Well, you've really reinforced my decision not to pursue that car last time.
My 68 130, despite it's fuel economy issues was a far better deal and came from *much* closer. It is also almost rust-free It's kind of neat to hear the backstory of that car and the seller. He really seems to be overly convinced that he's got a solid gold auto

It sounds as if you met some colorful folks... Life is not interesting without such experiences.

I agree, that your girlfriend is certainly a keeper.

My counterpoint to your story is the purchase my my own first Amazon. We live in St. Louis and had been together since we met in college 11 years before. We had been married for 8 years when I finally found my dream car - an affordable 1967 122S Wagon for $750.00 that came from the original owner and with a ton of free spare parts and could be driven home. The only trouble was that it was 850 miles away in Houston Texas (this was in early 2005).

Because we were very poor when we married in the year long hiatus between Undergraduate and her Graduate School (1997), we *never* took a honey moon. So, she agreed to let me buy the car and take our honeymoon at the same time.

In May of 2005, after my third semester of Grad School, I upgraded my 1995 945 with a tow package, performed every bit of preventive maintenance I could think of, and we headed off toward Houston, Texas. We stopped in Hot Springs, Arkansas for a 3-day Honeymoon and then continued on to Houston to get the car. We picked it up and then She followed me in the 940 about 750 miles home, until I lost gears 2 and 3 (1st was gone when I picked the car up). We had just crossed into southern Missouri, so we rented a tow-dolly and I pulled it the last 100 miles home with the 940.

I guess she understand my volvo-philia, or loves me in spite of it, because she did not complain when in December of that year JohnMC sold me his old 1800E for parts. Or when I bought an ill-fated 1800ES last October (2006) (which was quickly resold), or when I sold her old car - a perfectly functional 1996 toyota - so that I could buy my present car, the 1968 130 back in June (Mind you she has had my 940 since our daughter came along). Also keep in mind that I live on a tiny lot in south St. Louis city, so I do not have room for all these cars, but I've not have more than 4 at any given time.

These things get into your blood or something...