It does freak a lot of people out though, with good reason. The family of someone I used to go to HS with junked their late 70's 300D because it had a vacuum problem (maybe the pump was bad). He freaked out just like the poster did when his brakes lost assist.

My last summer job though I drove an old Ford truck around with no power steering and no power brakes, kind of makes you appreciate the things you take for granted in a car.

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1985 CA 300D Turbo , 213K mi