| Owning a classic car can be a wonderful
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| | have a washed out kind of feeling? If so,
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| and fulfilling thing. If this is your
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| | the suspension will need some repairs.
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| first purchase of a classic, there are a
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| | Depending on the age and make of the car
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| few things that you need to decide on
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| | the cost of repairs can vary greatly.
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| before starting your search. Is this
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| | Most Chevy classic cars are not all that
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| going to be a project car that you are
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| | expensive to get parts for simply because
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| going to work on yourself or are you
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| | of their popularity and the availability
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| going to have the work done by a
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| | of NOS (new old stock) and aftermarket
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| professional? Is this going to be an
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| | replacement parts for them. If you are
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| investment that you will eventually sell
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| | looking at something like a Mercury
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| for a profit? Are you going to be driving
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| | Cougar, then expect spending two to three
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| it on a daily basis or just weekends? Are
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| | times as much on parts. The more common
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| you going to show the car? All these
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| | the car, the better prices and
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| sound silly to be asking but they are all
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| | availability there are for parts. You
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| good questions and the answers can really
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| | really should have the car inspected by a
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| make a difference in what you buy.
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| | qualified mechanic if possible. A honest
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| If you are buying a classic for the pure
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| | and sincere classic owner will not
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| fun and enjoyment of owning an old
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| | object.
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| vintage car like "Dad" use to have, then
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| | 5. The Body. Look down the sides for any
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| you can get something that is not
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| | signs of damage. Check out the seam gaps
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| absolutely numbers matching concourse
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| | between the doors and hood, are they
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| type of quality and still have a great
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| | straight or do they look uneven? You want
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| car. If you are buying for the investment
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| | to be able to roll a marble down them
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| aspect then all the numbers and equipment
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| | smoothly. If they aren't, the car
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| need to be original and close to perfect
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| | probably has had body damage repaired.
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| condition or restorable to perfect
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| | Look very closely inside the door jam
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| condition. The price will definitely
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| | area down at the doorsill plate and the
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| reflect the quality.
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| | rear quarter panels for any signs of
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| Also keep in mind that quality does not
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| | welds or repair work. Welds and welding
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| necessarily mean perfect condition. For
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| | marks are a sign that the car has been
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| example, a 1970 Hemi Cuda convertible can
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| | clipped. Clipping is where a damaged car
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| be beat up, rusting with a blown engine
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| | has an undamaged cars body panels welded
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| and still it will demand over
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| | in. A hard hit car might have a half of
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| $500,000.00!
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| | the body welded in from another car. You
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| The following tips can be used either
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| | really want to stay away from this kind
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| way, but remember; the price difference
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| | of repaired car.
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| between a 69 SS Camaro and a 69 "Yenko"
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| | 6. Check underneath as much as possible
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| SS Camaro can be over $150,000.00! A 69
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| | for rust damage. Look inside the wheel
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| Camaro SS big block can be a lot of fun
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| | wells and when you are looking inside the
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| to own and drive, where as a Yenko big
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| | trunk area, look closely at the area
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| block Camaro would be a great investment
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| | below where the rear window glass and
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| that you would not want to drive simply
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| | package tray meet. These are two of the
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| because of the extreme value that it has.
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| | most common areas for rust damage. A
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| Regardless of which type you are going to
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| | little can be expected on an older car
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| look for, you need to look out for a few
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| | but seeing complete sections of floor
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| things that can really take away from the
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| | boards or body panels welded in is not a
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| value and look for the little things that
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| | good sign. Unless the person that
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| add to it. Talk to all the people you can
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| | repaired the areas was a professional
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| who own classic cars. One thing to keep
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| | body man, it more than likely will
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| in mind, all classic car owners LOVE to
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| | return.
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| talk about their cars! They will point
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| | 7. The Interior. Are the seats original?
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| out the good, the bad and the ugly of
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| | Is the upholstery original? Are the
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| buying and owning a classic. Here are
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| | badges and emblems intact? One thing that
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| seven tips to get you started. Most of
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| | doesn't sound like much but is hard to
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| these tips are based on looking for an
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| | restore or repair is the dash board. Has
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| original as possible unmodified classic
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| | someone cut a big hole for an aftermarket
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| car.
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| | radio? Are the floor pans in good shape
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| 1. Make sure there is a clear title to
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| | or are they rusted out? Original seats
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| the car. Is it registered to the person
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| | and emblems can be very hard to replace
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| who is selling it or is not registered at
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| | in some of the older classics. You want
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| all? DMV fees and penalties can be
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| | as much as possible of the original
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| enormous.
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| | pieces to be there. A small emblem or
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| 2. Where is the car from? What states has
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| | badge that was original can become quite
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| it been registered in? Has it been
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| | a problem to find.
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| registered in a state where the roads are
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| | These are just a few things that can be
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| salted when it snows? Salt causes
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| | helpful when you are looking for a car.
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| corrosion and rust which eats metal like
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| | The little things will tell you that the
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| a cancer. Not all cars can come from a
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| | owner cared for and took care of their
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| dry climate state like California where
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| | car. But remember when looking for your
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| you will not have a rust or corrosion
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| | classic car to buy, there are many idiots
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| problem. Most of the higher valued
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| | in the world that just want to make a
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| classic cars have never seen snow or ice.
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| | fast buck. Use common since when looking
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| Rust can be repaired but it must be done
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| | for a car. Do your homework. Most cities
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| by a professional body man with that type
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| | and towns have the small weekend car
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| of experience.
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| | shows that can be a wealth of info for
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| 3. Do the numbers match? Is the engine
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| | you. Most all the people you find there
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| code right for the engine that is in the
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| | would love to talk to you about cars. The
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| car? The vehicle identification number,
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| | Internet has some great resources for
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| (VIN) is coded with engine size,
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| | classic car pricing and values. Look at
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| transmission type, body style and more.
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| | more than one car. Take your time. Do not
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| Is the engine and drive train the same as
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| | buy anything until someone that has
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| what came in it form the factory or has
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| | classic car experience has looked at it
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| it been modified? Did someone take out a
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| | with you. Make sure that you are buying
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| six cylinder and put in a 396 big block?
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| | what you want. One thing to keep in mind
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| Everyone wants the big block but if it
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| | is that the cost of classic car ownership
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| did not come from the factory, it can
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| | will be a lot more than a family station
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| take away from the value. Again, this
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| | wagon. Parts and service costs are a lot
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| depends on what you are looking for.
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| | higher then newer cars, but so is the
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| Maybe you want an updated vintage car,
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| | enjoyment factor too!
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| then the big block would be great.
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| | Buying a classic car is often a large
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| 4. Take the car for a 20 minute test
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| | investment and should be treated as such.
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| drive. Most serious problems will be
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| | Get all the facts concerning that
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| demonstrated in that period of time.
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| | particular car and you will be much
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| Listen for noises, squeaks, clunks and
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| | better off when negotiating the purchase.
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| any thing out of the ordinary. How does
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| | Once you own a classic you will enter a
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| the car feel going around corners and
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| | whole new world. It truly can be a
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| going over bumps? Is it loose, does it
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| | wonderful experience! Good Luck!
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