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Customs New to me: Fatherhood = Four Door 57

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by alteredpilot, Apr 10, 2013.

  1. I know. For most guys, a 4 door is not all that exciting. I must admit that up until March 18th the notion would have never crossed my mind. Admittedly, i was rather snobbish in my at***udes and opinions concerning automobiles. well that all changed when we found out my wife was pregnant.

    i had a 48 plymouth with a deleted back seat and a single seat harley that my wife would not get on no matter what seating arrangement it had. neither of these was kid friendly and both required more time and energy than i had to spend, so i sold them both and started looking for a sedan.

    Now, my wife is a peach. she actually digs old cars, and not only does she not mind me playing with them, she encourages me to make them nice so she can be proud to roll down the strip in them. i'm a blessed man. She also, like me, has pretty solid opinions on what she likes and doesn't. she actually picked out our 52 coupe and our 48 plymouth so we see 'pretty' eye to eye on most car stuff. this trip to craigslist however was not so agreeable. everything I liked she had reservations about. the ones she did like, i had reservations about.

    i kept showing her stuff just to test her waters and see where she was and just for giggles i showed her this 57 and she told me to call the guy. i got him to send me more pics and she told me to go get it. so i did.

    its a nice driver. the paint is a few years old and is not close to perfect, but i can live with it. the interior is brand new, so are the tires, gas tank, lots of the chrome, etc. its got a 283 and a 4 speed. it gets up and goes, and cruises the freeway no problem. really it dont need a whole bunch.

    this car is a great bit of exercise for me. i can see EVERY little thing that's wrong with it, but i'm deciding to be OK with it. i'm not going to spend a bunch more money on it for a long time. this will probably be the last car for me for quite a while. i really just don't have the time, money or energy to play with cars right now, but i'm more than thrilled to get out for a drive! cosmetically, my wife is pushing me to get the rear window stainless polished and installed, i need to have 2 emblems replaced and i'm seriously looking at pulling the hubcaps and changing out the tires. but none of that is really NECESSARY. mechanically it needs a front end rebuild and could use some blocks out back. thats all easy stuff that doesn't create any stress like painting a car gloss black.

    in all honesty, my 52 chevy really burned me out on cars. that's partially why i bought this one. i don't HAVE to work on it. its as done as it needs to be for what it is: a driver. i can just drive it without having to think about it.

    in all honesty, this is one of the nicest, most solid old cars i've ever owned and probably the best money spent for dollar value. i'm happy.

    thanks for looking and post your inspiration.



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  2. I know where you are coming from... I have six kids!
     
  3. Jalopy Joker
    Joined: Sep 3, 2006
    Posts: 34,082

    Jalopy Joker
    Member

    Cool - nice ride - nothing wrong with the extra doors. even if no kids, sometimes trying to get your buddies into the back seat of a two door car can be a real challenge.
     
  4. steves29
    Joined: Jan 19, 2010
    Posts: 194

    steves29
    Member

    Model A pickup... 7 kids, 2 grand kids. Just enough room for my honey.
     
  5. young'n'poor
    Joined: Jan 26, 2006
    Posts: 1,281

    young'n'poor
    Member
    from Anoka. MN

    It looks great! Lower the rear a little and pull the caps off and it's done. I've been snobbish about four doors but lately I've started to think it wouldn't be bad to own one to throw the two kids and wife in and be comfortable while I build something else for myself...


    Posted from the TJJ App for iPhone & iPad
     
  6. Mercchev
    Joined: Dec 22, 2004
    Posts: 605

    Mercchev
    Member

    All I can tell you is: Enjoy it while you can. In the blink of an eye, your kid will be asking for the keys, and all of a sudden you will be watching them go off to college. Wrenching on our cars was and is one of our best and most enjoyable times together, but it goes too fast!
     
  7. GassersGarage
    Joined: Jul 1, 2007
    Posts: 4,726

    GassersGarage
    Member

    Wow, very nice. Hope to see you at the Ventura Nationals. My favorite show. Or bring that bad boy out for coffee one Saturday.
     
  8. i'll probably be at starbucks on artesia on saturday morning.
     
  9. peter schmidt
    Joined: Aug 26, 2007
    Posts: 660

    peter schmidt
    Member
    from maryland

    Nice car i looked for one for a wile after i had my son couldent find one i liked but i ended up getting a 49 hudson 4 door then of course a real nice 4 door 57 hardtop popped up oh well. nice car
     
  10. Bigcheese327
    Joined: Sep 16, 2001
    Posts: 6,741

    Bigcheese327
    Member

    Hmm, '57 Chevy four-door versus minivan seems like a no-brainer.
     
  11. Dan Hay
    Joined: Mar 16, 2007
    Posts: 6,455

    Dan Hay
    Member

    Love it. My wife came from a non-car background, but we both could get excited about a car like that. She likes cars from the 50's.

    Buzzard from Austin had (or still has) a 58 4 door that is pretty cool. There's probably one in my future..
     
  12. 49ratfink
    Joined: Feb 8, 2004
    Posts: 24,941

    49ratfink
    Member
    from California

    that's a nice looking car. not sure why you feel the need to apologise for it.
     
  13. Nothing wrong with a 4 door!! Great family car-You will have a ton of fun and memories 'hot-rodding' as a family
    They grow up fast-enjoy them while you can.
     
  14. hombres ruin
    Joined: Nov 21, 2006
    Posts: 3,337

    hombres ruin
    Member

    thats great,the color is super cool,the bronze is a really nice on that ride
     
  15. blue68deville
    Joined: Oct 11, 2011
    Posts: 36

    blue68deville
    Member

    Good looking car, you'll be the coolest dad in town. Same reason I have my caddy, nice to bring the family and make good memories.
     
  16. 50desotocoupe
    Joined: Mar 19, 2013
    Posts: 213

    50desotocoupe
    Member
    from Denver

    I think 4 doors are cool. Of course, I also like long bed trucks. I think 4 door cars are going to become more and more popular as the hobby continues to grow and the supply of coupes either are all ******ed up or are out of reach $$ for most people. Heck, remember 10 years ago wagons were not cool and now they are on the rise. Just my $.02
     

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