I am looking for "real Life" suggestions from some of the old timers, or really anyone over my age (32). Grandpa has a '37 chevy 5-window that has been in the garage since before i was around. Actually before mom and dad were married. It has been there, never moved more then 12" -ever. He was going to redo it when her retired, then next year, then after his legs were bertter, etc. Noiw he is creepiong up on 81 an fear he wont get it done, nore get to drive it. Now the question - how does a grandson gently approch a stubborn old german about his coupe? whats the least offensive way to ask for it? What would you as an older person expect to hear? How do you say that without sounding like you are putting him in the ground? I really want to get it & make it road worthy so he can enjoy a few seasons with it. Im thinking the money i put into it will be payment for it. -VOH
I'm sure the old man has heard it all, and you probably couldn't offend him too much. Tell him you want to work on it and try to get it running. Don't mention "ownership".
If I wanted something from my family I always offered to buy it at fair market. if money wasn't acceptable then there was an agreed upon amount of services (my services on their property/goods) worked out as well as some dough. that's my mom's side anyway. if it was in my dad's mother's garage? I'd pay someone to steal it.
Hey !! Be careful who you call Old !!! Take Gramps out to the garage and work on the car with him !! YOU MIGHT LEARN SOMETHING FROM AN OLD-TIMER !!! >>>>.
I wouldn't say anything about ownership either, tell him "lets get the old coupe running again" If it works out it'll work out for you too in the end. Maybe you could get out there and get it running without him knowing about it,then surprise him.
Yep,... let him know you two share the same desire for the car,...... tell him you want to work on it together,... And schedule time to do just that,... give him something to look forward to.
great time to bond, and learn things about your family, where you came from, and the way things used to be done, learning about things not car related can be just as fun and is a great byproduct of shop time.
How old are you, what's your experience level/cash flow, is the car stock or an old hot rod, was Grandpa a hotrodder, lots of variables.
I agree with Alchemy. Mention that since he wasn't able to work on it as planned, would he mind if you used it to get some experience with restoration, etc. Hopefully, you'll wind up in line for it later.....
ask him what he had in mind to do wirh with it,then ask if there was anything you could do to help it along.
I agree with a lot of the posts above. Engage him - have him explain his "dream" for the car. Was he aiming towards a restoration or a hot rod? Build his excitement - then get him out to the garage. Even if it's just him sitting in a chair and "supervising"! These days, 81 isn't that old...and even if the body is starting to fail, the mind can be as spry as an 18 year old. It's his car...work towards his dream. All of my grandparents died when I was 8 years old; I'd love the chance to spend time in the garage with one of my grandfathers, listening to their stories, their past....
gimme, gimme, gimme. ****in' kids............. I would expect my grandkids, I have 4, to keep in mind that I'm not an idiot, I expect to outlive them and if they want a ****in' car they can go buy one. You ought to be ashamed of yourself for even considering it. It's his ****in' car, if he wanted you to have it he would have already give it to you.
work it out so that you want to help him get it going as a project togeather i did a 36 dodge with my grandfather and dad at 87 years wish we would have done it sooner so he could drive it a little more stubern old dutchman was going to do it by himself. weighted to long
No, this is tricky, the day he lets that car go is the day he lets go of his last dream, when you let go of your last dream you dont have much left. You have to become the enabler of his dream, you have to build the car of his dreams with him. This is something that you should approach completely from his view point. If you build it to his vision it will forever be your grandfathers car, you would have to be the type of person who could fore go his personal vision for the greater gift of the true meaning of the piece. You also would have to commit to this car for a life time, how could you ever sell it. I would ask him about his thoughts and dreams over this car in a nice personal relaxed setting, give him a gift of his favorite wine or a good German beir, I would build it for him and build it for the joy of it and ask him if he would share this with you. I think you may be able to enjoy something few of us ever do.
Please don't keep it bottled in...how do you really feel? Seriously...I fully understand your point of view!
Sometimes it just take a little help from someone with positive comments, like "hey let's air up the tires and see what it looks like out in the sun!" Things like that help me and my pop to work together on projects that he'd never get out of his recliner for!
I think this post is dead on correct,Francisco. I am getting older and this would be the way to approach me if you were wanting one of my heirlooms.
He would probably enjoy the chance to teach you some of the things he knows,don"t wait to long man,you say hes 81, I ain"t but 59 and it would make me feel good if one of my sons would take some interest in things I do.Step up to the plate you"ll either strike out or hit a home run,good luck man.
couldn't have said it better. Offer the help to him to fix HIS car, get it back on the road for him....good things happen to good people
I guess a lot of it has to do with what sort of a relationship you have with your grandfather. Have you ever just talked to him one on one? Listened to him? Hung out with him? If not, I doubt if you will ever get the car. If you have.....well, maybe you would not have posted the question...
Ouit the dam plottin get up off your *** come off some cash help the old dude get his car going,Like some one else said you might learn something.Prove you love old cars as well as him .
I have the truck in the aviator it sat in the barn for 10 tears all it needed was a clutch put in that i had i always said i am going to get to it whell grand kid helped me get cleared off so we could see it in the daylight thats when i started to get runnin again i first started driving it in SF Bay Area in 74 its been on the road again now for 2 1/2 years i enjoy it so who said he wanted to steel his grandfathers car
I would tell him how much it would mean to you to work on it together. Maybe he will get rollin on it. I wouldn't go near telling him you want it. If your intentions are honorable,they have a way of working out. Besides,it would mean more to you in the long run,if it was given,or left to you,than if you "swindled" it out of him.
thanks for all the good insight. As a couple of you mentioned, working on it together would be ideal, however im in Texas, he's in Michigan. i do know there is a TON of old car history in his head. I have heard about a bunch, but no way all of it. I have to keep thinking on this.
pitch up with a bunch of tools and a few parts and just tell him your (as in him and you) gona get it going....once it's running he'll be 25 again!!
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