NSH Activities North Shore Living Newsletter September 2025
FAVORITE CARS
For twelve years I did not own a car. I live in Grand Marais so it wasn’t hard to get around without a car; Grand Marais is a good walking town. Friends and kind strangers gave me rides to the twin cities and Duluth in the early years, then I just stopped going anywhere.
Two years ago I was able to afford a car again and purchased a silver 2012 Toyota Corolla from a wonderful neighbor. This past summer, I drove two 1200 mile road trips with my car for some important family business. My old Toyota is a great traveling car; my sister and I had fun doing the last long road trip together. This recent experience got me thinking about our personal relationships with our vehicles.
Sierra says she likes cars that she can fix. She worked on cars with her dad when she was young. Her dad was a diesel mechanic. Together they worked on a 1967 Chevy Impala which was a favorite car. Another challenge they took on was that Sierra and her dad completely dismantled a Chevy Chevelle engine and then put it all back together.
Ralph is very fond of motorcycles, but also likes cars. His favorite car was his first new car. It was a 1959 Chevy Impala convertible, a pale yellow car with a green interior. Ralph nicknamed it “Love Potion Number 9.” Ralph was also part of a car club in Duluth called “Street Angels.”
Erik’s favorite car was a 1971 Chevy Monte Carlo. It was an ivory color and had the look and power of a muscle car. Erik enjoyed the way the car would push him back into the seat when he accelerated. He could feel the power of the car.
Dan’s favorite car is the Chevy Corvette Convertible. He shares the frustration with Sierra that new cars with computers and complicated electronics are not easy to repair anymore.
Jerry’s favorite car was a Ford Station Wagon Elite. Jerry also enjoys vehicle mechanics.
Linda’s favorite story has to do with a road trip she took with her parents traveling from Alaska to Minnesota. When they reached the border in her parents’ camper truck, Linda was driving. The border agent looked up the vehicle registration and said to Linda, “You don’t look like Tumsey Johnson.” Linda’s dad spoke up from the back and assured the agent that Linda was his daughter. They were allowed to re-enter the country.
Robert’s favorite vehicle was a 1946 Chevy that was reliable and a good runner. That car never gave him any trouble. It was a favorite family car for a while in New Jersey.
Tom doesn’t have a favorite car, but he shared his model car collection with us for old car photos to go along with this article. He purchased the model cars over the years from the same company that sold stamps for collections.
Like a river, cars carry us over distance and through time; they share history and problems with us. This helps create a true sense of nostalgia and fondness for our vehicles. What is your favorite car?
--Jean Marie Modl, Activities Director