After 200,000 miles, Firebird still up for impromptu getaways

Ernie Mennecke was irked. Here he was car shopping in 1973 and all ready to buy - yet his wild muscle-car fantasies were fizzling out.

A ground-pounding Camaro SS was right on the money, but, for probably good reason, Celozzi-Ettelson Chevrolet in Elmhurst refused to toss the keys to an 18-year-old for a test drive.

Mopar motoring dreams were dashed after returning from a trip around the block in a 340 'Cuda and determining it "was a dog with no guts."

Finally, the teen hit pay dirt when he visited Key Pontiac in Elmhurst. Wisely, he brought his mother along this time, explaining why the dealership let him try out a rumbling Formula 455 Firebird.

"I rocketed out onto (Interstate) 290 and just blasted it," Mennecke recalls with a wide grin. "That poor salesman! He was hanging on with white knuckles."

A deal was struck for a milder Formula 400 (with mom cosigning) and the order went in for a Verdant Green coupe. As soon as it arrived a month later, Mennecke started commuting to work in it, bringing about two major benefits.

Mennecke was a meter reader for ComEd and was given a daily route, sometimes long but often short.

"When I got done early, I'd hop in the Firebird and go explore," he said. "There wasn't a road or highway in Northern Illinois I didn't go on."

The second bonus the 'Bird brought about was introducing him to his wife, Nancy. She, too, worked at ComEd in 1975 and remembers seeing "a gorgeous green car parked in the far, far corner of the parking lot" all by itself and never by any other vehicles.

"I always wondered who was the mystery owner," Nancy said. It took some asking but the two finally met.

"I told him I thought his Firebird was the nicest car I'd ever seen," Nancy said. With a shared love for the Pontiac, and each other, the two eventually wed.

Soon after, they found their muscle car useful for more than just stoplight-to-stoplight romps. Their first child, Ernest Jr., was born with colic and the young parents learned quickly the benefit of soothing rides. "We'd put him in the back and go on long trips to unknown destinations," Nancy said. "The humming and bumping quieted him."

The Firebird also came in handy for family getaways, which were "rarely planned" and often impromptu.

"We jump in the car, point in a direction and go," said Nancy.

For their three-week honeymoon, the pair journeyed to Prince George, Canada, returning along the West Coast. All told over the decades, they've driven it through 44 states and five Canadian provinces.

The biggest amount of work needed was in the late 1970s when the camshaft and oil pump were replaced. Surprisingly, throughout its 200,000-plus mile history, the engine and transmission have never been removed.

The Pontiac has many more years of life in it and soon will be gifted to Ernest, with just one condition: it stays garaged.

"He's very close to buying his own home with his own garage," said Ernie. "Once he does, it's all his."

• Share your car's story with Matt Avery at auto@dailyherald.com.