Fords in the Fall

[Old Henry]

I took the old 46 down the road a ways and stopped and took a few pictures all though the trees here aren't in full bloom here yet about a week or two.

Cool how you found a tree with leaves exactly the same color as your car! Love what you've done with your car too - the visor, wheel covers, headlight eyelids, etc. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Old Henry]

Very, very nice. Haven't got the guts to take my 47 out like that yet. Maybe someday!!

I think the dividing line between guts and foolishness is a bit fuzzy sometimes. I've been called both for my trips. My mother used to beg me not to go with, "What if something goes wrong?" like that would be the end of the world and I'd be just stuck sitting there until I died a slow tortuous death. She always breaths a sigh of relief when I actually return. Now that she's seen I can actually leave and come back I think she may still be as anxious about it but doesn't say as much (I'm sure she's learned it does no good anyway. When I decide to go I go. There's no turning back.)

I think one of the very sad misconceptions that too many have about our old Fords is that they have somehow become fragile, weak, and brittle in their old age and could not possibly withstand the rigors of the highway like modern cars do. I must admit I had some of those feelings initially when I first restored Old Henry after he had slept for 31 years (like Rip Van Winkle). But, I soon came to realize that he was the same old beater car I drove in high school, including a lot of off road, and was still just as sturdy and could still be driven cross country just like his kind were driven cross country on Route 66 and many other cross country routes so many years ago. Sure, things break, probably more than modern cars. (My owner's manual declares a 90 day warranty on the '47.) But, that's part of the fun if you like a challenge, which I guess I do - to be dead on the side of the road far from any garage or anyone that knows anything about your car and have to sit there and figure out what is wrong and how to fix it with just what tools and parts are in the trunk to get it back on the road. Calling AAA is an absolute last resort (although I've done it once but felt a total failure for having had to do so). It has often reminded me of Apollo 13 when they had a malfunciton out in space and had to figure out how to "Jury Rig" to fix the problem with just what they had on board. They couldn't "send out for parts." They just had to do it and they did. Times haven't changed much.

So, take the cold plunge guys. Load the trunk with your tools and whatever spare parts you have and go have some fun - "on the road again" (my theme song on many a road trip).

 

[47COE]

Around here, fall is time to get to work hauling grapes from the vineyard.

Tom

 

[raceron1120]

Some gorgeous pictures! Thanks for sharing. The colors haven't really popped yet here in southern Michigan but we're still hoping to get out some this coming weekend and get a few fall shots before work calls me away for a few weeks. Only good thing about the trip is that it's close to Hershey so I will be there for at least one day.

Henry, your pics and commentary are inspirational for my son and I do get started on our '47 Fordor project soon! Thanks again.

 

[Old Henry]

47COE, I absolutely love your pictures! Your third one is definitely postcard/calandar quality. I saved it to rotate on my desktop wallpaper just soze I can look at it regular. Love to see the old '47's do what they were built to do, my fordor to drive and your COE to work! Keep it up.

 

[41panelmark]

Now's a good time to show your Ford's on the road in the fall. Here's mine:

Road to Sundance Ski Resort fall of 2007:

Same drive at the top of Alpine Loop. (Took whole drive without 1st or reverse gear - scary.)

At Wasatch Mountain State Park near Midway, UT two years ago.

On the road to Mt. Evans two days ago:

Coming down the east side of Rocky Mountain National Park two days ago:

Going up the west side of Rocky Mountain National Park two days ago:

Sqaw Peak Road off of Provo Canyon yesterday:

Let's see yours. Ain't got any? Get in that old flathead you've just got sittin' around and get out and get us some.

Those are very nice, looks like our Westerly view, I think I will go out and take some this weekend as well.

thanks for sharing.

 

[Old Henry]

Looks like PhotoBucket is not as reliable as I'd hoped. Pictures keep getting corrupted and I have to upload them again. Sorry.

 

[47COE]

"Looks like PhotoBucket is not as reliable as I'd hoped. "

Try using http://postimage.org/

So far that has worked well for me.


Tom

 

[2ndgeer]

47COE those pictures are exquisite. Thanks so much for posting. The wine made from those grapes wouldn't be "GRAY TRUCK" would it??

 

[Old Henry]

Thought I'd throw in a couple more shots I took on today's cruise to see if we can't get any from others posted too. (Only had my cell phone with me so these are not as nice as I'd have liked. Kicked myself for leaving the real camera home.)

 

[Don]

Annual trip to Durbin Ky to get my winter supply of Sorgum and apple butter.,missed out on the making of Sorgun by a week ,a nice drive

 

[Old Henry]

Love the car and all those old barns and tractors and stuff. Love that kind of stuff.

 

[rick r]

Here's a photo of the Meteor, we had it out for the final run of the season yesterday. It was cool and cloudy, but we made it home before the rain. Most of our colourful leaves are done here in Ontario, CA.

 

[Old Henry]

Great car and great shot on the fall leaves.
Thanks for sharing.