Very interesting....perhaps if you "grew up" alittle you wouldn't have money and driver's license difficulties. Just a thought.
I am the black sheep of my family and it really started when i was in 8th grade. I really wasnt into team sports and was always taking stuff apart. So i got into dirt bikes my parents hated it more than anything so i did it! I have been riding for over 10+ years now and have never looked back. Well 10 years and 5 operations later i have slowed down a little but still have the need for speed so i bought a hot rod!! They told me i was an idiot and it would never been anything but in the corner of the garage. well a year later its almost done and they want to take a ride in it when its done. But i didnt forget what they said when i got it so i told them NO WAY!!! They were never into cars and nobody else in my family is. but its cool being different.
Ever since I was a kid I've been into cars and not much else. No brothers or sisters, and no other family other than mom and dad. Dad is a car guy, and owned a used car lot in the 70's/80's. My wife knew what she was gitting into before we moved in together. Thats what I never understood these guys that blame not having something on the wife??? If she don't like it she can go! There is always another girl. When me and my wife first got together (almost 20 years ago) she asked- "If it was her or the cars what would it be?" ...... I just looked at her, and never had to answer.
Well I haven't figured out where I get customizing my rides from, as nobody else in my family cares, but I know I got my love of everything old from my grandpa. And I get him while the rest of the family doesn't. I remember growing up riding around in my grandpa's '49 and '51 Dodge pickups, and the only vehicle he bought new, a '72 F-100. My grandpa collects a lot of old tractors and I moved away now but always go back to the farm when I can and help him with them. He doesn't have to ask twice when he wants to show them off I'm there to take one on a tractor trek or whatever. I've lived on his old farm for years before I was forced to move to the big city, but I'm going to be buying it from him so it stays in the family and I can move back there someday. All kinds of old cars and machinery. And my grandpa got re-married and his new wife is a widow and her husband had all the tools he needs, so instead of moving his over there, he moved them to my garage at the farm. Lots of nostalgic tools and toolboxes, and some cool old cupboards. He starts talking about picking up another old tractor and everybody in the family just shakes their head but I'm always there to BS with him about them. And most of his tractors don't look that nice lol, he actually uses his tractors. So that's where I get most of it from. I'm really lucky I have him in my family.
My brother and I are close.He drives a Boxter and plays golf every day.I don't talk about my 63 Nova and he doesn't talk about Boxters and golf,we still enjoy every time we get together.
MY whole family was into cars .my fathers one brother was the only one that couldnt care less, my dads other brother still has my grandfathers 31 modle a that he bought in 35.
I'm the black sheep, no question about it. I was a gearhead before I was old enough to know. My mother realised it when I was 3. Mom sort of understands, she arranged a test drive back in 1966. We went to the Plymouth dealer and "I" test drove a new 1966 Belvedere with a 426 Hemi and a 4 speed. Damn that was a great car. No, I didn't get the car. I still dream about that car today! Grandma really did understand too, she loved riding in my 1960 Plymouth X Highway Patrol car, I drove it way too fast and Grandma just smiled,... she's been gone a long time now. Now when other family members come by and see all the pieces & parts,... they ask,.. another one? Why? There's 3 Model A's in different states of,... repair? I have a shrine to the Engine Gods and I've haven't really started, there's a 454 chevy on a stand, an old 327 chevy on a stand, a Buick 320 Straight 8 with factory compound carbs, some 302 roller cam Fords, 3 old Chrysler Hemi's, one of them is in the kitchen,...uh,... I'm a black sheep, one of the darker Black sheep. Still looking at 348/409's, 371/394 Olds, any straight 8,... I like them all,... Anybody here understand? I don't want therapy, I enjoy being, like this... Lucky667
Oh yeah! Saddest day of my Dads life was when he discovered i was going to be a mechanic. I had been interested in cars and hot rodding my whole life and to Dad an Electroncs engineer that was a terrible thing. Still i persisted and had a very enjoyable career. Always with a hot street car or drag car somewhere on my property. I dont believe my parents ever saw me race or gave a hoot . My brothers were all interested in cars but not specifically Hot rodding , more new ad shiny. Somehow though the bug jumped to several of my nephews so the dynasty wil apparently continue. That pleases me. DonD
Black Sheep and PROUD OF IT. Dear departed dad was the least mechanical person imaginable. A damn lawyer. Hell, he couldn't tell the difference between the clothes washer and dryer. Ever see a grown man put soap in the dryer? HIS dad was determined he wasn't going to let another generation p*** with out teaching SOMEBODY in the family how to farm and fix things mechanical and my other grandfather taught me how to work wood, so I got the blessing of my grandfathers' experience. Mother was a prima donna who married dad cause his family had the only tennis court in town. Never forget their horror when a 1937 Harley and 1956 Chevy showed up as soon as I got my hardship license at thirteen. After getting the 150 Sedan running with straight axle etc, dear dad went to a grand total of ONE race with me. He wouldn't dare get his hands dirty. Mother was fearful of what a son of hers with an interest in cars would do to her women's club status. One brother who turned into a walrus of a fat momma's boy with zero mechanical ability. Yeah, you guessed it, I'm the only one of the bunch who made it on their own and the rest of them can kiss my skinny white ***.
i think im a black sheep, my Dad loves cars and bikes but i always talk to him about old cars and how i want to get one some day and all he says is they were POS's when they were new blah blah. back in the day my grandfather used to rebuild all of his engines but he wasnt a car guy. i think the coolest car in the family is the 67 camaro RS that was my great grandmothers and is currently rotting in my aunts garage because they wont let me take it off there hands because off sentimental reasons.
My dad, brother inlaw and I pushed dads 40 Ford frame Into the garage this afternoon so he could get the front end apart. After it was in the garage the brother inlaw says what are you going to do with this thing, with a look on his face like we were crazy.
My parents never understood.Good thing for the old guys around town willing to show me the way.UPS would show up at the house every week with something when I was building my nova..I opened my dads eyes when I asked him to go to a cruise in.I had a 66 pro street nova with a big block.When we showed up we were swormed with people.The look on my dads face was priceless!He told me he under stood my enjoyment.Just to top the day off, on the way home I stopped and let the ****** brake go at about 4 grand!!!!!YIPPY!!!!!I asked if his T-Bird pulled that hard?He was all smiles.I miss pops.
I'm seventy and been doing em for 60yrs. Dad got me cars, was 8, to keep me away from the girls. Dad was a carpenter, but could fix any thing. That was my start. But I was a loaner with cars, no one had an intrest. First wife always had a problem with my stuff, 2nd wife doesn't mind, as it keeps me busy, and she knows where i'm at. Again, no woman that ain't supposed to be there. Ha. Ice man
When you are discouraged in your way of thinking from an early age it can be a bad thing. My father would not allow hot wheels to be bought as presents or any toy cars for that matter he was not automotive friendly at all. I still had them but was scolded if I spent my allowance or other spending money on car stuff. I still wonder how I have a p***ion that was so discouraged. Gave up on being angry as he pased on when I was 18but I do wonder what it would be like to have a supporting family with all the tools in a garage. I guess I started this thread to meet up with others who have had to buy all there tools and to learn there automotive knowlage on there own with no help from familly. And to thoes who have all the family support to be thankfull for what they have.
My Mom is the only one that understands. She begged my dad to get me a first Gen Camaro or GTO for my first car, that didn't happen. I did end up inhereting a 1958 Chevy p/u, but dad convinced me to sell it for something dependable. Damn I wish I wouldn't have listened to him. I sold it and bought an import, fixed it up as nice as I could, but it was still an import. Sold it and bought a new truck, did it up REAL nice, but got tired of it. Sold it and bought a Chevelle, but it really didn't get my blood flowing. I bought my Newport, and my Mom told me it was about time I got something with personality! Got to give her thanks, she used to take me to car shows when I was a kid, and was the first to ask for a ride when I bought the Newport. She even tried to buy a house with a big ebough garage to house my other Newport that I have in "cold" storage up in Oklahoma (don't have room for it here).
I am the only one in my family into old cars. My brother does not even know how to check the oil but he is a Doctor so he can afford to pay someone else to do it all. When I was a kid my dad had a couple screwdrivers, a hammer and a pair of pliers and that was about it. I was the one getting him to buy tools for me to use to take anything I could find apart.
My dad did not understand, but he did tolerate. Matter of fact, he got so tired of finding projects in his own driveway blocking access to his garage - he ***isted me in building a 20x20 heated/powered garage alongside our paved alley. He'd come out to see what I was wasting my time on once in awhile, but by and large - as long as I didn't aggravate the neighbors TOO much - he accepted that I was obviously adopted without his knowledge or consent with no genetic similarities whatsoever. I have a sister who thinks my cars are 'cute' and two brothers who have some enamoration with my stuff, but are busy doing 'other things', but they sure love being taken for fast rides. I do have a reclusive cousin somewhere on the Kitsap peninsula with a beautiful 34 Chev 2dr sedan hot rod. dj
If I ever hear even half a complaint or comment, I just say: "Yeah, you're right, I am wasting time at home here in the garage. I'll just go hang out at a local bar instead, see ya." That ends it.
My Dad is huge into cars I suppose a was following his line, though my younger brother has almost no interest in cars. Dad had 18 Vette's, Model A with a Hemi, tons of "57" Chevys too. His dad didn't know much about cars but he always bought new Oldsmobiles in "48","51", "56", "61", "64" though. Now I have a "35" Olds coupe and a "70" Cutl*** Indy Pace car. Dad has a "32" Ford Hi-boy roadster, "46" Ford Coupe, "65" and "70" Mustang fastbacks, "50"Merc and a "56" Olds 2DHT.
I felt pretty isolated as a kid...my folks and neighbors weren't into cars, finally in 6th grade a kid in my cl*** was into cars and superdetailed models and we became best friends. Until then nobody understood my obsession, and made misguided attempts to interest me in other things. I eventually did expand my horizons as I got older, but made sure not to lose my "Vanishing Point". Everything I've done since is filtered through my main interest.
Not realy a black sheep, but I laugh when i remember that my dad liked cars, did much of his own repair/maintenence on them but saw no need to change anything. He was upset when my brother put baby moons on the family second car and he told me not to believe anything about putting duel exhaust on a car to make it faster or save gas, all you'd do is have to replace two mufflers when they rusted out...he also wondered why i didn't restore my '46 Chevy back to stock.
This is a refreshing post! I thought I was the only one that had a non-supportive family. I have been wrenching on stuff since I was??When I was 6 I got a real nice firetruck toy for Christmas. Instead of playing with it, I bent back all the metal tabs and took it apart! I put it back together. My folks were agast! I took my bike apart as well. I liked old cars before hot rods. Wanted a Model A coupe something fierce by the time I was 14. Dad would not loan me the money ($600). I ended up getting a 46 Desoto coupe out of a barn, still hate the smell of mouse pee! Dad paid to get it towed home. engine was stuck. Guys at local garage gave me advice on getting it unstuck. I would put a rope around the fan everyday after school and pull with all my weight. Some 3 months later, it unstuck and I got it running with help from a neighbor. Dad said I ruined the car 'cause I took all the chrome off,and there was a lot, and kept it in my bedroom where I would polish it late into the night. Dad did not have tools and told me cars were not meant to worked on. Dad made me keep my cars out behind a wood pile over 100 feet from the house. He said he did not want to look at that junk and keep it hidden from his view. I was forbid to use the garage as he did not want oil stains. He would discourage me everyway possible telling me I was a disgrace because I had dirt under my finger nails. Had a few other old cars until high school when I bought my first v8 car, which my parents forbid me to have a v8. I worked two summer jobs and saved up. It was a 67 SS 396 Chevelle. Dad thought I would kill myself so he booted me off to military school where you could not have a car! After High School I got 2- 69 Camaros, which I still have. I am 48 now and finally got my Model A (see avatar) from ***us. My wife, although not into cars, is a Saint and encourages me in many ways, never putting down my hobby. although my dad and brother claim they like cars, they have never been intimate with one. They don't even know how to open the hood. Dad always paid to have work done, even checking tire pressures hee would pay. He would not let me work on his cars saying he did not trust my work. It has been a tough road to hoe, when everthing you have or do has to be bought, like tools, garage, trailer/truck to haul. I could have done a lot more if I did not have to do it ALL myself. Got fed up with zoning and A-hole neighbors. Told my parents about zoning trouble. Dad said I told you all that junk was nothing but trouble. Dad had a lot of property, but never offered me any of it. He sold it all and retired to Florida. I saved and finally bought 50 acres and put my house and shop in the middle of it. It has taken a lot just to get to a point where I can work on cars. Dad has mellowed some. I sent pics of A Model to him. He just said it looks like a cop getter and questioned if it was even legal or road worthy...thanks dad!
My family we support each other in all of our hobbies and work .I feel sad for you that you do not have this. People are individuals and have different tastes .Maybe go out of your way to support them and it might rub off ?
My dad has always been into cars for as long as i can remember and was constantly telling me stories of him street racing around here and he had me hooked.So now that i'm older he's still into cars but my mother and grandmother hate hotrods or anything that has to do with me working on cars.Constantly *****in cause thats what i spend my money on! My first real hotrod i guess you could say was my 66 ford F100 pickup with a extremely built 352 FE that i built while in college.Needless to say after bringing it home from school i drove it for a couple months and came home one day to the altimatum that either i sell it or she would get rid of it,and when i told her i wouldn't she threatened to have it towed while i was at work!She said i spent to much money on it all the time and that it was a waste of time.So i called a buddy that was interested in it and he bought it on the spot,as he drove away i wanted to cry and be sick all at the sametime as my mom stood there and said good ridance.Yes it was licensed and ***led in my name but that made no nevermind to her she said it would be gone one way or another.Unfortunately my mom and dad were divorced and my dad lived out of state so i had no where else to take it.
It happens alot...My dad told me in high school a car was JUST transportation to get from a-b.....well my senior year I had a 66 ss396 chevelle with a tunnelram two fours with damn near straight headers roll bar etc, Well he needed a ride to pick up his car at some repair shop and needed a ride heh heh heh,I gave him a run that he remembered the rest off his life, bangin gears and alotta tire smoke.....for some reason he never asked for a ride again or let me drive his car.it was worth it!.......oh yeah I was a only kid so suport was very limited
This is a refreshing post! I thought I was the only one that had a non-supportive family. I have been wrenching on stuff since I was??When I was 6 I got a real nice firetruck toy for Christmas. Instead of playing with it, I bent back all the metal tabs and took it apart! I put it back together. My folks were agast! I took my bile apart as well. I liked old cars before hot rods. Wanted a Model A coupe something fierce by the time I was 14. Dad would not loan me the money ($600). I ended up getting a 46 Desoto coupe out of a barn, still hate the smell of mouse pee! Dad paid to get it towed home. engine was stuck. Guys at local garage gave me advice on getting it unstuck. I would put a rope around the fan everyday after school and pull with all my weight. Some 3 months later, it unstuck and I got it running with help from a neighbor. Dad said I ruined the car 'cause I took all the chrome off,and there was a lot, and kept it in my bedroom where I would polish it late into the night. Dad did not have tools and told me cars were not meant to worked on. He would discourage me everyway possible telling me I was a disgrace because I had dirt under my finger nails. Had a few other old cars until high school when I bought my first v8 car, which my parents forbid me to have a v8. It was a 67 SS 396 Chevelle. Dad thought I would kill myself so he booted me off to military school where you could not have a car! After High School I got 2- 69 Camaros, which I still have. I am 48 now and finally got my Model A (see avatar) from ***us. My wife, although not into cars, is a Saint and encourages me in many ways, never putting down my hobby. although my dad and brother claim they like cars, they have never been intimate with one. They don't even know how to open the hood. Dad always paid to have work done, even checking tire pressures. He would not let me work on his cars saying he did not trust my work. It has been a tough road to hoe, when everthing you have or do has to be bought, like tools, garage, trailer/truck to haul. I could have done a lot more if I did not have to it ALL myself. Got fed up with zoning and A-hole neighbors and bought 50 acres and put my house and shop in the middle of it. It has taken a lot just to get to a point where I can work on cars. Dad has mellowed some. I sent pics of A Model to him. He just said it looks like a cop getter and questioned if it was even legal or road worthy...thanks dad!
This strikes a chord,my dad who was a businessman,hated me speniding my time and money on "old junk".It go so bad he would give all the family money on birthdays or xmas and I would get clothes or some such ****,It became a great source of amu*****t,not to me funny enough.
The Jalopy Journal
