This thread really brought back some good memories; thanks to the thread starter for beginning the thread.
I grew up in rural Missouri in the 1950's and early 1960's. Vehicles were much more simplistic then as compared to today; and MUCH more reliable.
Yes, if you compare todays cars to those 50 years ago; todays versions drive better, ride better, are more comfortable (AC), use more fuel, and break more often.
In the 1950's and 1960's, one virtually never saw a vehicle abandoned along the roadside. Tow trucks were called for accidents and Foorrdd engine fires in vehicles the owner had not yet replaced the leakyholley carburetor. Leakyholley was a single word, simiiiar to damyankee.
Yes, the vehicles had problems: Chevrolet burned up points, and burned out rod bearings, Foorrdd had a water pump issue (plus the aforementioned leakyholley), Studebakers went through rod bearings and leaked oil, and leaked oil, and leaked more oil. I had very little experience with Mopars, as no one locally would buy them. I remember asking my Dad why, and he told me that if a dog lifted his leg along side of a tire (politically correct version, not actual quotation) the Mopar wouldn't start!
Most of the rural population could do most of their own repairs. There were a few repair shops that would do brake jobs, change Foorrdd waterpumps, replace Rochester B carbs with Carters, replace leakyholleys with Autolites, etc. I don't remember seeing a transmission shop until the 1970's.
Mother and Dad used to love to travel, so we made several vacation trips in the 1950's through Canada, to the west coast, etc. A friend of Dad's had a fold-out camper we used to borrow to pull on these trips. The only car trouble I can remember is burning out a voltage regulator somewhere in rural Montana about 4 A.M., and Dad pulling off and waiting until daylight to continue. But we made it to the next town, changed the regulator, and continued our trip.
Dad would never trade vehicles with less than 100 K miles. He did change engines (got a used engine from a junkyard) in an old truck with about 250 K miles. The original engine was still running, but burned quite a bit of oil, and Dad no longer trusted it.
Brand loyalty was fierce. Most kids would buy a used car (when they could afford their first) of the same brand their Dad and Grandad drove.
Again, thanks for causing me to think about these memories.
Jon.
