You Know You Are Old When

[drssg]

I liked the early 1600cc engines but not so much later the 2000cc, 2300cc and 2800cc V6…

I much preferred my 1970 slant 6 valiant…

My first car was a 76 Plymouth Volare. Guaranteed to begin rusting out on the showroom floor.

The slant 6 engine ran weird when cold. It worked OK if I barely gave it any gas or if I floored it. Anywhere in between, and it would bog down and wouldn't accelerate.

It collected water somewhere under the hood, and it would periodically pee on my feet during a left turn. I had to keep fresh duct tape above the taillights, or else they would fill up with water, and the bulbs would pop.

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

You were hauling the mail 30mph!
Thanks got the clip bro!

There was a guy who beat a speeding ticket in one since top speed is 74!
52 horsepower!

 

[Alan46]

Guaranteed to begin rusting out on the showroom floor.

“Guaranteed to begin rusting out on the showroom floor.”
Damn funny!

 

[ultrarunner]

My first car was a 76 Plymouth Volare. Guaranteed to begin rusting out on the showroom floor.

The slant 6 engine ran weird when cold. It worked OK if I barely gave it any gas or if I floored it. Anywhere in between, and it would bog down and wouldn't accelerate.

It collected water somewhere under the hood, and it would periodically pee on my feet during a left turn. I had to keep fresh duct tape above the taillights, or else they would fill up with water, and the bulbs would pop.

I think 1970-71 was a sweet spot before choked by emissions…


Still own that $800 car I bought in school… no rust out yet.

Here is a early picture of the 3 of us at work… Valiant, Dump Trailer and Me at my first home purchased age 22

I still own that home today and only on my second renter…

 

[newbury]

My first car was a 76 Plymouth Volare. Guaranteed to begin rusting out on the showroom floor.

I can still remember seeing Chevy Vegas less than a year old with holes in the side from rust, this was in Burlington, VT. about 1972-73.

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

My first car was a 76 Plymouth Volare. Guaranteed to begin rusting out on the showroom floor.

The slant 6 engine ran weird when cold. It worked OK if I barely gave it any gas or if I floored it. Anywhere in between, and it would bog down and wouldn't accelerate.

It collected water somewhere under the hood, and it would periodically pee on my feet during a left turn. I had to keep fresh duct tape above the taillights, or else they would fill up with water, and the bulbs would pop.

Those smog control years were tough. My Dad bought a new '72 Valiant 225 slant six that was fantastic...then a new '76 Valiant six, nothing but trouble. They lowered compression and all these vacuum lines and gadgets supposed to lower pollution. A good friend had a '76 Volare six (with the "rich Corinthian leather" ) and lots of problems also.
That slant six was fantastic, but they should have had a big access door in inner fender to get to distributor. All the big four sixes would run forever.

 

[Jstpssng]

I can still remember seeing Chevy Vegas less than a year old with holes in the side from rust, this was in Burlington, VT. about 1972-73.

My father bought a 1973 Torino in 1975. Everyone marveled at what great shape the body was in. It had been an insurance company's business vehicle and he got a good deal because it was a high mileage car... 80,000 miles.

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

I've always liked Rambler American and I have the first ('58) and last ('69) & ones in between. What's strange is the '58 has a 195.6 cu.in. flathead as well as the '64, but the '64 has a dual master cylinder (Rambler was the first) and oil filter drains down. Old cars were so easy to work on.

 

[ultrarunner]

Still have my 59 Rambler American... white with a blue interior/ radio/heater auto.

Also have a Continental kit I never installed... had to buy s 58 car to get it...

 

[not2old]

Didn't have a crank start, but the incline came in handy when I couldn't afford a new battery. (That was pre-everything is an automatic) for you younger folks.

My first car was a 1962 Volvo 544. It needed a new battery and I would push start it myself, on a level driveway and it would be good for the day. After about three weeks of that I scrounged up the cash for a new battery while making payments on a house for the first time.

 

[ultrarunner]

A high school friend had a bug and I don't think he ever spent the $30 or so dollars for a new 6v battery... it was always rolling starts.

I told him once I could ask at the salvage if they had a 6v and he said no... 12 with a core got you a tested 30 day warranty replacement.

Young kids today miss out on many simple satisfying moments. like bump starting a car... being able to build a fire in the fireplace... changing a sparkplug in the mower or defrosting the refrigerator...

Taught my niece at 13 to drive the 5 speed F150 around the farm...

She has said not even the boys in college know how to drive a stick...

 

[Jstpssng]

She has said not even the boys in college know how to drive a stick

And that matters how? This type of discussion is like when my grandfather lamented that nobody knew how to treat a lame horse anymore.

 

[ultrarunner]

And that matters how? This type of discussion is like when my grandfather lamented that nobody knew how to treat a lame horse anymore.

Guess less Boy Scouts today?

Be Prepared use to be a thing...

Now most leave being prepared to anyone except themselves.

Knowing how to drive a stick has saved me a bundle renting cars overseas...

I still think knowing how to build a fire let alone start a fire safely is a valuable skill...

It could be one never needed until it is...

Might as well add learning how to light a pilot light to the list.

A lady that rents up the street had no heat and was very cold as the temps dipped to freezing as this is cold here...

She dutifully called the utility company that told her to be safe open windows and they would be out in 72 hours to assess.

Another neighbor told me the renters plight and how horrible for the utility to make her wait 72 hours and HVAC wanted $250 for a weekend service call.

We had a wind event and the pilot went out at the same time.

I got on the floor and said yes... no pilot in the furnace but hot water heater pilot ok.

Turned and held down the knob and pressed the red button twice and saw nice flame... kept holding the button down another 45 seconds and good to go... it's been 6 weeks.

She asked how did I ever learn and I said Mom taught me at the cabin after everything had been shutdown for the season only there we needed a match as no red button ignitor... mom grew up on a farm, oldest girl with 9 siblings

 

[garry1p]

You know you are getting old when your kids start drawing Social Security and signs up for Medicare.

 

[drssg]

I think 1970-71 was a sweet spot before choked by emissions…


Still own that $800 car I bought in school… no rust out yet.

Here is a early picture of the 3 of us at work… Valiant, Dump Trailer and Me at my first home purchased age 22

I still own that home today and only on my second renter…

View attachment 855527

That's very cool.

For the car, I agree that yours was probably a better model. It also wasn't exposed to the salt from the Ohio winters.

I find it impressive that you were that mature at 22. I was just getting started on this whole "responsible behavior" thing at that age.

 

[ultrarunner]

Friends would kid me saying I'm much older than I appear... but then I was always around much older people and started working my first W2 at 13 and paid rent every payday to the folks.

Spent a lot of time with my Grandmother and she was very strict but as long as you followed the rules no problems...

I wanted to own my own home and kept lowering my sights and bought the least expensive MLS single family home for a third of asking as it was facing a condemnation hearing...

The 1910 shack on a 25x100 lot in a sketchy neighborhood became my start...

 

[MossRoad]

Friends would kid me saying I'm much older than I appear... ...

So last night we were out with about 35 friends celebrating one of their retirements. Age discussion came around and one guy that is 57 and looks rode hard and put away wet and has known me for about 30 years asks how old I am. I straight face lie and reply 73. His head snaps back and he says "HOW OLD?" I say 73 and I was born in 51. He looks at another of our friends in shock and says "He's got no wrinkles!" Everyone looks at me and I fess up and tell him I'm only 63. He looks at the friend again and says "He's still go no wrinkles!"

 

[ultrarunner]

35 years ago I was considerably younger than the majority of surgery patients... now I'm older than some and about equal to many...

It's a daily reminder health is wealth.

I sometimes have a few minutes and not surprising the number that have said smoking and drinking took a toll and a few admit to drugs when they were younger... and even contact sports!

 

[MossRoad]

Sports can be brutal on your body. I have a friend that played a lot of soccer. Saw him about 10 years ago at age 53. His body was broken.

 

[MoKelly]

Most guys wouldn't be caught dead driving a Met...but girls think it's so cute and want to ride in it...even with an ugly old bald grandpa driving it!
16 second clip driving down a back road today.

Oh, I thought we were you going to see some girls!

The car was good.