VCCA Home Forums GENERAL DISCUSSION General Discussions Unexpected observations driving old cars

This is the first summer driving the 41 Chevy around. For several years I have also been driving an 87 Monte Carlo. I have had a few unexpected reactions that keep occurring when I go places in these cars. Just wondering what ones others may have had:

With the Monte Carlo:
- At car shows I have parked next to far more expensive or better restored cars but more people will walk up and chat about mine with the conversation starting with 'I had one of those in 19XX ot I new someone with that car'. Seems memories are stronger than the car itself.

- At the gas station I have been told more than a few times that I pulled up to the wrong side of the pump, until I flip the plate down.

With the 41 Chevy Deluxe
- I use a hand signal to turn right out the window and people wave back. (I do not have the turn signals wired in yet. It is on the to do list for this winter.

- Number of times I get asked if I am going to put a modern XYZ in it.

You have to allow more time for your trip if you drive an old car. I used mine as my daily driver. It was only after a couple of years around town that became less of a novelty. Even then I still frequently got engaged in conversations.

I drive Lurch and Justin (see links in my signature) around town or neighboring towns a few times during the year. Mainly when I go to the hardware store, Harbor Freight, or for take out food.

I really enjoy the thumbs up and people giving a quick toot of the horn to show their enthusiasm.

As MR97Monty said, a lot of folks start conversations around their past experiences or encounters with classic vehicles.

I REALLY enjoy it when they discover that I drive Chevys and not that other brand. ;-)

Besides being fun, the trucks need their exercise.

Cheers, Dean

The day I bought my 48 home, my neighbor said you should put a Chevy V8 in it. I said it is to nice to cut up. I had a 48 coupe in the late 60's, that I put a drive train from a 56 Chevy. The engine was a bored out 265 to a 283. In about 1970 had a junk man come and tow it away. BIG mistake.

A 48 chevy is very capable of maintaining 60mph +!

My 51 is my daily driver and I get a lot of waves and thumbs up. As Rusty 37 said, my car is not as much of a novelty as it was a few years ago but it is still a fun ride. I ride it to the VA which is about 135 miles.

Some states and insurance companies have restrictions on vehicles that are registered as antique. Just curious what the rules are in VA.?

NY has restrictions but there is no cost savings to do so and the insurance cost is the same. I just registered mine an a normal car. Only advantage is if you want to run plates from the year the car was built.

You're not checking with the right insurance companies if the cost is the same. Collector car insurance is way cheaper.

Back to the original topic.... I find that driving my 1920,s trucks and my 1930's cars that I move through my daily life activities at a much slower pace.... I find that I take more time enjoying the 'ride'... and there seams to be less emphasis on getting to the destination.... It sets me back in time to the 20's or 30's...... where the whole world... of human activity, was changing and moving at a much slower pace.... I love being set back in time, to a more sane way of life...

I also find myself just gazing/staring at the beautiful shape of the body... the sweeping fenders... the curve of her butt.... the big bug-eyed headlights... the heart shaped grill...... I find them Beauty-Full full of beauty.........

I came out of a store, into the parking lot where my 1934 Chevy pick-up was parked.... to find an elderly woman.... sitting on the seat, crying..... I said hello... and asked her if she was OK..... she apologized for sitting in my truck... I said that it was OK by me, if she did.... She said that it was the same year truck that her late husband had taken her out on their first date in.... and she was just remembering that time with him in that truck on their first date....So many years ago.....

A few years back a couple at our church were about to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary and invited the congregation to join them at an upcoming celebration. A small display of pictures was set up at the church, and I noticed in one picture that on their wedding day they were being taken from their church for pictures then on to the reception in a "51 Chev Styleline Deluxe - same as mine. I contacted their daughter and told her about that and asked her if she would like to recreate their "travelling" picture. She was overjoyed at the chance. During the anniversary celebration she managed to get her parents outside "to get better pictures in daylight". When her mother saw the car she almost broke down in tears of happiness. Her dad forgot about taking pictures and headed right to the car to have a good look and bring back some memories. That was one day I'll always remember about driving my old Chev.

I do not have my car registered as an antique. The milage restrictions by my insurance are high enough to not be a problem.