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Vlad the Impala: A legacy of...uh... something
I grew up being hauled around in my mom's 1973 Impala, and learned to drive in the absurdly large vehicle. Eventually, the car was passed down to me, and it was christened Vlad the Impala. While driving from Boise to Seattle for a recent meetup of readers of the political humor blog Wonkette, Vlad's differential died, noisily and expensively. This campaign is my attempt to offset some or all of the repair costs, because I am just an impoverished blogger. If I somehow reach the goal and the differential repairs cost less than the goal, anything extra will go to fixing the AC, which is also shot.
There are more important causes in the world, but few of them involve a truly ridiculous car with a truly ridiculous name.
Also, I know the Perks list leans toward donations of $10 or more, but I'd love to get a bunch of little donations too! Just think--for the price of a latte, you could help a doofus blogger get his wheels back on the road!
UPDATE 8/11/12: VLAD IS HOME!
After over a month and who knows how many guesses at what kind of differential was actually swapped into the car while it belonged to my Idiot Brother (really, the less said the better), Vlad is back on the road and home in Boise. The drive back was fine, if a bit nerve-wracking due to worrying about what might go next. Total rebuilt cost on the rear end was $1666.38, a hellish amount of money.
Nine million thanks to the anonymous Wonketteer who donated $400, which nearly doubled the total a few days before I picked up Vlad. At his suggestion, here's a song for Vlad, and for all of us with weird old cars and other inexplicable objects of affection.
Until a more thorough rebuild, Vlad's not leaving the Boise area any more!
Photo Update:
Finally, a photo of Vlad from about 2001. That's my ex, me, and Kid Zoom in a smaller version of his current self. Sadly, another smartass Impala owner managed to register the "VLAD" vanity plate for Idaho. Now that Vlad's home, I'll put up a current pic in the next day or so.
Update 7/27/12: Still more news from the garage:
Oh, the joys of owning an old car! Apparently, at some point in Vlad's history, its rear end was swapped for some other GM car of uncertain origin, maybe a Buick. Numbers on the rear end don't mach the rest of the car. The search for correct parts continues, and they hope to have the right stuff early next week. Fortunately, they're NOT adding the shipping costs for all the wrong parts to my bill! Estimated "out the door cost" will be a bit over $1500. Ouch. Thanks for your help so far, folks; this absurd old car and I appreciate it. OK, the car is an inanimate object.
