Technical What makes a car guy ?

anybody that has a non running pre war car in the garage to me a car guy, especially when the new car sits out side so the model a body shell or whatever it is can stay inside, thats automatic car guy club admittance.

 

Been one all my life. Started with toys, models, slots. Was already infected when my dad bought a gas station in 1961 and that put me into even deeper. Remember the scene in American Graffiti when Milner rumbled into the station and was talking through the window with a guy about spotting some bumper brackets? I went to that flick when it first came out and that scene made the hair on the back of my neck stand up. It looked and felt just like my dad's station and what went on there. Can't tell you how many times I've watched that flick and get the same feeling every time I see that scene.

I've spent way too much foolish money on cars but don't regret a bit of it. Have always done my own wrenching, hate having anyone else touch my cars, even dailies. Lately, due to age and cir***stances I've had my buddy who owns a shop do some heavy undercar work I just didn't want to tackle without the hoist I wish I'd bought 20 years ago when I had the cash and could have written off. Still feel like a slacker for having someone else do. Have had my hands in about everything but the guts of an auto trans.

Got no problem with the guys who hire it done because they have helped me put food on the table but got major respect for the guys who do their own because I know how hard it can be. That being said, as a former parts guy I cringe when somebody thinks they are a car guy can't tell you the model, make, year, and engine.

My take; if you love cars you are a car guy. It's just a matter of degrees. Some of us are more hard core than others. I see a lot of guys on here that are more hard core than I as far as the work they do and the skills they display. Still it's the only real hobby/interest I have. Care nothing about sports, hunting, fishing or the other "guy stuff". I do like old tractors but as far as I'm concerned if it's got wheels and a motor it counts.

 

Had to look twice to make sure this wasn't a pic of me.

 

I knew an older guy who had a gravel pit. All he knew was how to drive trucks and loaders, didn’t even know how to change oil, etc.
But he loved hot rods and street rods and restored cl***ics, I bet he had 15 really nice cars and trucks when he p***ed, knew everything about them, but would be the first to tell you he didn’t know a boxend wrench from a ratchet.
He was still a car guy in my mind.

 

Most car guys have it in them. I started with models, taking every thing I owned apart and modifying it. Always interested in looking and waiting to see what was coming, when all you could hear was the sound of a good engine. After go carts and mini bikes, I couldn't wait to get my first project truck when I was 13. I am surprised when I am out in one of my old cars the number of guys that don't even give a second look. I've almost gone in the ditch trying to get a look at stuff just sitting in a field. It's definitely an obsession.

 

I also feel like many car guys like rides that are off the path a bit. Makes and models that are not typically hot rodded.
A true car guy enjoys well built rides of all types.
When I joined the HAMB I didn't think my Corvair would get the love many of you have shown for the mark. That's when I knew you all are car guys.

 

I won’t say I love it, but do like it a lot. Mainly because I didn’t pull the 500 out for a mid 60s that had an aluminum? Fan on it. Found out later that type of fan was for a turbo or supercharged engine? Memory is fuzzy, this was early 80s. But was a high performance engine.
Hell, who really needed a 2 door convertible anyways

 

Always liked Corvairs, drove a friend's 66 and really was impressed with the handling. Lot of folks back in the day didn't realize how quick they could be. Friend's dad was salesman at a Ford dealer. Ronnie had recently turned 16 and dad brought home a trade-in Corvair as his first car. Walked out to the parking lot after school the first day he drove to school and the guys were razzing him about "your slow little Volkswagen copy. Nobody there but me and Ronnie knew what it meant when a 'Vair was wearing "Monza Spyder emblems." He didn't say anything about the turbo to me or the other guys and I just kept my mouth shut. Loudest guy had a 64 Chevelle 283 Pglide. Long story short, Ronnie blew his doors off and the boys got an impromptu auto shop lesson. Chevelle man did come back for a rematch, this time with a 327 4spd combo transplanted and Ronnie almost held him off after a good jump on the leave. Chevelle man never forgot about losing that race. That car went through 6 motors in that last 2 years of school, ending up with a 454. Not sure how many trans and rearends he went through. He was enthusiastic.

 

Hello,

The two posts seem to sum it up for most. Where you were, what you did, who you were with, adds to the mystery of why we are all “car guys.” We wouldn’t be here on the HAMB if we weren’t. Everyone young/old has different backgrounds and experiences. It does not matter how much or how little they played a part of growing up. At least you liked what you did as a young kid and it continued as long as possible.

Coming from a family with a mom who hated dust, oil, loud noises and hot rods, it was a wonder that we talked her out of those needle pin stares always coming our way while we were building something in the back yard. My brother kept the “fire ups” of the first 6 Stromberg carb, 283 SBC motor to a minimum. We had to push the Willys Coupe backwards out of the back yard and into the narrow driveway to get it to the street for the first time fire up and cruise down the street. Of course, the Hedman Headers were open.

Being the youngest was a gift. I was able to enjoy the flow of early hot rods of my older brother’s friends and helped with the “go-fer” stuff. But, that situation had some upside results. I was given a piddly amount to wash and wax those hot rods and sedans. Then more piddly amounts to detail the wheels and wax the car(s). So, I was able to get some satisfaction of working on those early hot rods, while earning the small amount they gave me. The best thing was being able to get rides in those hot rods and for me, that was worth it every time.

Jnaki

Over time, I was able to hone my mechanical skills so, my brother gave me some responsibilities in all of our builds and tear downs. That was a great thing for a younger brother as I was able to know my brother had confidence in my skills and abilities. Soon, I was able to surp*** his skills in all sports and activities. But, his mechanical knowledge was a godsend and was worth every minute of my learning more and more each time we did something together.

A car guy? Yes with all of the pre-car items allowed and given to us by our dad, honing the skills through trial and error, and finally getting a chance to prove my abilities to my brother. With all of the experiences including driving the 58 Impala in close races at Lion’s Dragstrip, he had the best speed over all of the races.

15.25 E.T. for the quarter mile was pretty good for a stock 348/280 hp Impala. The 94.53 mph was very fast. His best time for driving the Impala was 14.80 e.t. and 98 mph. He had the best top speed, but I had the fastest E.T. at 14.68 seconds. It all worked down to getting the best start reaction times as the motor pulled evenly through the whole quarter of a mile course.

 

Hot Wheels & Matchbox cars; the gateway drug.