License:
Creative Commons - Attribution Author: Robert Couse-Baker
Description:
I finished my project car today. Of course, it's never really done. All of creation is subject to entropy and decay, and this car will need wrenching for the rest of its service life, but this was a Rubicon of sorts.
The car I’ve been restoring for the past two years has reached a plateau of drivability, safety and I hope, reliability. The transition between not done and done is like a line in the fog; but you know it when you reach it:
Starts when asked
Stops when asked
Doesn't smoke on start-up
Doesn't smoke on acceleration
Doesn't smell
Doesn't overheat
Doesn't stall
Doesn't diesel when shut off
Doesn't dribble fluids all over my driveway
Basically goes where you point it
Defroster works
Lights work
A/C works
Radio works
Driver and passengers not routinely terrified by the behavior of the car
For all intents and purposes, done.
In celebration of this fete, I decided to give the car a good wash and vacuum. And that’s when I accidentally snapped the rearview mirror off the windshield. As I said, never really done.
