is it wrong to be so attached??

So I have a 1950 chevy pickup that I love. Drives amazing, a lot of fun and gets a lot of attention. I've owned it for 2 years now but as of 5 weeks ago, my wife and I found out that we are expecting our first kid. She's currently 10 weeks pregnant. So the dilema is that id like a family hotrod, I really want a 54 chevy wagon, which means I have to sell my truck. Let me tell you the struggle it has been just thinking about putting it up for sale. Its killing me inside, but at the same time I really want something I can cruise around with a baby seat in the back. Any suggestions or experiances like this? Or any regrets selling ur first/favorite hotrod?

 

Get a wagon you won't be sorry.

 

You are aware that the whole baby seat in the back thing has to do with air bags correct?

If it makes you feel any better about it I just sold my Studebaker. I have been vasicilating about it for 6 months give or take, but it had to go. In the end it is just a car and there will always be another.

 

put some seatbelts in the truck and don't worry about it til the second kid comes along. Look for a cheap wagon in the meantime.

 

Congratulations are in order for your good news of parenthood,,you will learn that sacrifices are a normal part of becoming a parent.

I sold several cars thinking it would be advantageous for my family when we were blessed with twin girls.

Will you miss the truck when it's gone?,,yeah,if you are like the rest of us.

My problem was I sold the cars and then spent the money raising the girls and was without a hot rod for at least 5 years,,I was miserable!,,and it took a few more years to build something we could all ride in together.

We did have a old '54 Ford wagon that my wife's dad gave us but it wasn't very dependable although that's what brought the girls home from the hospital after they were born some 35 years ago.

My girls grew up in the back set of a 40 Ford sedan and saw a lot of the country traveling to different shows.

I recently reacquired my old 32 Sedan that I sold some 13 years ago and regretted it the day it left on the rollback,,Is it wrong to be attached,,heck no!

I would suggest you try and keep the truck and find a wagon to build. HRP

 

Sell the truck and get what you want. 54 Wagons are getting hard to find now though. Sell the truck or try to find a descent swap for a wagon.

 

My dad was into hot rods, but never got to complete one due to raising a family. He would have loved having the choice of switching from a cool truck to a cool station wagon. Your lucky in having a choice. Take care of your family and relish in this minor convenience.

Besides, now you have the chance to collect parts for that father & son/daughter project.

 

You guys have a lot of good points and after reading the comments I'm feeling a little better about selling. I've seen 2 1954 chevy wagons for sale in the past couple of years. One was 20 grand and the other is currently for sale for $5500obo. Id say id like arounf $7500-8000 for my truck, I think its reasonable, so I can buy that 54 wagon and get it ready for may, when my wife is due.the wagon does need some work so the extra money would go into the wagon. I wish I could keep my truck and buy a wagon but money is getting tighter and space is def lacking. I got a 1 car garage. I'm def excited to take my family to car shows and cruise in it. Ok, so anyone want my truck?? Haha

 

I'm with the guys that say put some belts in the tuck and worry about the wagon next kid... But then again, if I had a wife that was pregnant and was forcing me to sell the Plymouth or roadster pick up, I'd probably think very seriously about selling the pregnant wife first... Probably a VERY good thing I've never been a parent.

 

Haha yea my wife actualy loves the truck and is kind of not wanting me to sell. And either way, can't put any kids under 7 or 8 yrs old in the front seat. Atleast I think that's how new jersey works. Trying to convince my wife that it'd be cool to pickup our newborn in a 54 chevy wagon. Hah, well see how that goes over. I'm just glad my wife is very supportive about my love of old cars. Can't complain.

 

I have raised a few kids but only have one. She came home from the hospital in a '56 f-100 sitting on Mom's lap. We never had seat belts in that truck.

One must bear in mind that I am not a good example but on nights that the girl was not ready to sleep she often went for a mid night ride in the old truck or on my hawg wrapped up like a papoose. I am sure that it has had some serious psycological impact on here but she was never physically harmed.

OK actually not a good example is an understatement, I was or am probably a lousy father.

 

Onetruth1130:

First of all I have to state I am Mercury guy/family...that being said, if I had to go to Chevy and wanted it to be child frendly...my choise would be a Nomad...cl***ic style and very functional....you and the family can still go out to the cruses, take a trip or to the drive in on Friday nights....you will be the envy of even the single guys.

 

Mr.******, I'd take that for a Dad.
BTW, I had a great Dad. Checking oil was about as far as he would go though.
1130, Keep the truck. If its paid off and just costing insurance and upkeep, you'll be needing another car anyway so no need getting something that is,,,, distasteful.
And GONGRATS!!!

 

I drove a reg cag truck when my first kid was born. Had to swap out the buckets for a bench and the car seat fit right between me and her mom.

 

Keep the truck, man. The wagon will come in due time.

 

Keep the truck, it's usefull and it has a bench seat, which rules.

After my OT dd truck was broken into and vandalized I took the opportunity to install a center seat so that it's now like a bench. I've put our 5 month old in the center (with his car seat) and although it's a tight fit, I wouldn't trade having a truck, at all.

You like the truck, make it work.

Install a seat belt and have fun. Plus, it's a great feeling having the little one beside you when you're driving.

 

And, like PnB said... the baby seat law is about air bags, which by law have to be able to be switched off in a truck.... making it no different than your truck when the switch is off.

 

Danny, you nailed it! I was AMAZED at how quickly and completely my priorities changed after our first child was born, and "me" time gets even less as the family grows (we have three little yankees )!

onetruth1130,

You will have enough room to put the car seat between you two, so it is possible to keep the truck. Now, if you two are planning to expand the family, start looking and saving for a wagon NOW!!!

 

Is that allowed tho, put a babyseat in the front bench seat?? Cuz if that's the case then id totally keep the truck! Hmmm....I was under the impression that it was totally illegal.

 

All of these car seat and air bag laws get confusing from state to state and even with local cops who think they know it all. Man it was great when all we had to do was throw the kids in the bed of the truck and go! Most of them lived. Not sure about the ones that fell out!
I would think a nice station wagon with proper seat belts and car seats would be safe and legal. Believe me, a station wagon can be fun, with or without rugrats.
You will soon forget all about that truck. By the time you have another half dozen kids and get them raised you'll go through many cars and trucks.
When I retired we had our five year old that we adopted, owned several old cars and a ****Vette. I cut the back legs off a child's plastic lawn chair, Covered it with matching vinyl. hooked seatbelt wih the T-top mounts between and to the rear of the bucket seats, and had a state cop okay it. Worked great till the boy grew...and grew.

 

I have hauled my daughter and wife in my 52 ford for years now... if no airbags there is no issue with having a car seat in the front.

KEEP THE TRUCK!!

heck we have another kid on the way and we plan on keeping all the trucks... I just gotta build a 4 seater now for when we go somewhere together.

 

Since air bags did not come out in 1950 I would think they are not needed. But as for seat belts which also didn't come out in 1950, the damned laws are getting complicated. You have a long time to think about this and plan. First thing to do is check with the DMV about what those laws really are. Also check local and State police. They all view the laws differently.
I own a 1948 Chevy panel truck and a 1955 Chevy wagon. We love the wagon for many reasons. Originally bought it as a parts hauler but it's great for camping, cruising, even hauling baby food and diapers.
Don't listen to these guys who tell you to leave the kid or wife at home. My greatest memories are taking the family to car shows, camping, and weekend drives.

 

If you don't have a back seat then they have to allow baby seats and booster seats on the bench seat. it is not a front seat in a pickup is not a quad or extended cab. They have not yet outlawed conventional cab pickups.

 

Don't let an un-researched fear of NJ stop you from living.

There is an extent to how far a law can reach with regard to retroactive effect on pre-law vehicles.

In layperson terms it's called grandfathering of the law. No p***enger side mirror when manufactured? They can't force you to have one on an existing, registered vehicle. (It's possible if the car is newly constructed from old parts and re-VINed / registered by the state from scratch.)

From a perspective as a parent, I'd get seatbelts (they've saved my skin before.) And if you and the wife + a Graco carrier (the one that clips into the base in the truck and then clips into a stroller is pretty convenent) fit in the front seat happily, then keep on keepin' on.

 

Kids are ok in a pickup,buy the BEST seat belts and bolt them in.I have two kids and have never owned a car, only trucks for me.I added a 3 point belt in my model a and no problems with the law.I owned a 59 chevy as a daily for a while, 2 kids no problems.

 

Nope, you're good to go, as long as you have a seat belt to put the car seat in. Child seats have to be restrained. Other than that - enjoy the truck with the bambino.

 

I was in your place 19 years ago...hemmed and hawwed...ended up mothballing the truck from '93 to this year... bought and sold a couple of "bigger" cars in the meantime.... my one saving grace is my wife was very against selling the truck (owned since i was 19)...I love more for this every day..

 

I don't miss any of the cars I've had then sold except for the
'55 Bel Air HT oh and the
'56 Bel Air HT and the
'57 Nomad and the
'59 Ranchero and the
'28 Tudor and the
'29 RPU and the
'65 Rivey and the
'57 Ranch Wagon and the

 

congrats on the baby,if the law allows, there's no reason to get rid of the truck for 1 baby. now, when she give you this news next time well....

 

That's what I was going to say its got a bench seat no problem


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