Car Count

The current collection: 4 BMWs, 2 Jaguars, 2 Porsches, 2 Alfa Romeos, 2 Hondas, 1 Lancia, 1 Citroen, 1 Mercedes, 1 Chevy Corvair, 1 Acura NSX, 1 VW Eurovan, 1 Tesla.

The everyday cars: Toyota Highlander Hybrid and Prius

At capacity at the warehouse.  It was time to vote a car off the island.  Adios, Datsun!

Car Count: 21

Très bien!  Où est le Citroen?

Car Count: 22

The 1973.5 Porsche was getting lonely.

Car Count: 21

We loved our Audi All Road, but after one too many major repairs, the last of which was irreparable, we decided it was time for a new family car.  Even while Rich was trading in the Audi, the suspension seemed to give out again.  I don't think he has ever peeled out of a parking lot faster than that day!  Now we love our new 2011 Toyota Highlander Hybrid.  So efficient and comfy.  It's been fun being able to load up a pile of kids on a whim and not freak out too much when they trail in goose poop.

Car Count: 20

Sadly, the 1985 Mercedes 190 Cosworth was totalled.  My nephew was borrowing it when he got rear ended at a stop light.  A little bittersweet, because now Rich has an excuse to buy another car to replace it... What will it be?

Car Count: 20

The current collection: 4 BMWs, 2 Mercedes, 2 Jaguars, 2 Hondas, 2 Alfa Romeos, 1 Chevy Corvair, 1 Lancia, 1 Datsun, 1 Porsche, 1 Acura NSX, 1 VW Eurovan, 1 Tesla.

The everyday cars: Audi All Road and Prius.

Why does Lucy ever leave Rich by himself with the kids? Nothing surprises Lucy any more after Rich bought a car while Lucy was in Spain. This time, while the girls are skiing and the boys are stuck snowed in the house, Rich buys two more cars: a 1981 Honda Accord (very clean Berkeley professor's car, classic 80s) and a 1986 Alfa Romeo GTV6.

Car Count: 21

Rich buys back his very first new car out of college from his buddy Marc. We had our first date in this 1992 Honda Prelude! If you don't believe it, go back to my July 1992 Car Count page! Read Rich's account of the story.

Car Count: 19

The 1985 Mercedes 190E Cosworth
... Rich claims he needs a "beater car" for the race track. ???!!!?


Car Count: 18

Rich picked up this 1995 VW Eurovan Camper from another father who had lots of fun memories driving everywhere in it with his now grown-up kids.

I see some car camping in our future...

Car Count: 17

After waiting two long years, Rich picked up his most highly anticipated car, the 2008 Tesla Roadster.

Describes Rich: The only blingy car that doesn't brand you as a tool when you drive the streets of Berkeley.

Car Count: 16

To celebrate Obama's election (any excuse is a good excuse to buy a car), this 1971 Lancia Fulvia Berlina S is car #15. Says Rich, "OK, I now officially have too many cars." Wo.














Car Count: 15.

Who can go to Monterey Car Week and resist buying a car?

Certainly not my husband.

Click here to see more pictures of the 1974 Alfa Romeo GTV.

Car Count: 14

Um, we seem to be acquiring a new car every other month. Rich has added a 13th car, a 1972 Mercedes 280SE, owned for 30 years by winemaker Rodney Strong and in really great condition.

Car Count: 13

I left town, and Rich buys another car. A 1990 BMW M3. That makes the 4th BMW and the 3rd "high school reunion" car.

Guess I should have known better.

Car Count: 12

A 1994 Acura NSX: a nice, "sensible" Japanese exotic.

Car Count: 11

Perhaps inspired by the upcoming high school reunion, bought a 1988 BMW M5, and a "parts car" for its repair, sneaking his way into double digit car ownership probably to see if I'd go ballistic
Car Count: 10

August 2007: sadly, sold the 2002 Porsche 911 Carrera 4 Cabriolet; when told that the Porsche was going away, Isabella protests "Noooooo! I want the Porsche to stay here forEVER!!!"; Rich must sneak out when the truck arrives to take it away, lest he must deal with her melt down which doesn't help his own mixed feelings about this sale; does this mean Lucy is making Rich consolidate cars? no, she had nothing to do with this; Rich is "making room for a new one"...
Car Count: 8

February 2007: a 1973 Datsun 240Z was added, without Lucy's knowledge; read story behind it here

Car Count: 9












September 2006: added another air cooled engine to the collection, the 1973.5 Porsche 911T (ask Rich the significance of the ".5"); I think the nickname for this car is Sammy Hagar because the previous owner looked like him...

Car Count: 8 (Prius, Audi, modern Porsche, Corvair, Jaguar 420G, Jaguar XKE, BMW, old Porsche)

August 2006: along with the future baby boy, Rich acquired a new baby, a 1972 BMW 3.0 CS

Car Count: 7 (Prius, Audi, Porsche, Corvair, Jaguar 420G, Jaguar XKE, BMW)

August 2006: surprise! we take ownership of a 1966 Jaguar XKE; this is the first car I've met that had its own professional pictures taken; even I have to admit that it is a neat car

See more pictures here and here.
Car Count: 6 (Prius, Audi, Porsche, Corvair, Jaguar 420G, Jaguar XKE)








July 2006: deposit placed on a "surprise" car; hmmm...
Car Count: 5+?! (Prius, Audi, Porsche, Corvair, Jaguar 420G, ??)

September 2005: sold Georg, our city parking friendly VW Golf
Car Count: 5 (Prius, Audi, Porsche, Corvair, Jaguar 420G)

August 2005: bought 2005 Toyota Prius; read more about why here

Car Count: 6 (Golf, Prius, Audi, Porsche, Corvair, Jaguar 420G)

July 2005: sold the Subaru SVX, Rich's college dream car
Car Count: 5 (Golf, Audi, Porsche, Corvair, Jaguar 420G)

June 2005 – bought 2002 Porsche 911 Carrera 4 Cabriolet, aka MLC (Mid Life Crisis)
To read the rationale behind this car purchase, read here.

Car Count: 6 (SVX, Golf, Audi, Porsche, Corvair, Jaguar 420G)

March 2005 - officially sold the Forester (remember: its assumed sale was the reason the Audi was bought); it was being used by a friend since December 2004
Car Count: 5 (SVX, Golf, Audi, Corvair, Jaguar 420G)

October 2004 - bought 2002 Audi Allroad without telling me; aka Mama Car (name given by Isabella)

Car Count: 6 (Forester, SVX, Golf, Audi, Corvair, Jaguar 420G)

August 2004 - Josh sold Daddy-O on eBay Motors
Car Count: 5 (Forester, SVX, Golf, Corvair, Jaguar 420G)

June 2004 - gave the Miata to my nephew
Car Count: 5.33 (Forester, SVX, Golf, Corvair, Jaguar 420G, Cutlass)

February 2004 – bought 2000 Volkswagen Golf aka “Georg” (think from the Sound of Music); we "needed" another small car to replace the Miata since we have a baby now

Car Count: 6.33 (Miata, Forester, SVX, Golf, Corvair, Jaguar 420G, Cutlass)

(2003 - what? no new car?? I was pregnant so we were a little busy...In the meantime, we enjoy being a red car family)


December 2002 – bought 1995 Surbaru SVX aka “The Sweet Ride"; you can drive with the windows down when it’s raining - wow; oy, we're already married so I'm stuck with it

Note the extra large photo here in honor of the SVX.
Car Count: 5.33 (Miata, Forester, SVX, Corvair, Jaguar 420G, Cutlass)

May 2002 – bought 1998 Subaru Forrester aka “Betty”, the name of the previous owner, also slang for a girl snowboarder which fits since we bought this all wheel drive car for drives to Tahoe

Car Count: 4.33 (Miata, Forester, Corvair, Jaguar 420G, Cutlass)

(1999 to 2002 - why the "no new car" blackhole? Rich was living in Japan)

sometime in 1999 - sold the Prelude and the Colt
Car Count: 3.33 (Miata, Corvair, Jaguar 420G, Cutlass)

May 1998 – bought 1991 Mazda Miata aka “Junior”, my dream car and my first; bought for me by Rich when I was in Hong Kong before I even decided to move back to the U.S.; "you'll need a car eventually..."

Car Count: 4.83 (Miata, Prelude, Corvair, Jaguar 420G, Colt, Cutlass)

sometime in 1997 - I divest out of Daddy-O, so official Daddy-O ownership is now between Josh, Denise and Rich
Car Count: 3.83 (Prelude, Corvair, Jaguar 420G, Colt, Cutlass)

sometime in 1997 - sold both of the Nissan pickups
Car Count: 4 (Prelude, Corvair, Jaguar 420G, Colt, Cutlass)

sometime in 1997 - bought 1991 Dodge Colt Vista AWD; jointly owned with Josh

Car Count: 6 (Prelude, 2 Nissans, Corvair, Jaguar 420G, Colt, Cutlass)

February 1997 - bought 1967 Jaguar 420G within 3 months of me spending all of my money on the condo?! @#$%&! picnic tables inside are especially fun; we eventually rode in this car on our wedding day, so it's got special significance

Car Count: 5.5 (Prelude, 2 Nissans, Corvair, Jaguar 420G, Cutlass)

1996 - gave "Moochie" to his brother to use during grad school
Car Count: 4.5 (Prelude, 2 Nissans, Corvair, Cutlass)

1995 and 1996 - bought TWO 1990 Nissan pickups - one automatic, one stick

Car Count: 5.5 (Prelude, Accord, 2 Nissans, Corvair, Cutlass)

1994 - bought 1970 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme aka "Daddy-O"; jointly owned car with Josh, Denise, Rich and I; everyone in Oak-town keeps offering us $ for the car

Car Count: 3.5 (Prelude, Accord, Corvair, Cutlass)

Fall 1993 - bought 1965 Chevrolet Corvair Corsa Turbo - unsafe at any speed, says Ralph Nader

Car Count: 3 (Prelude, Accord, Corvair)

Summer 1993 - bought 1985 Honda Accord aka "Moochie"; used as a commuter whenever he had to go to Sacramento for work; license plate he got for it was "I < Heart > Ribs"
Car Count: 2 (Prelude, Accord)

July 1992 - bought new 1992 Honda Prelude aka “Gunther”; Rich was deciding between this car or the SVX; thank God he chose this car because I don't know if I'd date a guy who owned an SVX!
Car Count: 1 (Prelude)

Most pictures are on my Smugmug account. There are also a few pictures on Rich's site under "Playthings" and "The Chen Automobile Emporium"