You are what you drive

You are what you drive
Vehicles that took me through life
By Craig Libuse
Updated April 1, 2005
Introduction
W
today. Some, like the LTD II wagon are best
consigned to the scrap heap of history. Early on the
motorcycles were the cheapest route to freedom. At
age 58, a motorcycle means freedom of a different
kind. The Miata is a nostalgia car that takes me back
to the feel of my first car
from forty years ago. Most
boats couldn’t be considered
necessary unless you make
your living as a fisherman,
but I’ve owned five of them,
and will probably own
another. Most of my life I’ve
owned a pickup truck of
some kind and wondered
how anyone could get by
without one. Right now I
Tom Czaja, the original “Prince of Toys” don’t have one and am
poses with his Mercedes 300 SL roadster and reminding myself that I may
have been right.
a beer in July, 1969.
hen I started this project it seemed simple.
Many years ago it occurred to me that it might
someday be interesting to be able to recall all the
cars I had owned, so I started a little spiral notebook.
I went back and wrote down all I could remember
about the cars, motorcycles
and boats I had owned to that
point. That’s why some of
the details on early cars are
a little sketchy. From then on
I kept a little better record,
but in looking through it a
while back it seemed it
should include pictures.
What I didn’t expect to find
when I started gathering
photos for this file is that the
pictures told more of a story
of my life than just the list
of car names, dates and
license numbers. In the
Now that I’ve gathered the
background were places I had lived and worked, old photos and information I am glad I took the time to
friends and relatives, some of whom are no longer keep all this stuff. It was a fun journey through time,
with us, and little details that had slipped my mind. and I plan to keep it up to date should I be fortunate
The only person I knew who has had more cars than enough to buy and sell some more vehicles in my
me was my Uncle Tom Czaja. He owned some good life. To me they are much more than a collection of
ones too, like a Model T panel truck and a Mercedes old cars, because each has many memories—some
Benz 300SL roadster. He was known as “The Prince bad, most good—that go with it. I remember what
of Toys,” and it has always been one of my goals to was going on when each photo was taken, where I
was and how excited I was to drive the new vehicle
be a contender for that title as well.
for the first time. If you’re not a “car guy,” that may
At the time of purchase, each vehicle served a
sound a little odd, but if you are, you know what I
particular need or fulfilled a desire. Some, like the
mean. Whether you are or not, you will probably learn
trucks and station wagons were purchased for utility,
a little more about me after looking through this. I
and some like the Fiero and Shelby were purely for
know I did.
fun. Some, like the BMW were carefully shopped
for and some like the Mustang and VW convertible When you’re done, think back on all the cars you’ve
just came along and were too cool to pass up. The owned. Maybe there aren’t that many, but if you
Porsche and Mustang sold for more than I paid for remember each, you will probably find yourself
them, but the Jaguar was a money pit. The Healey, thinking about where your life was at the time. Harley
AMX and a few others I wish I could have back now, riders say, “It’s not the destination, it’s the journey,”
but some I am happy I will never see again. The and the vehicles we’ve owned, no matter how many
Healey was not particularly cool at the time but would wheels they have can tell us something about the
be worth 100 times what we sold it for if I had it journey to where we are today.
—Craig
1. Allstate Moped
Vehicle: Approx. 1950’s Puch Allstate MoPed
VIN: Unknown
License Number: Unknown
Purchase Date: 1962
Purchase Price: $50.00
Purchased From: Friend of dad’s
Mileage: Unknown
Sold Date: Aprox. 1963
Sales Price: $50.00
Sold To: Unknown
Mileage: Unknown
Other: 50 cc, 2-cycle engine, 2-speed shift/clutch on
handlebar. Kick start by releasing compression and
pedaling bike pedals while on kickstand. Could be
riden as a bike but a lot of resistance when pedaling.
Pedaling while motor was running would help you get
up some steep hills. Was actually a very good off-road
hill climber. Rode it to Poly High school daily.
Published top speed spec is 31 MPH, new cost in
1954, $260.00, oil mix ratio: 25:1
I had no illusions that a Moped with a basket
on the back was cool, but at 15-1/2 having
your own wheels was the key to freedom.
You could ride a Moped with just a learner’s
permit. I could go where I wanted at a time
when most of my friends were still getting
their moms to drive them around.
Aside from that, it worked out that learning
to ride the streets on a bike is good training
to be a driver. You have to pay a lot more
attention to what’s going on around you, the
surface of the street, etc. I am sure that the
early riding experience helped keep me safe
all these years. Mom probably wasn’t
thrilled, but thanks dad.
2. Honda 50 Cub
Vehicle: 1963 Honda 50 Cub
VIN: Unknown
License Number: Unknown
Purchase Date: Approx 1963
Purchase Price: About $400
Purchased From: Skip Fordyce Honda,
Riverside, CA
Mileage: New
Color: Black/white
Sold Date:Approx 1963-64
Sales Price: Unknown
Sold To: Unknown
Mileage: Unknown
Other: 3-speed with automatic clutch. Over 50
mpg, pretty good off-road, although the
automatic limited hill climbing ability because
you couldn’t slip the clutch
Kent and friend on bikes in Omaha. I don’t
remember Kent having a 50, so this must be
mine. Note the white tape racing stripe on the
Note: Most popular vehicle ever sold. Sold more front fender in two of the shots. Early chopper
customizing...
than any car including the Model T and VW
bug. A small step up from a Moped. At least it
didn’t have pedals and a basket...
Heading for school on a cold Riverside morning. Mom and Auntie Donna pose in approved (?) helmets.
3. Yamaha 80
Vehicle: 1963 Yamaha 80
VIN: Unknown
License Number: Unknown
Purchase Date: approx 1963
Purchase Price: $250-$300
Purchased From: Yamaha dealer,
Riverside, CA
Mileage: New
Sold Date: Unknown, about 1966
Sales Price: Unknown
Sold To: Unknown
Mileage: Unknown
Other: Rode it the last year of high
school until I got Austin Healey in
Dec. 63. Took it to UCLA for first
year until could get a parking
permit for Healey.
4 speed trans with conventional
clutch, left foot shift. Color was
candy red.
2-cycle motor had separate oil tank
so you didn’t
have to mix
gas/oil.
Though small,
this was my
first “real”
motorcycle.
Remember when they filled your tank for you? Total on meter is $.63.
Custom fade paint on side tool kit cover in top photo
was painted by Kent.
Wheelie in Hedrick Hall
parking lot at UCLA.
4. Austin Healey 100-4
Vehicle: 1954 Austin Healey 100-4
VIN: Unknown
License Number:
Purchase Date: Recieved for
Christmas 1963
Purchase Price: $400.00
Purchased From: Officer in dad’s
squadron who was going overseas
Mileage: Unknown
Sold Date:8/69
Sales Price: $400.00
Sold To: Frank Libuse
Mileage: Unknown
Other: Total miles driven about
60,000. Went through two cracked
heads, three generators and many
flat tires. Dad eventually sold for
$400 again. Now it would be worth
about 100 times that much.
Backwards 3-speed shift pattern
(first gear down and away from you,
second toward driver and up.) Had a
battery shutoff switch in trunk, no
handles or locks on doors. Stolen
once from UCLA parking lot and
found a week later in the Beverly
Hills Country Club parking lot.
(Top) In front of Hedrick Hall, UCLA. (Middle) Dad
with Eve (Deeda) Doyle. Car has tape stripes in this
photo. (Bottom) In Riverside with Kent’s Honda 90
and Hugh’s Department of Wild Life Carryall.
5. Honda 350 Scrambler
Vehicle: 1969 Honda 350 Scrambler
VIN: Unknown
License Number: Unknown
Purchase Date: 2/11/69
Purchase Price: $600.00
Purchased From: Honda dealer,
Marysville, CA
Mileage: New
Sold Date: 6/26/70
Sales Price: Unknown
Sold To: Private Party
Mileage: Unknown
Other: Blue and white with high
scrambler pipes. Too heavy for off
road and a lot of vibration on the
highway. Not really well suited for
either but adequate for both. It was
sturdy and trouble free.
(Top) Both my 350 and Kent’s
350 sit on the porch at Beale
BOQ along with Kip’s 175
before they were traded in on
a 750.
Parked on the porch of the
Beale BOQ in February,
1969.
6. Ford F100 Pickup
Vehicle: 1958 Ford F100
VIN: Unknown
License Number: A12 209
Purchase Date: 6/20/69
Purchase Price: $400
Purchased From:SMSgt R.C.
Storms, Marysville, CA
Mileage: approx. 98,000
Sold Date: 11/72
Sales Price: $1.00
Sold To: Frank Libuse
Mileage: Approx. 120,000
Other: Originally light green with
a homebuilt camper shell. Junked
the shell and painted it white with
“Department of Wild Life” logo
on doors.
(Before) As purchased with “rhino catcher” grill, home built
camper shell and green paint. Healey with silver stripes in
foreground just before it was sold back to dad.
Dad sold in 1/83 for about $900
with 135,000 miles on it.
(After) In full “Department of Wild Life--Unit 2” trim. White
laquer paint job was done by dad in driveway at Riverside
house, Craig did the trim.
7. American Motors AMX
Vehicle: 1970 AMC AMX
VIN: Unknown
License Number: 603 ARL
Purchase Date: 12/31/69
Purchase Price: $3837.00
Purchased From: AMC Dealer,
Yuba City, CA
Mileage: New
Sold Date: 4/7/71
Sales Price: $2650
Sold To: Unknown (prison guard
at Folsom Prison for his son)
Mileage: approx. 18,000
Other: My first new car. White
with black leather interior
Equipment: 390 cu in V8, 325 HP
4-speed stick, tinted glass,
positraction, power steering ratio
without power steering, added
Lucas Flamethrower driving lights
in front grill. Got about 8-12 MPG
on premium gas. Geared for
accelleration—top speed at redline
about 120 mph. At that speed you
could literally see the gas gage
going down and the front end was
pretty light.
8. Honda 350 Scrambler
Vehicle: 1970 Honda 350 Scrambler
VIN: Unknown
License Number: 91L838
Purchase Date: 6/26/70
Purchase Price: $670.00
Purchased From: Kent Libuse
Mileage: Unknown but low
Sold Date: 7/70
Sales Price: Traded in for $700 credit on Honda 750
Sold To: Honda Dealer, Marysville, CA
Mileage: Unknown
Other: Kent couldn’t afford to keep it and couldn’t
get a good price when trying to sell it, so I traded it
in on new 750 and gave him the amount I saved.
With Kip and Jerry Mahoney on his 175 on a back road to a
lake near Susanville. An approaching storm caught up with us
later.
9. Honda 750-4
Vehicle: 1970 Honda 750-4
VIN: Unknown
License Number: Unknown
Purchase Date: 7/28/70
Purchase Price: $1530.00
Purchased From: Honda Dealer,
Marysville, CA
Mileage: New
Sold Date: 3/23/72
Sales Price: $1050
Sold To: Private party (A sergeant
at Beale AFB, CA)
Mileage: approx. 6500
Other: Color--Gold
One of first production 4-cylinder
Hondas. Very fast. Engine note like
an Offenhauser race car with four
pipes. Kip Babington bought a blue
one and another lawyer Jerry
Mahoney bought a red one at the
same time and we toured the Sierra
Nevada gold country together
around Beale AFB.
Sold when leaving AF to move
back to Southern Calif. Didn’t ride
again until I bought a Harley in
2001.
Craig, Kip Babington and Jerry Mahoney at Beale AFB
Bachelor Officers Quarter in 1970. Three new Honda 750’s
in three colors—gold, aqua and red.
10. Glasspar G3
Vehicle: 14’ Glasspar G3 boat with
Johnson 75 HP outboard
Hull No.: Unknown
Reg. Number: CF 7116 AK
Purchase Date: 3/9/71
Purchase Price: $800
Purchased From: Private Party,
Marysville, CA
Mileage: Very used
Sold Date: 3/17/72
Sales Price: $800
Sold To: Private Party
Mileage: N/A
Nickname: “Handfull”
Craig at Englebright Reservoir near Beale AFB with the ever
present can of Lucky Lager beer.
Other: Red and white. Motor too big for
boat. Loose steering cables meant boat
would chine walk at full speed. A real
handfull, with only a front seat, but
would pull a single skier OK
Craig at Englebright Reservoir in1971.
11. Porsche 356B
Vehicle: 1961 Porsche 356B Super
VIN: Unknown
License Number: UHG207
Purchase Date: 9/16/71
Purchase Price: $1500
Purchased From: Brad Jones, Sacramento, CA
Mileage: 25,600 on odometer was not actual
Sold Date: 6/29/77
Sales Price: $4750
Sold To: Kathleen M. Adams, San Marcos, CA
Mileage: Unknown
Other: Originally pearl white with red interior
when I bought it, needed paint, engine and
transmission work. I later painted it dark silver
and changed interior to black. Added rebuilt
Super 90 engine. Put about 60,000 miles on it
during 6 years I owned it.
(Saw it for sale locally in 8/82 for $6800.)
Original white with red interior above and
final metalic silver with black interior at
right and below.
12. 16’ Sleekcraft
Vehicle: 1970 16’ Sleekcraft by
Nescher with 85 HP Evinrude
Hull No.: Unknown
Registration Number: CF 2143 EP
Purchase Date: 4/4/72
Purchase Price: $2007.00
Purchased From: Boat dealer in
Sacramento
Condition: Good but dirty. Had
been a reposession and was full of
leaves and water in a storage lot.
Needed a lot of cleaning
Sold Date: 5/25/74
Sales Price: $1800
Sold To: Owner of Texas Liquor,
Carlsbad, CA
Mileage: N/A
Other: Color: Gold metalflake and
white
A very good running ski boat with
white rear facing passenger seats.
Plenty of power out of the hole.
Under full power from a stop it
would jump almost out of the water
with only the motor lower unit in
the water and settle right onto a
plane.
Geared for
pulling
skiers, but
top speed
only about
40 MPH.
Buttoned up with a custom made white cockpit cover on Sunset
Lake in the summer of 1973.
13. 1968 Olds Cutlass
Vehicle: 1968 Oldsmobile Cutlass
Supreme
VIN: Unknown
License Number: 389 GSM
Purchase Date: Unknown
Purchase Price: Unknown
Purchased From: Ventura Olds
Dealer by Janis L. Green
Mileage: New
Sold Date: 8/16/77
Sales Price: $2400
Sold To: George Jaffe, Carlsbad, CA
Mileage: 66,305
Other: Purchased new by Jan before
we were married. Towed boat to
Waupaca with it in 1973. Trunk was
leaking from rust around rear
window when we sold it but paint
was still pretty good.
The Olds towed the Sleekcraft to Wisconsin in 1973. The trip went well except
the disk brakes faded to zero coming down the mountain into Greybull, Wy,
which was a little scary. The shot was taken from the balcony at the Lime
Grove Apartments on Chinquapin in Carlsbad.
14. Hobie Cat
Vehicle: Hobie Cat 14
Hull No.: Unknown
Registration No.: CF 6353 EP
Purchase Date: 9/30/74
Purchase Price: $500.00
Purchased From: David Jones,
Carlsbad, CA
Condition: Fair, but well equipped
Sold Date: 4/22/77
Sales Price: $850
Sold To: Eunice Hendrix, Encinitas,
CA
Mileage: N/A
Other: Had fairly low sail number-early boat but fun to sail.
No photos found yet of the boat on the water, but here it is on
the trailer with a “For Sale” sign on it in front of the Altamira
house in Carslbad in March 1977. The trailer had a box on
the front that carried all the spares. The big plywood wheels
worked great when rolling the boat across the sand for a beach
launch. They allowed it to be beach launched by one person.
15. Honda Accord
Vehicle: 1976 Honda Accord
VIN: Unknwn
License Number: 803 PKB
Purchase Date: 7/13/76
Purchase Price: $4589 ($3995 + tax)
Purchased From: Hondacar,
Escondido, CA
Mileage: New
Sold Date: 11/15/78
Sales Price: $4400
Sold To: Margaret J. Gordon,
Carlsbad, CA
Mileage: 38,662.9
In front of Altamira house in August, 1976.
Other: Color--Silver, black interior
5-speed, Air Conditioning
Rust problems on hood repaired by dealer under
warranty. Sold car while it was still in high
demand for almost what we paid for it.
16. BMW 320i
Vehicle: 1977 BMW 320i
VIN: Unknown
License Number: Unknown
Purchase Date: 7/26/77
Purchase Price: $9871.36
Purchased From: BMW of San
Diego
Mileage: New
Sold Date: Approx 1992
Sales Price: Unknown
Sold To: Unknown
Mileage: High
Color: White with blue interior
Other: Kept by Janis Libuse in
divorce. She eventually put several
hundred thousand miles on it before
selling it.
Equipment: 4-speed, sunroof, AM/
FM/Cassette Stereo
17. Ford F250
Vehicle: 1977 Ford F250 Pickup
VIN: Unknown
License Number: 1H56733
Purchase Date: 7/31/78
Purchase Price: $5000
Purchased From: Michael P.
Connelly, Vista, CA
Mileage: 12,000
Sold Date: 2/17/81
Sales Price: $4000
Sold To: Dave Wills (JW
Landscape), San Marcos, Ca
Mileage: 23,732.6
Other: Two tone green, 460 Cu In
engine (got about 8-12 mpg). C6
Automatic. Had a 6750 lb GVW
load capacity. Rode better with a
full load in the bed than empth.
In front of Altamira House at 6539 Camino Del Parque
18. Glasspar I/O
Vehicle: 1966 Glasspar 17’ boat
with OMC inboard/outboard drive
Hull No.: Unknown
Reg. No.: CF 6375 CR (6 might be
an 8)
Purchase Date: 9/13/78
Purchase Price: $2900
Purchased From: (an airline pilot),
San Diego, CA
Condition: 420 hours on engine
meter
Craig at Carlsbad Lagoon
Sold Date: 6/15/82
Sales Price: $3000
Sold To: Mark Lofquist,
Escondido, CA
Condition: 521 engine hours
Other: Nice running boat with
Buick V6 engine. Despite low
hours it had been in salt water all
its life and needed a lot of repairs.
Once I ran it aground on the
sandbar in the lagoon shown in the
photo and needed a new lower
unit. Nice lines with big bow rail
and very roomy cockpit.
As purchased
19. Volkswagen Baja Bug
Vehicle: 1963 Volkswagen Sedan
VIN: Unknown
License Number: RYR263
Purchase Date: 4/28/79
Purchase Price: $2000
Purchased From: George Acosta,
Riverside, CA
Mileage: 13,941 (on odo., not
actual)
Sold Date: 10/8/82
Sales Price: $3050
Sold To: Cecil “lee” Sanford, San
Diego, CA
Mileage: 53,801.0 (on odo.)
Other: Added new Bernie Bergman
1600 cc engine, twin carbs,
Western Mags, chrome muffler.
When sold had just been repainted
candy metalic green.
(Purchased from Kent’s first wife’s
father)
The huge cloth sunroof was a nice feature.
This shot from February 27, 1981 shows the baja bug
in windsurfing mode. One summer I drove it all the
way to Waupaca with the windsurfer on top, stopping
to sail in Lake Tahoe, Buffalo Bill Reservoir, WY and
other spots along the way.
20. Ford F100 Pickup
Vehicle: 1953 Ford F100
VIN: Unkown
License Number: 1Y31588
Purchase Date: 4/10/81
Purchase Price: $2250
Purchased From: Rober Isaccs,
Olivenhain, CA
Mileage: 34,190 (probably not
actual)
Sold Date: 1/23/83
Sales Price: $6000
Sold To: Thomas Farrar, 80 Beaver
St., Whitman, MA 02382
Mileage: 36,107 (on odo)
Other: 1954 Cadillac crate motor
added in 1954 (had receipt for
motor), 1949 Lincoln 3-speed with
overdrive. Did paint and complete
body restoration, (no accidents
ever-no bondo) new oak in bed,
custom pinstripes by Kent Libuse.
Purchaser flew out from East Coast
and attempted to drive it home.
Engine failed in Texas, had to have
it trucked the rest of the way. Broke
loose in truck,
destroyed
bodywork. He
eventually
completely
redid it with
Corvette
undercarriage,
tilt front end-invested over
$50,000 in it
as a show rod.
After body and interior restoration.
As purchased
21. Ford F100 Pickup
Vehicle: 1962 Ford F100 Pickup
VIN: Unknown
License Number: 1D07247
Purchase Date: Unkown
Purchase Price: $800
Purchased From: Harrison Towing,
San Marcos, CA
Mileage: Unknown
Sold Date: 1/1/83
Sales Price: $825
Sold To: Frank Libuse
Mileage: Unknown
As purchased
Other: Build in a weekend from
junkyard parts to be a tow service
vehicle. 390 V8 with C6 auto.
Seats from a Corvair. Pretty
thrashed but a good work vehicle.
Handled like a pig with tons of
play in steering wheel. (Dad sold to
a welder 6/25/98 for $700.)
Fitted with 2x4 racks for hauling sailboards and, in this case,
Joey’s Laser sailboat. Joey’s VW van is on the right
(SIRFUN1), the Scirocco is behind the truck. Shot at 157
Maple Ave. in Carlsbad.
22. Ford Mustang
Vehicle: 1966 Ford Mustang
Convertible
VIN: Unknown
License Number: 264 XHQ
Purchase Date: 2/23/82
Purchase Price: $5000
Purchased From: Benny Allen,
Carlsbad, CA
Mileage: about 68,000 actual
Sold Date: 9/21/84
Sales Price: $6500
Sold To: Marilyn Dixon, 13340
Aldrin Ave, Poway, CA 92064
Mileage: 76, 511.4
Other: Wimbeldon white with red
interior, 289 4 bbl, 3-speed floor
shift, white convertible top.
Original AM radio. All original
except decent repaint in original
color. Very nice, totally original
car.
23. Volkswagen Scirocco
Vehicle: 1977 VW Scirocco
VIN: Unknown
License Number: first 1FVW292,
and then Force12
Purchase Date: 10/28/82
Purchase Price:$3000
Purchased From: Steven M. Rauch,
Escondido, CA
Mileage: 105,177
Sold Date: 2/25/85
Sales Price: $3100
Sold To: Allan B. “Brad” Needham,
603 1st Street #232, Oceanside, CA
92054
Mileage: 133,911
Other: Solid but very dirty when
purchased. I had it repainted
original dark blue with custom
stripes to match my sailboard,
added front air dam.
Sean still remembers me doing handbrake
spinouts in the parking lot at the Long Beach
Convention Center on a rainy day in this car.
It was light and quick and got from 30 to 37
MPG..
24. Toyota Corona
Vehicle: 1970 Toyota Corona Mk II
sedan
VIN: Unknown
License Number: 046 COV
Purchase Date: 6/6/84
Purchase Price: $1000
Purchased From: Kent Libuse,
Riverside, CA
Mileage: 135,000
Sold Date: 11/10/85
Sales Price: $950
Sold To: Steve Fox, 2232 Fairfield
Street, San Diego, CA 32110
Mileage: 150,100
Other: 4-speed stick. Rob Stroud
had abandoned it by side of
freeway with wheel missing. Kent
repaired. Motor froze up on Marda.
I purchased a used engine from BBI
engines in San Diego and installed
it myself just before we sold it. Still
had 6-month warranty on engine.
Car looked rough but drove nice
and had plenty of power.
25. Ford LTDII Wagon
Vehicle: 1977 Ford LTDII wagon
VIN: 7H43S230728
License Number: 832 SUL
Purchase Date: 12/24/84
Purchase Price: $1500
Purchased From: Al Jones/City
Classic Cars, 3652 University, San
Diego, CA 92104
Previous owner: Robert or Diana
Cook, 6161 Streamview Drive, SD,
CA 92115
Mileage: 89,491
Nickname: “Battlestar Galactica”
Sold Date: 6/11/89
Sales Price: $1200
Sold To: Frank Libuse
Mileage: 117,500
Other: Light yellow color. Bought
as a surf vehicle. Had 400 Cu inch
engine that sucked gas. Handled
like a pig. The headlights would
shut off unexpectedly and then
come back on, which was a real
thrill on dark roads. Dad eventually
sold it for $600 to Ben Nelissen,
233 Shady Lane, El Cajon, CA
92021. (Got a call about a year
later that it had been towed and
abandoned...could have picked it
back up for $200 but declined)
The replacement for this was the
Dodge Aeries, going from 400
cubic inches to 2.2 Liters of gutless
wonder with the goal of better gas
mileage. Both cars were decent
surf vehicles though...the modern
version of a “woody”.
Galactica loaded for a windsurfing trip. It was well suited
for this use, as a little sand or even a little sandblasting at
“The Ponds” didn’t matter on this car. There was little to
lose. Altamira neighbor and former used car lot owner George
Freeman showed me how to rub brown shoe polish on the
cracks in the fake wood finish on the side to make it look
better.
Parked down in the back yard at 711 Virginia, Galactica
shares the pasture with the MPV, dad’s motorhome and 1969
Torino GT.
26. Pontiac Fiero GT
Vehicle: 1985 Pontiac Fiero GT
VIN: 1B2PG3792FP235995
License Number: 1MFJ059
Purchase Date: 4/15/85
Purchase Price: $12,900
Purchased From: David J. Phillips
Pontiac, 24888 Alicia Pkwy,
Laguna Hills, CA 92653 (Rob
Murray, salesman)
Mileage: New
Color: Red with Grey interior
Equipment: 4-speed stick, A/C,
sunroof, AM/FM/Cassette
Sold Date: 11/3/90
Sales Price: $5300
Sold To: Joey Gibbs, 2795
Bayshore Ave., Ventura, CA 93001
Mileage: 44,435.6
Other: Joey still owns as of 2005
but needs total restoration
Fiero’s never achieved
a great reputation, but
the V-6 sounded great
and it felt like an exotic
with the engine in the
back.
27. Dodge Colt
Vehicle: 1986 Dodge Colt
VIN: 1B3BA24KXGU049708
License Number: 1PCR435
Purchase Date: 11/4/85
Purchase Price: $7299.14
Purchased From: Meister Dodge,
Car Country Carlsbad (Now Cal
Worthington)
Mileage: New
Equipment: 4 spd stick, Air, AM,
Tinted Glass, Steel radial tires
Color: Dark metalic blue
Nickname: “Dilly”
Sold Date: 7/1/89
Sales Price: Traded for VW
convertible worth about $4500 plus
they paid $500
Sold To: Joseph Carl, 522 E. El
Norte Pkwy, Escondido, CA 92026
Mileage: about 72,500 mi
Other: Nice little car. Never needed
any work in whole time we owned
it. Marda’s first new car
Historic image: Marda
washing a car...
From the face Marda is making it looks like Dilly has been in
an accident, although I don’t see much damage in this shot. It
was in the paint shop a couple of times for minor dings.
28. Dodge Aries
Vehicle: 1983 Dodge Aries Wagon
VIN: 1B3BD49C3DF284049
License Number: 2EQT224
Purchase Date: 6/10/89
Purchase Price: $1700
Purchased From: Bryan Robert
Ross, 3774 Budd St., San Diego,
CA 92111
Mileage: 94,475
Sold Date: 6/20/90
Sales Price: $1500 plus American
Flyer train set
Sold To: Robert Harms, 910
Lacebark, San Marcos, CA 92069
Mileage: 112,306
Other: Color, silver w/ red interior.
About most gutless car I’ve ever
owned with 2.4 L 4 cylinder and 2
bbl carb, but fair mileage for a
wagon. Robert moved to Kawaii,
HI and took car with him.
Not the worst car ever built, but probably one of the least
exciting. This is a car that screams “practical” as well as
“boring!” It did get the job done as a sailboard hauler,
though, and it got a lot better mileage than “Galactica.”
29. Volkswagen Convertible
Vehicle: 1970 VW Bug Convertible
VIN: 1SO2861634
License Number: 1BCG586
Purchase Date: 7/1/89
Purchase Price: Traded for “Dilly”
plus $500
Purchased From: Joseph Carl, 522
El Norte Pkwy, Escondido, CA
92026
Mileage: 40,864 (probably not
actual)
Sold Date: 10/11/91
Sales Price: $4450
Sold To: Joe Turner, 892 Quailhill
Dr., San Marcos, CA 92069
Mileage: 71,071 on odo
Other: Really nice custom bug with
Porsche red paint, euro bumpers, all
chrome blacked out or removed, tan
interior, black top. Lots of chrome
on engine. Got a lot of attention.
Previous owner: Chad Hester, 133
Lakeview Ln, El Cajon (Built car)
Sold to Joe Carl for $5000
Main reason for sale was it was
getting hard to get it to pass smog.
I wonder how many times Marda and I have
asked each other, “Exactly why did we sell
that car?” It always got attention no matter
where you went and was a blast to drive.
30. Mazda MPV
Vehicle: 1990 Mazda MPV
VIN: JM3LV5227L0234268
License Number: Unknown
Purchase Date: 5/17/90
Purchase Price: $18,069.43
($19750.00 out the door)
Purchased From: Cush Mazda,
Escondido, CA
Mileage: New
Color: White, tan interior
Equipment: A/C, AM/FM/Cassette,
Rear A/C, Tinted glass, floor mats
Nickname: “Trusty”
Sold Date: 1998
Sales Price: $4000?
Sold To: Frank Libuse
Mileage: 214,000
Other: When sold still had original
engine and transmission. Had never
had any problems. Dad eventually
replaced engine and transmission
and still owns car in 2005.
The Mazda had a great interior and a
wonderful sound system. The seat material
must be really tough, because it still looks
good after 250,000 miles. Only criticisim—
the shift lever blocked the view of some of
the dash controls when in drive.
I still think this is a nice looking minivan, and we liked that it
had a passenger door in the rear that opened out 90° instead
of a sliding door. Even with the tinted glass and dual air
conditioners cooling was only marginal on really hot days.
31. Subaru Wagon
Vehicle: 1982 Subaru GL Wagon
VIN: JF2AM53B7CE478654
License Number: 1FYS315
Purchase Date: 8/4/91
Purchase Price: free
Purchased From: Joey Gibbs, 2795
Bayshore Dr., Ventura, CA 93001
Mileage: 149,000
Color: Red with Grey interior
Equipment: 4-speed stick, A/C,
AM/FM/Cassette
Sold Date: 9/92
Sales Price: N/A
Sold To: Sean Callahan
Mileage: Unknown
Other: Joey bought new. Gave it
away because it needed all new Ujoints. We hauled it home on a
trailer and I put in $800 worth of
U-joints myself. Sean drove to
school until motor ran out of oil
and siezed. He towed to Mojave
hoping to fix it but it was “lost”?
(Top) Sean with the keys to his first car in
front of the Harbor Pointe house on
Sandcastle Drive in Carlsbad. Perfect surfer
transportation.
(Above) Sean and Rambeau with a cleaner
version of the car shot from the same angle
as the view with Joey to the left. A few more
dents, but pretty good for a “free” car.
Technically this wasn’t really my car because
I got it for Sean, but I got it running, helped
fix it up, insured it and worked on it, so I’ve
included it in the list. I also got to enjoy many
windsurfing trips in it with Joey when it was
Joey with the Subaru on the first day he took delivery. It was new, so I’m pretty connected to it. I just regret
a lot shinier then...
its needlessly sad demise.
32. Volkswagen Golf GTI
Vehicle: 1985 VW Golf GTI
VIN: 1VWDBO173FV045448
License Number: 1MTX663
Purchase Date: 11/2/91
Purchase Price: $2000
Purchased From: Paul J. Hathaway
III, 2152 Caminito Circulo Sur,
LaJolla, CA 92037
Mileage: 99,900
Sold Date: 3/16/94
Sales Price: $2200
Sold To: Stephen M. Hutter, 751
Oceanview Dr., Vista, CA 92084
Mileage: 125,661
Other: Color--Black
Fast, good handling car
These are certainly not the world’s greatest photos, but they
are the only ones I have been able to find of the GTI so far.
Here it is seen parked in front of the Libuse Graphics Etc.
office at 2930 Norman Strasse Rd., Ste 118 in San Marcos.
This was taken in about February, 1992.
33. Triumph Spitfire
Vehicle: 1979 Triumph Spitfire
VIN: TF2DW29T000914
License Number: 1AOL953
Purchase Date: 2/15/93
Purchase Price: $2000
Purchased From: Joe Martin, 170
Navajo, San Marcos, CA
Mileage on odo: 27,775 (actual about
58,800)
Color: Maroon with black interior
Equipment: spare hard top
Sold Date:3/16/94
Sales Price: $2200
Sold To: Stephen M. Hutter, 751
Oceanview, Vista, CA 92084
Mileage: 29,964 on odo (add 31,900)
Other: Same wholesaler bought GTI and
Spitfire. We weren’t really selling
Spitfire, but he came to look at GTI and
made good offer on both. Wished many
times we hadn’t sold it. Was in very nice
condition, Joe had put in new brakes and
radiator
History: Originally sold 8/4/80 by British
Motorcars, 7740 Indiana Ave, Riverside
to Ferdinand D. Mehlick, Jr., 1766
Bittersweet Hill, Vista, CA 92083 who
was owner until Joe bought it.
(Top) I never much cared for the 5 MPH
bumpers, but other than that it was a nice
looking car. (Bottom) The tilting front end
provided great engine access. British cars had
come a long way from the 1953 MG and 1954
Healeys I was familiar with. This actually was
a great little car that gave us no trouble at all.
Remind me again exactly why I sold it?
34. Dodge Omni GLHS
Vehicle: 1986 Dodge Omni Shelby
GLHS
#472 of 500
VIN: 1B3BZ18E1GD259783
License Number: 1SEY148
Purchase Date: 3/10/94
Purchase Price: $4000
Purchased From: Derrick Vercoe,
13275 Kibbings Road, San Diego,
CA 92130
Mileage: 68,558
Color: Black, grey interior
Equipment: 5-speed manual,
intercooled 2.4 L turbo, Koni
adjustable suspension, A/C, Special
Shelby mags
Sold Date: Unknown
Sales Price: $3500
Sold To: Unknown
Mileage: About 106,000
Other: Really, really Fast!
Especially fun in third gear.
Previous three young owners had
taken a toll. Needed new engine at
103,000, new transmission at
105,00. Finally just costing too
much to keep. People usually
thought it was a VW GTI. A real
sleeper.
Purchaser was a contractor from
Illinois on a job in San Francisco.
He bought it sight unseen from
AutoTrader on-line, drove it back
to SF and towed it to Chicago. He
already had one and wanted a daily
driver.
35. Ford F150 Pickup
Vehicle: 1986 Ford F150 XLT Larriet pickup
VIN: 1FTEX15NOGKA71886
License Number: 5K64183
Purchase Date: 3/1/97
Purchase Price: $3000
Purchased From: Victor Juan Hinojosa, 30124
Mira Loma, Rancho California, CA
Mileage: 195,958
Color: Biege with dark metalic brown, tan
interior
Sold Date: 8/28/04
Sales Price: $1500
Sold To: Robert Odom, 14130 McNally Road,
Valley Center, CA 92082
Mileage: 231,543
Other: Long bed, extended cab, A/C, PS, Cruise,
AM/FM/Cassette, dual 19-gallon tanks, chrome
dock bumper with hitch, contractor racks, bed
liner, 302 V8, automatic, captain’s chair seats,
console. It had an Oregon license when I bought
it, but it had been originally sold in LA so had
CA smog equipment.
Origianally purchased to help with the move
from Harbor Pointe to Virginia Place. It did
a good job. We moved everything in the house
except the piano. After that one move it had
paid for itself. It also made many trips to
Melsie’s cabin in the mountains.
36. Jaguar XJ6
Vehicle: 1978 Jaguar XJ6 with 350
cu in Chevrolet engine and trans
VIN: Unknown
License Number: Unknown
Purchase Date: 12/97
Purchase Price: $3700
Purchased From: (A doctor in Elfin
Forest area)
Mileage: Unknown
Sold Date: 3/01
Sales Price: About $2500
Sold To: some poor, unsuspecting
girl
Mileage: Unknown
Other: Pretty blue metallic paint,
butter colored leather interior,
chrome wire wheels. Added
FlowMaster exhaust, proper
carburetor, had flywheel replaced
twice until they got the right starter
on it. Never reliable, heat wouldn’t
shut off, A/C wouldn’t put out cold
air. Spent about $5000 on it. Whole
front cross member broke once.
($1000.00). Rear brake job: $1000.
Everything was $1000. Marda
crashed it twice, once when the
brakes failed at the end of Virginia
Place. It was a good idea that just
didn’t work out because the shop
that did the conversion concentrated
only on looks and cheaped out on
everything that didn’t show.
37. Buick Century Wagon
Vehicle: 1988 Buick Century
Custom Wagon
VIN: 1G4AH8136J6426662
License Number: 2NLW021
Purchase Date: 1/20/99
Purchase Price: $2200
Purchased From: George Phelps,
Oceanside, CA
Mileage: 196,250
Sold Date: 9/4/04
Sales Price: $900
Sold To: Gary Rogers, Poway, CA
92064
Mileage: 282,800
Nice car--3.8 L V6 has lots of
power but still got 26 mpg on
freeway hauling my music gear to
gigs. Had folding third seat, roof
racks, separate opening rear
window in rear door. We once
drove it to Waupaca and slept in the
back with all three dogs. Still had
original engine when sold. It had
just had a new transmission put in
when I bought it.
Not the most exciting car in the world, it did exactly what
was asked of it for 86,000 miles. It was unexpectedly fast
with the big 3.8 liter V-6 yet got over 25 MPG on the road
even with well over 250,000 miles on the engine. It never left
me stranded and hauled all my music gear to many gigs..
Marda said the car looked “Ghetto”, so what harm could a
couple of bullet holes do?
38. Harley Davidson Sportster
Vehicle: 1994 XLH 883 Harley
Davidson Sportster
VIN: 1HD4CAM35RY204731
License Number: 13T8064
Purchase Date: 6/20/01
Purchase Price: $6600
Purchased From: Bonnie Kellams,
46336 Gardenia Dr., Riverside, CA
Mileage: 27,545
Sold Date:
Sales Price:
Sold To:
Mileage:
First owner: Ken Murray, bought
new at Bartel’s HD, Marina Del Rey,
CA. He added custom leather work,
lots of chrome, saddle bags,
windshield, Python II pipes, K&N
air cleaner, Screaming Eagle
Ignition, Progressive shocks in rear,
scooped seat for lower ride for
Bonnie. She only put about 2000
miles on it in the two years she
owned it.
At Mt. Palomar observatory...one of my favorite local rides.
I have added chrome lower front
forks, Screaming Eagle cam,
rechromed rear rack.
First owner Ken Murray
did the leather work and
added most of the chrome
and custom touches. The
Indian theme was based on
his part-Indian heritage.
39. Mazda Protege 5
Vehicle: 2002 Mazda Protege 5
VIN: JM1BJ246221483360
License Number: 4UCW763
Purchase Date: 9/01
Purchase Price: about $17,000
Purchased From: Cush Mazda,
Escondido, CA
Mileage: New
Sold Date:
Sales Price:
Sold To:
Mileage:
Other: Dark Blue, grey interior,
Automatic, sunroof, Cassette
Player/CD combo stereo, airbags
Photos of Marda’s new Mazda Pro5 taken
the morning after we arrived home from
the dealer on the first day with only 25
miles on the car.
40. Saturn LW200
Vehicle: 2000 Saturn LW200 wagon
VIN: 1G8JW82R4YY607457
License Number: 4HLL181
Purchase Date: 8/22/04
Purchase Price: $10,000 plus tax/lic.
Purchased From: Saturn of
Escondido
Mileage: 56,241
Color: White with beige interior, air
cond., bucket seats/console, AM/
FM/CD/Cassette, PS, PW, 4-wheel
disks, alum. wheels, roof racks,
airbags
Sold Date:
Sales Price:
Sold To:
Mileage:
Other: Purchased to replace the
Buick as a hauler for music gear.
Plenty of room in back to haul two keyboards,
a big amp and all the other music
paraphernalia, good mileage, a powerful V6
and a great sound system—what more could
you ask from a “Bluesmobile?”
41. Mazda Miata
Vehicle: 1992 Mazda Miata
VIN: JM1NA3516N0305984
License Number: 3LLJ055
Purchase Date: 10/28/04
Purchase Price: $3800
Purchased From: Ike Cohen, 7212
Sunbreeze, Huntington Beach, CA
92647
Mileage: 100,564
Color: White
Sold Date:
Sales Price:
Sold To:
Mileage:
Other: Ike Cohen never registered
vehicle in his own name. Had
purchased it from Linda J.
Lemmon and pink slip was still in
her name. She was second owner,
first owner was Thomas A.
Christie. He bought it from a
dealer in Massachussets who had
put about 17,000 miles on it as a
dealer car. It was brought to CA in
about 1995.
(Top) At the beach in Carlsbad. (Middle) On
one of the best stretches of driving road
around, Cousar Canyon Road in Valley
Center. (Bottom) The well-preserved interior.
42. Cadillac Sedan deVille
Vehicle: 1976 Cadillac Sedan
deVille
VIN: 6D49S6Q275080
License Number: THANX DA
Purchase Date:
Purchase Price: Gift
From: Frank C. Libuse
Mileage: about 96,000
Color: Metalic Burgandy, red
leather interior
Sold Date:
Sales Price:
Sold To:
Mileage:
Other: Originally purchased new
by my grandfather, Donald D.
Barnes. He died in 1978 and left it
to mom and dad. They kept until
dad gave it to me in about 1999. I
had it repainted, a new white vinyl
top put on it and drove it to
Waupaca Wisconsin where it is
now our cottage car for the family
to use each summer
(Top) The caddy looks perfectly at home in front of the cottage
Nina and Da left us. Above it is seen in the parking lot of JR’s
Sportsman’s Bar and Game Farm next to a rare 1968 Shelby
GT500 .
The caddy is seen here at the Point Brewery
parking lot in Stevens Point, WI waiting while
we take a tour of the brewery. It has also been
to the Leinenkugel’s Brewery in Chippawa
Falls when we drove it up to Superior/Duluth
on a two-day trip upstate.
Even with a giant 525 cu. in. engine it can
still get up to 16 MPG on the highway on
occasion.
43. Farmall Cub Tractor
Vehicle: 1947 Farmall Cub Tractor
VIN:
License Number: none
Purchase Date: 1947
Purchase Price: Unknown
Purchased From: Unknown
Mileage: no odo
Sold Date:
Sales Price:
Sold To:
Mileage:
Other: Purchased new by my
grandfather, Frank C. Belohlavek
(Libuse Sr.). Used at summer home
in Illinois to mow lawn and haul
ChrisCraft boat in and out of Fox
River. Dad brought it to California
after his dad sold the summer home
in the 1980’s. It came with the
house when I bought it in 1997.
Optional equipment:
Power takeoff, Woods 59 rotary
mower, side cycle bar, plow, front
wheel weights, seat
cover. Has both
magneto and electric
starter. Motor has
never been rebuilt, still
original throughout
and in use as my lawn
mower as of 2005.
Craig takes Marc for a tractor ride. The paint
job is a little faded, but it is original from 1947.
Craig is a little faded too, and he’s from 1946—
only one year older than the Farmall.
Dede and Bubbi Libuse welcome the clan to Julie
Czaja’s birthday party at the river house in
Algonquin, Illinois. Note the fairly new tractor
has a gang reel mower setup underneath. That
was later replaced by the Woods 59 double rotary
system now in use.
44. Studebaker Avanti
Vehicle: 1963 Studebaker Avanti R1
VIN:
License Numbers: JE1120 and
MD9402 (IL), TQH 755 (CA black
plate) then LIBUSE (CA, blue)
Purchase Date: 1963
Purchase Price: $5500.00
Purchased From: Townsend
Studebaker, Riverside, CA
Mileage: About 500 demo miles
Other: Original color—white with
Taken in August, 1963 in front of the Riverside house at 2597
turquoise interior, repainted black in Dorchester Drive.
about 1966. Equipment: Automatic,
A/C, Halibrand Mag wheels added.
Joe Doyle knew president of
Halibrand, and we picked the
wheels up at the factory.
Dad left with 711 Virginia Place
house for me to restore. Hopefully
someday I’ll be able to afford to do
it.
Soon after purchase in May, 1962 with Illinois
license plate. Illinois used to send out a new
metal plate each year.
Above shot in Waupaca driveway is from July, 1963.
Later Shot in black paint below is from July, 1966.
45. Alumacraft 14’
Vehicle: 14’ Alumacraft rowboat
with 15 HP Johnson outboard
Hull Number: ACBY5112L485
State Reg. Number: WS 5826 AZ
Purchase Date: About 1980 by dad
Purchase Price: Unknown
Purchased From: (New)
Other: Johnson outboard was
obtained by Don Barnes (my
grandfather) in trade for a raft dad
built that had ten 55 gallon drums
floating it. That would have been
in the late 1970’s. The motor sits
all winter in the storage box down
by the lake and always fires up
every summer. It was the first boat
Sean was allowed to drive by
himself and only two feet longer
than the very similar 12’
Alumacraft that John, Kent and I
had as our only transportation on
the lakes while growing up. The
boat/motor combo is actually quite
powerful and will pull an adult
kneeboarder or child on two skis.
(Top) Marc runs down the dock. The aluminum boat makes a
distinctive “Waupaca” sound when the waves slap against
the hull while it’s tied at the dock. (Center) Bugsy and Karen
return from fishing. (Bottom) It lives on shore all winter along
with the canoe. (Left) Marda and Little Bit enjoy a ride.
Other
(Vehicles I didn’t own, but were part of my life...)
The best part of going to visit my grandfather
Dede was a ride in the Chris Craft. It had a
Grey Marine 6-cylinder with three carbs, a
hydraulic shift and two-tone mahagany deck.
The boat was kept in the garage at his
summer home near Algonquin, IL, and was
lowered into the Fox River on a dolly that
was pulled by the Farmall Cub tractor. Dede
used to be an expert on the aquaplane which
was like a wooden surfboard that was tied to
the boat. There was a loop of rope tied to the
board that the rider held on to. It was much
harder to do than it looked. The boat was
built in the early to mid 1950’s and was sold
to the owner of Treadwell’s marina in
Algonquin, IL when Dede sold the river
house.
For many years Dede’s old 1963 Lincoln
Continental was the “cottage car” in
Waupaca. The rocker panels were rusty and
it handled and stopped horribly. Most
windows didn’t work, but it had lots of room.
Here it is seen after we sold it to the caretaker
at Loyola Villa.
Dad bought the 1953 MG-TD in 1958 in
Riverside. It was the car I learned to drive in
and took my first driver’s test in. (I bet the
DMV tester was thrilled to see me at 15-1/2
behind the wheel...) Kent rolled it in about
1968 or so and dad started painting it. He
towed it to Virginia place when he retired in
1970 and it sat in the back yard unrestored
until it is seen below being hauled away in
2004. It sold for $2500 and is now being
restored from the ground up.
Craig and Hugh Murray in July, 1965 driving the MG across
the country from Riverside to Omaha when dad was
transferred to Offutt AFB. Here we are the top of the Rocky
Mountains before going down to Denver.