Bob Weir interviewed in Motor Trend Magazine!
Quick Stats: Bob Weir, founding member of the Grateful Dead
Daily Driver: 2007 Lexus GS 450h (Bob’s rating: 8 on a scale of 1 to 10)
Other car: 1963 Corvette Stingray roadster (rating: wants to be buried in it)
Favorite road trip: San Francisco streets with Beat legend Neal Cassady
Car he learned to drive in: A tractor
First new car bought: 1969 BMW 2002
The old Stingray was showcased in an exhibit of rock stars’ wheels at the Petersen Automotive Museum seven years ago. “There were all these cars that you can actually shave looking at yourself in one of them — and then there was mine,” Weir says.
“They perched it right at the entrance. When they picked up the car, I told them if they washed it I’d have their asses in court. Because that’s not the way the car is supposed to look, as far as I’m concerned. It’s a number of shades of primer gray on top of the old — I don’t know what color it used to be — but it’s dark and dusty, and I kind of like it like that. It was the only car that had a picture in all the articles. I love the car, it’s a great car.”
Amusing article, worth a read even if you DGAS about cars.
BTW, I got to drive his Corvette once, 20-odd years ago. I was nervous, and probably a little too careful.
When I interviewed Bob in the course of working on “The Grateful Dead and Philosophy” he said that Cassady had been the one to teach him to drive. Made a mental note to never get in a car with the man.
My uncle had a 1967 Stingray convertible, white with a black top. He named it “White Lightning” and used to go down to his local airport to get the nitro fuel for it. $5 a gal in the late 80’s / early 90’s.
He gave me a ride it in once in the San Diego area, but later sold it. Wish we could’ve kept it in the family. I can see why Bob wants to stay connected to his!