Island: Chebeague Island
Vehicle: 1977 Ford Pinto wagon, mint green
Owner: Jamie Calthorpe
Mileage: 77,000
“She is definitely a classic and I feel honored to own her,” wrote Jamie Calthorpe, of Chebeague, about her Ford Pinto. It has a four-speed standard transmission, seats four and has vinyl bucket seats.
“It has been an island vehicle since Henry Hubble brought it to Chebeague in 1983. He died on March 5 this year, at the age of 92.
“The vehicle was given to me by island resident, Mabel Doughty, after my own car was totaled. Mabel had bought the car from the previous pastor of our church. Other than a few rust spots, the exterior is in ‘mint’ condition.
“I still use the same hockey stick that Mabel used to prop the hatch open. I love the hockey stick because it reminds me of the skating pond that Mabel and Sanford kept running for so many years. Everything else works pretty well on the vehicle, considering its age, although it does burn quite a bit of oil. For music, it only has an AM radio.
“The car sports a lobster buoy on the antenna, which belonged to my father, the late Leland Hamilton, Jr., and has been on each car that I’ve owned (three) since he died in May 2005. My dad spent most of his adult life in the military. After he retired from the military, he returned to Chebeague where he resumed lobstering until he died. I kept two of his buoys-the rest were sold. One I have up on my house, the other on the antenna of my car.
“It attracts quite a bit of attention with the tourists. In fact, one day outside Doughty’s Island Market, I noticed a tourist photographing my car with the buoy. I had to laugh when she told me she’d never seen such a sight. Another time, a tourist stopped me on the road and asked if the buoy meant that I had lobsters to sell.
“I never tire of telling people what the small memento means, and how I much I loved my father. I am proud to be a Hamilton, and even more so to honor my Dad in this small way.