Old Car Etiquette.

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2012: Old Car Etiquette.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Gary Hagen on Saturday, August 11, 2012 - 04:47 pm:

Hello Guys, If we together as a team came up with an old car etiquete guide specifically for the Model T and A to hand out to the public what would it include?
#1 would be. The reason you should ask if you should touch it or not is you might burn yourself on the radiator. #2 would be. If you see one on the road pretend that it does not have brakes so don't pull in front of it. #3 follow the rules and I might someday if I have the time stop by your house and give you a ride around the block. Have any other ideas guys? For those of you that are more tech savy than myself we could have a link on the forum so one could print it out and have it laminated at Staples for people to read.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Darel J. Leipold on Saturday, August 11, 2012 - 04:57 pm:

#4 Do not fiddle with the levers !


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dick Lodge - St Louis MO on Saturday, August 11, 2012 - 05:08 pm:

#5 If you ask if you may sit in it, I will probably say yes. If you just climb in without asking, I will probably tell you to get out.

#6 As far as honking the horn is concerned, see #5.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Wes Nelson ........Bucyrus, MO on Monday, August 13, 2012 - 02:01 am:

How about a little simpler plan:

RULE NUMBER 1: Ask me first

Rule NUMBER 2: If you're unsure.. refer to RULE NUMBER 1

Thank You


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tom Miller, Mostly in Dearborn on Monday, August 13, 2012 - 07:03 am:

Don't ask how much my car is worth. Instead ask how much it would cost to get into the hobby.

Don't ask me how much the car parked next to me is worth.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By DAVID SPENCE on Monday, August 13, 2012 - 07:25 am:

A few of us took our cars out yesterday and stopped in beautiful part of the Cotswolds in UK , people everywhere, got fed up telling people not to climb in the cars ,open the doors , press the horn , run hands over my nicely restored 15 and dont touch the radiator .

In the end couple of kids touched my brass rad , lesson learned, education is such a wonderful thing dont you think.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dan B on Monday, August 13, 2012 - 08:37 am:

When someone asks me what my car is worth, I say "I have no idea what my car I worth, but if you wanted one like it, you could probably get one in show condition for around $15,000."

It never fails that they usually sound...disappointed? Like they expect me to say $100k or something. I guess they equate something being old with being valuable.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dan B on Monday, August 13, 2012 - 08:46 am:

Also, I think it's funny how often the following conversation occurs (don't mean to high jack your thread, but I think it's worth mentioning) :

"Wow that's a nice car. Is that a Model T or something?"

Yep, it's a 1923 Model T Ford.

"Ah cool. Yea, my uncle has a old Ford like that."

Oh, cool!

"Yea its all redone. Its got a big block Chevy in it and turbocharged. The interior cost him like ten thousand."


At which point, I have to act interested in a hot rod that has nothing in common with a Model T other than it goes on a road. Some people can't stand the conversation not being about them for even just a couple minutes!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bob Coiro on Monday, August 13, 2012 - 10:27 am:

When it comes to strangers, I get a little uncomfortable with the vulgar subject of money. This started with the very first time I took my car out. It happened that my tank was a little low on fuel, so trip #1 was to a gas station. The first comment from the foreign-born gentleman working the pumps was, "How much did you pay for that?" He might as well have asked how much my boss pays me.

I get that a lot at car shows, too, but now I'm a little better prepared. I answer, "I didn't even tell that to my wife!" Then, I go into the schpiel about how the Model T was one of the least expensive cars of its day and even now, among cars of similar vintage, it's the cheapest car to buy and how you can get into the Model T hobby for as little as six or seven grand.

Am I the only one who gets uncomfortable about this?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Willie K Cordes on Monday, August 13, 2012 - 10:49 am:

Gary, I do not think your "hand out" idea would work. There are more people out there than I want to try to educate.
Car shows are open invitations for people to look etc.
I make tours, both local and national, and I do not have very many problems with the public. I do not own a show only car, all my cars are "tour" cars.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Aaron Griffey, Hayward Ca. on Monday, August 13, 2012 - 11:10 am:

Bob, you know you gotta have parts machined for those cars and tires custom made!
Since we know you are spending thousands every week to keep it running why would you not want to tell us about the millions you have to spend on the car every year?

There is an idiot born every minute and when they grow up they go to car shows and ask dumb questions.
In my case it has gone like this:
How much did you pay for the car?
My wife paid the guy $2600 about 18 years ago.
$2600!!!!!!?????
Well it needed paint, upholstery, a top and an engine rebuild. The tires were good.
Well those cars are worth more than that. They don't build them any more.
So are you going to have me jailed for buying a rolling pile of scrap iron too cheap or are you just going to kill me now? Oh, and I spent a lot of time and money fixing this car up so get your back pack off the fender.

There is a place in San Jose called Kelly Park known as History Park. Every year, I think in September, a few hundred peopl show up with their old cars(pre-war) and just park them and walk around and look and chat with other owners and the general public. Cars, owners and the public are admitted free.
We wonder around under the big trees and eat & drink and look at old engines and cars and motorcycles, ride the antique street car and listen to the old-time band.
You may see a guy drive around with a family in his old car but no kids climbing on unattended cars or fools having their pictures taken in groups of five while standing on a running board (you know running boards were made to stand on while shooting at people, don't you?).
Most spectators know a little about the old car hobby and it is just great. A lot of them have old cars themselves.
That is the only car show I go to anymore.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Aaron Griffey, Hayward Ca. on Monday, August 13, 2012 - 11:15 am:

Dan, when they tell me about the big block, etc. I DON'T act interested in hot rods. In fact I tell them I am not very interested in hot rods and I now like to keep cars as they were in the days they were built.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Randy Milano on Monday, August 13, 2012 - 11:23 am:

I like Tom Miller's comment. What's it worth to me? I can't put a price on it. It's everything I could ever want.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Charlie B actually in Toms River N.J. on Monday, August 13, 2012 - 11:27 am:

Nice idea. Problem is half will read part of it. Half of those will follow the rules and the rest will do as they please any way. Some can't (won't ?) follow a simple Please Don't Touch sign.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dana A. Crosby in Glendale, Az on Monday, August 13, 2012 - 11:38 am:

Dan B.....Hey, "I resemble that remark"...I'm old and I'm valuable, aren't I?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Steven Thum on Monday, August 13, 2012 - 11:57 am:

The disrespecting of old cars is everywhere. I was talking to Greg, the head of props at the Muny Opera, about old cars and he told me the story of last year when they used a pristine restored 57 Thunderbird in the show. In the first rehearsal he drove the car on stage and the dancers proceeded to rub against the car with one dancer sliding across the hood on his back. Greg stopped the show and got into a heated discussion with the choreographer about whether he wanted to pay for a ten thousand dollar paint job or not. The car was not touched any more.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Steve Jelf, Parkerfield KS on Monday, August 13, 2012 - 12:34 pm:

It's not just cars. When a local church had its centennial, I was astonished to see the original 1887 charter stuck up on a bulletin board with thumb tacks. Cluelessness is deep and widespread.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ricks - Surf City on Monday, August 13, 2012 - 12:53 pm:

Our media is no help. PBS "History Detectives" shows their "experts" handling precious old artifacts and papers in museums, without gloves. It makes us cringe.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dan B on Monday, August 13, 2012 - 01:04 pm:

An old engineer where I work once told me "You will spend your entire life frustrated by people who are not engineers.".

And while I venture to guess that there are quite a few on this forum, and some that are not, I believe most of us are capable, critical thinkers based on the hobby that we have chosen. So I think it's far to say that the comment still applies.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jim Patrick on Monday, August 13, 2012 - 01:27 pm:

While the front fenders look like they would be fun for your kids to slide down, they are not slides, so please do not treat them a such. If you or your kids want to climb, hang, jump, swing, bounce, or slide, go to the playground. Jim Patrick


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