An Airplane Without Wings

This morning, Jack's Towing stopped by to pick up our 1950 Studebaker Champion, "Doc," and bring him to the shop. A wiring short has Doc out of commission for a few days.

I needed to move Doc from the driveway into the street in order to position him for the tow truck. I unhinged the emergency brake, and with one push from within the driver's seat Doc glided into the street without effort. The manual steering wheel eased with the car's movement. All was silent save the wind and Doc's aching joints.

Doc is an example of all that's right about cars of his day; he is a marvel of engineering and design. He is the manifestation of Loewy's and Exner's imagination. Pop the hood, and he's exposed. Every part is evident.

While parenthood and work are complex, Doc is simple and beautiful and real. Yes, he's a car, but he's our car - and there's only one of him.