We called her Frankentank Skyqueen - the Tank, for short.

She was a 1973 Volvo superwagon with stars painted on the roof inside. They say she was born in Dartmouth and made her way across the country and back - housing numerous lovers, families and well-meaning dogs along the way.

In 2004, she had a broken choke and an unbroken spirit, ran on premium gas and would start only for me.

I still have the little nameplate that lived on the dashboard.