THE WORD ON THE STREET’
MT has always turned a lot of heads and caused a wide range of expressions of appreciation from those who witnessed her presence. This outpouring of emotion has included applause, catcalls, tooting, offers to buy, and even a kiss on the bonnet from a guy selling roses at the traffic lights. Following are a few memorable words: “Que nave!” [What an awesome ship!] — Pizza delivery dude on rollers “Hijo de puta, que linda nave!” [Son of a bitch, what an awesome car!] — Guy in his late 20s with a couple of friends “Te felicito por lo lindo que es.” [Congratulations on such a beautiful car.]
— Guy about my age who stopped for a chat “Awesome car! Of course a Kiwi has to have a muscle car”
— Kiwi tourist on a Buenos Aires graffiti-art bicycle tour “Nice set of wheels, and my favourite colour too”
— Aussie chick Kirsty who was leading the graffiti tour “Wow! Un Ferrari!” [Wow! A Ferrari!] — Boy about eight years old “Es un orgasmo!” (No translation needed!)
— Guy in his 40s who stopped behind me at traffic lights and jumped out while the light was red to get a closer look and express his delight verbally Mini driver: “Is that the same car as in the film Gran Torino with Clint Eastwood?”
Me: “Yip, same car, Ford Torino, great that you recognised it.”
Mini driver: “Wow! same colour and everything!”
Me: “Sure is.”
Mini driver: “Are you Clint Eastwood?” Me: “Come on, punk, make my day …” — Exchange at traffic lights with the driver of a new Mini Cooper “Te robaste el auto a Toretto!” [You stole Toretto’s car!] (from Fast and Furious) — Dude with a black heavy-metal T-shirt down by the river “I take my hat off to you”
— Old man standing on a street corner who mimed the action of taking off an invisible hat and bowing as the Torino cruised past