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Just thinking about the drive I had in my 52, we all talk about how good our trucks make us feel. I feel the same way, but at times I feel sorry for those that dont have them or for those that cant drive them, I really feel bad for them, is this an ok feeling knowing that most of our trucks are one of a kind and we are so proud to own them...A guy that I use to work with one day ask, I dont want to hurt your feelings or anything and I am sure if you wanted a new truck you could afford to buy one but why do you want to drive an old truck? I told him that he would probably never under-stand why if he had to ask,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,see ya down the road,,Fred

Fred,

"....how good our trucks make us feel.
....why do you want to drive an old truck?"

Its like being on a ride in my own amusement park.

Tim

Joker..That guy has never had the windshield cranked out and the cowl vent up.

Most of the youngins at my work look at me like I am nuts when I talk about/drive my old truck.

Each time I open the door of my Truck, I am remined of my Mother's definition of love:

"It's a feeling that you get when you feel your gonna feel, something that you never felt before"

Joker wrote: "I told him that he would probably never under-stand why if he had to ask". Truer words were never spoken.

Thruwurkin

I was kidding my wife about how hot my truck would get inside the cab because of the extra heat that the fenton's put out,,when it is 100 outside and you get stop in traffic,,told her it takes a real man to drive one of these baby's,,,her response , maybe a crazy real man,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Fred

Fred et al -- You've got it right. If you have to explain it to them chances are they just don't "get it" anyway.

And nothing against making mods to our old trucks (like power steering, V-8s, IFS and all that stuff), and I know lots of you guys do it, but that would destroy the whole feeling for me. I like an old truck because it's old and fun to drive.

After I get home from work, the daily driver goes into the garage and stays there until I go to work again. Weekday running around and the weekends, I'm doing all my running around in the '49 or our "Farm Dog" (An '85 F350 4x4 flatbed with manual 4-speed and a dragging muffler -- man, that 460 sounds great through the headers and not much muffler ) . They're both old trucks (and the Fjord ain't much to look at) and it puts a smile on my face just drivin' 'em.

And that's the thing, I guess. Like Tim said, having our own amusement ride.


John

I bet if ya ran a little water down the carb of that 460 John, it'd sound just like the twin Merc 4-70's on the landing craft [2 halves of a 460]

Bill

My '73 Chevy 4x4 doesn't look pretty - it's a working farm truck - but it gets the same mileage as my uncle's '98 Dog truck. He's had to deal with computer-related issues ... I just drive my Chevy.

plus if you like trucks, you have to like baby ducks, slow movin trains and rain,,,,,,,,right John?

I'm with you guy's ... there's someting about drivin' that old truck that plasters a smile on my face as I bounce along swingin the steering wheel back and forth keepin it straight on the road ... It's drivin a piece of history.

you might wanna check out that front in Fred

Got that right Fred, lot more fun when they go straight with your arm laying on top of the wheel..Steve

the best thing is sitting in traffic and still being able to have a great big smile on your face. People around you are in a totaly different place than you are. I don't have an AC and none of that power crap, so you become part of my truck when you get in it. Hell I even think my dog likes being in the back of my old truck more than in some of my friends new truck

Faster horses, younger women,older TRUCKS, more money

I love it when a guy, his wife, and a car load of kids pull up next to you, and you can see him saying.."I used to have one of those"

Especially when he's in a minivan! Poor bastard!

ya my girl friend always says that because i drive old trucks now that when i have my mid life crisis i will be driving a minivan. ha not a chance.

oh, you still have a long time before that,,In fact I have not had one yet

Fred, Steve, I'll get to that eventually. It still needs LOTS of work ... but I'm still puttin around the neighborhood. Funny though, every body I give a ride to ends up with that same big 'ol smile and laughin havin a good 'ol time ....

You guys have said it all, to me it's the 'smiles-per-mile' factor, not just mine but the thumbs up and smiles I receive from others every day. Good post joker!

Thanks Cosmo,,,just curious if I should pay to have some-one baby-sit my baby while we are in calif. this week, she should be ok, inside the garage,all cleaned up, full of oil and plenty of gas Fred

My old trucks remind me of a day in 1974 when I was 16. My girlfriend (now my wife for 25+ years) and I enjoyed a picnic during a powerful spring rainstorm inside my Dad's 1951. After the picnic we removed our clothing and.................you get the picture.

I have a buddy with a 1950. One day the truck was parked outside his shop while he worked inside. He answered a knock to see a gray haired stranger at the door. The old man asked if he would mind if he were to sit inside his truck for a while and think about the old days. My buddy of course told him to enjoy himself and went back to work. He could hear the old man shifting gears and the distinctive sound of the clutch pedal returning to the firewall. After a long mental journey the old man had wet eyes as he kindly thanked my buddy.

16 was a good fun yr, would have been in 57 for me,,met my wife then and in oct we will have 44 yrs..boy, we have seen a lot of trucks, cars, trains,etc,,,, but other then the ride in my 52, it has been the best ride I could get Fred

I for got to ask, did you guys take your clothes off cause you had gotten wet in the rain-storm and were trying to dry off Fred

Any reason is a good reason!

I probably would have asked the old man if he wanted to go for a ride.

One thing my wife likes about my old trucks, she knows where I am. Out in the garage working on them! And now she's talking about buying an old hot rod pickup for herself.

about a year ago i was going to a meeting. when i pulled in my clients parking lot the only space left open was between a brand new porsche and a bmw. right as i parked, i noticed a guy coming out of the office door. he glanced at the porsche, he glanced at the bmw, and then he looked at the truck and smiled.

a faded 1950 chevy pickup parked between $60,000.00 worth of cars, and the pickup still got more attention.

some people get it.

Fred,

Would you like me to take care (baby sit) red ryder while you are on the west coast? No charge. The mileage will be free and I will take care of the gas.

Dennis , thanks for the offer but I would hate to impose on my fellow bolters.........Fred

Howdy all, Well the reason i got my 61 is because my old lady had to have twins. Had a 04 dodge 4x4 and had to buy mini van. Man i hate driving that van. So i drive my old 61 with the rust and half spray can primer/paint most of the time. But your right all the younger guys at work try to make fun of the old girl. I just crank up the V-8 and ask if the want to run em. They suddenley get quiet.

The thing that I like best about it is when we take my dad's out on the highway.. (ours aren't ready yet). It doesn't seem to matter who passes you, (and everybody does), they all smile and wave... young or old, they all smile.

Also, last year we convinced my dad to drive his own truck in the parade. I don't know why, but he seems to prefer us taking it in parades, maybe its just so he can watch it go down the street, or maybe not, I dunno. But, last year when he drove it... Well first you have to realize, that my dad's truck has been somewhat of a feature around Russell for 30 or so years. It is a one of a kind here, at least until I got mine/ours. It was the only restored oldy around for along time too! Anyways, the truck has been a part of Kinsmen, Lions, the parades, our Beef and Barley festival, and so forth. The guys that did the original body work are still around, some of them retired now, but there still around. As we drove down the street on parade day, people were shouting at him "It still looks good Robbie", "You've still got it Robbie", and all the while he had myself, and my daughter (his granddaughter) sitting right beside him. We (dad and I) worked together on the truck over the years. And now him and his granddaughter are working on it too!.

Temp,nice story,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Fred

I can not believe that old WOOG has not chimed in on this post,,,,wonder if I have pestered him to much in the past,,,,if so, I was only kidding,,,,,Fred

I was driving in a pretty seedy part of town the other day and pulled up next to a mid 80's malibu with hydraulics on it and blacked out windows. Of course my windows are down (no A/C) and the passenger of the low rider eased his window down. Smoked rolled out the window and he gave me a smile and a thumbs up. Moral of the story "These trucks keep ya outta trouble in more ways than one".

i don't have any heart warming stories yet; but i could tell you some stories of knuckle busting, grease running all up and down my arms, rust in my eyeballs and gas fumes in my nose, that'll make your head swim!
when i get my 53 gmc 5-window to where i can drive it more, i'll no doubt come up more.
tony

make up one