My wife freakin rules! 🤘
So last year, she suggested we put a Lotus spending ban in place. Knowing what I’d spent in mods in three years of owning The Blue Meanie, I readily agreed. Besides, the exterior was one part away from being complete. There was a a spoiler I really wanted from a Japanese company called GUT (pronounced goot). In fact, it was the ONLY spoiler I’d put on my car. But they had stopped manufacturing it before I bought my Lotus. Had to wait for a used one to come up for sale. Of course, one popped up 3 weeks after the spending ban was agreed to. 
Hey babe, uhhmmm, so, like, uhm….can I get some credit against next years spending? Cause these are super rare. She said no. Okay. She let me join a traveling band in my mid 30’s when I should have been climbing corporate ladders. Then she let me buy this ridiculous car. I’m not dying on this hill, you dig? I called the shop who was selling it. One of just a few aftermarket Lotus part suppliers in the country. Knew the owner. Explained the situation and offered a deposit if he’d hold it for me until January. It was early July maybe? As the shop finances his race team, he declined. Needed the cash flow. I get it. No harm, no foul. But nothing ventured, nothing gained, right?
Fast forward to early August. My birthday weekend. I get home before her from the road (I’m a telecom worker, always traveling). I walk into the living room and there’s a huge box against my side of the couch with Happy Birthday Glamrock scrawled across it. (That’s also my nickname in real life due to my days as a hair band singer). I pick it up and it weighs nothing. I’m like what is this? As I’m cutting the tape to open it, it dawns on me. NO! SHE DID NOT!!!! IT CAN’T BE! It was and she did! My wife is thee shit! Waited until Feb. to get it painted and striped per our agreed to spending ban. But for the first time in my life, my car looks exactly like my mind’s eye version! Now it’s saving for custom leather interior and a supercharger!
P.S. had to get these valve stem caps during the last Prime day. Those who know me will not be surprised…
British Invasion, baby! LOL!
🤘🤘🤘
= new reply since forum marked as read
Not the fastest in a straight line, but the roof comes up a couple inches past my bellybutton and is 4 inches off the ground. It can take 15mph turns at 45-50. Not that I’d know. I never exceed the speed limit. 
Fortunately, I’m in Indiana and there’s very few twisty roads. If I lived near canyons or mountains though…yeah, I’d lose my license. 
You’re a lucky man.
How you doon? Hope all is well! We ever gonna see your vinyl posts again? 
And thank you! I can’t believe you remember! All my love, mama! 
I’m pretty lucky to have this car!
OH! And my wife too! Almost forgot about her looking at these pics! LOL! 
All kidding aside. While I am blessed to be driving a 13 year old’s bedroom poster. I could be driving a 1970 AMC Gremlin and as long as I got my lady? It’s all gravy.
I’ve fortunate enough to be able to own the Lotus and enjoy a new chapter in my life outside work and music. This thing isn’t gravy. It’s a gravy boat. New friends, learning to work on a car myself, meeting people from all over the country, both online and in person. Life is a highway!
In other news, how you doing my friend!
I'm holding up. Found out what one of my major health issues was and getting it fixed - my back. It won't be completely fixed but getting to as good as it can be is major. This weekend and next I'm hangin' with the bluegrass crowd, great pickers show up at these two weekend long jams and we have a lot of fun. They're outdoor/camp out set ups with several "circles" to wander around to and from, some just get going behind the pick up trucks in the field or behind the barn, it's a laid back but unbelievably fun music event. People come from all over for these. There are fiddles, dobros, banjos, ancient Martin guitars and others, anything acoustic, anyone can join in. I usually get down with the harmonies but I can put out some mean Patsy Cline when asked to.
After this, it could be hangin' with a Gypsy jazz fest, we'll see.
Other than that, it's too damn hot, we aren't supposed to have triple digit temps in Montana which is 97% north of the 45th parallel.
Car-wise, my '92 4runner is nearly restored, got some cosmetics on the exterior to finish up; thinking about how long to keep the BMW (2004 x3i) since it likes to spend my money more than I like. I'd be okay with the 4runner if I got rid of the bmer but I kind of like the luxury ride and was hoping for a trade-in deal for an electric car at some point. We'll see.
I bought this TR6 in 1999 just before I retired, so it's my last.
It's my hobby now. It was in great shape when I bought it, but I've done almost everything myself except paint. I did a bottom up engine rebuild a few years ago.
It's not a show car, I drive it almost every day from May to October. I found the optional hardtop about ten years ago and it goes on in September and comes off in June. The next thousand bucks will go into a new interior that my ass has worn pretty badly.
My soul mate and DUer Samplegirl has a TR4 that's nicer than mine. She lets me work on it. haha
