I have not blogged in quite sometime. So much has changed and happened since my last entry. My brother Mario and I still own and enjoy our beloved Clenet #229.
Back in 2022 we started to sell off a lot of our cars as Covid and other factors and life changes identified that we simply were not driving our cars. I sold off 2 Jaguars and 3 Mercedes while my brother sold off his Corvette, Mercedes, MGB and Buick. Then earlier this Spring, we decided to sell our '67 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham that we've owned since 1993. We are so glad that a good longtime friend purchased it and is taking it to the next level.
Since my last blog, we opened 2 Bed and Breakfast establishments along with keeping our Real Estate practices. These businesses consume a good amount of our time and playing with the cars just isn't (and/or wasn't) possible. I got married in 2019 and then immediately we were in the throws of COVID-19 that really changed how we view the world and possessions. We lost a dear family member to COVID-19 and in addition a few friends still have long-Covid. Material possessions are becoming less and less important to me as I have entered my 60's in 2023.
A few years back my brother purchased a 1978 Lincoln Town Coupe that was custom made into a convertible as a factory-authorized car. He's worked countless hours getting it restored and rebuilt with June of 2025 being the year he was able to unveil it at a LCCI-LMR car show in the Chicago Suburbs. It truly is a stunning car.
We still have the Clenet and this pic is from earlier this Spring when I brought it out for its first drive of the season. I gave it some new plugs, a rotor and cap along with topping off the A/C refrigerant...then sprang for new Hankook white-wall tires...it was time! (pictured are the 2009 Coker Classic's.)
At this writing, it's the end of July and I cannot believe how fast these years are flying past!!! I'll still be tooling around Three Oaks in the Clenet from time to time and do hope to get back on the page more often.
-Ron Zarantenello, Three Oaks, MI
