Quote:
Originally Posted by Dixie
As I've matured, I've learned cars in their original condition, with all their quirks and charms, are the best.
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I agree. I've driven a lot of old cars and trucks and I enjoyed their quirks and charms. The fun thing about driving old cars and trucks is that you are really
involved in operating them. The one thing that seems to be universal, and the reason I wouldn't want to drive one on a regular basis, is that the cabs are cramped and the distance between the seat back and the pedals is always too short for my 6'1" frame.
I've also driven my friends '32 Ford hot rod pickup, it's faster and louder, but I wouldn't want to drive it on a regular basis either because the one thing that isn't improved is the size of the cab. It's fine for stylin' at the drive in, but not great transportation.
I restored my '47 Dodge to its original condition, not only to preserve its looks, but also to preserve the driving experience. I used it as a work truck and managed to put a lot of miles on it before I restored it.
To start the truck you have to press on the gas pedal a bit and pull out the choke and the hand throttle knobs. Step on the starter button with the toe of your foot while pumping the gas pedal with your heel.
Once it fires adjust the choke and hand throttle to keep it running until it warms up. I kept the choke in as far as I could when the engine was cold to keep from washing the cylinders with too much gasoline. To accelerate when the engine was cold I had to pull the choke out at the same time I stepped on the gas.
The "air conditioning' was a T-handle on the dash (you can see it through the steering wheel) that cranked out the windshield. How"comfortable" the cab was depended on how fast you were going.
I went to the Model T Driving School at the Gilmore Museum a few years ago - and I have the T-shirt!