"Stupid questions???"

[Guest]

Perhaps the chief reason many people treat our cars with callousness is the open-air somewhat carnival-like atmosphere many people associate with most car shows. The unfamiliar {and dare I say culturally deprived} are apt to regard them as curiosities to be alternately admired, laughed at,played with and their merits met with incredulity, generally not taken seriously for what they are and represent.

Note that as static items displayed in a museum setting they will be regarded with more seriousness and admiration but I like just driving them.

[Guest]

In response to the earlier post regarding the visually impaired not being able to enjoy car shows, I recall reading about a program at a car show where visually impaired young people felt the old cars and then decided among themselves which would receive an award for exterior design. Animals that aid the disabled are highly trained, and would not jump up on a car (unless they felt it necessary to protect their owner).

My opinion is that half the fun of owning an old car is getting to talk to people about it. Hopefully these folks will either become hobbyists themselves, or attend car shows and events to learn more.

[imported_Bob Hill]

This is more of a stupid statement than question. I was getting gas in one of my old cars one day and this guy about "50-ish" comes out and says "that is one of the prettiest old Mustang convertibles I have ever seen - what year is it?" I told him a 65. He said his dad had one just like it when he was a kid - loved riding in it. I said "so your dad had a Mustang just like this in 65?" He said "yea - just like it" Then he said something like "how hard would it be to find a Mustang like yours today?". I told him that it would be impossible - because this car is a Chevrolet Corvair!!

BOB

[rocketraider]

Hey Skyking- not as farfetched as it sounds. My Mama had an Electrolux vacuum cleaner with a sprayer attachment "for insecticides and light painting". Guess that was the genesis of HVLP paint spraying equipment.

And an old man up the road's life ambition was to own an "Electrolux Burick". When he died, he still had a 1967 Ford Custom 500 sedan, ex-NC state motor pool car.

[Restorer32]

Mom, bless her soul, told my brother I bought a Ferrari...boy was he disappointed when he rushed over and I showed him my Volare.

[DizzyDale]

Your story about the Escalade reminded me of this one.The N. H.R.A. use to have a national event in Montreal.One time in the staging lanes before eliminations there were some guys running around sitting in the cars pretending to go down the track,making engine sounds and shifting,while dressed in their SPEEDOS.Mind you these were not racers but spectators, Only in Quebec.diz

[Guest]

I'm sure many of us have had the experience of people asking how much we paid for our car or what it was worth. About 15 years ago I had a man and his wife [i guess it was his wife or at least somebody's wife based on the rock on her left ring finger] come up and ask, "How much did you have to pay for that car?"

For once I had my wits about me and looked at them and asked, "What did you pay for that rock your wife is wearing?" Instant silence and then they walked away.

I have used that line or a variation of if many times since.

hvs

[Guest]

One day a couple of years ago I stopped at a gas station after a very hard run up to Connecticut and back in my '32 Nash,I asked the guy to fill it up and I lifted the hood to see how much oil I used as the bearings were knocking a bit at idle.

The guy walks over,oohs and ahhs over the car, asks me all kinds of rapid fire questions, looks at the engine and runs in the garage and yells to his friends"you aint gonna believe this, the water pump runs off the generator" as I pay him for the gas he keeps mumbling"the water pump runs off the generator,how'bout that"

The mechanic comes out and says to me"Mike says the water pump runs off the generator, can I look at it?" so I show him, some fella gets out of his tractor trailer and comes over to look so I say to him"lemme be the first to tell ya, the water pump runs off the generator".....................................

[Amphicar BUYER]

I am printing up some business cards with the FAQ of Amphicars on it along with web addresses and such. That will help cut the time getting fuel down a lot!

I like the reply about "How much" questions! I don't like to answer that one. I am not sure I can tell anyone how much I have in her. Yes the car is spendy ... now. I don't want to give anyone the impression that I have big bucks, it's just not my style (or the truth).

I try to be patient, but I do draw the line when somebody thinks that my car or bike looks like public seating. I caught some little Asian guy sitting on my Harly twisting the throttle like it was some sort wet rag. I came up behind him, grabbed his collar and yanked his butt off my bike. When he got up and turned around to see a long haired black leather clad biker (in a wheelchair) with about 10 friends laughing their butts off, he thought maybe exit stage left would be a good idea.... He was right, It was.

[Guffin]

I will tell a very nice story.

Some time ago when I stopped, with my Hupmobile 29 Century 8, at a gas station, an old lady came up to me. She was aroud 80 and she asked many clever questions about the car. Before she left she asked "can I have a look at the engine". I showed her both left and right side of the engine and she left wery satisfied.

[ex98thdrill]

Just so you know, I wasn't beating up on the visually impaired. I was complaining about dogs at car shows. I have never seen anyone visually impaired at a car show, but as you've said, the seeing eye dogs are very well trained. As a matter of fact, the seeing eye dogs are probably smarter than the idiots who take their dogs to a car show and let them jump on the sides of cars. Understanding that not all dogs jump on cars, it only takes one dog, and the damage done in a split second can be expensive.

[Guest Skyking]

boettger, that was always another stupid question, "does this car go in the water",,I always answered, "yea, when it rains".....Rocketraider, I heard of those Electrolux spray units but never seen one. Another dumb question I used to get tied of answering was if my 45 rpm record player in my 62 Invicta was a factory air unit. I was asked so many times so I went and found one of those wire 45 record holders, laid it on the hump, and filled it with 45's...well the questions stopped about the factory air, and the new questions started with "is the record player factory?"........all said, I still like talking to people about the cars I own.....

[Guest]

Re: vacuum cleaner sprayers - I have the sprayer attachment for both my Electrolux and my vintage Kirby(s) (yeah, some of us will collect just about ANYTHING, as long as it's old ); when warm weather comes, I just might try a little experiment....

Here's my "stupid question" story...

About eight years ago, I was working as a set carpenter and scenery painter at a local community dinner theatre, and was still indulging my interest in old cars (though my resources were slim). At the time I owned a 1950 Chevy Fleetline fast-back, that still looked pretty good, and was my daily driver in fair weather.

One day I had driven up to the local McDonalds to get a quick bite from the drive-thru between shows; I knew I was getting low on gas, but the Chevy ran out right at the drive-thru window.

So, I got my order and pushed the car away from the window and out on to Route US 11, as there was a gas station about 500 yards down the road- I figured I'd just push the car down to the gas station and put a few dollars worth in her.

I was almost to the gas station, when I became aware of a car pulling up along side of me- the window rolled-down and a voice asked "if I was having car trouble"; I looked over and recognized the questioner as a friend of mine: a local Catholic priest whom I knew from the theatre.

I thought for a split second and then replied with a smile:

"No, Father Joe; I'm just taking the car for a walk..."

He laughed and pulled his car over and helped me push the last hundred feet or so into the gas station.

(True story.)

De Soto Frank

[Guest c.johnson]

My story

I went to the local AutoZone to "rent"(they charge $20.00, but give it back if you return it) a valve spring compressor. The kid at the counter asks what I will be using it on. I tried to explain that it wouldn't be in his computer. His reply was that he had to put something in the computer, so he needed the make & year. "Ok, it's a 1920 Oakland." - and I spell it out for him. "Oakland huh?" "Must be a foreign make, it isn't in my computer."

The counter manager I usually talk to was about rolling on the floor laughing. (I thought it was funny, but not quite that funny...) Later he told me he gave the kid a Pontiac history lesson, and his "why some things aren't on the computer" speach.

cj

[Guest]

Yeah...yeah..I know...this was a pretty rotten thing to do...but we all know how much fun you can have with "stupid questions'......!

Had just pulled into a mini mall - was in dirty clothes, un-shaven, in a beat-up old Toyota. Parked alongside...damn..was it ever pretty..incredible bright red...cream leather upholstery - of course the wheels, over-all body proportions, modern steering wheel, dash and independant front suspension gave it away as a modern car, but the grill, fenders, head-light shells on this modern fiberglass replica LOOKED like they'd fit right on a REAL Duesenburg.

Yeah...I know...I know...but I couldn't resist..."HEY BUDDY"...I called out to the obviously "very impressed with himself" owner. He glanced up...and, as I said "WHAT KINDA CAR IZZAT"...his look of contempt was palpable !

He hissed " IT IS A DUESENBERG"....and turned his back on me, as he prepared to go into the store...But he kept an eye on me as I made a big 'thing' about studying his car. " DOOZENBURGER" I said.."SURE DONT SEE MANY OF THESE DOOZENBERGERS AROUND'........The guy looked like he was going to have a stroke as he walked off..... "HEY BUDDY..." I calle out to him"....I GOT BAD NEWS FOR YOU..." "What is it"...he snapped"..

"WELL...BUDDY...YOU GOT 'TAKEN FOR A RIDE'....I DONT KNOW MUCH ABOUT DOOZENBERGERS....BUT I CAN TELL YOU...THIS SURE AINT ONE...THIS HERE'S A CHEVROLET SUBURBAN..I'D KNOW THAT ENGINE AND FRONT END ANYWHERE....ALL YOU GOT HERE IS A MODERN LIGHT TRUCK WITH A CUTE CUSTOM CAR BODY ON IT..."

And with that..I walked off...listening to the guy hissing like an over-heated steam radiator.......!

Pete Hartmann

Big Springs, AZ

[rocketraider]

DeSoto Frank- you ain't alone. I collect old A/V and stereo equipment- filmstrip projectors and the like. Even have a 1940s vintage 3M Wollensak reel-to-reel tape deck! It don't work, but that's beside the point.

I've had kids ask what my Dual 1229 turntable is? They've never seen one... God help me if they ever see my 8-track deck.

[Guest]

I went into the Soundtrak store north of Denver to buy a turntable so I could play some of my 50 year old LPs. When I told the clerk [under 30] that I wanted a turntable or a phonograph that would play 33 1/3 LPs, the response was, "What is a phonograph." Glad I didn't ask for a Victrola that would play 78s.

I tried to explain what it was, gave up on getting through to him and said I would just look around. Well I found 2 turntables in a back corner and bought one of them. As for full phonographs, or something that would play 78s they had nothing. But then we have a 1920s wind up Victrola here at home for those.

Has it really been that long since the days of the phonograph and LPs? I guess I was the stupid one asking the stupid questions that time.

hvs

[rocketraider]

Howard, it hasn't been that long, it's just that the record companies don't support vinyl, and now, cassettes. There's little if any market for a turntable and the things are rather expensive now when you find one. Professional club DJs still use them. The Technics SL-QD22 that I paid $180 for new in 1987 now sells for nearly $600. About the only electronic gadget I've found that the price went up instead of down.

And modern stereo receivers no longer have phono inputs. You can plug the television into it, but you can't connect a turntable without an adapter.

A Pontiac buddy also has this old-sound-equipment-itis and bought a Revox reel-to-reel on ebay about a year ago. We went in Radio Shack to get blank tape for it and the kid looked at us as if we had just arrived from Mars. The store manager finally found some in the back and Tim bought every reel he had.

I've gotten to where when I go in and ask for something like that and they duh around and finally say "we don't have that" or "I don't know what that is", I say "Why not?". It's fun to watch 'em try to come back on that one.

[caf]

when they ask how much is it worth I usually say that I haven't had it appraised yet, when they ask How much I paid for it I usually say my uncle had it in his barn and gave it to me!

[Guest]

Ahh, sweet nostalgia, brings tears to my eyes. You walk into a car parts store and ask for kingpins and they think you're from mars, same thing happens when you go to a pharmacy and ask for a physick.......................................................

[our51super]

I was once asked if our '51 Buick Super was my dad's car. We're in our early 30s and we get asked all the time "How come you guys don't have a muscle car?, What made you pick this old car?" .... Duh? Because we like "old" cars! Or, "Who restored it?" .... if they would look at my hands first they can see all the cuts, bruises and different shades of paint on my fingers ....

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everyone!

[Guest BruceW]

We get the similar excperiences with our 1931 Ford Deluxe Tudor as Crin's 51 Buick.

We bought the 1931 Ford in 1997 when Di and I were both in our mid 30s. It is a primarily original car so it is a very stock looking car. A few years later, my mom and dad....after seeing all the club activities, tours, and other fun things we do in the club... decided to by an older car and they joined the region too.

The car they bought is a 1965 Fords Galaxie 500XL convertible.... Wimbledon White exterior with red vinyl interior. And because its an XL it has the Thunderbird style bucket seats, floor shift and center console. Pretty sporty for a full size car and it really stands out.

Mom and dad often attend the same events as Di and I.. and unless there is class divisions, we often parked together. So people see this stock looking old "Model T" looking something and they think that it belongs to the late early 70s year old couple that are my parents. And when they see us, they automatically assume that this younger couple must have the sleek and sporty, more modern looking car. People are often making comments and asking questions to this effect.

When we leave together in our repsective cars, the looks on their faces look like they just saw purple martians land. They can't figure out why the old couple isnt driving in the old car and vice versa.

[Guest Skyking]

When I used to own my 55 Buick, I always made it a point to start it up with people watching and my hands in plane sight. When the car was turning over they would do a double take. How the heck is he starting that car? It would always fake them out.

[Guest]

Funny, I do the same thing to amuse the populace. Whenever anyone is watching me enter one of my jalopies I lift my hands to the headliner, contort my face into a constipated grimace and press the starter with my foot and when it starts I lay back with a beatific expression on my face, god knows what they are thinking.

[Guest Reatta1]

Pete, you should have told him it was a disguised 47 Roadmaster.

[GMPARTSMAN]

About the mid-70's, back when gas stations filled your tank and checked under the hood,the attendant opened the hood on my '66 Pontiac 2+2 with tri-power.

He asked me what it was and I explained that it was three two barrel carburetors.

He asked me why anyone would put three carburetors on a car. (remember this was during the "gas crunch of the 70's)

I replied that everyone knew that you got better gas mileage with a two barrel carburetor, so if you put on three, you got three times the mileage.

Scary part, he believed me!!!

[Dan Marx]

This may not be auto related, but I've just got to tell ya' all. I was going to a business meeting and realized I had broken my tie tack. I went into the gift shop at the Medical Center I was visiting ( in Detroit) and asked the young lady behind the counter if they had any tie tacks, after several moments of total bewilderment and obvious confusion, her reply was, " all we have is TY, the beanie babies are over there". Sounds just like the future of some swap meets I have been to lately. Thanks for the indulgence.

[JB-ed]

I guess I'll do one. Not exactly a question, but related. I was driving my 1928 Dodge Six thru the city, not noticing how fast I was going and actually was stopped by a cop for doing 45 in a 25 zone. He was a younger guy so I asked if I could step out of my car, opened up the hood, showed him the engine and asked if he really thought this pathetic old car could really do 45 mph? He agreed and guessed that his radar was tracking the wrong car.

However, I also would like to add a comment to this entire topic. Don't forget that these "dumb" questions are also the oportunity to educate and entice people into our hobby. They often are innocent questions and perhaps are inspired by a real interest in the cars. Everyone has to start somewhere. There is a lot of discussion about getting "younger people" into the hobby, but if we continue to insult and embarrass them on the show fields and parking lots, then what have we achieved?

Final stupid question I love to ask of a hot rodder: "Did you save the original parts so the next guy can return it back to stock?" Be prepared to run after asking this one.

[R W Burgess]

JB-ed!, You'll have to look up the original owner back in 1950 to ask that question about my rod, but if you have a '32 Ford, you may even now have some of my old car's parts! Wayne

[Guest]

My wife was showing her 52 Studebaker at a car show in 2001. It had a sign in the side window with some information on the car. One item said that the car had it's original paint. A young fellow read it then asked her how old the car was then. She said that it was 49 years old. The next question was how old was the paint. I had a really hard time keeping from telling him that the paint was 50 years old and let him figure it out.

36 Lafayette

36 Ford

52 Studebaker

[Guest imported_SKYSTHELIMIT]

One question I got alot about my first car, a 72 Buick Skylark coupe was is it for sale. At first I would just say no thinking do you see a for sale sign on it, then I would just give them a price that nobody in thier right mind pay for it and figured if someone would actualy utter the word sold I'd sell it to them and get another in much better condition. Hey if they would want my car that bad, let em have it.

[EdA]

My mother had a 1963 Avanti which I drove many times in the 1970's. Still looked "new" and "modern" and I'd get questions from folks who'd apparently never seen one. It had an "S" on the front end of the hood, and some would ask "What's the S for" - my standard answer was, "This is a Russian sports car - the "S" is for "Soviet". Amazing how many folks would then say, "How did you get it over here from Russia?"

I've got a 1934 Rolls Royce now - most people know the "Flying Lady" so don't ask what it is, but "How much is it worth?" I just say, "A million dollars". Most believe that too, but none so far with a check book open!

Ed

[Guest]

I just had anew one today. I was in a FORD Dealership where I live and was looking at new Mustangs. The salesman pointed my daily driver out to the Sales Manager who thought that it was a Ford because of its oval back window and wondered how many of them (Fords??) had hard rubber tires. I told him it was a Pontiac and had regualr tube type pneumatic tires. He didn't believe me because he said "how can wooden wheels hold air".

Happy hobying

[poci1957]

I would like to second the remarks of JB-ed about trying not to embarrass curious onlookers. It is indeed frustrating when posed with stupid (to us) questions, and the "what is it worth/what did you pay for it" is especially gauche and deserves disdain. BUT we should try to spread a little goodwill about the hobby, and shooting a smug retort just to feel superior is a sure way to show the questioner that we are egotistical jerks to be avoided. If we will cheerfully answer a few remedial questions perhaps the Auto Zone clerk will want to read about automotive history and perhaps in 20 years he will be ready to buy and preserve your old car when no one else does. Let's try to welcome interested people and not run them off and we will all benefit, Todd C, POCI 1957

[Guest Skyking]

Beware on some of the answers you give folks about what your car is worth at shows and cruises. You may never know if they are workers from the towns tax office. <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />