In some respects I think it was easier back then.
Because you were often face-to-face with
real people and less likely to run into to self-proclaimed "experts" dispensing very questionable information via the internet. The sad fact is, the internet can give voice to people who perpetuate all sorts of incorrect information.
Think I'm kidding?
Even at the beginning of this post we read that tired old saw [DELETE]
The
real skill many of us have developed due to the internet is an improved ability to separate the wheat from the chaff. :friendly_wink:
Anyway, in the good old days it was easy to go "around back" in a dealership and talk to a real live mechanic about adjusting SU carbs. I did it plenty of times at Spreen's and Ed Roth's shop. I could drive over to Hank Thorpe's race shop and ask about ignition timing, shock oil or whatever. A Brit named Adrian owned an MG dealership in Ocean Grove. He would happily chat about MGs (and give good advice) anytime you stopped by.
I think we had less
total resources but more
true, knowledgeable resources back then.
Also, because we were not distracted by the internet, we tended to seek out more local friends with similar cars. I'm not saying that there isn't some of that today (I may go on a local MG Club rally tomorrow), but I think much of it has been replaced by much of the online stuff.
Here's a typical scene of cars at the Trenton State parking lot in 1970 (my car is Spiffy105). A lot of us sports car guy physically hung out together.
Here's a partial list of MG dealers in NJ when I was in college (I could drive 15 miles and pick up a fuel pump or similar, plus advise on how to install it, the same day).
BERGENFIELD 07621
Camelot Motors Inc. (8)
241 N. Washington Ave.
(201) 385-7676
CHERRY HILL 08034
Ed Roth, Inc. (8)
Route 38 Church Road
(609) 667-8300
DOVER 07801
C M Motors Incorporated (8)
Route 10 -Franklin Road
(201) 361-0017
EAST PATERSON 07407
Steiker Industries, Inc. (8)
10 Broadway
(201) 525-1002
EATONTOWN 07724
Monmouth Motors, Inc. (8)
Rte. 35
(201) 542-2414
EDISON 08817
T T Motors, Inc. (8)
1610 Woodbridge Avenue
(201) 572-2577
ELIZABETH 07208
E. K. Cumming Co., Inc. (8)
416 Morris Avenue
(201) 351-3131
ENGLEWOOD 07631
Kingsfield Motors, Inc. (8)
186 Engle St.
(201) 567-2300
FLEMINGTON 08822
Cher Rick Nemeth Incorporated (8)
Route 202
(201) 782-2322
GLASSBORO 08028
Ed Roth and Son, Inc. (8)
Delsea Dr.
(609) 881-3211
HACKENSACK 07601
Spreen's Motor Sales (8)
458 Passaic St.
(201) 487-5737
HAZLET 07730
Buhler Bitter, Inc. (8)
3290 Highway 35
(201) 264-0198
JERSEY CITY 07305
Rick's Auto Sales, Inc. (8)
1725-33 Kennedy Blvd.
(201) 435-3066
LAKEWOOD 08701
Lakewood Automobile Company (8)
199 Ocean Avenue
(201) 363-4444
METUCHEN 08840
Suburban Dodge, Inc. (8)
85 Central Ave.
(201) 548-3500
MONTCLAIR 07042
Imported Motor Car Co., Inc. (8)
34 Valley Rd.
(201) 746-4500 (212) 349-0296
MORRISTOWN 07960
Auto Imports of Morris County (8)
95 Morris St.
(201) 539-1515
NEWTON 07860
Leonard Motors, Inc. (8)
R.D. 3, Route 206 North
(201) 383-3740
NORTH PLAINFIELD 07060
Bristol Motors, Inc. (8)
Rte. 22 Westervelt Ave.
(201) 755-6400
OCEAN GROVE 07756
A G Motors, Inc. (8)
82 South Main St.
(201) 775-3483
ORANGE 07050
Bekrag Auto Sales Corp. (8)
199 Central Avenue
(201) 676-6070 (201) 676-5200
PHILLIPSBURG 08865
Phillipsburg Motor Co., Inc. (8)
11 Union Square
(201) 859-4218
PRINCETON 08540
Cregar Motors, Inc. (8)
830 State Rd.
(609) 924-0900
RAMSEY 07446
Ramsey Motors Inc. (8)
138 N. Central Avenue
(201) 327-3200
SOMERS POINT 08244
Harbor Marine Imports (8)
611 Bay Avenue
(609) 927-4101
SUMMIT 07901
Cahill-Caffey, Inc. (8)
312 Springfield Ave.
(201) 2,73-4800
TRENTON 08638
Angelo's Motor Sales, Inc. (8)
1440 Prospect St.
(609) 883-3777
WAYNE 07470
Bremen Automotive Ltd. (8)
1107 Route 23
(201) 696-6060