Oh, by the way, I have had some vehicles… There is nearly 100 entries on here now (and over 1,500 words).

This is being included as a companion piece to “Stuff” – and article I am writing.

Currently, as of 2012, I have a blue vehicle theme going on (quite by accident) with My 1970 Land Rover “Bean Toad”, 1988 Range Rover “Blue Bomber”, 2006 Scion Xb “Blue Box”, 2004 Honda Element “Big Blue” (being that it is bigger than “Blue Box”) and a 1963 Chevrolet C60 truck that will be painted red with white cab, with an 11′ stepsider box and have a siren. Yes, that is 5 road worthy vehicles.

Alexander has already started on his ‘collection’. He started with a 1987 Suzuki Samurai (which he had from 14-17) and now has a 1965 Chevrolet C10 truck (see it below).

Among the many things I am; I am a lover of vehicles! I mean, I really, really like cars, trucks, buses, motorcycles, boats and tractors! If it has wheels and an engine I will go see them at a show. I also like things to play on the water. I buy them, fix them up and play with them – then sell them (or else I would have a huge collection). My skills in working with them include: welding and fabrication, sewing upholstery, auto body and painting, rebuilding and retrofitting!

What the heck do I do with them? Well, some I fix up and sell, some I drive and enjoy; until I sell them, some I show (and place well)… You get the idea. So it is not too scary, I have not owned them all at once – and nearly every one has been an interesting story. I knew it was crowded when I had three buses + more cars on the property at one time…

Some of the vehicles were classics and some are in a class of their own.

Vehicles I have owned

Cars/Trucks/Buses – 49;

1976 AMC Gremlin X

1988 BMW 325is – the fastest I have ever been in a car was in this one…

1978 BMW 530i

1963 Chevrolet C60 – currently in stable since 2012. This truck is the replacement for my 1964 Dodge D300 (owned 22 years) and my 1971 404 Unimog (owned from when I sold the Dodge in 2000, until late 2005. I always like having a bigger truck around and missed it. So I am building this one!

Father and son trucks

1972 Chevrolet Suburban

1963 Citroen 2CV

1971 Citroen Mahari

1964 Dodge D300 – The one ton truck that I owned for 22 years and was the first vehicle I ever bought. I bought her from my father when I was 15 for $100; it had been rolled over on the highway with him and my grandfather in her. I fixed her up and started her one last time, on the day my father died. I sold her a couple weeks later.

1972 Dodge Dart, 318

1979 Fiat Spyder

1978 Fiat Brava

1972 Ford Pinto – I bought this to be parted out – when I was 15.

1978 Ford pickup

1981 Ford pickup

1974 Gillig School Bus 72 pass., Cat 3208, MT643

1978 Gillig School Bus 73 pass., Cat 3208, MT643 – Shown below.

1974 Gillig in my driveway

1956 GMC bus – Carpenter, 42 Passenger – “Blue Moose”

The buses – I owned the Blue Moose from 1989 to 2008. The Blue Moose was my home on two occasions; for a year and a half when running a kayak tour company, and the last part of Cindi’s trimester and first a year and a half of my son Alexanders life. The 1974 Gillig was to be the replacement for the Blue Moose, alas, life changed – again.

1978 Honda Civic

2004 Honda Element – currently in the stable since 2011. Neat, new, boxy and blue like our Scion Xb, this one is called “Big Blue”.

1973 Jeep DJ5 – when I first moved to San Francisco, I needed a car to run around with…

1962 Land Rover 88″ SIIA

1967 Land Rover 109″ SIIA - currently in the stable, since 1998. This one is being fitted as an RHD Australian truck with a 292 I have dreams of making a long range, tough vehicle that I can easily keep running.

1970 Land Rover 88″ SIIA “BEAN TOAD” – currently in the stable, since 1989. Picture below with a hand built SI style pickup top.

“Bean Toad” – my currently longest owned vehicle

1970 Land Rover 88″ SIIA pickup/wrecker/recovery RHD

1972 Land Rover 88 SIII – the original Bean Toad

 - My infatuation with Series Land Rovers continues to this day. Bean Toad (1970) is the steady in my stable, having found her after being left in a farm field for 14 years, abandoned. I bought her in 1989, then I went off sailing and left her in storage. I fixed up my 1970 Land Rover after returning home from cruising (sailing) and she has been on the road since a month before my son was born – November 1992. She still sees use and has been a show winner and off-road competition winner. I will rebuild her once more, restoring the paint and body work and allow her to run out her days (until my son can drive her in a couple years) as a Sunday driver.

1967 Mercedes 250S

1971 Mercedes Unimog 404 – Swiss Troop Carrier

404 Swiss Troop Carrier

1972 Mercedes 250C

1959 Nash Metropolitan – I bought one to play with it because my mother owned one as her first car.

1967 Plymouth Valiant, slant 6

1966 Pontiac Beaumont w/283-8 – this one was actually my mothers 2nd car. I drove it to hell and back (while going through University).

1966 Pontiac Beaumont w/230-6

1984 Range Rover (white)

1988 Range Rover (silver) – currently in stable since 2004. Sitting, waiting for the 3.9 to be fitted into Blue Bomber.

1988 Range Rover (blue) – currently in stable, since 2006 – “Blue Bomber”

“Blue Bomber” on a trip up in BC

 - My most trusty RR. This one has been tough offroad and great on the long trips. The roof top tent mounts to all my vehicles!

1990 Range Rover (red)

1968 Renault 8

1969 Renault 8

1970 Renault 8

1976 Renault 17 Gordini – I rebuilt this one from a front end wreck. It was a cool, fast car.

1977 Renault 17

2006 Scion Xb – currently in stable, since 2008 – “Blue Box” 

 

Out camping with the roof top tent on!

 - The 2006 Scion Xb is the newest car I have ever owned – by nearly 2 decades. I thought that I deserved a break from old cars and wanted something I did not have to build up; for once. I chose this one, because in a sea of cars, minivans and little SUV’s – this one alone stands out. And damn, I love a flatter windscreen, upright seating, rear windows that roll all the way to the bottom and a tall, open roof inside.

1978 Subaru wagon – cool beater with a high low transfer case. My first real 4 wheel drive!

1979 Subaru GL wagon

1965 Volkswagen Type 2

1971 Volkswagen Type 3

1973 Volkswagen Type 2 Westphalia, with 2L 100hp Porsche

1973 VW Westphalia and matching 1973 VW trailer

- I built up the 1973 Westphalia, picked the paint scheme (back then I did not paint), I fabricated the trailer and bumper and redid the interior. It got attention whenever we drove on trips!

1978 Volkswagen Rabbit diesel

1986 Volkswagen Type 2 Westphalia

Motorcycles – 17;

1973 Bultaco Pursang 250 – with vintage flat track and motocross setup parts.

1971 Honda CL360

1973 Honda Trail 90

1976 Honda TS200

1986 Honda 200S – Trike

1972 Hodaka Combat Wombat – #3 serial number!

1976 Kawasaki KT125

1997 Kawasaki KZ1000P – Ex Las Vegas Police bike

One of the nicest rides I ever had

2001 Kawasaki KLR650

1972 Suzuki TS125

1973 Suzuki TS 185

1981 Suzuki GS400T

1996 Ural with sidecar

1973 Yamaha 75 Stepthrough (like a Honda Passport)

1972 Yamaha YS200

1971 Yamaha YS 125

1971 Moped – owned when I was 14.

Boats – 20;

1964 East Wind 25′ – My current boat since 2009! Because of this boat, I have had to build a matching trailer and truck that can pull it. They will all be painted red with the appropriate white accents. S/V Connie will be red hull with white topsides and black bottom paint. If you are wondering what an East Wind is, she is a Nova Scotia built full keel mini cruiser.

S/V Connie – being rebuilt

1985 Freedom 21’

Freedom 21 – Cat boat with no rigging; I fell back in love with sailing with her

1976 Kestral 16’

1976 Piver Nimble 30’

1978 Ingrid 38’

Kalakala was the ultimate cruising boat; for a family

Walker Bay sailing dingy

Gig Harbor Dingy

Zodiak Futura

12′ custom (tough) Inflatable – in stable since 2010

2 Kahuna surf Kayaks

2 Pungo Kayaks

3 Inflatable Kayaks

19′ touring kayak - in stable since 2010

2 Current Designs Kayaks double and a single – in stable since 2002

Custom touring kayak – my original British Kayak from 1985 to 2010

Others – 10;

292 GM engine fitted to my 1967 109 Land Rover

Custom built 292 with all USA made NOS parts

1951 International WD9

1983 Custom 12’ box utility trailer

1967 13’ travel trailer

1999 Car Caddy tow dolly – currently in the stable, since 2002.

1972 Tent trailer

Maggolina Roof Top Tent – currently in stable since 2003.

1952 Chevrolet truck box trailer

1973 VW bug trailer (matching my 1973 VW Bus; picture above)

1968 Chrysler Sailboat Trailer

1978 Tandem axle boat trailer custom built for Eastwind 25 – currently in stable since 2011.

So – are you crazy about vehicles too? My vehicle tastes for cars and trucks run towards European, Buses are American and Motorcycles are Japanese… mostly. Vehicles from Russia, Canada, USA, Japan, England, France, Italy and more!