How can you feel so excited when sad?

[Saavik]

My b/f grew up very poor and had to learn how to fix a lot of things.
His grandma raised him and he had no one to teach him , he just learned on his own. When he worked on a car he would laid the parts down in the order they came off , and just put the parts back by working his way down the row. . Once he got better he was able to work on a car and knew where the parts belong. The guy had the bread van took the engine and dumped the parts into a bucket and he had no idea how to put it back together. My b/f took one look at the mess and knew how to put the engine back together . Cars where easier to work on in the 40's and 50's too.
You could take a course to learn how to fix cars , it would be cheaper to fix your own car.

I not only grew up very poor, I still am, but I have always wanted to resrote a DeLorean. I have looked but there doesn't seem to be a single automotive course anywhere around here.

 

[Reba]

My dad grew up poor on a farm in Indiana during the Depression. When his parents divorced, he as a young boy was left with his grandparents to raise. He wore old overalls to his one-room schoolhouse, and most of the time had no shoes to wear.

When he was 10 years old he started his own radio repair shop. Ironically, his family's farm had no electricity, so he he test the radios on a battery. He sent a portion of his earnings to his mom back East, to help her support his younger siblings. He learned mechanics on the family's farm equipment.

One of his hobbies later in life was restoring old cars. When he was in his 20's he had a classic Dusenberg. Later, he also worked on motorcycles, including his Indian Chief. When he was middle-aged, he restored old Imperials (not Chrysler Imperials).

 

[sonocativo]

I learned as I grew up in a family of construction and mechanical, My dad taught me a lot just by watching him and asking questions. then I ventured off and he would guide me or if I had a question he would give advice.
I learned a lot by trial and error as well being on my own, started working on motorcycles when I was young, my dad put in words at his employer when they needed a replacement to rebuild/trouble shoot, modify and design machinery... I got the job and ended up being the best, operating a full machine shop and making my own parts to rebuild machinery... I started with nothing under my belt and ended up with 6 years hands on and by time I left I was making more than everyone there besides my dad. I moved on working in the medical fields then eventually landing a career with the city for 15 years in various departments from Forestry, Water, Health and lastly Building. I am an all around handyman, master of none.

 

[Reba]

I not only grew up very poor, I still am, but I have always wanted to resrote a DeLorean. I have looked but there doesn't seem to be a single automotive course anywhere around here.

No technical colleges around your area?

 

[Tousi]

My dad grew up poor on a farm in Indiana during the Depression. When his parents divorced, he as a young boy was left with his grandparents to raise. He wore old overalls to his one-room schoolhouse, and most of the time had no shoes to wear.

When he was 10 years old he started his own radio repair shop. Ironically, his family's farm had no electricity, so he he test the radios on a battery. He sent a portion of his earnings to his mom back East, to help her support his younger siblings. He learned mechanics on the family's farm equipment.

One of his hobbies later in life was restoring old cars. When he was in his 20's he had a classic Dusenberg. Later, he also worked on motorcycles, including his Indian Chief. When he was middle-aged, he restored old Imperials (not Chrysler Imperials).

It they weren't Chryslers, what were they?

 

[Reba]

I learned as I grew up in a family of construction and mechanical, My dad taught me a lot just by watching him and asking questions.

Yep. That's what TCS (Hubby) did too. He helped his dad on their house, and his uncle on his farm during the summers. He learned construction skills and automotive skills.

I learned a lot by trial and error as well being on my own, started working on motorcycles when I was young, my dad put in words at his employer when they needed a replacement to rebuild/trouble shoot, modify and design machinery... I got the job and ended up being the best, operating a full machine shop and making my own parts to rebuild machinery... I started with nothing under my belt and ended up with 6 years hands on and by time I left I was making more than everyone there besides my dad. I moved on working in the medical fields then eventually landing a career with the city for 15 years in various departments from Forestry, Water, Health and lastly Building. I am an all around handyman, master of none.

That's great. It's a shame that young people these days either don't have those opportunities or aren't willing to take advantage of them when they do. My younger grandson has been working as a paid intern for a machine shop since he was 16. He does CAD work at the shop and at home with software from the employer.

Many artisan jobs these days go unfilled because young people don't want to apprentice as stone and brick masons, custom iron-workers, etc. Guys in their 80's are still doing the work but after they're gone, then what?

 

[The Highlander]

Very true. Cars now are very computer-technology dependent now. It's much harder to be a shade-tree mechanic these days.

High schools used to include automotive shop classes. I don't think that they do that now, in general. Everything is college focused now rather than teaching any trades skills.

Lots of young people now can hack a computer but they can't change a tire or do an oil change on a car.

If no computer-technology for cars then they won't made more than 16 MPG at all, very high pollution, fire risk, high accident risk, made drivers feel comfortable with technology as power windows, start remote, etc.

I took automotive shop classes from high school in 2001.

You will surprised when there is no change a tire or oil change in the future.

 

[Reba]

It they weren't Chryslers, what were they?

Imperials (1955-83).

Back in the day, you would see dealership signs that read "Chrysler, Dodge, & Imperial." My dad liked the ones that were land yachts. He bought his first one new in 1958, cash, with a royalty check from one of his inventions. It was two-tone blue. I remember it well. Very comfy and roomy. It was the first car we had loaded with electronic windows, door locks, mirrors, AC, etc. Brocade upholstery. Wide band white wall tires. Lots of chrome hazards on the dash.

All his other ones were white. After he moved to Southern California he decided white was best.

 

[Tousi]

Imperials (1955-83).

Back in the day, you would see dealership signs that read "Chrysler, Dodge, & Imperial." My dad liked the ones that were land yachts. He bought his first one new in 1958, cash, with a royalty check from one of his inventions. It was two-tone blue. I remember it well. Very comfy and roomy. It was the first car we had loaded with electronic windows, door locks, mirrors, AC, etc. Brocade upholstery. Wide band white wall tires. Lots of chrome hazards on the dash.

All his other ones were white. After he moved to Southern California he decided white was best.

Oh, ok, I see now. I thought they were a Chrysler product. My own Dad had one, too.....some kind of ugly green one and had "shark" fins and I think a push-button drive.

 

[Reba]

Oh, ok, I see now. I thought they were a Chrysler product. My own Dad had one, too.....some kind of ugly green one and had "shark" fins and I think a push-button drive.

This is 1958 (color in photo is not accurate):

 

[Jane B.]

Oh, ok, I see now. I thought they were a Chrysler product. My own Dad had one, too.....some kind of ugly green one and had "shark" fins and I think a push-button drive.

No quite sure how to take what you are saying. I think they were part of the same corporation as Chrysler, Plymouth, Dodge . . .

It was the late 1950's when it seemed that just about every mfg. had large "fins". Some had more than others. Cadillac's stayed quite minimal.

 

[Tousi]

This is 1958 (color in photo is not accurate):

Thanks, yeah, I now think the "shark fin" was a Chrysler product. Dad DID have one Imperial cuz he bought it, of course, at the local Chrysler dealership. Dad was friends with the owner of this dealership and for years, Dad would get his next Chrysler a year old cuz the rich wife of a local home builder got a new one yearly and somewhere along the line he got one of her Imperials.

 

[Reba]

No quite sure how to take what you are saying. I think they were part of the same corporation as Chrysler, Plymouth, Dodge....

"The Chrysler Imperial, introduced in 1926, was the company's top of the range vehicle for much of its history. Models were produced with the Chrysler name until 1954, and again from 1990 to 1993. Chrysler advised state licensing bureaus that beginning in 1955, the Imperial was to be registered as a separate make. It was an attempt to compete directly with GM's Cadillac and Ford's Lincoln distinct luxury-focused marques, rather than Chrysler's traditional and lower-priced brands: Buick and Oldsmobile. The Imperial automobiles continued to be retailed through Chrysler dealerships. A distinct marketing channel was not established; thus, the Imperial nameplate failed to separate itself from the other Chrysler models and become a stand-alone marque."
MyClassicGarage

 

[Jane B.]

Thanks, yeah, I now think the "shark fin" was a Chrysler product. Dad DID have one Imperial cuz he bought it, of course, at the local Chrysler dealership. Dad was friends with the owner of this dealership and for years, Dad would get his next Chrysler a year old cuz the rich wife of a local home builder got a new one yearly and somewhere along the line he got one of her Imperials.

Many of you have probably seen my posts of my dad selling Oldsmobile, Buick, Cadillac and GMC trucks.

Well. . . talk about a frequent customer. He had one guy had oil interests in Southern Illinois and Oklahoma and at the time air conditioning was just coming out he would buy one Cadillac with air for the summer and one without for the winter. Once his car got sideswiped while parked and he didn't fix it but traded it in!

 

[Tousi]

My Dad never traded his one year olds yearly but the dealership owner did call him yearly to tell him which Chrysler the aforementioned lady traded in.........Dad would get these one year olds about every five years......

We weren't wealthy, just small farmers....

 

[Reba]

One of my dad's younger brothers became a service manager at a Dodge dealership and would get a new "demo" Dodge to drive each year. He didn't own the car but he could use it as the family car. They weren't rich either but we kids thought they were because they had a new car every year.

His son also refurbishes old cars now. When he was a kid he made go carts from scratch.

My dad's youngest brother used to make remote control airplanes, and eventually made single-person custom airplanes as a hobby.

My brother used set off rockets in our yard. Some came back down safely with parachutes, some... well, let's just say we got a visit from the fire department. (Maybe kids aren't allowed to do these things now.)

 

[Reba]

My father-in-law worked all his adult life on the assembly line at Fisher Body in Lansing, MI. He bought Oldsmobiles every few years with his employee discount. (In those days, if employes didn't buy an Olds it was almost disloyalty.)

Of course, those days are long gone.

 

[Reba]

Many of you have probably seen my posts of my dad selling Oldsmobile, Buick, Cadillac and GMC trucks.

Well. . . talk about a frequent customer. He had one guy had oil interests in Southern Illinois and Oklahoma and at the time air conditioning was just coming out he would buy one Cadillac with air for the summer and one without for the winter. Once his car got sideswiped while parked and he didn't fix it but traded it in!

That's funny about the AC. It's ridiculous but good for your dad's business.

My cousin (not rich at all but quirky) one day noticed that her car needed new tires. So she bought a new car. It made perfect sense to her.

 

[whatdidyousay!]

My dad grew up poor on a farm in Indiana during the Depression. When his parents divorced, he as a young boy was left with his grandparents to raise. He wore old overalls to his one-room schoolhouse, and most of the time had no shoes to wear.

When he was 10 years old he started his own radio repair shop. Ironically, his family's farm had no electricity, so he he test the radios on a battery. He sent a portion of his earnings to his mom back East, to help her support his younger siblings. He learned mechanics on the family's farm equipment.

One of his hobbies later in life was restoring old cars. When he was in his 20's he had a classic Dusenberg. Later, he also worked on motorcycles, including his Indian Chief. When he was middle-aged, he restored old Imperials (not Chrysler Imperials).

My dad was born in Russia in 1892 and his family lived a house with a dirt floor. That is where the expression 'dirt poor' came from. He was the first person his family to have car and his mother was so proud she laid down on her side right next to car and had her photo taken. Someone in my family now has the photo and I want a copy of it so bad . Dad worked on cars too
but he once he made money by being a successful businessman brought his car into be fixed. Dad and one of his brother had buckle factory together and they made a lot money during WW 11 . My dad promises himself that he go never go hungry again and not have any food for days. He worked till the day he dies at the age 75. Dad drove a truck during WW 1 and worked on trucks when they needed repaired.

I think people from our parents generation where more motivated than people today because thy had to be. You got ahead by hard work and took risks, your dad with his radio shop, my dad with buckles factory and shoes store
which did not work out.

 

[Jane B.]

One of my dad's younger brothers became a service manager at a Dodge dealership and would get a new "demo" Dodge to drive each year. He didn't own the car but he could use it as the family car. They weren't rich either but we kids thought they were because they had a new car every year.

His son also refurbishes old cars now. When he was a kid he made go carts from scratch.

My dad's youngest brother used to make remote control airplanes, and eventually made single-person custom airplanes as a hobby.

My brother used set off rockets in our yard. Some came back down safely with parachutes, some... well, let's just say we got a visit from the fire department. (Maybe kids aren't allowed to do these things now.)

What I have added the bold to sounds so much like my father's situation that I described in post #23 in this thread!