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Sometimes Things Happen

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equiprx said:
I was lucky, my dad was a master mechanic and didn't even blink when I wanted an imported car.
When they broke he was always ready to show me how to repair them.
I don't have very much positive to say about him, but that aspect was positive.
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My dad, good a guy as he was, wasn't someone you'd go to for fixing stuff. He just wasn't mechanical, I got it my folks said from my grandfather who had the knack. He passed before I was born so I never got to know him. Anyway, when the Sunbeam Alpine showed up in the local paper when I was 16, had no idea what it was but when we went to take a look I had to have it since it was so different from what I was used to seeing round town. Never regretted it, drove it to high school, college, off to LA from SW Ohio for the first job when I got out and back when I moved back. 51 years I've had it in my garage this last September.

But, one lesson, never tell a lady you're still driving your high school car, somehow they just don't find it that impressive.....
 
AngliaGT said:
Sorry if I offended anyone,as this was posted in jest.
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mikephillips said:
My dad, good a guy as he was, wasn't someone you'd go to for fixing stuff. He just wasn't mechanical, I got it my folks said from my grandfather who had the knack. He passed before I was born so I never got to know him. Anyway, when the Sunbeam Alpine showed up in the local paper when I was 16, had no idea what it was but when we went to take a look I had to have it since it was so different from what I was used to seeing round town. Never regretted it, drove it to high school, college, off to LA from SW Ohio for the first job when I got out and back when I moved back. 51 years I've had it in my garage this last September.

But, one lesson, never tell a lady you're still driving your high school car, somehow they just don't find it that impressive.....
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Mine never lasted long enough, drove them like I stole them, lots of miles so I got my moneys worth.
 
Well, it's needed a bunch of work over the years, new floors, replacement front fenders from a wreck and so on. Fortunately I've got enough of a knack for the work I've done it all myself. Just couldn't let the ole girl go...
 
mikephillips said:
Well, it's needed a bunch of work over the years, new floors, replacement front fenders from a wreck and so on. Fortunately I've got enough of a knack for the work I've done it all myself. Just couldn't let the ole girl go...
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The Sunbeam is a worthy task to revive.
I was tempted to find one but by that time they were out of my price range.
There was a Roots Group Garage near me that specialized in them.
 
That was one nice thing back in 74 when I got it, we're only talking a couple hundred for my then high school car. Combined with learning to do most of my own work early on, and having that knack, it hasn't cost what it would to have a pro do everything. Knew a guys once who spent $100k to have a so called suicide door caddy redone, would have been well out of my price range even now.
 
mikephillips said:
That was one nice thing back in 74 when I got it, we're only talking a couple hundred for my then high school car. Combined with learning to do most of my own work early on, and having that knack, it hasn't cost what it would to have a pro do everything. Knew a guys once who spent $100k to have a so called suicide door caddy redone, would have been well out of my price range even now.
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Saw a video recently about why young people aren't in the hobby - and yes the usual tropes were there (not interested/ prius/ can't drove standard etc) but his also made the point that everyone thinks the car in their field is worth 5k unrestored (I know what I have!) That you can't buy cars for a couple of hundred dollars any longer. I hadn't considered that aspect of it.
 
A couple hundred dollars in 1970 would be about $2000 today.

But ...

Back in the day (as they say), you found "classics" for sale just down the street, or in some weekly/monthly trade papers and local club newsletters. A limited audience, and no immediate gratification possible. Fewer buyers, and fewer flippers.

Today with the 'net, you have buyers and flippers snatching up cars simply to sell again for profit. As many of us have experienced, those who like classic cars are frequently unable to find anything affordable - they're quickly bought and resold. So young people who *might* get into the hobby lose interest, or have to depend on family to give/buy a car for them.

oy
 
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