Thread: How I got addicted, in 100 words or less.

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When I was in my early teens (in about 1957 or so) old cars were everywhere, and cheap. I lived on a 3 acre little farmette, and had it pretty covered with old cars by the time I was 15. Every so often some kid would tell me about a friend who had some old car for sale, and the going rate was about $ 25 back then.

I also would call the local junkyards and ask what new cars they had gotten in (I didn't drive yet, so had to let my fingers do the walking ). They would tell me that such and such a car had just came in and it ran. The price was usually $25 to $ 35, and if you wanted the battery it was something like $3 more! (I never have figured that one out, why they wanted the battery as a seperate deal )

By the time I was 15 I had bought a Model A fordor (my Mom traded a sewing machine for it), a '38 Ford Fordor, a '37 Dodge four door, about 3 or 4 '50 Fords, including one MINT convertible, sans engine and tranny for $ 25 and he delivered it to my house, and a few more that I can't even remember. My Pop died when I was about 11, and the year before he passed he bought me a '32 Ford five window coupe, but sold it (without telling me) and bought me a 1950 Jeepster (that my Mom made me sell so I wouldn't kill myself at 11 driving it around our property)

The only time I got away from old cars was briefly from the time I got my license (all of a sudden dating GIRLS became lots more important ) up through the muscle car era of the mid '60's, when I got into GTO's. But my heart was always soundly attracted to fenderless hot rods and customs.

Had lots of false starts, and had lots of neat cars I had to sell over the years to support a hungry family, and finally about 20 years ago my life leveled off enough that I was able to start spending a few bucks to actually finish off and drive one of my creations. Now I am doing the things I couldn't afford to do in earlier years.

Don

PS: Good thread Jay, but I can't say anything in 100 words or less!! lol