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General Present Attitude: Classic Cars

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I've been to the Dixon show in fact I managed to win a peoples choice award the year they had to have it in Woodland. It is a very good production. Many years ago it was where I met Norman Nock when I had just started looking for a car to restore. I asked if he knew of any 100/6 or later Big Healeys for sale and he suggested I might look for a 100 as they were a little better buy at the time. So it goes.
 
My recently sold BJ8s got lots of attention when we out and about .
lots of questions about where they came from and what kind of car is it how old they are etc etc .The kids loved them.
Funny story .
We did a summer vacation last year out to the Maritimes . Nova Scotia , Cabot Trail ,PEI etc . We went in my Aston Martin Vantage .
Im filling up at a gas station and some guy comments on the beautiful car . He follows me in to the store where I’m paying for gas .
He commented “ I didn’t know that Chrysler made a two seater “
I kindly suggested he go look closer at the badge and emblem ........he came back laughing his ass off and apologizing profusely when he actually read what the car was .
 
A couple of years ago I was enjoying a coffee while sitting outside. My TR6 was parked nearby. A lady walked by my car and stopped to have a look at it. She asked "is that your car?". I said "yes" to which she replied "Nice Mercedes!"
I just said "thank you" and she kept going... I didn't have the heart to correct her :rolleye:
 
We were coming home from a road trip one year and drove through Bolinas, CA. Bolinas residents are very protective of their, um, privacy, and known for taking down road signs pointing the way to the town. At the north edge of town, they were marshaling a parade, apparently celebrating some local historical occasion, and they asked us to participate in the parade! We even got a couple votes for 'best in show,' or something similar.

The only negative I ever got was when I was pumping gas in Oregon--you weren't supposed to pump your own back then, but if you asked nice they would usually let you--and a tree-hugger type came over and started giving me crap about driving a polluter, or something. I looked at him and told him to '**** Off,' and he decided to move on.
 
Healey Nut said:
My recently sold BJ8s got lots of attention when we out and about .
lots of questions about where they came from and what kind of car is it how old they are etc etc .The kids loved them.
Funny story .
We did a summer vacation last year out to the Maritimes . Nova Scotia , Cabot Trail ,PEI etc . We went in my Aston Martin Vantage .
Im filling up at a gas station and some guy comments on the beautiful car . He follows me in to the store where I’m paying for gas .
He commented “ I didn’t know that Chrysler made a two seater “
I kindly suggested he go look closer at the badge and emblem ........he came back laughing his ass off and apologizing profusely when he actually read what the car was .
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And of course you know, Healey Rick, I cannot tell you how many times people have in the past tried to guess what my Healey is (without able to notice the markings), only to guess by responding, "M.G., right?" Rarely, I've heard the words, "Aston Martin?"
 
pkmh said:
And of course you know, Healey Rick, I cannot tell you how many times people have in the past tried to guess what my Healey is (without able to notice the markings), only to guess by responding, "M.G., right?" Rarely, I've heard the words, "Aston Martin?"
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I pulled into a parking space and there was an Austin Healey parked next to me. When I got out I jokingly asked him “what year Miata is that?”
Oh boy, you could see the steam coming off him! I did tell him I liked his Healey and then he knew I was kidding.
 
Maybe it's a regional thing, I can't drive the BJ8 or the AMX without somebody saying something or getting thumbs up and even waves from other classic car drivers around here.
 
British and North American vintage cars do attract smiles, and I hope that people keep on liking them. But I was not ready for the attention that VW transporters and buses attract these days. Even though they are not worth the price of a Healey, the VW bay window Westfalia and the VW split window single cab are people magnets. Anyone else on here also like the early air cooled engines?
 
Well JON :

I have traveled all over USA Canada and Alaska in the Healey, never had any trouble wit folks about the car.
In San Diego to attend their car show , I had just registered in the motel and I asked the clerk if I could Park in the area of covered packing sure! .
I was moving the car to one of those spots when a gentleman stopped me and said you can not park that car there , follow me he led me to his garage removed his BJ9and told me to drive in then gave me the key to the garage. How bout that He was the motel MGR.
 
pkmh said:
And of course you know, Healey Rick, I cannot tell you how many times people have in the past tried to guess what my Healey is (without able to notice the markings), only to guess by responding, "M.G., right?" Rarely, I've heard the words, "Aston Martin?"
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So many times people have asked me what my car is and when I tell them "Austin-Healey" they smile and say, "Just like James Bond." I used to correct them and tell them it wasn't the Bond car and see the look of disappointment on their face. Now, I just say "Exactly" and we both leave happy. Healey drivers tend to drive with scrunched necks waiting to be rear-ended by someone who didn't see the low-placed brake lights (happened to me) I've lately noticed cars driving way too close to my back end for my comfort and seeing the passenger leaning forward, peering at the trunk badge and mouthing the words " A-u-s-t-i-n H-e-a -l-e-y"
 
Wish I had a dollar for every time I here some guy try to impress his lady when looking at my Aston “ look honey it’s an Austin Martin”
 
blueskies said:
British and North American vintage cars do attract smiles, and I hope that people keep on liking them. But I was not ready for the attention that VW transporters and buses attract these days. Even though they are not worth the price of a Healey, the VW bay window Westfalia and the VW split window single cab are people magnets. Anyone else on here also like the early air cooled engines?
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I had a 1971 Beetle for a short time. That was air cooled. I enjoyed the concept and design of the Beetle very much.
 
HealeyRick said:
So many times people have asked me what my car is and when I tell them "Austin-Healey" they smile and say, "Just like James Bond." I used to correct them and tell them it wasn't the Bond car and see the look of disappointment on their face. Now, I just say "Exactly" and we both leave happy. Healey drivers tend to drive with scrunched necks waiting to be rear-ended by someone who didn't see the low-placed brake lights (happened to me) I've lately noticed cars driving way too close to my back end for my comfort and seeing the passenger leaning forward, peering at the trunk badge and mouthing the words " A-u-s-t-i-n H-e-a -l-e-y"
Click to expand...

Yep! I got that "James Bond" thing a lot, too!
 
Could be that in this time of social distancing, folks feel less inclined to interact with others on any level. Plus with fewer people visiting museums, dining out, shopping, vacationing, etc. maybe we've got our heads down and generally more insulated from the external world, including noticing cool cars.
 
There was a time when I was out in the E-type and some guy came over and told me I'd really F'ed up that Corvette and I needed to change it back. I suppose I should have given him credit for seeing a slight passing resemblance, but when I told him it was a Jag, he told me I was wrong or lying since they didn't make 2 doors...
 
While in Oregon on a Rendezvous, one of our members pulled into a gas station ahead of me. The attendant looked all over for the filler cap on his 100 and he wasn't about to tell her. So she finally let him fill his tank. The 100 owner told me that one time an attendant told him that he had never seen an "Un Do" before (reading the wheel hub).
 
We can all agree that the usual response from folks is an emotional one! Most people have such great stories to share, while others just want to know what it is. With most moderns "murdered out" in all black, an Austin Healey in red paint, flashy chrome and that cracking bark from twin (blown) glasspacks helps. Even when sitting in the garage it'll attract attention.

We're just a tiny parade for almost everyone's enjoyment. Just don't ask me what it's worth because I'll shamelessly lie. Gonzo
 
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