Got "Kit Car'd" again today----

Most of the people that see the roadster pickup either see it on the road, or at the local cruise nights. The folks that see it at the cruise nights generally have at least some "hot-rod savvy", or they probably wouldn't have come to the cruise night in the first place. Today, after I got those friggin front brakes adjusted, I drove wifey across town to check on oldest sons new kitten (don't even ask)!!! Once said kitten was checked on, it was decided that it might be a good idea to pick up the weeks groceries on the way home, and here the fun begins. I parked right in front of the local Zehrs Groceries (being an old master of "power parking") and sent wifey inside to do the big shop, while I waited with the car.
The first 3 people who flocked over to the car wanted to know if it was a "kit"---Of course, non of them have the faintest idea of what a "kit" really is, but they vaguely think that I opened this big box, and fitted tab A into slot B untill I could drive it over to the grocery store. The next guy to come along, said he really didn't know much about cars, but had wanted a "32 Ford Coupe" ever since he was a kid.
I gravely insulted some young mother when I roared at her 7 year old for jumping up on the running board to look in the window.
Two people asked what year it was, and I duly informed them that it was a 1931, and that I was the original owner. I could see them scratching their heads and trying to figure out how old that would make me, as they walked away.
A man my age, with wife in tow, came over to admire it, and wanted to know if I had "restored" it myself, and was that the original colour.
One person wanted to know who built "edelbrock" engines (thats what it says on the valve covers).
Three people stopped to talk, and told me that their second cousin used to have a car "just like this one".
One guy told me he had restored a 59 Edsel, but the garage where he stored it burned down----
Boys, it was an interesting 35 minutes. I think I'll go hang out in front of the grocery store more often-----

 

I used to have one just like it but it was green......and a four door.......and it was a Chevy.

 

How many people knocked on it ....that was the one that always got me!

 

Have you told any of them that you designed it on a computer ? A really OLD computer !

 

They won't do that if your setting right in it, and look like you might bite!!! If you not sitting in it, but watching from a distance you will see them walk up to it, take a quick look around to see if anybodys looking, and then knock on it, stealthily.

 

either way that top came out awesome, looks great man

 

To this very damn day people still knock and peck on my car all the freaking time and several times people have wanted to argue with me and tell me my car is glass.

 

A few years ago I had some asshole come up at a car show and try to stick a magnet on the side of a glass 27 roadster I had built. He was explaining to his buddy that "that was the way to tell if a car was real or not". I grabbed the magnet and told him I'd break his fucking arm if I ever seen him trying to stick anything on a car of mine again, then threw the magnet in the river.

 

I don't know if all of the car shows on TV is helping the cause or hurting it......

I can't seem to go anywhere these days, with or without my car, and not hear a whole bunch of car-related bullshit spew out of someone's mouth. Of course my brother and some friends pretty-much run the local bar, and everyone is an expert on anything once they've had a few drinks!

 

dumb moms today let their kids act any kind of way... and yer such a bad person if you say anythign to 'their child' that might make them 'feel bad'... but I digress.

ya shoulda just smacked him. it woulda done him some good.



-W

 

A friend of my father's got fed up and sold his old Rolls Royce a couple of years ago because he got tired of leaving it somewhere, coming back and finding strangers sitting in it. He found one lady (at a car show) eating lunch with her 2 kids in the back.

 

It's the life style you lead. You're married, have children and the children like soft furry kittens. You're a nice man who looks in on the kitten (awww) and escorts the Mrs to the grocery store where you position yourself in the trailway of other people coming to procure foodstuffs.
You sit out there thinking you are a hotrodding badass and you find yourself being pounded to death by the beating of dove's wings. What went wrong?

Nothing. These folks are just reading your vibe. You aren't scaring or intimidating them. They feel comfortable approaching you. You've pretty much given them the okay. You're civilized. Alas.

You could resume cultivating that dangerous, unpredictable, outlaw image. You remember that edgy, potential for violence, possible drug use, hard drinking, sociopathic, probable criminal life?

That might get you some respect in public and keep the rabble at bay, silently staring, avoiding direct eye contact while you trim your cuticles with a Bowie knife.

 

yeesh. some people are so damn ignorant.

that is a good way to get mob violence started down here in Georgia.... messing with a guys hot rod/nice crusier/truck, etc..

-W

 

Why I'll bet you just found it in a neighbors garage huh ? Amazing how so
many people used to have one just like it. Well it's time to ckeck out my
neighbors garage, I'm sure there's an A or '32 just gathering dust and they
sure would appreciate my getting it out of there.
Fantastic '31. You done us proud.

---------------------------------------
Guess I'll saddle up my horse and ride into the city.

 

you need to get tattoos on your head and or face.....

 

Think of it as an opportunity to educate the un washed of the world, not everyone has the chance to be involved with a hot rod family or circle of friends. Maybe deep inside they want to be like you but just don't know the correct questions to ask. Remember, we live this shit, they just see it drive by.
chuck

 

People are retarded.

The only inkling of knowlege they have comes from the television.


Sometimes good things happen though.....
I was getting beer from the local store yesterday and a kid and his family comes in. The kid came running back out the door when I went to get in my car. He started in right away.....

...and actually it was a damn intelligent conversation.

He said things like: "did you make that yourself?" "Can I see under the hood?" and lastly "Burn out when you leave!"

His family wouldn't talk to me. Cause I was filthy and buying beer.

 

Yelling at a little kid for steping on a running board dosn't sit well with me. Why not just ask him to get off?..after all it was made for steping on and he dosn't know any better. I like it when kids get a kick out of my hot rods, I'll usually let 'em climb right in if they want. A hot rod is just a fucking car...a weird one that puts smiles on peoples faces. If it's to precious for the common man to touch leave it at home.

 

i must say...when i was very young we were used to be able to climb all over the '36 we had...and had to learn the hard way some people weren't cool with all that...but in my defence...i always gently stepped up on a runnin' board or two...

my grandfather had it out with a few people for getting a little too snappy....when your that young ,unless there's a big sighn that says "dont touch"...you can rarely tell whats what,until you get some experince under you...


with that said kids today are a whole 'nother issue,haha...little basterds...

 

Remind me to leave bigass bootprints on your car, but don't get offended when I do it, OK?

 

the guy next door thinks my 53 ford 2dr looks "just like christine" i just nod and smile. you could put my ford in a 58 fury and still have room ,the guy across the street asked if was a studebaker.i help them keep there shit working and they dont bitch when i drag in some old feild car .so it works

 

Benzine440---Nah, ya got the wrong guy. I never did consider myself a "hotrodding badass". Hey, I'm an old fat fucker 60 years old that has lived and breathed hotrods all my life. Your talking new age punk shit, or old school "James Dean" tough guy hotrodder that never really happened except on the big screen to amuse and terrify the idiot masses. I ran a rail dragster "back in the day".---been building hotrods since "back in the day".---but us old cats have never been considered "scary badass". Just a little nuts maybe. If I didn't enjoy the goofy conversations and the idiot questions, and the admiration, I'd put the roadster pickup in a trailer and only take it out after trailering it to high dollar car shows. I'd never take it out where people might see it or touch it, or ask goofy questions.----Shure did enjoy yelling at that kid though----

 

had my 31 coupe out today. went to the local auto zone for some price checking and the clerk refered to it as a rat rod. he was admiring it so i let it slide and explained the difference between a 31 and a 34. i dont think it looks like a 34 but i get that alot. while i am going over the finer points of the car this guy pulls up in a jeep and feels its necessary to tell me all about his brother inlaws collection of 34's. not just one but a whole slew of them. some people are just lucky with the 34's i guess.

 

as many of those stupid questions that are asked be aware, i got a great deal because of some old lady asking stupid questions, i just answerd as best as i could and had patience and guess what.................she told me about her neighbor who had this body for sale...............not a 32 3 window but a nice a i now own...................as much as it hurts just listen you will make there day and you never know,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

Hell, sometimes you don't even need a car............

Trying to enjoy a soda on base in a bar at Fort Campbell in '68, wearing a soft cap with "Hot Rod" (birthday present from my recent tour) embriodered on it and had to endure a local's tale 'bout a '59 chev with a pair of 409s side by side in the engine bay.

Couldn't resist asking several innocent questions and finally got to the point I had to supply the answers myself. After he left my buddy asked why I hadn't called the guy on any of several points. Told him what my old man'd always told me; the guy already knows he's full of it, you know it, I know it, likely everyone else who knows him knows it. Nothing I could've said could help someone like that, so just enjoy the humor and let it ride.

ps. Women do it that way by nature................

 

seems strange that you drive these kind of cars but don't really want to be noticed. When I drive mine I fully expect to receive this type of treatment. Does it get old? Yes. Is it annoying? No.
I let kids sit in my car all the time, and let the pictures fly. It's a piece of steel that was built. It can be rebuilt. When I don't want to be noticed, I drive my everyday car, or if I'm in the "good" car I never power park it. Reading this thread reminded me why I never ask another hotrod/custom owner anything. I don't want to offend or annoy.

 

hahahahaha..... thats awesome.

 

Man I'd walk clear across town to view your rod. Even if it is a kitty car.
( JUST KIDDING ! ) That is one nice ride. Pride is on yourside.





Guess I'll saddle up my horse and ride into the city

 

Next time someone asks, "Is that a kit car?" ask them,"What is a kitcar?" They probably dont know. Or you could say, "No, its a real car."