Last Updated on July 18, 2024
This is an unusual love story involving a 90-year-old woman and her beloved Chariot. The two have been together for decades and traveled more than 540,000 miles across this nation’s highways and side streets.
Growing Bolder first met Rachel Veitch when we saw her driving the streets of Central Florida, proudly displaying a sign in window that said her car had over 500,000 miles on it.
At that point, Rachel and her Chariot had been together an astounding 43 years. Their relationship had lasted much longer than any of Rachel’s three husbands.
“She has never cheated on me, never lied to me and I can always depend on her,” Rachel laughed to Growing Bolder’s Marc Middleton.
Chariot is a 1964 Mercury Comet Caliente. They’ve traveled as fast as 120 miles per hour, but more impressively is how far they’ve gone. Rachel is the original owner and put every one of the over 540,000 miles on Chariot’s original engine.
She originally purchased Chariot for $3,289.
“All deluxe, power steering, auto, air conditioning,” Rachel beamed.
How much did you pay for her? “$3,289. All deluxe; power steering, auto, air conditioning.”
Like a proud parent, she’s documented every milestone. Every birthday. Every checkup.
“The 6,000 mile checkup cost $13 dollars. That wouldn’t buy a gasket now,” Rachel joked.
Rachel knew early on that she’d keep Chariot for a long time. So, whenever possible, she bought parts with lifetime warranties.
“This is the 5th Midas muffler with lifetime guarantee,” Rachel said as she displayed her catalogue of warranties. “I’ve had 7. This is the shocks warranty from Sears. I’ve had three. This is the lifetime guarantee battery from Penny’s. Penny’s still pays for it but Firestone puts it in. I’ve had 16 free batteries.”
When Rachel takes her in for service, she never leaves her — for even a moment.
“I show them this diagram that shows them how many places there are that have to be lubed,” Rachel proudly says.
She’s always trusted Chariot, and has driven across country, more than 3,000 miles at a time by herself, even at 90 years old. Rachel told Growing Bolder she’s not afraid to travel, but showed off her permitted handgun she keeps inside Chariot just in case.
Of course, many have asked Rachel and her family what the future might hold, and how they will handle the eventual day when Chariot can no longer function.
“You know what my daughter says?” Rachel replies. “We’d sooner be burying my mother.”
But that’s many years and many miles down the road. Rachel and Chariot have traveled more than half a million miles. Together. To the moon and back. And both are still going strong.
Update: Since Growing Bolder discovered this original story, Rachel and Chariot have gone viral, generating millions and millions of views across social, digital, print and broadcast media, even garerning the attention of The Today Show and car afficianados like Jay Leno. Enjoy the links below to see more of Rachel and Chariot’s journey:
Related Videos:
— Romancing the Road (11 Million views and counting!)
— Life’s Odometer: Smiles Per Gallon
— Gun Totin’, Flag Wavin’ Sparkplug
— Rachel Joins the GB.com Community
— The Today Show Rolls With Rachel
