.

[Robert Hall]

Cool.... I have my Dad's 1968 vintage Snapper Comet rear-engined riding mower stored in my Mom's barn..I will always keep it, has a lot of sentimental attachment for me, not to mention it's the mower I learned to mow on.

[Sixty8panther]

Itpulls some serious G-s all right.

I had help from DodgeFan getting it on and off the Uhaul truck,

and I'll fill you guys in more later.

Are you Dislexic? Just wondering.

Maybe, although I think it's just bad typing skillz.

[Intrepidation]

It makes 7 horsepower and came with a see spreader.

[Z-06]

Attaboy, no B-Pillarz and proper fun to drive. Take it to Camino's barn and start a project out of it (as if Camino does not have handful of projects )

[loki]

OMGZ it's not safe!!!!

something's stuck, i'll just putt my hand up here and OMG!!!! my hand!

lol

don't do that.

nice. my dad used to have an international scout..like 20 years ago.

may it layeth the grass down when used!

[Camino LS6]

Great story.

Moltar: My dad had a similar vintage Snapper I spent lots of time on. Did you know those things could pop a mean wheelie?! :AH-HA_wink:

[knightfan26917]

That's AWESOME, Sixty8...very sweet! Congrats .

[vonVeezelsnider]

That's a real touching story, 68!

[Sixty8panther]

Thanks Guys.... WMJ, i'll get it to ya ASAP.

I live about 1/4 mile away from a HUGE park with baseball diamonds & paygrouds and fields, and about 40 yards

away from a 30-or-so acre park that is all woods & trails. It's literally across the street. Sat. night I rode around

on the IHcc for about 2 hours, going up and down the hills and just having a blast double-clutching and crawling

over small obstacles, this thing is not far off from a modern ATV in terms of off road capability.

Man, I felt like I was 7-years old again.

P.S. snow chains & a plow are SOOOOO gonna happen.

Check it:

Edited September 15, 2008 by Sixty8panther

[Sixty8panther]

MWMJ:

here's the best I can make out:

2050036(?)362648*

The ?-mark is either an 8, 0 or 6.

Thanx& Please!

[Sixty8panther]

Cool... I'll look for the other number tonight. THANKS WMJ!

P.S. if the engine ever goes I'll just drop in a flattie-4 out of

a Model-A or maybe a Cadillac 4-cyl out of a 1911 Cadillac

[2005 EquinoxLS]

Cool to have a riding tractor isnt it? Love mine though the 1986 John Deere my Grandma had and my uncle now has was built better. Mine though is 17.5 horses. I know it can raise the front wheels if you let the clutch out too quickly in 3rd. Cool old tractor Sylvester. Hope you have a lot of fun with it.

[Sixty8panther]

Thanks Equi.

Yeah... utilitarian stuff like this is awesome. This tractor is built like

a well designed firearm, bank vault or 18-wheeler, so long as it

receives the right amount of lubrication on moving parts it will last

nearly forever.

[2005 EquinoxLS]

Those old Cub Cadets are made to last forever. There are a couple of these here in Wisconsin that I see people using for lawn tractors to this day. I look at the lawn equiptment made today and I usually dont say this because I dont about cars but it seems lawn equiptment was made better 20-30 years ago. Like I said my uncles 1986 John Deere to me is better than my 2007 Craftsman. Wouldnt part with my 20 year old Lawn Boy either especially since the EPA has stuck their nose in that too and thus Lawn-Boy no longer makes a 2-cycle engine. Stupid EPA. Got a late 50's Jacobson with a 2-cycle engie that runs like brand new. That thing will mow about anything. Again good luck with the Cub Cadet.

Edited October 4, 2008 by 2005 EquinoxLS

[Sixty8panther]

Those old Cub Cadets are made to last forever. There are a couple of these here in Wisconsin that I see people using for lawn tractors to this day. I look at the lawn equiptment made today and I usually dont say this because I dont about cars but it seems lawn equiptment was made better 20-30 years ago.

Thanks dude.

And as far as cars the sweet spot from my experience is late 1920s to early 1970s.

I'd say 1955 to 1969 was the golden (post-war) era.

Then there was still a few gems in the early 1970s.... F-bodys, Cadillacs, Boattails, Monte Carlos...

[2005 EquinoxLS]

Aww. Come on. What about the Hondas and Toyotas that are here now. They are the best you know.