Driving classics

It's no pleasure to drive any old car without A/C around Sebring Florida, and really no better for a modern car.  There's no place to go and nothing to see.  Very few country roads around here and the few that are all go to the same places and back.  When I lived on the Northern Neck of Virginia it was all country  roads and interesting things to see.  I only wish I could move back, but if we don't divest ourselves of all of our collectible family furniture and all my car parts we have to pay $23,000 to move.  I'm 81.5 and I just can't do all of that load and unload work anymore.  Alos, it rains virtually every afternoon and/or evening.  Whoever said moving to Florida in retirement was crazy.

Dynaflash8Aug 10, 2020

It's no pleasure to drive any old car without A/C around Sebring Florida, and really no better for a modern car.  There's no place to go and nothing to see.  Very few country roads around here and the few that are all go to the same places and back.  When I lived on the Northern Neck of Virginia it was all country  roads and interesting things to see.  I only wish I could move back, but if we don't divest ourselves of all of our collectible family furniture and all my car parts we have to pay $23,000 to move.  I'm 81.5 and I just can't do all of that load and unload work anymore.  Alos, it rains virtually every afternoon and/or evening.  Whoever said moving to Florida in retirement was crazy.

I would love to leave Mass for a number of reasons.   The weather from April through October is not one of them.   My wife and I have decided Florida is off the list unless it is renting a condo for a few weeks in January.

My 95 year old dad and I put about 60 miles on a mid 30s Chrysler last week.   It has been unusually warm here,  some days close to 90 in the afternoon,  but you can still drive if you don't mine a little heat.   You can stay in the shade 90% of the time if you want.   If I got to the North I can stay on back roads until I hit Canada.

Today is Packard day.   Will also be a warm day,  which is a good stress test.  My dad will watch the oil pressure and temp gauge.  He'll tell me every 100 feet what the temp is.   

I've noticed the same thing around here since April.  I don't have anything older than 1953, but I've been out driving my stuff a lot, and I haven't noticed my usual ration of other old cars on the road.  My theory is that a good portion of people who own old cars only get them out if there's somewhere to show them off; since there aren't any shows this year, many people haven't bothered.  

Den41BuickAug 10, 2020

I make it a point to drive my 41 Buick Roadmaster every weekend. I enjoy riding in the countryside in Rhode Island, Connecticut and Massachusetts. On the average I probably spend three hours or more and drive 100 miles on each outing. I have yet to see another classic car on the road. Today I did not see any antique cars except for a 1940 Rat-rod. Usually I will see some cars from the 50's and 60's, but maybe one or two

I'm in East Central Connecticut, and it's been maybe 10 years since I've seen a "stock" prewar on the roads here, even if there is some car event on a weekend.  (I drive a modified 50s style 1932 Ford as my only primary car for 2 years now, 12 months a year).

The only prewars I see are modified and not that many.  Even the 55 chevy that passed by my house this past week was modified. 

I wonder a lot about where those stock original cars are now, the ones I'd see at local shows many decades ago.

Dynaflash8Aug 10, 2020

It's no pleasure to drive any old car without A/C around Sebring Florida, and really no better for a modern car.  There's no place to go and nothing to see.  Very few country roads around here and the few that are all go to the same places and back.  When I lived on the Northern Neck of Virginia it was all country  roads and interesting things to see.  I only wish I could move back, but if we don't divest ourselves of all of our collectible family furniture and all my car parts we have to pay $23,000 to move.  I'm 81.5 and I just can't do all of that load and unload work anymore.  Alos, it rains virtually every afternoon and/or evening.  Whoever said moving to Florida in retirement was crazy.

I recall another similar post from you recently.  All I say to anyone who talks to me in person and is miserably unhappy with current situations, I say it's never too late to make a major change, and that it's never impossible to do so.

It's just a matter of weighing the difficulties of that temporary upsetting change, versus finally finding simple honest contentment. 

Monetary costs of said change should not come into play at that moment, unless a person honestly cannot come up with the funds.

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F&JAug 10, 2020

I'm in East Central Connecticut, and it's been maybe 10 years since I've seen a "stock" prewar on the roads here, even if there is some car event on a weekend.  (I drive a modified 50s style 1932 Ford as my only primary car for 2 years now, 12 months a year).

The only prewars I see are modified and not that many.  Even the 55 chevy that passed by my house this past week was modified. 

I wonder a lot about where those stock original cars are now, the ones I'd see at local shows many decades ago.

I recall another similar post from you recently.  All I say to anyone who talks to me in person and is miserably unhappy with current situations, I say it's never too late to make a major change, and that it's never impossible to do so.

It's just a matter of weighing the difficulties of that temporary upsetting change, versus finally finding simple honest contentment. 

Monetary costs of said change should not come into play at that moment, unless a person honestly cannot come up with the funds.

.

I tell myself the same thing.  There are more hangups other than just money.  The money is really no object, except my wife thinks so.

Personally, I think it has a lot to do with a large group of people not being handy, so they are dependent on others to help them matched to in some ways it is easier to find parts (internet) and some ways it is harder (just rare stuff to begin with and time has eaten parts supply), plus dealing with a pre-WWII car can be an expensive proposition.

As a sidenote: like things attract (aka I am usually the odd duck with a 30's car, but ....).  

I do see a group of people in their Model A Fords, a 31 Chevrolet Cabriolet, a couple Thunderbird's, and a couple Mustang's on a weekly basis.

Lunch today, a Pebble Best of Show winner on 95..........does that count as driving your classic?
 

Its 97 degrees and 80 percent humidity.........but if you drive over 45 mph, the car is comfortable. Then again, regardless of how hot or cold, It’s a fun car to drive.

Sunday I want to breakfast in a 68 Mustang. Just a used car. Up pulled a 1941 Cadillac convertible sedan. I got up to speak to the owner. A nice family man of about 45 years of age. He was surprised when I identified the car by year and series. He likes the car, and drives it. But he knows nothing about cars or history. It was an impulse buy.

It was 94 in mass today.  Drove around in an 84 LTD wagon which I refused to take a picture of.  We then took the 40 Packard out for about 30 minutes of driving.

I like that LTD ..............and just for the record.........It’s more fun hanging around Big Al than it is with you! I called him tonight, and asked him to give you the whitewall talk again!

I like the fact that I’m thinking about social security soon, and your dad bought that car five years before I was born!

edinmassAug 12, 2020

I like that LTD ..............and just for the record.........It’s more fun hanging around Big Al than it is with you! I called him tonight, and asked him to give you the whitewall talk again!

Eddy, you know how much those whitewalls are killing me.

alsancleAug 12, 2020

Eddy, you know how much those whitewalls are killing me.

Send me the car and a check........I will fix the tires and wheels all in one shot!

Aaron65Aug 10, 2020

I've noticed the same thing around here since April.  I don't have anything older than 1953, but I've been out driving my stuff a lot, and I haven't noticed my usual ration of other old cars on the road.  My theory is that a good portion of people who own old cars only get them out if there's somewhere to show them off; since there aren't any shows this year, many people haven't bothered.  

Quite a umber of us has been attending the one local A&W here that has had organized Friday night cruises up until end of September last year.  This year, we've been averaging 75-100 cars when the weather has been on our side.  Of course, this year, Don, the A&W franchisee cannot make the the call to organize it as in the past as the number in attendance would far exceed the legal limit, but so far, its been very successful in bringing out our vintage cars.

Craig

Is there anyone in the northeastern Connecticut/ western R.I. area that might want to organize a COVID-19 mini tour? 

Ok,  not a big "C" Classic but something I have always liked.  My dad and I did about an hour loop to the north with a stop for ice cream because he couldn't control himself.   It was 82-84 degrees today with mild cloud cover so actually pretty comfortable weather.   The loop was all 40/50 mph two lane roads with a few stop lights and a few stop signs.   Not a lot of houses  or traffic.     

alsancleAug 13, 2020

Ok,  not a big "C" Classic but something I have always liked.  My dad and I did about an hour loop to the north with a stop for ice cream because he couldn't control himself.   It was 82-84 degrees today with mild cloud cover so actually pretty comfortable weather.   The loop was all 40/50 mph two lane roads with a few stop lights and a few stop signs.   Not a lot of houses  or traffic.     

What’s up with the used car?

edinmassAug 13, 2020

What’s up with the used car?

Eddy,  everybody else in the world will take any of the Halo cars.    I would like one of each.

alsancleAug 13, 2020

Eddy,  everybody else in the world will take any of the Halo cars.    I would like one of each.

Everybody else has poor taste in cars..............just saying.

Let's hope we all get back to driving our cars soon, and in assorted weather too as well. The weather when this photo was taken some decades ago was a bit "misty " the location is about 90 miles east of where I live at the eastern tip of long island. To get to the next land mass behind the light house you need to navigate a big pond, the land  is in England , that light house you see behind the Franklin in the photo is in Montauk Point , NY.

Today was I was lucky enough to spend the afternoon and evening with a buddy that owns this Stanley Vanderbilt Racer Replica.   We ran the water tank almost all the way down so I'm thinking close to 30 miles of driving.  Went to a local cruise night,  and drove around for an hour after.   Really great time.  I'll post a video when I can get it off my phone.