REMEMBERING THE 1970 Pontiac Grand Prix 455. When we were in high school, Doug Weinstein had a 1973 model that he had bought used from Ernie Grunfeld. It wasn’t a bad car — we drove it to the Keys one year for spring break and it was fast, smooth, and comfy — but it was a gas hog.

Plus, the joys of the once-ubiquitous Volvo 240DL. “The car made up for that lapse of refinement with an almost utter lack of power. Brand-new, the four-cylinder engine pumped out 114 horsepower. After more than 300,000 miles of abuse, I’d be surprised if it generated anything close to that lofty figure. This, when powering a two-ton steel safety cage, resulted in a car able to drive out of a paper bag only if that bag is properly moistened.” It was a popular car for daughters for this reason — safe in a crash, and unable to muster enough zip to encourage dangerous driving . . . .