Just how dumb was I?

[D. Jones]

We all have those stories. Mine was a 1962 Galaxie 500 XL with factory 4 speed, tri-powered, 405 HP, 406 CI motor. I sold it because it was keeping me broke. When I see what they sell for today I just shrug and say oh-well.

[34pickup]

Yep, we have all been there. I have a buddy that told me he and his brother used a 55 Crown Victoria as target practice when he was growing up. My big regret is that I sold a 67 Fairlane GT with a 427 Tunnel port 4speed SS legal for two grand. I never woulda thunk they would get to be so valuable.

[Henry Floored]

Originally Posted by Grumpy Rick

Well, let me tell you. When I was 16, I got a 5 or 6 year old '53 Ford convertible for $350. It was a V-8 with Fordomatic, and wasn't as fast as my buddies 53 tudor with a stick. I still raced anyone I could find, but was mad that it wouldn't burn rubber. Don't remember winning any races either.

One rainy day, I started from a stop sign where there was a big puddle, and when I punched it the wheels actually started to spin, so I kept it floored and enjoyed the rap from the twice pipes. Until, that is, there was a big clunk and the motor quit.

I had broken the crank in half and the cam into three pieces. It was gonna cost a bundle to fix it, so I bought a 52 Lincoln with the big Y block motor for about $100, and my buddy and I installed the motor and trans into the '53.

We had to butcher the frame to do it, since the pan was not the same configuration. Then we rebuilt the motor but never could get it running right.

After months of trying we gave up and sold it for the cost of motor parts, and it ended up in the junkyard.

Looking back years later, I have always wondered if we had the distributor 180 degrees off. Guess I will never know.

What I do know is that years later it dawned on me that it was the 50th anniversary edition, and I remembered the horn button that announced it. Years after that I found out the Ford convertible was also the Indy Pace Car for the '53 race.

Not that mine was special, but being a 50th anniversary car was kinda neat.

No wonder I'm grumpy.

Wow Rick, I'm impressed that you went for Lincoln power for your '53. I thought it was absolutely imperative that a person should swap a GM engine in there. That's what it says in all the magazines anyways.

I have a '54 Lincoln 317 in the que for resurrection. I want to see for myself how they stack up.

[V8COOPMAN]

Originally Posted by Henry Floored

Wow Rick, I'm impressed that you went for Lincoln power for your '53. I thought it was absolutely imperative that a person should swap a GM engine in there. That's what it says in all the magazines anyways.

I have a '54 Lincoln 317 in the que for resurrection. I want to see for myself how they stack up.

The 317 my dad had in a '53 Lincoln was a certified turd! In fact, that whole car was nothing to write home about. He finally dumped it for a new '57 Caddy. DD

[slowforty]

"How The HELL Dumb Can You Be?"
Was my fathers favorite saying.
He stopped using it when I started taking it as a Challenge.

[paul2748]

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In 1963, just out of college, I bought a 1963 Fairlane hardtop with the HIPO 271 HP engine. Three years later I wanted another car so I sold it. Now they are worth plenty.

Hindsight is always 20/20.

[A bones]

I can't pass up saying I top that eight ways to Sunday. Part of the problem was old cars were just that. I loved them all but my family, and neighbors thought I was a pain for wanting to save and, or house them all. The Mid-seventies brought a change of attitude. Regular people began to think the old ones were cool NOSTALGIA was the call of the day. By then I had disposed of my 'stable' (some for no money).

[Henry Floored]

Originally Posted by Grumpy Rick

Well, let me tell you. When I was 16, I got a 5 or 6 year old '53 Ford convertible for $350. It was a V-8 with Fordomatic, and wasn't as fast as my buddies 53 tudor with a stick. I still raced anyone I could find, but was mad that it wouldn't burn rubber. Don't remember winning any races either.

One rainy day, I started from a stop sign where there was a big puddle, and when I punched it the wheels actually started to spin, so I kept it floored and enjoyed the rap from the twice pipes. Until, that is, there was a big clunk and the motor quit.

I had broken the crank in half and the cam into three pieces. It was gonna cost a bundle to fix it, so I bought a 52 Lincoln with the big Y block motor for about $100, and my buddy and I installed the motor and trans into the '53.

We had to butcher the frame to do it, since the pan was not the same configuration. Then we rebuilt the motor but never could get it running right.

After months of trying we gave up and sold it for the cost of motor parts, and it ended up in the junkyard.

Looking back years later, I have always wondered if we had the distributor 180 degrees off. Guess I will never know.

What I do know is that years later it dawned on me that it was the 50th anniversary edition, and I remembered the horn button that announced it. Years after that I found out the Ford convertible was also the Indy Pace Car for the '53 race.

Not that mine was special, but being a 50th anniversary car was kinda neat.

No wonder I'm grumpy.

Originally Posted by V8COOPMAN

The 317 my dad had in a '53 Lincoln was a certified turd! In fact, that whole car was nothing to write home about. He finally dumped it for a new '57 Caddy. DD

Those turds did pretty well in La Carrera Pan America. In fact Lincoln won three years in a row if memory serves me right.

[Henry Floored]

Here's a good story about those Lincolns.

https://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/...ritage-museum/

[Graeme / New Zealand]

Originally Posted by chap52

In 1963 my Dad sold my 1946 Woodie for $150 when I went in the military.

A friend of mine off the farm went away to university and when he got back during the break found his father had traded his 38 Dodge for a few sheep.

GB

[Grumpy Rick]

Thanks guys, it's nice to know I am not alone. Of course that was just one of my first automotive mistakes.

I also managed to buy a brand new '65 GTO. Shortly after I switched jobs, and was told I would be driving about 100 miles to my new work location (fire station) right after I finished the academy. Just before graduation, I traded it in on a new VW squareback, and was then assigned to a station six miles from home.

Grrrrrumpy Rick.

[fordlovr]

I'm not say'n I'm not dumb...... I bought my '38 in 1976 ,and have still got it.We wont mention the 57 chev,55 chev, 64 Fairlane, British Zephyrs etc etc!!

[flatford8]

Originally Posted by 50fordcoupeman

Yeah know the feeling. My father sold my perfect stock 50 Ford custom deluxe coupe without my knowledge for $300 two months before I got home from Vietnam. Took me 46 years to get another one.............life happens. Look forward not back huh?

Good advice!!....Mark

[Marv]

Originally Posted by Grumpy Rick

Well, let me tell you. When I was 16, I got a 5 or 6 year old '53 Ford convertible for $350. It was a V-8 with Fordomatic, and wasn't as fast as my buddies 53 tudor with a stick. I still raced anyone I could find, but was mad that it wouldn't burn rubber. Don't remember winning any races either.

One rainy day, I started from a stop sign where there was a big puddle, and when I punched it the wheels actually started to spin, so I kept it floored and enjoyed the rap from the twice pipes. Until, that is, there was a big clunk and the motor quit.

I had broken the crank in half and the cam into three pieces. It was gonna cost a bundle to fix it, so I bought a 52 Lincoln with the big Y block motor for about $100, and my buddy and I installed the motor and trans into the '53.

We had to butcher the frame to do it, since the pan was not the same configuration. Then we rebuilt the motor but never could get it running right.

After months of trying we gave up and sold it for the cost of motor parts, and it ended up in the junkyard.

Looking back years later, I have always wondered if we had the distributor 180 degrees off. Guess I will never know.

What I do know is that years later it dawned on me that it was the 50th anniversary edition, and I remembered the horn button that announced it. Years after that I found out the Ford convertible was also the Indy Pace Car for the '53 race.

Not that mine was special, but being a 50th anniversary car was kinda neat.

No wonder I'm grumpy.

I blew the stock car engine and we bought another used engine. We put new plug wires, dist cap , rotor etc fired her up and she missed. We could not figure it out, and i tried to driver her that way, and i could have done better on a bicycle. I was 18 and my help was 30 and older, but could not find the problem and i ran it till it blew. Years later i found the problem in a motors repair manual. That 1 year Plymouth made an engine with a left hand wiring order and we had that engine we were wiring it right hand. I still feel stupid. LOL

[5851a]

I remember going to the Ford dealer in 73 to order a new Mustang convertible, triple black and loaded. The salesman said with your trade your going to be talking about a $60 a month payment. I left, but I still have the 67 Galaxie I was going to trade. As said hindsight is 20 20.