The Ford Barn

Royal Ryser · 11-22-2011, 11:51 AM

I have noticed that many Fordbarners are reaching the upper limits of youth (are getting old), just as I am. I wonder how many of you, when you were kids, could call out the make and year of every car that came down the road?

When I was maybe 10-14 years old, I think I knew tham all. My buddies and I would stand by the highway and call the cars off as they came by. Living on a farm in Kansas, most of the cars in our area were pretty plain and similar, no Caddies or Cords. But we could sure holler, "37 Chevy, 34 Ford or 41 Plymouth." I recall that the Kaisers and Frazers caused a bit of problem when they first came out, but we caught on.

Today, they do seem to all look alike.

ken ct · 11-22-2011, 11:52 AM

Yea they all look the same. ken ct.

Cecil/WV · 11-22-2011, 12:51 PM

I just look to see if they are burning rice or not.

Mark Slight · 11-22-2011, 01:08 PM

That was a popular game in the 40's and 50's, as an Army bratt I had alot of time to practice traveling from one posting to another. Even today I can pick out the sound of an early V-8 Ford starter motor from a Chevrolet or Dodge of that era. Mark

Old Henry · 11-22-2011, 04:31 PM

My buddies and I used to do the same thing - sit on the front lawn and see who could identify a car first that was coming down the road. Great fun then. It wasn't a question of what kind of car it was, most all could be identified when they were close enough, just who could identify first. Wouldn't be much fun nowadays. Thay all look pretty much alike .

Bob G/Spanaway · 11-22-2011, 05:51 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

I still do it.
I can tell most every car from about '35 to '65.
Fords back to maybe '12 or so.
I've been into Model Ts and v8 Fords since about '55.
Now I have 4 of each.

oldford2 · 11-22-2011, 08:29 PM

This is a fun thread for me because we did the same thing in the early/mid fifties. Even the girls joined in and won the "name the car" first. Then, when the 55's came out the game became easier.
John

lee34 · 11-22-2011, 10:36 PM

Remember the windows at the dealers were covered up until a certain date.We would try to see just a little so we could be the first to know the new changes.If you had connections you might get a peek.Now you need the vin number to tell the brand or year.Just my2cents lee34

BILL WZOREK · 11-23-2011, 05:05 AM

Around here in Western Mass.The trucks would come in with the cars all covered up.
And unloaded in the cover of darkness only lites used were a few Flashlights.
Can't put that type of excitement on a lap top?

BILL W

Ray Parson · 11-23-2011, 06:23 AM

i tell my frends all cars today are like ass holes seen one you have seen them all i have fun calling cars on TV i just see a part of a 30/ 40/50/60 car and i call it. oh how we have changed

oldbugger · 11-23-2011, 07:08 AM

My grandson and I still play the game even sometimes with new cars, maybe he will feel the same in 50yrs

FL&WVMIKE · 11-23-2011, 09:14 AM

That must have been a universal, "coming of age" game, during the fifties. Everybody did that ! It's a shame that the kids, of now days, can't play it !
MIKE

Clem Clement · 11-23-2011, 09:33 AM

My shop teacher offered a full set of tools to who ever could names the cars from photos he had. We all got 100%, so we got tool-shaped cookies.

al pa. · 11-23-2011, 09:50 AM

I also thought I was very good at the game,but usually,traveling with my parents,they wouldn't know if I was wrong.Also,in high school,I enjoyed going to the stock car races,at a dirt track,called Mon-duke,east of Murrysville pa.The cars were all flathead.It was a surprise,after I got out of the navy,and watched cars with 427 c**vys race.I guess this is progress.

Robert Dip · 11-23-2011, 10:00 AM

I seems that the entire family was in the act. By the mid 50's, I was 10, and dad got his first Cadillac...a '55 baby blue Coupe de Ville, and that was really exciting. We were collecting most of the new car photos from the adds in the magazines, and would all get excited at the new shapes, bumpers, grills and so on. Every year, we knew we had another style coming. With this, knowing the car & year was the norm. This excitement is long gone, so for the ones like me to have had the privilege of growing up in the best era that mankind will ever know, I can say.....’Only in America’
....Robert

sanborn · 11-23-2011, 10:52 AM

We also "called out" the trucks----the Macks, Whites, GMCs, etc.

Cecil/WV · 11-23-2011, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sanborn

We also "called out" the trucks----the Macks, Whites, GMCs, etc.

Don't forget the Emoryville's.

jim1932 · 11-23-2011, 11:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sanborn

We also "called out" the trucks----the Macks, Whites, GMCs, etc.

My Dad drove truck so we would do the trucks. Peterbuilts, DiamondRio, Kenworth....can't event do that now.

1949FORD · 11-23-2011, 11:57 PM

hey, ya im 14. my friends and i gather around a highway corner with our cokes, and say, (well what it is nowadays) 96 dodge stratus! or somthing like that. its always great times doing that!

51 MERC-CT · 11-24-2011, 03:23 AM

To me, there is only one car built in the last 10 years that is almost instantly recognizable ( sort'a reminds me of a 30's vintage Ford slant-back ) Any body care to guess what it is ?

11-22-2011, 11:51 AM	#1
Royal Ryser Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Colorado Posts: 553	What car was that? I have noticed that many Fordbarners are reaching the upper limits of youth (are getting old), just as I am. I wonder how many of you, when you were kids, could call out the make and year of every car that came down the road? When I was maybe 10-14 years old, I think I knew tham all. My buddies and I would stand by the highway and call the cars off as they came by. Living on a farm in Kansas, most of the cars in our area were pretty plain and similar, no Caddies or Cords. But we could sure holler, "37 Chevy, 34 Ford or 41 Plymouth." I recall that the Kaisers and Frazers caused a bit of problem when they first came out, but we caught on. Today, they do seem to all look alike.

11-22-2011, 11:52 AM	#2
ken ct BANNED Join Date: May 2010 Location: stratford,ct Posts: 5,971	Re: What car was that? Yea they all look the same. ken ct.

11-22-2011, 12:51 PM	#3
Cecil/WV Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Gerrardstown, WV Posts: 2,266	Re: What car was that? I just look to see if they are burning rice or not.

11-22-2011, 01:08 PM	#4
Mark Slight Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Dixon, CA Posts: 473	Re: What car was that? That was a popular game in the 40's and 50's, as an Army bratt I had alot of time to practice traveling from one posting to another. Even today I can pick out the sound of an early V-8 Ford starter motor from a Chevrolet or Dodge of that era. Mark

11-22-2011, 04:31 PM	#5
Old Henry Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Orem, Utah Posts: 5,762	Re: What car was that? My buddies and I used to do the same thing - sit on the front lawn and see who could identify a car first that was coming down the road. Great fun then. It wasn't a question of what kind of car it was, most all could be identified when they were close enough, just who could identify first. Wouldn't be much fun nowadays. Thay all look pretty much alike . __________________ Prof. Henry (The Roaming Gnome) "It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.” *Ursula K. Le Guin in The Left Hand of Darkness

11-22-2011, 05:51 PM	#6
Bob G/Spanaway Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Spanaway, Washington Posts: 344	Re: What car was that? Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) I still do it. I can tell most every car from about '35 to '65. Fords back to maybe '12 or so. I've been into Model Ts and v8 Fords since about '55. Now I have 4 of each.

11-22-2011, 08:29 PM	#7
oldford2 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: pittsfield, MA Posts: 2,086	Re: What car was that? This is a fun thread for me because we did the same thing in the early/mid fifties. Even the girls joined in and won the "name the car" first. Then, when the 55's came out the game became easier. John

11-22-2011, 10:36 PM	#8
lee34 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Kentucky Posts: 127	Re: What car was that? Remember the windows at the dealers were covered up until a certain date.We would try to see just a little so we could be the first to know the new changes.If you had connections you might get a peek.Now you need the vin number to tell the brand or year.Just my2cents lee34

11-23-2011, 05:05 AM	#9
BILL WZOREK Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Florence Ma. Posts: 2,404	Re: What car was that? Around here in Western Mass.The trucks would come in with the cars all covered up. And unloaded in the cover of darkness only lites used were a few Flashlights. Can't put that type of excitement on a lap top? BILL W

11-23-2011, 06:23 AM	#10
Ray Parson Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Flint MI Posts: 689	Re: What car was that? i tell my frends all cars today are like ass holes seen one you have seen them all i have fun calling cars on TV i just see a part of a 30/ 40/50/60 car and i call it. oh how we have changed

11-23-2011, 07:08 AM	#11
oldbugger Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Holland Mi Posts: 642	Re: What car was that? My grandson and I still play the game even sometimes with new cars, maybe he will feel the same in 50yrs

11-23-2011, 09:14 AM	#12
FL&WVMIKE Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Daytona Beach, Fl & Spencer, W. Va, Posts: 4,442	Re: What car was that? That must have been a universal, "coming of age" game, during the fifties. Everybody did that ! It's a shame that the kids, of now days, can't play it ! MIKE

11-23-2011, 09:33 AM	#13
Clem Clement Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Fairfax, VA Posts: 3,393	Re: What car was that? My shop teacher offered a full set of tools to who ever could names the cars from photos he had. We all got 100%, so we got tool-shaped cookies.

11-23-2011, 09:50 AM	#14
al pa. Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: pgh.pa. Posts: 321	Re: What car was that? I also thought I was very good at the game,but usually,traveling with my parents,they wouldn't know if I was wrong.Also,in high school,I enjoyed going to the stock car races,at a dirt track,called Mon-duke,east of Murrysville pa.The cars were all flathead.It was a surprise,after I got out of the navy,and watched cars with 427 c**vys race.I guess this is progress.

11-23-2011, 10:00 AM	#15
Robert Dip Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Candiac, Qc. Posts: 483	Re: What car was that? I seems that the entire family was in the act. By the mid 50's, I was 10, and dad got his first Cadillac...a '55 baby blue Coupe de Ville, and that was really exciting. We were collecting most of the new car photos from the adds in the magazines, and would all get excited at the new shapes, bumpers, grills and so on. Every year, we knew we had another style coming. With this, knowing the car & year was the norm. This excitement is long gone, so for the ones like me to have had the privilege of growing up in the best era that mankind will ever know, I can say.....’Only in America’ ....Robert

11-23-2011, 10:52 AM	#16
sanborn Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Shelbyville TN Posts: 174	Re: What car was that? We also "called out" the trucks----the Macks, Whites, GMCs, etc.

11-23-2011, 11:57 PM	#19
1949FORD Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Coon Rapids,Minnesota Posts: 473	Re: What car was that? hey, ya im 14. my friends and i gather around a highway corner with our cokes, and say, (well what it is nowadays) 96 dodge stratus! or somthing like that. its always great times doing that! __________________ 1949 Ford Fordor 2001 GMC Sierra SLE Joshua Landvik

11-24-2011, 03:23 AM	#20
51 MERC-CT Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: East Hartford, Ct Posts: 5,898	Re: What car was that? To me, there is only one car built in the last 10 years that is almost instantly recognizable ( sort'a reminds me of a 30's vintage Ford slant-back ) Any body care to guess what it is ?