"Stupid questions???"

[Guest]

How about sharing some of the stupid (do I mean dumb) questions you have been asked when you have your "Vintage" or" Antique" vehicle out for a run or parked in a parking lot.

I'll start off with my three pet ones.

"Q" "Does it still run?" "A" No it dosen't, I carried it here.

"Q" "Can you still get tires for it?" "A" What do you think it is sitting on.

"Q" "My uncle had one just like this. Why did you change the back window? (His uncle had a 26 Ford mine is a 30 Pontiac, therefore there is no answer to this one???

Happy hobbying

[Peter Gariepy]

Not a stupid question... but a stupid classified ad. My favorite is:

"use to run..."

[Guest]

A couple of years ago I was killing time in Auto Zone, looking at oil filters and a filter relocation kit I was thinking about put on my 1936 Packard - 1404. The kid that work there asked me if I needed help. I told him "No, You don't carry filters for my car," and he said, " If we don't have it in stock, we can order it." As we walk to the front of the store, he asked me what kind of car I had, I told him "It is a Packard," as he was flipping threw the book he asked my "Who makes them?" I told him "Packard", with a puzzled look he asked "Is it an import"?, I said "Yes, originally they were form Ohio, but I think this one came all the way from Michigan"

[Guest]

The only question I REALLY hate...is...if someone asks me "Did you get it new".....! Gawd...I know I aint no "spring chicken"...but I sure hope I dont look THAT old....! As Gariepy correctly pointed out, I, and I think this holds true of all of us...have to learn to be a bit more patient with people who ask questions...heck...there was a time when WE were the ones who were asking the dumb questions....!

Pete Hartmann

'38 Packard V-12

[Restorer32]

"Is that real or a repro"..at a show as I sit behind a freshly restored 1920 Kissel Gold Bug Speedster. Man to Son as he points out the priming cups..."Those are so you can get into the cylinders to clean out the carbon"....same priming cups, different Dad and Son...."those are compression releases, you get the engine spinning then close those quickly"...and...I kid you not..as I'm sitting in a 1931 Packard Super 8..."Your granddad had 1 just like that except it was a Straight 12"....boy do I wish Pete Hartmann had been there for that one...

[Restorer32]

Slightly off topic but still way up there on the stupid meter...had a customer bring me a pair of Model A front fenders to paint. He had them labeled left and right so he wouldn't get confused when he reinstalled them and ask us to please not lose the labels. No wonder I drink.

[Guest Hal Davis (MODEL A HAL)]

At least they weren't marked "front".

[ex98thdrill]

Here's a good one, we have one barn where all of our unrestored cars are kept. A coworker of mine rents the house where this barn is. About two years ago another coworker had been been over to our barn and he comes in to work one morning and says:

Q. Why do you have a barn full of junk cars? Why don't you haul them off to the junkyard and make more room in the barn?

A. Well eventually were in the process of restoring all of them after we get our new shop built.

Q. They're junk! You don't seriously think you can salvage any of that junk to where it'll run again do you?

A. Yes.

Q. Can't be done!

- At the time the stable consisted of the following vehicles.

1. 1931 Dodge 4 door sedan.

2. 1937 Plymouth P-10 pickup (2002 AACA Senior and Preservation award winner).

3. 1940 Plymouth woodie wagon (hopefully will be done in time for Carlisle '03).

4. 1940 Dodge 4 door sedan.

5. 1941 Ford super deluxe 4 door sedan.

6. 1969 MGB.

- Of course with mentalities like that one, I'm thinking, before you throw anything out, can I come over and look first? He's the type of person who has the mentality that you want to buy something from. If it's junk to them, it's usually cheap for us. None of the cars we have show any rust holes on anything.

Still other favorite question that you hear at a show:

Q. Boy this is nice, where did you find this in such nice of shape?

- You want to say it was a blue light special at K-mart. Do you honestly THINK that you're going to find a 60 year old vehicle that shines like a new one without showing some form of age?

[Ron Green]

Again last week a coworker asked me if my Amphicar would also fly. This makes the 2nd person to ask me that question. Also asked as I was driving into the water at the boat ramp by a lady standing on the dock if that thing will sink! Yeah thats why I am driving it into the water I want it sink with me in it, Im commiting suicide now quit bothering me.

[Guest]

Here's one more, when I first started driving, I was driving down the interstate and got a flat tire, like it always happens, it was cold and raining, I had the car jacked up and was changing the tire, when cop I knew pulled up next to me and asked "you got a flat?", I looked over at him and said, No, they were new tires and the guy at the store told me they would last longer if I rotate them every 6,000 miles

[Amphicar BUYER]

Typical converstaion:

"What kind of car is that?"

- "It's an Amphicar"

"A what?"

- "Amphicar"

"Who makes it?"

- "Amphicar"

"How deep can it go?"

- "Well, all the way to the bottom if you forget the bulge plug. "

"Does it really float?"

- "Yes, it does float"

"How much do they cost?"

- "Depends on the car and location"

"Was it in James Bond?"

- "No they were never in a James Bond movie"

(30 minutes and 20 questions later)

"Where can I buy one?!"

"Can I go for a ride?"

(My lic. plate, <span style="font-style: italic">I added the question mark</span> )

Cap'n John

[ply33]

More than once I have been asked what year Model T my 1933 Plymouth was. At least a couple of times by people who have just asked about my year of manufacture license mount directly above the tail light that says "Plymouth".

[R W Burgess]

Poor Fellow didn't have his glasses?? Overheard at this year's Fall Hershey while Father and son are checking out DPC '65 Corvette. "Wow, they let that guy put a 350 motor in that AACA Corvette." It clearly read, 350 Horsepower! He looked at me kind of stupid when I corrected him. I hope the young son doesn't think less of his father, we all make mistakes, you know! Wayne

[Guest]

At least people are interested enough to ask questions. That is one of the fun things about driving an old and "unusual" looking car.

I always got lots of question any time I drove the 39 Plymouth and even get a surprising amount of questions about my 72 Dodge Dart.

My daily driver is an 83 Buick Regal. A 20 year old car yet still common as dirt. Nobody has ever asked me any questions about it. I miss that. Even stupid questions are better than no questions at all.

[ronbarn]

At one of our National Meets I was admiring a beautiful 1937 Harley Davidson. A guy came up beside me and asked what year it was (down in the South they ask what model is it?). I immediately responded, "1937". He then asked, "Wow, how can you tell?". Casually, and with great authority, I started pointing out certain features (most of which could have been for any year H-D), and finished by saying, "the real clincher is you get behind the rear wheel look down the length of the bike, and then read the license plate which says '1937'". <img src="/ubbthreads/images/icons/wink.gif" alt="" />

[Restorer32]

Having spent 23 years and who knows how many miles hauling antique cars, restored and unrestored, up and down the East Coast it's a running joke with my Son and I as to what people will say when they see an old car...most common response....."Pierce Arrow isn't it ?"

[Guest]

As someone stated above I welcome all questions as well, even those patently absurd merit a response,just treat the car with respect.

Sometimes it gets rather silly as the following story illustrates:

About 4 years ago a '32 Nash 980 was my daily driver and it attracted loads of mostly positive attention with schoolkids always yelling "nice car!" when I drove past them, attractive women seemed drawn to it also.

One day I was chatting with a friend nearby when I saw a fellow exit his bloated Escalade and calmly walk over to my Nash,open the driver's door and sit down. Not to be outdone I immediately ran over to his SUV and did the same while yelling to my friend "look at this big piece of S**T" The guy screamed, ran over as fast as his bulk would allow and told me to get the f**k out so I just replied, "Hey, pal, I was just checkin' out your car like you were doin' to mine". Sometimes people feel entitled to take liberties with our cars, specially the early ones.

[Mike Dube]

The ones that really frost my pumpkin are the "What is it worth?" variety. I have gotten a lot of practice responding to this over the years, tho sometimes its hard to not be rude back at them. Don't really know why some people seem to think it is a million dollar car.

I often have folks tell me I have a nice Ford (its a '32 Auburn).

Mike

[Guest brh]

Great post!! I too get the what year is it and I tell them, even though the plates say 65. Best one I overheard was between a husband and wife at a gas station. The wife says "oh honey look at that car where can we get one of those?" The husbands reply was from Buick about 20 years ago.

[ex98thdrill]

My father and I have had several people ask what year Model 'A' that our '29 Whippet is, so I can relate to the story.

[ex98thdrill]

THAT IS A CLASSIC!!! I'll have to remember that one!! Speaking of blatant disrespect of people towards other's vehicles...

- I know a guy who lives near me that has an Oakland who had some lady using one of his front fenders as a "slide"

- One night at a cruise night we got a scratch on the front fender of our '29 Whippet because some individual tried to open the hood, didn't know how to open the hood, and scraped the hell out of our fender with the bottom of the hood (typical piano style hinges). My theory..... If the individual doesn't know how to open the hood, then chances are he wouldn't understand the engine, so he had no business being under there. The guy took off and we didn't catch him.

- Another thing that I still can't figure out is why some people get the urge to bring their dog to a car show. I have seen several cases of where a pet owner's dog jumped up on the side of a car. Most people don't bring their dogs to restaurants and grocery stores but they sure seem to bring them to car shows. Without any disrespect to the visually impaired, they should be the only one's out with a dog. Chances are, if they are visually impaired, they aren't at the show to look at cars, so the dog issue doesn't exist there either.

[Guest SalG (Sal Grenci)]

About 15 years ago I was a driver of a great Model A coupe in a region sponcered road rally. I was driving it for a friend, whose son was 13 and could not legally drive. He wanted to enter his own car in the rally. He was the all important map reader. At a stop sign, some one pulls up and ask what year is it and he answered 1987 as I pulled away. He told me his father always had fun doing it. Ever since that day I give the same responce to anyone who ask at a show. I did it just a few months back, and the person started to answer 2002 and I told them what year my friends car was.

[Guest]

Post deleted by hvs

[rgshafto]

My favorite was, "What year is it?"

Answer: "A '36."

Next question: "18 or 19?"

It was a young person, and a reminder about how each generation comes into the world with no knowledge of the past. To the extent we can help people learn about the past through our vintage automobiles, so much the better.

[Chris Paulsen]

I have a 1913 Buick. It is right hand drive. Often people wonder why it is that way. The usual question is "Was it built in England?", depending on the preceding questions, sometimes I will tell them "No, it was built in Poland". I have even told a few that it was a mistake from the factory; probably a Monday car, and that all other 1913 Buick's have the steering on the left.

My 1914 Model T has the carbide generator on the running board. That is always a popular question. Once in a while I have to reveal it is actually a cooler for beverages of choice.

Lastly, the speedometer gear on the front wheel. People usually want to know if it is for the four-wheel drive, or four wheel breaks. Even though the gear is only on one front wheel.

[Mark Huston]

Back about 15 years ago VW had TV ads about the new "Farfegnuten" (sp?), they never showed a car in the ads. Anyway, the Studebaker car club we belonged to was have a tour the included an old Railroad museum. As we drove up to the entry gate a young woman in her 20's asked what kind of car we had (a 1929 Studebaker President), my brother, the driver, said "this is a new "Farfegnuten" (sp?), she replyed "I have always wondered what they looked like!".

[Guest]

I get the same nonsense when I drive a couple of unusual old British sportscars rarely seen here, one of which has a wood bodied passenger compartment shaped like a boat called a "wensum" body. Typical questions,"does it float?" "what kind of boat was that made from?" and yes......one guy asked me if it was an early Amphicar.........I suppose most of this is prompted by unfamiliarity but it can be quite droll to hear some of the silly questions asked in all seriousness.

[Guest BruceW]

I hate to call anyone's questions "STUPID" because in most cases, they just do not know as they are not lucky to be as "enlightened" as the rest of us.

However, when someone sees our 1931 Ford Deluxe Tudor in a parking lot the conversation usually goes like:

"Hey Look.. its a Bonnie and Clyde Car"

(I don't mention that Clyde Barrow prefered V8 Fords and would have never used a 4 cylinder car if he had a choice)

then

"What year is your Model T?"

"Sir its not a Model T.. its a 1931 Model A"

then

"Oh yes, my uncle had a 1935 Model A"

"Sir the Model A was built between 1928 and 1931.. if it was a 1935 it was a v8 Ford."

then they look at the front and ask:

"Where is the little crank thingy in the front? Don't you have to use it to start the engine?"

"No sir, the Model A has an electric starter. It did come with a crank but that is used mainly just to turn the engine over to time it".

then

"Do you really drive it?"

(Here I refrain myself from saying, "Why of course not! I carried it here on my back".)

then

"Whats one of these cost? $20,000...$30,000?"

"No sir, actually a typical Model A Tudor is worth between about $7,000 and $11,000 depending on condition.

then

"Wow.. would you want to trade it for my 1976 Honda Civic?

OK..I ADMIT IT..... THE LAST ONE WAS STUPID!

[Guest Reatta1]

At the risk of offending someone, I just have to ask. Was Ms. 39 related to PH?

[rocketraider]

Besides the Regency getting mistaken for a similar vintage Cadillac, the one I always get on my Hurst/Olds- "That's the first hearse I ever saw looked like that"

[Guest Skyking]

Years ago I was at a show with a 55 Buick my brother and I had just finished restoring. This was a Black 2dr Special that used to come in first place at most shows. This guy comes over and is looking at the car and asks, "What did you use to paint this car?", my answer, "a vacuum cleaner". The guy shook his head and said, "boy! that's amazing.. Another time I was at a cruise with my Metropolitan and a guy comes up and says, "wow! I had one of these, only it was a 4 door"....and mind you, both of these people weren't children....

[edinmass]

On a bright sunny morning a friend pulled up outside the local donut shop for a coffee to go. A very nice elderly lady said what a nice model T he was driving. He thanked her for her kind words, and had a hard time believing she had never seen a 1928 Rolls Royce Ascot phaeton.

[Guest]

My favorite is from an antique car show in the early '60s. I heard a spectator tell his wife -- "These really aren't old cars. These guys bought up the factory dies years ago and they are reproducing these cars."

[Guest Skyking]

With all the 57 Chevys around, one would wonder.

[Dave@Moon]

I <span style="font-style: italic">love</span> when people thoroughly peruse (there's that word again) my Buick at a show or the Drive In, then try to guess the the year. <span style="font-style: italic">Maybe</span> one in five gets it right, most are off by 3-5 years. Having examined the car, they have invariably forgotten to look at the YOM license plate!

[Guest]

Thanks everyone who shared. Did anyone notice that there were only 2 a-non-e-mouse replys....and joy of joy an unregistered person who has replied who is not a-non-e-mouse but has initials. Special thanks to him.

Happy hobbying

[seyman]

Once in a while, I get "What are you going to do with it?"

[Guest boettger]

Hey SKYKING,

Ever get the question "Is that the car that goes in the water like a boat?",

while driving the Metropolitan?

That seems to be the number one question while crusing around in the Met!

[ex98thdrill]

I had a guy ask me one time if my Mustang was a Jaguar. I don't know if he got his animals mixed up or was really that far out of the loop.

[Guest]

Along the same line--what gets my goat is when someone asks how much I paid for the car-----In 2001 at Hershey Car Corral, just after purchasing a fantastic 1972 350SL ( Mercedes Benz ) !!!! I was asked- by a spectator to the transaction-- --DO YOU MIND TELLING ME HOW MUCH YOU PAID FOR THE CAR????Usually I am slow on the uptake, but this time said YES, and walked away... Oh Well, it takes all kinds-------