Who looks at your car?

[47heaven]

I thought this would be an interesting topic to bring up.

I know that when we go places in our cars and maybe stop at the store, the gas station of even somewhere to dine, it's interesting to see what kind of people come up and ask about your car or even give you compliments.

A car like mine, which is in original, stock condition, I find, tends to attract the attention and appeal to people who are in their late-30's and up, especially seniors. For some reason, the car just seems to mesmorize them and they get that twinkle in their eye and a warm smile, as if they had just seen an old friend or something. I had a few guys, maybe who were teens in 1950's, who told me they or a friend had a car like mine back in high school or their parents had one...etc. I had an older couple from Columbia commenting on it to themselves in Spanish at the gas station the other day and the wife was asking the husband what year the car was and he said it was a 1948. Of course they didn't know I spoke Spanish and I turned around and told them that it was a 1947. They were surprised I spoke Spanish, being Anglo and all. I asked them if there are cars like mine in Columbia and they told me there were, but many aren't well taken care off, the gentleman told me.

The funniest comment I ever got was from this one old lady who saw my car at IHOP and walked over as I was getting out. She said, Boy, do I remember this car." I asked her, "Oh, did you have one like this?" and she said, "No, but a boyfriend I once had did." I said, "Oh really? Do you remember the speedometer changing colors as he drove at night?" Laughing, she said, "Honey, I wouldn't remember. At night we were in the back seat more than the front." Then, winked at me and walked away. I sat there stunned. Not because what they did, but because a woman probably in her late 70's told me that.

Also, I've noticed what kind of people give you respect on the road. As mentioned before, most people in their late-30's and up will tend to let you go first at a stop, let you pull out to turn into the street ahead of them or let you change lanes ahead of them on the freeway. Usually, I find that the teens and college-aged kids are rude drivers and will cut you off or not let you in as the older folks do. Of course they do that to everybody...old car or new. You sure can see a big difference in the respect and appreciation between the age groups.

[Fireball]

I quess my car is such an oddball here and looks kinda cartoonish, that nearly everybody smiles, some even laugh. Or is it me..?

Most common guestion is simply, "what's that?" Since theres no Dodge mentioned anywhere in my puppy, people have no idea. That applies from youngsters to elderly as well

[55 Fargo]

I get all kinds of questions, what is it, a Dodge, close it's a Chrysler.

One. I am sick of is this, oh boy that will be a nice car when finished, that one annoys me, cuz I think she looks great now, especially where she came from.

At the local Wallyworld parking lot, this older guy, and his wife pull up in a 1976 Porsche, he immediately walks to my car, says wow I love the car, he asks, does it still have the flathead 6, he knew his old Mopars.

Last year, one of these Ice Cream truck guy pulls up beside me, he looks like Lloyd on Dumb and Dumber, he opens his mouth and says' "oh she is still rough" he is talking to his buddy. I retort, just like your gonna look like at 60 if you don't get fixed up, he just gives me a benign smile, I drive away laughing.

I get stopped and asked questions all the time, mostly from old guys, at this local car show, a Lady about 65 also told me about some late night excursions in a big 48 Chrysler................Fred

[Niel Hoback]

I have had a few people argue with me about what year the car is. One lady probably still thinks I am nuts because she was certain my p-15 was a 1938.

Its best to just let people talk because they are enjoying it so much.

[Young Ed]

Haha the neighbor at my grandmas has no idea what year my truck is. I got sick of telling him 46 everytime I had it out of the garage so I started saying other years.

[BobT-47P15]

Even young kids take notice of our car. They will often give the thumbs-up,

or holler "nice car mister" as we pass by. Of course, the older folks do the

usual thing about having a similar car "exactly like that, except it was a

four door" and it was black (or some such).

They do often let you turn before them so they can see your car better.

Bystanders smile when I honk the a-oogah horn or hit the siren.

Which is, of course, the reason I have them.

So---all kinds of people like to look at our old cars.

[1940plymouth]

I think the one thing that I enjoy about my car more than driving it, which is very inportant to me, is that the comments I get for other people. My Poor old '40 Business coupe is rough, but safe to drive. People say nice car, I tell them not to get too close as they might need a tetnus shot, boy do they laugh:).. The other day I took my 17 year old niece and my sister for a ride, when I turned the key and pushed the starter pedal with my foot, words can't describ the look on my niece's face.

At a local cruise in a few years ago I had an older lady walk up to the car, she told me that her parents had a Plymouth from the '40's. I asked her if she wanted to get behind the wheel and she said yes. When she got out, the lady had tears in her eyes and thanked me for allowing her to remeinsce.

I enjoy taking photos of my car using barns as a back drop. This Spring I drove up a dead end road to this old farm. I asked the lady if I could take a photo of my car up by the old cow barn. She said of course, if I give her a copy of the photo of a 1940 Plymouth next to her barn. I asked her how she knew it was a 1940, she told me that her parents bought a 1940 brand new and that is the one she learned to drive on. Needless to say, she got a copy of the photo

[Young Ed]

With the state of repair my car is in I get a very wide range of comments. Some people truely understand its a work in progress and others will never get it. I've found that the group that seems to get it the most besides other car people are bikers. Everyone of them i run into loves the car or truck. Earlier this year I took my old truck to a work volunteer event at the senior home in the area. They loved it. I took a few of them for a ride around the neighborhood.

[55 Fargo]

With the state of repair my car is in I get a very wide range of comments. Some people truely understand its a work in progress and others will never get it. I've found that the group that seems to get it the most besides other car people are bikers. Everyone of them i run into loves the car or truck. Earlier this year I took my old truck to a work volunteer event at the senior home in the area. They loved it. I took a few of them for a ride around the neighborhood.

Ed, I have found bikers take a lot of double takes, even the outlaw ones, they seem to like my old car...........

[JIPJOBXX]

What I'm surprised about is that women tend to like my car more than men. I can only account for that being that the owner is such a hansom man:) No but really I guess because of the color of the car and the white walls, alot of people just say its a sharp old car.

As you guys know when I do show it oft I tend to bring out all the guns. By that I mean I present a historical picture of the car and its place in time. I also play world war tunes from my cassette player which in turn I have hooked up to an old drive in movie theater speaker. You know the kind that they oust to have on post when you drove to spot where you wanted to see the movie or just do something in the back seat.

Well anyway I truly have alot of fun with my old rig and enjoy all the comments about my time machine. Jon

[NatesSedan]

What a fun post to read. We usually get smiles from just about everyone as well. My favorite was a lady who said her parents had a P-15 Sedan when she was a kid. She was the youngest of three kids so she always had to sit in the middle. She said she was always getting elbowed. "She would take one from this side and then the other side." She said her ribs were always sore. She said that the backseat looks infinately bigger now than she remembers it

I also enjoy the little kids looking at it. Boys just seem to get excited when they see old cars. Hopefully when we are all gone they will be taking them to show others and the cycle will continue.

[Don Coatney]

Lisa is leary of me driving by myself as she knows my car is a chick magnet:rolleyes:

It is always the ladies with the gleem in there eyes who relate to the big back seat:D

What goes on the road stays on the road:cool:

[Allan Faust]

Lisa is leary of me driving by myself as she knows my car is a chick magnet:rolleyes:

It is always the ladies with the gleem in there eyes who relate to the big back seat:D

What goes on the road stays on the road:cool:

No comment about you and the BIG back seat Don, no comment..... I wanted to, but I just can't.....

Allan

[JIPJOBXX]

Got to comment on Dons back seat comment.

The farmer who originally owned my car stated to the guy I bought my car oft of swears most of his grand children were conceived in the back seat of my Dodge. Well who knows but it really does have alot of room back there!

[tankwilson]

Everyone.

Pic taken from about 100' up on top of a grain elevator at the Rust Revival.

Actually you would be surprised how many little old ladys wave at me on the highway.

[Kustom52Mopar]

My two most common questions are "is it all original?" and "is that a chevy?". I'm most always polite about it and listen to there stories about how they or their father or grandfather had one and so on.

But for the most part I'm pretty sure there is a big sign above it that says "show me your thumbs"

I think it helps to be freindly and kind of a people person to drive old cars cause theres always someone coming up talking to ya. I love it

[oldmopar]

When driving my p23 I would say mostly people 40 and up more from men but not a real lot of comments mostly what year is it. I actually get many more comments from men and women of all ages when I drive my 62 willys wagon and it does not look as good as the p23

[Jerry Roberts]

I was surprised that the infants pushed along in their strollers are just gauking like crazy at my truck . They must be boys .

[Plymouthy Adams]

I would love to have a 2 wheel drive Willy's wagon...they are a very classic design...

[Normspeed]

Back in the day, Grandadeo and I knew a guy who had a Willys Overland (panel truck) with, as I recall, a Pontiac 389 in it. In my first test drive with him, I learned the effect of G-force on the unbolted milk crate seat. The builder was a Ft lauderdale cop :eek: Ahhh, those were da daze...

[laynrubber]

Generally older folks that might have grown up with 52 Plymouths. Older farmer came up and told me he used to load a 45 gallon fuel drum in the trunk when he was 12 to take out to the fields.

Always get tumbs up on the highways and when we go to the city, my daughter has long since given up keeping track of how many thumbs up we get.

At gas staions someone always wants to have a look or a quick chat. Not very many teens come around unless my teenaged daughter is there

Driving a unique auto isn't for a shy person, we draw plenty of attention.