How far we have come!

[Guest]

A recent post about cone clutches reminded me about the man who taught me to drive a Model T Ford.  He said people have to keep adjusting or replacing the bands because they don't know how to drive them correctly.  They try to slip the clutch.  He said it should be engaged or not.  Nowhere in the middle.  This was back in 1960 when he had just returned from Odessa Texas.  He had started out from near Saskatoon, Saskatchewan in his 48 Chev towing a two wheel car dolly trailer that he had built using a Chev rear end and torque tube with the driveshaft removed.  He was off to Odessa to pick up a Brass T.  Before he got to the US border he burned a bearing out on the Chev.  He hitched a ride home, went out with his 21 T touring and towed his Chev home.  The next day with his trailer behind his T he headed off for Texas.  Three and half weeks later I met him at the border to accompany him home.  He had loaded the Brass T backwards on the dolly, tied the steering wheel and had towed it all the way from Texas.  He seemed able to get along about 25mph quite well.  All the way without a single breakdown, not even a flat.

I realize that was 57 years ago and the roads were a little quieter but that was a long way to drive a Model T down and then tow another Model T back.  In those days money was tight for him and he said that you did what you had to do.

I would drive my car that far today but I don't think I would want to tow another car all the way back.

I wonder are we wiser today, less daring or do we just not trust our vehicles to be reliable????

[R Walling]

6 hours ago, Tinindian said:

 

I would drive my car that far today but I don't think I would want to tow another car all the way back.

I wonder are we wiser today, less daring or do we just not trust our vehicles to be reliable????

 

 I think that maybe one expected a break down then, as a normal part of driving and didn't think of it as a problem.

[Bhigdog]

Things certainly are different. I remember as a kid around we used to occasionally drive from NJ to Western PA to visit with relatives. This was considered a major road trip. Tires were checked, extra spares and tool box loaded, fresh oil and grease jobs, lunches packed, money carefully split up or hidden, faces washed and nice clothes donned. It was an all day affair on mostly two lane roads through lots of towns.

Now I just jump in the car and go with out a second thought. A drive to Florida entails no more than a quick oil and tire pressure check. Neither seldom needs any addition...............Bob

[Doug Novak]

Love GPS Navigation, generally we hit the back roads where ever we go, if time allows, and we plan our travel time using the GPS that shows how far we are from our destination and approximate time of arrival. Last long trip we went from Pa. down to visit friends in N.C. and on the return trip did the East Coast Shore line. Great way to explore, and if you get in trouble time wise you know were to change direction to get on an Interstate Highway.    

[Rusty_OToole]

In 1960 a 48 Chev was the same age as a 2005 Chev is today. I have an 06 Caravan and would think twice about driving it to Texas and towing another car home.

 

A 1921 would be the same age as a 1982 Ford Escort today. I realize the comparison is not exact but it puts things in perspective.

[Restorer32]

In 1953 Dad took us on a trip from south Central Pa to central  Tennessee to visit his brother. I was 5 but still remember the 3 day trip down routes 11 and 15 in the '48 Cadillac Sedanette. For months after Dad bragged about having no breakdowns and only one flat tire. Now I could leave the house at sunrise and be in Gallatin, TN before sundown, at least in the summer montha.

[JACK M]

My dad used to tell a story about his dad.

Bought a brand new 34 Dodge to take the family from Seattle to Detroit for a reunion.

I guess grandpa bragged the rest of his life about making the round trip without ever having to put a wrench to the Dodge.

This is my dad behind the wheel when he was 16, and his brother  was 14. Uncle Bill (whom I never met) was an ace in WWII.

He got something like 15 kills before they got him. His name shows up in history books all the time.

I lost my dad last year at the age of 97. He was also a pilot but never saw any action. He was an instructor and transporter. He used to tell stories about ferrying planes around and some of the close calls from his students. He is featured in a display at the Seattle air museum along with a bunch of stuff that he donated there.

 

[60FlatTop]

We sold cars and used tires to "the average man" from 1953 until the late 1970's.

 

Maybe it wasn't the cars, but the technical support.

L to R- My Brother, my Grandfather, Me, a Pottsyvania BSer (one of the first people i learned not to listen to, one of many).

 

I didn't learn how to drive a Model T Ford until around 1990. And I had to teach the new owner after I learned. We were in tears laughing with that thing. It was a C-cab long pickup with a flat wood seat. Every time one of us drove we'd push the clutch to shift to high and go too far, Whoever wasn't holding the steering wheel slid off the seat because we pushed too far and put the brakes on. Two grown men taking a jerky ride around the nice neighborhood laughing so hard we didn't know who was going to wet their pants first.

The Model T was sold a week later.

Bernie

[Larry Schramm]

We have a 1998 GMC Jimmy with about 160,000 miles and would not give it a second thought to drive it to California and back.

[39BuickEight]

Too many folks today cant even change a tire (assuming their new vehicle even has one, for the same reasons).  Deciding whether to trust a vehicle is mostly determined by the confidence in one's ability to address potential problems that may arise.  That's come in 2 forms, fixing it yourself or otherwise being able to find someone you trust to do the work.

Edited March 25, 2017 by 39BuickEight (see edit history)

[Plyroadking]

4 or 5 years ago I hopped in my 1940 plymouth and drove from Des Moines to San Francisco in two days. Three days prior I just finished putting the engine together. I drove it around out there a lot for my summer internship, even took a road trip through Yosemite with it. After the internship was over I drove it back out to Iowa. Never really had any problems.  

[Guest Skyking]

Up until last year we've been driving our 17 year old Buick Century to Florida, Tennessee and back to Rhode island like it was an hour away.  I'd still wouldn't hesitate to do it today.  Now we just use it for Florida 3 months of the year.

[plymouthcranbrook]

My parents told of taking a trip from Northeastern Il. to West Virginia and then into Virginia in an old used Ford 1920's something mail truck that my Dad(a Letter Carrier) bought at a postal sale in the late 40's.  Took a couple of weeks they said to see all my Mom's family. Never said anything about breakdowns but I am sure there must have been some. This was in 1953.. They did the same trip in a 1940 Plymouth Road King 2 door sedan in 1958 when I was 8 that I do remember, breakdowns and all.  One was on a bridge over the Ohio River right in the middle. Thankfully there was a garage at the foot of the bridge. Took hours but the old Mechanic got it going with junk yard parts. All two lane roads over the mountains 

[Taylormade]

I drove my 32 Dodge Brothers sedan all through college starting in 1965.  It was my daily driver and never let me down through vicious Syracuse, New York winters.  It was 33 years old at the time, comparable to a 1985 model today, but as a prewar, early thirties car, it seemed much older than a "normal" old car.  My Dad, his two older brothers and my uncle drove their 1923 Model T tourer around the entire coast of Michigan in 1935 - Upper Peninsula included.  My Dad was fifteen at the time and did a lot of the driving.  They bought the car for fifteen dollars and worked odd jobs on the trip to make money for gas and expenses.  He remembers taking the car apart in my Grandma's driveway many times to work on various mechanical problems.  It was painted with the usual stupid slogans - "Girls who smoke put butts here" and the like.  Andy Hardy move over.

Edited March 26, 2017 by Taylormade (see edit history)

[60FlatTop]

This was my daily driver until my daughter turned 12.

 

I showed up in front of the town theater to pick up her and four of her friends. Wearing a cowboy hat, boots, and that car. It made a pretty traumatic event in her life. That picture is at the gate of the Buffalo Zoo. She's peeking out the back.

After the movie incident I went out an bought an almost new brown Buick. That helped some. I still have the hat and boots, and she still has her red hair and all that goes with it.

Bernie

[Bush Mechanic]

Ha, ha, kids!  My youngest daughter went to a posh high school, and would rather walk there, than be taken in my rough old HJ45 Landcruiser tray. I would park further up the road, picking her up, but she would still be mortified. Must go with the red hair, Bernie! She has matured somewhat, and now covets the Austin-Healey, when I fall off the perch. I still use the HJ45, but she isn't interested in that one.

Apologies if this wandering off subject a little.   Mick.

[Larry Schramm]

16 hours ago, Bush Mechanic said:

Ha, ha, kids!  My youngest daughter went to a posh high school, and would rather walk there, than be taken in my rough old HJ45 Landcruiser tray. I would park further up the road, picking her up, but she would still be mortified. Must go with the red hair, Bernie! She has matured somewhat, and now covets the Austin-Healey, when I fall off the perch. I still use the HJ45, but she isn't interested in that one.

Apologies if this wandering off subject a little.   Mick.

 

Same for our offspring when my wife was driving the VW Camper.  Did not want to be seen in it then.  Now they are into scheduling it for camping vacations.  It is now way out there with the COOL..... factor.