Well, almost four years to the day after I began storing my then-recently acquired Mangusta at my shop she has finally seen the light of day again — if only briefly.
The first step in what will undoubtedly be a long road has begun. Although I am still months away from being able to move the car into my almost finished basement workshop, my Mangusta is finally home. The move was required due to some expansion at my shop that meant the car would either need to leave, or become permanently entombed there.
I was able to call on my friends Denis, Andy and Bohdan to help roll the car out of her comfortable hibernation onto my waiting trailer. Of course, many inspections and discussions occurred along the way, but that made it even more fun.
I was pleased that there were no issues rolling and steering. The thirty-year-old tires were still holding air too!
It was easier than I expected for the three of them to push the car onto the trailer while I "drove". Of course, it was even easier for me.
The half-hour drive to my new house was fun because the route there included driving down our "Villa Italia" — the main street in our "Little Italy". As I was driving, Denis phoned from the his car behind me to ask if I intentionally took this route? I said yes, I thought it was appropriate. He said the car was creating quite a reaction from the Saturday morning cappuccino crowd.
It wasn't long before we were at my house and really to "un-roll" to car from the trailer onto the lift.
It took only a few minutes to align the lift and the trailer and roll the Goose back onto her temporary parking spot.
If all goes to plan (and how often does THAT happen), the car will move from here into my workshop before the snow flies, and I'll be able to begin the long process of recommissioning her. Yup, many long days and nights to look forward to!
Mark
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