Why do you drive that old gas hog??

[Old Henry]

Girl at Subway making my sandwich saw me drive up in my '47 fordor and asked about it - the usual, what year, what kind of car. I told her. Then,

"Is it a gas hog?"

"Yes"

"Does it have air conditioning?"

"No. Nor power steering, power brakes, turn signals, seat belts, FM stereo radio, automatic transmission, radial tubeless tires, power windows, or power door locks." Her eyes get bigger as the list goes on.

The cashier next to her says, "Must be worth a lot of money."

"Not really. You could probably get two or three of them for what most people pay for cars nowadays." Now both look bewildered.

"So . . . (here comes the $64,000.00 question) . . . why do you drive it?"

Without hesitation I respond, "It's a time machine." Now they really think something's "wrong" with me. "Yep, when I get in that car I leave this tawdry world behind and go back to a time before I was born and everything good about it." They are obviously not impressed and still just as bewildered.

So, what would you say to them?
Why do you drive your old gas hog? Especially you that really drive them - like - every day like I do plus road trips?

[Dave Mc]

if it makes you smile, no further explaining is necessary

[Old Henry]

Two other perks of driving the old gas hog: The celebrity treatment, i.e. so many smile, wave, honk, and take pictures as I drive by or while parked, and it's just dog gone fun compared to the modern Toyota and Chevy we have. Plus, it's easier to get in and out of than those.

[amodel25]

You can drive slow on the highway and people (normally) won't tailgate or flip you off.

[Lawrie]

Henry, we use the 33 as often as possible,about 3 times a week.
It is VERY comfortable,easy to get in and out .
As you say you get lots of looks and questions.
You can smell the roses on the way
And if you go on a trip you dont have a vanilla trip.

Lawrie

[46fordnut]

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still more fun then any other car on the road....when was the last time some asked any questions on the new plastic cars they make now days..? lets see how many of these new cars are on the road when they reach over 25 years old...

[Torchie]

I call it "Smiles per Gallon" Prof Henry.
When I used to drive my Non Ford vintage panel truck everyday(as in 365), some days it was just a hassle to get gas as it seemed that everyone wanted to talk about the truck.
For the old timers it was a chance to remember times gone by and for the younger folks it was usualy the question. "What year is that".
And since I live in a small town I wasn't exactly invisible with that truck.
I kinda of miss that since I sold it.

[Bassman/NZ]

Some people "get it" and some dont. Most of the ones that dont never will. You can try and explain it till you're blue in the face, but it just aint gonna happen. It's the same really trying to explain to a young person why we enjoyed our lives in the 50s and 60s.

[Fibber Mcgee]

Originally Posted by Old Henry

Girl at Subway making my sandwich saw me drive up in my '47 fordor and asked about it - the usual, what year, what kind of car. I told her. Then,

"Is it a gas hog?"

"Yes"

"Does it have air conditioning?"

"No. Nor power steering, power brakes, turn signals, seat belts, FM stereo radio, automatic transmission, radial tires, power windows, or power door locks." Her eyes get bigger as the list goes on.

The cashier next to her says, "Must be worth a lot of money."

"Not really. You could probably get two or three of them for what most people pay for cars nowadays." Now both look bewildered.

"So . . . (here comes the $64,000.00 question) . . . why do you drive it?"

Without hesitation I respond, "It's a time machine." Now they really think something's "wrong" with me. "Yep, when I get in that car I leave this tawdry world behind and go back to a time before I was born and everything good about it." They are obviously not impressed and still just as bewildered.

So, what would you say to them?
Why do you drive your old gas hog? Especially you that really drive them - like - every day like I do plus road trips?

That's the best I've heard it put," its a time machine". When you drive it ,all is right with the world. Not only does it transport you back in time but it also seems to make the people around you a little happier also. Kind of makes me wonder why someone wouldn't want to drive one.

[52merc]

it didn't take long did it

[Fe26]

"Smiles per Gallon" [Quote] I like that turn of phrase.

Question: "Why do you drive that old gas-hog?"
Answer: "If I'd pulled up here in a new car, a pretty girl like you wouldn't be talking
with me."

Good on her for having the curiousity to ask the question, her mind is working and you gave her an oblique answer (Time machine) now she has to do some more thinking. Well done.

[Talkwrench]

I like that one.. "Time Machine" Its certainly the best part of my day when driving my 35 pickup, going to work and coming home.
"Why do you drive it?" Ive never been known for going along with the norm' and I appreciate them and that fact that it was built by men [and women] Hard work and sweat.. Not many people know what that is anymore.
Goes for my 56 Fairlane and 74 Cuda as well.. Nicely spaced timeline of motoring history..

[Bubsyouruncle]

Time machine . . .

That is so spot-on.

When I drive my deuce I'm 20 years old and JFK is in the White House.

At least until I have to buy fuel, of course.

[Merc Cruzer]

1. When I get a tailgater, I just back off the accelerator and the "popping" gets their attention.

2. When they drop the big magnetic bomb, they will be walking and I will still be driving.

3. One billion in sales for Grand Theft Auto 5 to give their generation the same pleasure that I get every time I turn the key, put it in nuetral, push the starter button and take her out on the open road again......

[tdlmomowers]

I just love driving my time machine. It's a 69 Torino Fastback. I wanted one when they were new, but couldn't afford it back then. Can you guys imagine going to a car show, 40 years from now and seeing a 2013 Toyota Prius that has been restored? Me neither.

[Ol' Ron]

My quest is to get better gas mileage than my son's Toyota PU. Shootin for 25MPG. Richard is getting 21, gota beat him.

[51 MERC-CT]

Will shortly have been retired for 22 years, have had my car a couple of months longer. Generally tell them that after retiring all I can afford to drive is an old car.

[al's28/33]

Good story Prof. Henry. While I only take either of mine out once a week at best and only on the quiet country roads, it's the smiles, thumbs ups, waving hands and cheers from roadside on-lookers that makes me proud to be behind the wheel.

Yes they can be money pits and tempermental but it's all worth it!

[fordscript]

I drive my 38 deluxe fordor every day, have done for the last 23 years. Puts a smile on my face every time I get in it.Easy to get in and out of, extremely reliable, and it gives a lot of other people a lot of pleasure to see it. Its amazing the number of people who say that they, or their folks had owned one just like it.The worst part is the cost of gas nowadays. This car still has its original paint (and a lot of surface rust), but I give it a couple of coats of oil and kerosene a year to keep up the 'patina'. I wouldn't want to drive a 'modern' vehicle.

[coupe5w36]

Driving my '36 daily helps me to "de-stress" after a busy days work. As others have said, why would you drive anything else?? Rather than listen to the radio or a CD, I just wind down the window & listen to beautiful "flatty" music. Open the cowl vent & who needs airconditioning?