CRUISING NEAR PLEASANTON CALIFORNIA I SPOTTED A 1984 NICE #11 COTILLIION WHITE COUPE DEVILLE IN A DRIVEWAY WITH A FOR SALE SIGN. THE LADY WAS A WIDOW. HER DECEASED HUSBAND HAD HAD THE ENTIRE DRIVE TRAIN REBUILT INCLUDING THE A/C. HE ALSO INSTALLED FOUR NEW TIRES, NEW BRAKES, NEW EXHAUST AND COOLING SYSTEM TO ACCOMMODATE AN EXPECTED ROAD TRIP. NO ONE WANTED HER CAR. SHE SAID, I’LL MAKE YOU A PRICE I HOPE YOU WILL LIKE BECAUSE I HAVE TO GET RID OF THIS CAR. IT’S TOO TOUGH TO HAVE IT SIT HERE.
I BOUGHT THE CAR FOR A PRICE THAT WOULDN’T PAY FOR THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION BUILD. DID I MENTION THE LEATHER INTERIOR WAS VERY NICE? MY WIFE ALERTED ME THAT HER MOTHER IN MEMPHIS HAD SPENT HER LAST LUMP OF CASH ON AN OLD BUICK. IT NO LONGER RUNS.
I DROVE THAT NICE COUPE DEVILLE FROM WALNUT CREEK CALIFORNIA TO MEMPHIS TENNESSEE ARRIVING AS PLANNED ON MOTHER’S DAY AND HANDED HER THE KEYS. MOM CRESSE WHO WAS 91 DIDN’T LAST MUCH LONGER, AND NEITHER DID THE CAR. OUR AGREEMENT WAS IN THE EVENT OF HER DEATH OR INABILITY TO DRIVE ANY MORE, THE CAR WOULD REVERT BACK TO ME AS MY NAME WAS ALSO ON THE TITLE. SHE HAD ALREADY SIGNED OFF ON THE TITLE WHEN SHE TOOK DELIVERY. IT BECAME MY COMMUTE VEHICLE IN NAPLES FLORIDA AT GERMAIN LEXUS AND DEVOE INFINITI FOR SEVERAL YEARS THEN SELLING IT IN FLORIDA.
A BIT OF HUMOR – MY FRIENDLY BANKER MATTHEW STEWARD LOVES THIS TRUE STORY TOO. WE WERE AT THE LICENSE BUREAU IN SOMERVILLE TENNESSEE WHEN I SAID TO THE CLERK, I NEED TO HAVE THIS TITLE PUT IN MY NAME. SHE SAID, DID SHE SIGN THIS TITLE BEFORE OR AFTER SHE DIED? WE JUST LOOKED AT EACH OTHER IN AMAZEMENT. I DROVE THAT COUPE DEVILLE BACK AND FORTH TO NAPLES FLORIDA WHERE I WAS ONE OF THE TOP PRODUCERS AT BOB GERMAIN LEXUS. I SOLD IT TO ONE OF MY OWNERS WHO WANTED AN AIRPORT CAR.