Back in 1997, age 15 and addicted to porn, I had a thing for the Japanese stuff. So after a summer of spend my days cutting grass, the nights with my virtual ladies, I came across my first Trooper. 1999 Isuzu Trooper II. 2.8L GM V6. 5 Speed. 137K Miles. $2000. Great deal to me. Not so much for the neighbor.
I named her Gwendolyn. Why you ask. Well, I'll tell you. Gwendolyn was the name of the not so attractive girl I was dating or whatever you call it when your 15. This Trooper was a bit beat up around the edges, and also not so pretty. So she got the name Gwendolyn. And I'm lying. I was looking for a jump start to get in that girls pants by naming my car after her. It did get me a base further but then the battery died. With the relationship I mean. However the name stuck and at least my truck would let me rev its engine whenever I wanted.
Gwendolyn followed me all through college. All the surf trips. All the trips with the buds, camping, snowboarding, and to Waffle House @ 2am. In 2004, I graduated and decided as a big grad its time to step things up. I decided to sell Gwendolyn, to my roommate. For $2000. The same that i paid when i got her. @266K miles, Man was she good to me.
The next day, Gwendolyn II came into my life. Found her in the classifieds for $9k and got her for $7K. 1999 Isuzu Trooper. Oh yeah an upgrade baby!. Power Everything. And an automatic. I felt like i was cheating. With only 98K miles she was practically a virgin. Ive been driving her around since then and have got her up to 207K miles and some change.
Which brings us to Saturday, July the 9th of 2011. (Last Saturday).
That am, I was cruising craigslist and came across an add for a 1988 Isuzu Trooper II. 2.6L 4cyl. Automatic. 136K miles. Doesn't run. Asking $500. On a whim and a breath of nostalgia, I made a phone call. Then I went to check her out 5 mins later. Not the best looking, or the worst. Paint Oxidized. Full of stuff that the owner couldn't fit in his garage. He had recent receipts for a new fuel pump and filter and a new water pump. Also, paperwork on new tires from last December and battery from January. Engine compartment was clean though. Thats all I knew about her before I fell in love. I knocked him down to $200. She was mine.
It was time to name her. The Gwendolyn III. Uh duh. Did you think I would break tradition? Never...
Here she is boys and girls.....
By mansnorkle at 2011-07-13
And a view from behind....
By mansnorkle at 2011-07-13
Tires, Rims, SuperWench Manual Locking Hubs...
By mansnorkle at 2011-07-13
Engine Compartment......Clutch fan removed and changed to electric.
By mansnorkle at 2011-07-13
And on Sunday, I towed her home. Trooper pulling a Trooper. The only thing better is also one behind too to make a Trooper sandwich.
This is how I got her. More to come.
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