Do You Know What Grinds My Gears?

On a 3000 mile trip around the country in the 28 Tudor we were asked all those questions and more. The most common was "you didn't drive that all the way from California, did you"? My usual answer was, "we sure did and we are driving it home too".

Most were amazed and pleased A couple thanked me for keeping it on the road for all to admire.

Only one, in Rapid City SD when I answered Yes we did drive it there, replied "WHY".

I told him it beat watching TV. A better answer would have been "If I told you you wouldn't understand".

Richard
Anaheim CA
 
This is just a funny story.My tudor has stock tail light(s).
I was driving down a 4 lane road with traffic lights, and this guy pulls up on my right, in an old beat up el camino. He motions for me to roll my window down, then he says" Say, every time you come to a stop, your back up lights come on!" I just thanked him and tried not to laugh!
Chuck
 
The one I hate is 'how in the world do you fit in such a little car"

Still fat in WV
dusty
 
I have heard similar questions from people, and I ALWAYS answer them in a polite manner.

I'm glad to have people interested in the hobby, and I also know that people ask "silly" questions as a way to break the ice and start a conversation with a stranger.


Marc
 
I've heard all those questions/comments regarding my Model A. One of my favorites is "do you drive it?"
I don't get upset by the questions, I just answer them respectfully because they just don't know.
Rog
 
has anyone guessed what the rear window shade was for other than getting a piece of a**^%^&*. when people see that they get a smile from ear to ear, it cracks me up....
 
Richard in Anaheim CA said:
On a 3000 mile trip around the country in the 28 Tudor we were asked all those questions and more. The most common was "you didn't drive that all the way from California, did you"? My usual answer was, "we sure did and we are driving it home too".

Most were amazed and pleased A couple thanked me for keeping it on the road for all to admire.

Only one, in Rapid City SD when I answered Yes we did drive it there, replied "WHY".

I told him it beat watching TV. A better answer would have been "If I told you you wouldn't understand".

Richard
Anaheim CA
Click to expand...

It would have taken to long to push it.
 
They certainly are head turners. Never be lonely when you own an A.
My front drivers side fender was creased by the privious owners wife in a domestic dispute with the husband (not a nice guy).
Before I repaired it, while driving her a guy yelled from the curb "Hey, fix the fender already"
 
One of the most frequent questions I get asked is, "How much is it worth?" I tell them a modest fugure in the low 20's - but often feel disappointed that people go right to the MONEY subject instead of a sincere interest in the car itself and its history. But I assure them - "She ain't for sale - now or ever - as she's a long-time member of our family."

Most folks are surprised to hear that it isn't in the $100 K+ range - as the uninformed are inclined to assume that all well-restored "old cars" are very rare and worth fortunes. (The must watch too many Barrett Jackson auctions....)
 
Just an amusing story. My wife and I were out for a warm summer drive in our 31 tudor and stopped in at a small store beside the road. As we pulled in we noticed a boy maybe 11 or 12 standing outside the door with his bicycle.He watched us pull in and jump out of the car with jaw dropped and wide eyed an asked Are the cops chasing you :eek:
 
Had a guy tell me today that he has a friend who has a car exactly like mine except his has a rumble seat and a completely modern drivetrain. I bet it is nothing like mine. I think something similar has already been said but it just happened to me today.
 
Well mine's a bit newer ('56) but I guess we all get similar questions. I try to be nice about it, after all a lot of those folks come to the shows to see us and our cars.

One I got a kick out of last summer was a guy & his young son came up to my Fairlane, he peeked in the engine compartment & said "Nice Chevy small block".... to his son. "Uh" says me, "actually it's an original Ford Y-block". "Really, it is?", then he muttered something to his son like "... that's a Chevy..." and walked away. I don't think he knew it was my car.

I didn't want to embarass the poor soul in front of his kid so I just smiled and let it go.
 
Yes! That is one of the most fun parts of a car show for me - Standing casually by my car ('31 roadster) pretending I'm admiring it and checking it out while listening to the comments of other people. You sure hear a lot of "old car experts" express their wisdom to those around them while obviously knowing little of what they're talking about. Sometimes I join in the converstaion while still not letting on that it's my car.

All part of the fun of this great hobby and this great Car!

Earle
 
I have not had these experiences yet. My house basement and garage look like a parts dept at local car dealer. When I get it all together and people start to comment on it I will take the advice posted here and try to answer in a positive way for the sake of the hobby. I know when I was building custom flintlock rifles the question I had a lot was "what's that" "can you hit anything with that" "will it go off?" What - they never heard of Davey Crocket? It was sickening. Bill G
 
As you put up with these questions, sooner or later someone old enough comes along with some great tales about old cars and related subjects. In 1976 I was standing next to an Ahrens-Fox firetruck the department had restored, A retired farmer told me a lot more than I already knew about old trucks. He also told me about an incident that took place in a small S. E. Minnesota village -- Viola, MN. He was in the general store watching two men playing checkers on a cracker barrel when a neighbor pulled up in front, his team all lathered up. The man burst into the store and said "you'll never guess what the SOB's in Rochester did" --- "they took the D**n hitchin' posts out, there will never be a farmer shopping there again" All agreed. So, just listen to these people, soon or late someone interesting will come along -- some with news about a stash of old car parts. Regards, E LaBrash
 
Whist reading Street Rodder I came across a little picture of a restored '28 sport coupe with the caption "There was a fair amount of future street rod material in the swap meet. Starting with a restored Model A would make building a street rod fairly straight forward project."

See Street Rodder, April 2011, pg124 top left corner.

GW
 
Granted there will be others who cut up good Model A's for rod material, but there's plenty of cars for everyone. I still stand by my prediction in the next 15-20 years you will see a mass influx of Model A's come on the market, this will drive prices down and oversupply demand. These cars will range from fine point cars to the cobbled together piece of s*** with naugahyde upholstery, no shocks and enough mickey mouse work to make Rube Goldberg look like Einstein.

One good thing about the street rodders is you can get good deals on all the stuff they don't want, like engines, frames, etc. I don't care much for the chainers, but I help pay for their Vitalis & Cialis when I buy the parts they don't want. LOL
 
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