Buying the Austin America

I saw this car on eBay in early September 2001. Despite having already bought a car (the smurf-blue Porsche) recently, I wanted very much to buy this thing.

Part of my willingness to buy the thing was its location, in Florida. It was only about 120 miles or so from Orlando, and Amtrak's Auto Train service.

Shipping cars around in the USA costs a fortune. It costs about $1000 to ship a car from coast to coast, and not much less to ship it shorter distances. The hidden bargain of auto transport, though, is the Auto Train. For a few hundred bucks, Amtrak will ship you and your car between Lorton, Virginia, and Sanford, Florida, or vice-versa. Since I live about 15 miles from Lorton, this is an attractive proposition.

Next page: Going to Florida