Where have all the children gone

Cares will be smoothed away by God's loving hand.

 

Sad but oh so true on many levels.
I have 2 boys, 15 & 19, both have been around cars their entire lives and my oldest is just happy to drive anything. As long as it drives he dont care, my youngest is alittle better about it.
I have spent the last 35 yrs straightening frames, building custom suspenions etc, 10 yrs body and paint work. Although frame and suspenion is my specialty, i cant get either one of them interested in any of it. I hate seeing my knowledge slowly die with me. No one to p*** it too.
P***ing on my knowledge and abilities mean more to me then my objects being p***ed on...

 

Agree with lostone. I have built a lot of 40's and have asked many if they would like to help and learn how to do this and pay them as well. There was no interest whatsoever so the building of 40's and other cars in my circle of folks will end with me I guess.

 

My daughter and step-daughter (and her family) were at my house over Thanksgiving. They all knew that I've spent the last year doing a mechanical resto on my OT big block Corvette. They didn't even care enought to walk out to the garage to see the car or even ask about it! I think that I'll donate it to the National Corvette Museum or some other worthwhile project in my will.

 

I can't guarantee my kids or theirs will be hot rodders , but I'm sure as hell enjoying it now. The photos below are from my sons 1-5yr old birthday party invitation cards.

 

There are lots of folks out there that still enjoy these things. There are a lot of others that would appreciate them more if they understood them. Most people just don't know or understand BUT still others just won't be convinced. If none of your kin show interest, sell some and enjoy the world with your Misses.

 

I've got 3 kids... 6, 4, and 9 months... I'll take them off your hands... Lol

 

*** backwards. I have a neighbor, in his 80s.who has a nephew who is going into a nursing home. The neph, has a toy car collection from when he was young( ***ume 35 years ago.) My neighbor plans a trip to Vegas to try to "sell em all to Rick at american pickers." sometimes I am glad I dont have satellite tv.

 

Hot Rod Grille -
Feelin' your pain there. Out of my family, my son and one of his many cousins are interested. Plans are to have the cousin over for an extended stay. We will ***imilate him and send him back to infect the others.

*edit* please tell me the Stingray is a 4 speed

 

****! I forgot to have children!

 

Oh yeah, 454 LS-5 with 4-speed. No PS, PB, PW or air. 47K miles. Getting behind the wheel is like the fountain of youth ...... I'm 17 again! FWIW, the '34 is also a 4-speed. "Real hotrods have 3 pedals".

 

38 2 Dr I made a comment about the family going out to dinner without the I-phones or what ever they play with. My wife said don't start some thing you will regret. I just set there and don't say a word. It drives me nuts!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Thank all you guys for your comments. I'm 72 years old. My 15 year old Grandson was to get my 36 Willys. He said "PA" I would rather have a Willys jeep!!!!!!!!!!!! I said know problem. We got him a Jeep Wrangler. I'm so glad I grew up in the time frame I did. Thank God

 

I was depressed before I started reading this post. Now I'm really depressed. My wife, I, and our five year old adopted son moved to Florida when I retired. I already had several car projects. But I traded and ended up with a few others. Along the way I collected spare parts. Mostly used parts and bumper cores. Don't have anything fancy. Five acres in the boonies with a large mobile home, a large garage, and some sheds to store the cars and parts.
Fast forward 20+ years and we realized we are getting old and need to be closer to our grown kids and the few friends we have left. More than two months ago we bought a small 3-BR home with ba*****t and two car garage just outside of the town I was born and sort of raised.
As I look around I realize I have a lot of junk. But it's junk I love and most has memories of years gone by. Decided to give my 1939 Ford coupe to my oldest son. He's been a big help getting the new old home we've never seen yet. Son in law has had his eyes on my 1948 Chevy panel truck project that I am unable to finish. It'll be his soon. Those and my 1955 Chevy wagon are gonna get hauled back to Illinois.
But what do ya do with all the other ****? No one wants it or my 46 Mrec project, the old license, bumpers, etc. As we get older we don't think about what's gonna happen to our junk until it's too late.
Getting back to the peddle car delema, my wife bought one reproduction dump truck from another car guy at a car show. It's in the living room. She loves that toy car. She gave away a dozen old originals over 40 years ago and they ended up being s****ped. Kids don't understand or realize this junk is worth money and holds memories.
I'll be 76 soon and my wife will be 74. We've spent our entire lives playing around old cars and car parts.
Even the son who is gonna get the 39 Ford is not real interested in it. You and I know this stuff is worth money. Hell some of those license plates cost me over $50 each. What are they worth now s**** price? And no I haven't advertised anything on any List. Cause I know you ain't gonna want to pay even close to what it's worth. This explains why cars and parts sit and rust away. It's always been this way.
Our problem is we never intended to move again. Maybe I'll haul it all back like I brought it to Florida. Plus the extra parts that followed me home from swap meets.
They say we can't take it with us. So why worry about it?

 

I understand what you guys are saying but not everybody is leaving the hobby. I'm 27 now and my son is in love with anything with wheels. We were given a pedal car from my grandpa before he pasted. My son loves it! He also loves his stroller.

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Man, I can't believe all you guys with adult kids that have no interest. That is sad, I guess it's a sign of changing times.

I guess I'm lucky or something... My son ( nineteen ) lives and breathes traditional hot rods and vintage motorcycles. He is currently building a Model A coupe that he plans to take to the Race of Gentlemen in 2016. He is planning to live in a large pole barn with an apartment in it, so he can keep all thirteen of my pre'63 cars, most of which are p***ed down to me from my father.
I know other kids his approximate age that are heavily into old cars too, although not necessarily traditional stuff that we like. I guess they will be finding your abandoned, unwanted hot rods stored away when they are our age?

 

Metal man i hear ya. My son loves hot rods too. He's 5 and all he talks about is the track cruise we did at the Charlotte motor speedway. He's a willys man. Which im trying to spoil him. HAHA

 

My son and I built a '27 Roadster for him several years ago. It has sat idle for going on 10 years now. My grandson and I built a Bobber Truck for him. It has sat idle for 5 years now. My 7 other grandsons show now interest.

I am 73 and keep building hot rods, one every year or two. But, I am the end of the line in my family.

 

That's too bad, bobw. You're the same age as my Dad. He and I built my '40 Ford coupe together when I was in high school. I've got about 130,00o miles on it now, and my 19 year old son drove it to work almost every day this summer. I guess it's just in the blood sometimes.

 

I feel good that my grandson loves the car I am currently building and when I told him it was going to be his someday, he told me he would never let it go, now whether or not that actually happens or not, I feel good that he wants it for now. He has always loved to go with me to car shows and loves hot rods of every kind. Luck of the draw on their personality I think, nothing that we did or didn't do with them that make them the way they are, so no reason to feel like we failed or puff our chests out about, just a fact of life and love them for who they are as people whether or not they love our hobby as much as we do. Just my 2 cents worth.

 

I have the pedal tractor I gave my oldest son when he turned one. It's an ERTL John Deere. It'll go to his kid(s) whenever he has them. Right now, it's part of my garage art, on top of the bathroom roof, along with his two Tonka dump trucks. That's the only pedal "car" we've had. I've been offered decent money for it, but it's going to stay right where it is until a grandkid comes along!

 

Don't fret old timers, there are plenty of us younger guys that get "it" and will carry on the tradition. I'm 41 and have been into old cars pretty much all of my life and shows no waning. If there is a younger guy or girl interested in this stuff they will seek it out, I did, and it's an unsatiable appe***e to learn more, experience more. It's the exposure to it that fuels the desire. There are many of us out there that'll treasure and respect what was done before us. ( just look at any "Survivor thread" started by a younger guy that found a floundering project or barn find and look at what they do to it. They preserve it's history because they understand the importance of it and it's a rolling history lesson). My dad wasn't into cars, at all, he would help if I needed an extra hand, but I had to learn everything on my own, trial an error or golden wisdom nuggets handed down by an old timer hot rodder with a few extra minutes. I'm sure the past generation before the current crop of old timers were sayin the same thing about them 30,40,50 years ago, if anything, the interest in traditional rodding has strengthened over the last 10 or so years because of HAMB and exposure to it at rod shows, and events like TROG, and various reliability runs. There are many backyard builders that'll ONLY use original OEM ford parts in their builds, and would balk at the use of anything aftermarket. Many of your current parts and projects will be sought out by many of us when you p*** the torch and they will be used in future projects that'll make you proud to be part of in spirit, kind of keeping the memory alive. So next time you go to a show and see a younger guy/girl studying your car intently, they are taking it all in, seeing how problems are solved, cataloging information for future use. Take time to answer their questions and show how you problem solved. This info is worth it's weight in gold to most that are interested.

 

This will be my sons head board over his bed. Merry Christmas


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I have given away a lot of stuff just to see someone pleased to get it. I get practically as much as if I sold it, and a lot less h***le.
I like to sell stuff for less than half what it is worth for the same reason, and to avoid the annoying whining and time wasting games you play with *****s when you try to sell stuff.

 

I grew up around old fords. I,m 50 and have 5 kids all of them are "into it" I took them to the Fitchburg,M*** swapmeet 5 years ago and now its an every-year event. I give them a few bucks each an they always find somthing good ! I have a 26 year ol in the Navy .17 yo girl 15 yo boy 13 yo girl an a 9 yo girl . they all love the old cars. I tell them that when I croak if you sell my truck ,I,ll come back an HAUNT YOU !. I,m lucky I guess they like them an appreciate them. I have a 39 ford pic-up that I have to get done so my youngest can drive her date to the prom thats my goal Mike p

 

THEY DIDN'T WALK OUT TO THAT GARAGE?!?!?!? How far are you from Charlottesville, VA? I would love a tour!
Cosmo in the daily driver only vehicle '49 Chevy 1/2 ton

 

If the people you know aren't interested, give the stuff to strangers who are interested. You will get just as much thanks and gra***ude in either case (none) but you will know the stuff is appreciated, maybe.

 

Hey Cosmo49,

Winfield is near Charleston, WV. I'm six miles off I-64 at Exit 40 (about midway between Charleston and Huntington). PM me if you are ever in the area and I will give you directions to my house and The Hot Rod Grille. I really hope you get to stop by for a visit. The best part of collecting this old stuff is getting to meet other folks who like it and sharing stories with them! There is a root beer float at the soda fountain waiting for you!

The kids will be here later tonight for Christmas and they will be forced to go to the garage .... my wife and I are planning to open gifts around the garage tree this year! That's one way to get them in the garage for an hour or so! It will be interesting to see if they comment on my latest project.

Jim

 

I bought a pair of 57 Chev tail lite lenses for a client's Chev I was workin on at the time from a fella who had a near HALF BLOCK sized warehouse under thge bridge in the barrio neighborhood here in San Diego -- STUFFED TO THE CEILING RAFTERS w old car parts! He was a Hershey and other venues AFFICANDO and traveled all over to aquire parts that interested him -- he walked us right TO em where they were on a shelf in this HUGE maze of p***ageways and handed em to me -- I looked around and asked "how do you know where everything IS?" He said "I know" I asked "how will anyone else find anything if you're not here?

His answer sticks w me to this day -- "I don't worry bout it - -*I* won't BE here"

 

Wow, what a display - you should be proud! Enjoy your family and have a Merry Christmas!