For many people, whether they are car buffs or not, the family cars of our childhoods evoke particularly strong memories. I remember several cars, but none as clearly as the aqua and white 1958 Ford Fairlane 500.

In the car's glove compartment, there was a red plastic travel light - a dealer gift that I found endlessly fascinating. One end had a small, hooded bulb attached to a tiny hook, suitable for hanging from ... maybe the rear view mirror? The hook was teacup size and the car wasn't - so I'm vague on where the hook would go. The power source was the cigarette lighter.

The whole gizmo was made of red plastic and it glowed warmly when plugged in. I played navigator, using the light to read maps in the dark. After I was done, I'd wind the cord back up (never as neatly as it was in the original package), return the light to its blue Ford box, and return the box to the glove compartment.

I'd do this almost every time we drove anywhere after dark, even though we rarely went farther than 5 or 10 miles and there were only 2 roads out of town. My travel light turned every drive into an adventure.

Imagine my joy when I spied a mint condition Ford Travel Light, cord curled just as it was fresh from the factory, at an estate sale.

"How much for that?" I asked in the elaborately casual I-don't-really-intend-to-buy voice garage salers use when they are ready to wet their pants with excitement.

"Umm..." the saleperson said, clearly thinking somewhere between a quarter and $25.00.

Now, I know Lynne Dralle says that the first person to name a price loses, but I didn't feel like haggling. I wanted my light!

"How about a buck?" I said, already handing over my dollar bill. And so I was briefly reunited with my old friend, warmed by my memories of the red travel light and the big blue Ford with its enormous seats and fins and V-8 motor that could climb any of the steep hills in the PA coal region without skipping a beat.

Then I sold it.

How much is nostalgia worth these days? Click here to take a look and see.

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