don't get me wrong-i like people. all kinds of people i guess, not just car people. BUT, i have to learn where to draw the line with people sometimes. when explaining about cars for instance............ i had some friends over tonight and was talking to them about whatever. after some beers, the topic of old cars came up. "hey jake, you're into old cars or something, right?" "yeah.." then a conversation about how old cars are so cool, etc. and blah blah blah. so i say, and, trust me-these are not car people, they are friends but, not car people-these are just cool guys that i know. but let's be honest, they drive subarus... i say " you want to see my baby?" (i am excited..) "yeah, let's see it." so, out to the garage we go. my poorly lit garage. i open the door. "oh...cool-a model T !(?)" "no." i say, "it's a 31 model a coupe." silence. "cool, model t's are cool man! you gonna make a rat rod?" long story short, after trying to explain that model a's are different from model t's, and that a rat rod was not an all encomp***ing term for any old car that had been altered, i gave up. these people were telling me things like "my dad had one just like this" and that "model A means AUTOMOBILE, model T means TRUCK," etc. etc. and of course that i should build a cool "rat rod" anyway, nice guys but-frustrating.. now i know not to try to talk cars in mixed company. anyone else? .. sorry for the rambling-just had to vent for a sec.
I am working on the car in my avatar, we've had it for 41 years in the family. Goober I know pulls up and asks if I want to sell it. I said 'no', then explained the importance of what the car means to me and that maybe he'll understand. Then he replies "Wuhl, dokay. I wuz jus lookin' fer a roadster to make a rat rod out of".
Cover of The Daily Ardmorerite shows a '33 Chevy 4dr smashed hard in the front at an intersection. Subarus and toyotas everywhere in the picture. The caption said a model T of some kind had an accident.
I look at it this way... They're TRYING...in their own little way. "Our" cars aren't relevant to the modern world as much more than a curiosity. Most people have no more than a p***ing interest in old cars and thus can't be expected to tell the difference between an A or a T. In the "real world" theres only about 4 names for an old car anyway. Model T, 32 coupe, 57 Chevy and Nomad. They just use the name that fits closest! I can relate. If someone asks me my favorite wine I just need to decide between Red or White. As a non-drinker, all that other wine knowledge is just over my head...while to others it would mean an hour of interesting conversation! Doesn't surprise me either. I KNOW wine is a product with an amazing history...just not my taste. I guess Wine connoisseur's always seek that last vintage cask of Amontillado... Me? I'd rather get a look at the vintage truck it was delivered by!!! Not much difference between us if you stop and think about it.
Yeah, I get it all the time. My wife is a supervisor of a medical clinic, whenever there is a social occasion with her staff, they all want to know or talk about why I have an old car obsession. Some try to understand, others are just baffled, and my wife is standing off to the side grinning...sheesh the crosses we bear!
I work with a bunch of construction guys,who,for the most part,couldn't tell a '29 from a '48. They have the same answer for everything,"why would you drive an old car"? I tell them it's a p***ion. I try to be as polite as I can,which usually falls short,hahaha. If you have to explain why,they will never get it. I don't think it's cool to attack peoples lack of car knowlege or understanding,BUT...i'm always ready to **** with someone who disrespects my p***ion for cars! I'm not into fishing,hunting,radio-control planes,video games,or gardening. But I don't disrespect people who are into those hobbies. Cars are just "transportation" to many people and they don't understand,re-painting,chroming,hoping up engines,changing wheels,lowering,etc. They drive their vehicles til they ****in DIE! Then go buy the latset "IT" car that's out.
These are the guys that drive lifted trucks,When you ask if they take them off road they say hell no i dont want to scratch the paint...
This ****ogy doesn't fit with the original poster's scenario in my opinion... The difference is that YOU appreciate that wine is a deep subject that you aren't equipped to speak intelligently about. You know what you don't know, and you don't try to spout off. The guys in the original post, and the type of guys in almost every post in the "expert" thread, are the ones who don't know what they don't know. And they insist on making totally off-the-wall and incorrect ***ertions about this deep subject of hot rodding of which they have basically zero knowledge. Furthermore, these guys often are actively stupid in the sense that they refuse to learn or listen, because THEY KNOW and you aren't going to tell them anything. James
If you have to explain it, they won't understand. I don't understand some guys p***ion for golf, or fly fishing, or model trains, and it wouldn't matter how long they talked to me, they'd never convert me. But, I'd never stand there and try to hold a conversation on those subjects either, because I know I'd look like an idiot to them, even though I'm actually kind of proud of my lack of knowledge on those subjects.
I was at a Shoney's restaurant once...gave the waitress my order, she asked what I wanted to drink, and I said a Coke. She asked "What kind of Coke?" I said "Uh...what kind of Coke do you have?" She said "we have Coke, Dr. Pepper, Mountain Dew, 7-Up...what kind of Coke would you like?" So, yeah, from her perspective? She had to explain to yet another noob what "Coke" was.
Can't tell you how many people marveled at the rarity of my 4-door '55 Nomad Wagon. I'd tell 'em it's a 210 and that GM never built a 4-door Nomad. Rarely made a difference in their opinion that I had a 4-door Nomad. My '30 sedan is a finished car, Nice paint and upholstery, decent detailing, etc, etc. Yet It's constantly refered to as a rat rod. Even won a plaque at a local car show for "best Rat Rod". I've even had people ask if i was gonna grind the paint off and let it rust so it would be a BETTER rat rod Listening to the "experts" would be maddening if it weren't so funny. Rich
I fuelling up accross the island from a guy with a really nice 39 standard Ford when a kid walking by says "COOL PT CRUISER". ????
Trying to educate someone about the heap in your garage is usually pointless. Typically, I'll give them the year and model of whatever is sitting in my garage, let them know I'm making an old hot rod out of it, probably won't be finished to any high degree, just a neat old hot rod and leave it at that. Just know that your p***ion is nothing more than a 3 minute diversion in your guest's visit to your place. Likewise, I completely respect someone having a pastime diversion. In fact, I don't understand how someone would NOT have some form of pleasurable distraction in their life . Golf IS stupid, however..... hahahahahhaaaa
Stop talking to people that arent into old cars, I did and it rules. When someone says "Hey, nice car" just say thanks and keep walking, theres no need to stick around and explain what/why/how things were done to it. Besides, if you "educate" someone and they decide to get into the car hobby thats just one more person you have to compete with to find parts/projects.
Guy I used to work for used for says probably 98% of the people do their jobs, raise their families, and do the stuff they do to take care of them and theirs. To expect those people to understand or appreciate anything outside of their limited knowledge and experience is asking too much. When some fool runs up on me trying to know all about everything, I just clam up and let him. Until somebody tells me a better way of dealing with it, that's what I'll continue to do.
Yeah... I don't interupt 'em or try to correct 'em after one attempt to have converstion.... As stated before by others, they really have no knowledge of the topic and are only expressing what their experience (rather lack thereof) has taught them. Bottom line is that they are looking at the car, usually at a car show or event of some kind, because the owner (you or me)chose to put it there.... They're interested in, or at least curious about, old cars, and that's good for us as well as them... As I said before, it just funny some of the preconceived notions that "civilians" come up with.
I've posted this story before: I'm driving my Tub (the car in my avatar) and I am stopped at a light. A minivan pulls up along side and the woman driving it rolls down her window and asks me "who makes that?". I respond "Mazda". She nods her head knowingly and drives away.
I'm an old guy and can't burn daylight anymore trying to help people who don't get it get it. Muttley gets it. Charlie
The Jalopy Journal
