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The truck I wanted but never got was a 63 Ford short bed stepside.
You don't always get you want, Wanted Rhonda Fleming, didn't get her either.
You don't always get you want, Wanted Rhonda Fleming, didn't get her either.
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They don't make them like they used to... Thank God!
My first car was a 1954 Chevy... it was not a Bel Air, i don't remember a model... it was very basic with no chrome, two doors, and three on the tree. I only paid $100 for it because it had high mileage and at 20,000 miles it needed new rings and valve job.
Today you don't even need to change the spark plugs yill 80,000 miles.Last edited by RED; 04-29-2020, 08:59.Comment
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On 1963....1953 Ford Fairlane, 4 door. In 12th grade shop, installed two front seatbelts. Oil bath air filter. 3 speed column shift, bench seats (Fri, Sat date could slide next to you). $1 worth of GULF gas last all night. Open the hood and look down and you could see.....ground. Sit on radiator with one leg on either side of the engine and pull the head off. Vacuum wipers, slow operation, none if there was a leak. Big flat steering wheel, metal non padded dash. Fender skirts. You or you and friends dod all the mech work
Howw do kids today afford new cars?
Went into the USAF, father sold car and bought an AC. First assignment was 200 mi from home...no car.Last edited by PWC; 04-30-2020, 12:12.Comment
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back to the thread title,
besides Cash for Clunkers, which took a lot of oldish cars of the road,
when times got tight not that long ago, a lot of the old cars that would be in a field out in the country, or in a barn or shed on the property that 'uncle joe' would not git rid off were sold off,
steel prices were good at the recycler, and off they went,Comment
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Old cars had thicker steel. In that regard they were made better. However, they weren't rust proofed very well. We've all seen otherwise valuable sought after cars that were simply not worth the effort and cost to restore due to the amount of rust. In the North you have salted highways. In the South you have constant high humidity.
One thing that made old cars sought after (even when they were new) was the body style would change every year. Sometimes it was barely noticeable. Other times it was drastic. Sometimes it was a horrible mistake. Remember seeing them arriving on trucks in September all covered up till time for the unveiling?
Newer cars may not change for 10 years or so. One advantage to that is they hold their value longer since a 10 year old car can pass for a new car.
As far as where they've gone, most were crushed (as mentioned) or stripped for parts (then scraped). Many of these old cars were 4 door or station wagons which don't have much value (except the Nomad). Some weren't popular or attractive.
I know a lot of people who have one vintage car that they keep hidden in storage. Some bring them out to display at car shows but most don't. Why take the risk of something happening to it? Many that make it to the car shows are for sale or trade.
A home near me sold last week for $1.4 million. One of the selling points was that it had a giant man cave that was used to store collector cars. The building was all new construction and heated and cooled just like the auto museums you see on TV.
The very best and most valuable collector cars will never be seen except for family and friends of the owner. When sold it will probably go to one of them or be listed in Hemmings Motor News or such to bring the best price. My 2 cents.Comment
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We had a fellow here in Stone County, Jack Thomas who had quite a reputation restoring old cars. There was a display at the local Nursing Home, and Jack brought his latest -- a 1915 Dodge Touring Car. This car had been bought by the Army and issued to John J. Pershing for the Mexican Punitive Expedition. Jack had a friend in the Library of Congress who had located it in a barn in Arkansas and tipped Jack off. He had a huge scrapbook, documenting the discovery and restoration of the car.
I told him this was the car Patton used when he killed Cardenas, the Number 3 man in Poncho Villa's army.
About six months later, he had the car on display on Main Street and when I came up, he said, "You son of a bitch!"
"Why are you calling me a son of a bitch?"
"I didn't believe your story. I told it my friend in the Library of Congress and he didn't believe it either. So I had my book printed -- and TODAY he faxed me this!"
It was a 3-page article from the San Antonio, Texas newspaper which described the whole thing -- and included a photograph of Cardenas lashed to the hood of the car.
Patton had gone out to contract for hay, and while doing that learned Cardenas was at home, and went to investigate. He came driving back into Army Headquarters at Colonia Dublan with the Number 3 man in Villa's army lashed to the hood.
Does anybody wonder how Patton got to be a general?Comment
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Cop pulled me over one time for not wearing seat belt (61 Chevy)
I pointed out Truck did not have belts. He checked, didn't even apologize.
Snotty bastard.Comment
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They should know.
I think seatbelts started sometime around 1965 in luxury cars as commonplace, some had them sooner as an option but not many. They became mandatory in 1968.
Though not against the law, a bigger safety concern I believe was that fuel tank behind the seat inside the cab.Last edited by Gun Smoke; 04-30-2020, 11:24.Comment
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New cars don't have bumpers, just a piece of plastic molding
Years ago the highways were littered with tire retreads that had come loose.
Now they're littered with plastic bumpers that have come loose.Comment
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guy totaled my Mini Cooper for me (the bumper did not come off)
rental place gave me a car,
rear bumper cover (There is a bumper, it is just buried under panels) came loose,
got a second car, rear bumper cover came loose,
got a 3rd car,,, total POS but it was back from the body shop and the cover was fineComment
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Not on traffic patrol, where you're guilty until proven innocent.
Doing 62 in a 55 zone on my motorcycle (BMW R100, so civilized ride), long stick straight highway.
I check my mirror and cherries are upon me. I pull over and get an opening earful from the deputy, saying how he followed me FOR WELL OVER A MINUTE! (I later did some forensic work, finding the marks where he turned around, etc.) Simple physics--for me to be doing the 70mph he claimed, for his story to be remotely true, he would have needed rocket assist in that Crown Vic to overtake me then pace me.
The sprinkles on this sundae were that as he's looking at my license plate, he asks, "gonna do something about your registration?"
I reply, "that's a two year tab!"
"Oh yeah, never mind" he mumbles, upon actually reading the number on the sticker and realizing it's a year ahead.
The point is, every LE agency has their share of Deputy Fifes, and don't like being reminded of the fact, especially for something on traffic detail. If you encounter one, it's your bad luck.Comment
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Years ago I heard sirens, looked in my mirror saw Medics taking
freeway ramp so didn't bother pulling over as the ramp was in
my rear view mirror. Got pulled over - I explained how they had
pulled off behind me so there was no need for me to pull over.
That went nowhere, Black cop who obviously hated whites balled
me out for minutes on end. No ticket just the vitriol.Comment
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Cash For ClunkersComment
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