Honk if You Were Ever Devoted to a Car

[Cobrar]

In this mornings WSJournal ~ thought that some might appreciate the sentiment.


http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324178904578341941863887454.html

 

[Empty Pockets]

"HONK".

It's happened more than once.

And it's strange he mentioned the problem he had parting with the family Plymouth as a kid. In my case it was a '48 Olds torpedo back 2dr sdn...the only car I'd ever seen up to the time we got it that had only TWO pedals on the floor.


"Ever since he was born, his father had one and his mother had another, and teenagers in his world got their own vehicles as a matter of entitlement."

'Absolute GOSPEL. Every kid wanted a car - especially the males. In high school, a car was practically mandatory for guys (and it had better be a two door!). There was just something wrong with any guy who didn't have his own wheels. (That wasn't quite the case with the girls - but, their dates had better have had one!) Aaaaaaaaaah the good ole days...

Shoot, now days if a teen even has his own wheels it's not much to look at (read that; 4 door econobox 'clunker'). But, you can bet it will have a stereo - and IT will probably be worth far more than the car was new. The country's gone to hell, I tell ya. (I was going to say "pot"...but...:willy)

 

[RALPHIE]

I recall the same scenario -

Traveled to California with my brother and parents in 1950, from Cleveland, Ohio (birthplace). A memorable trip, stopping at National Parks and other attractions. Southern route through Lexington, Memphis, Little Rock, Fort Worth, El Paso, White City (N.M.), Yuma to San Diego.

The car - a 1949 Pontiac "Chieftain" Deluxe.

http://www.earlytimeschapter.org/1949.html

View attachment 28202

I always loved the lighted hood ornament of Chief Pontiac's face.

 

[2112]

Pockets,

A huge portion of kids now days are totally satisfied with a smartphone. They don't even care to get a license, let alone a car.

Ralphie, that Pontiac is beautiful.

My parents drove around a 66' Impala SS. They hated it ("Gas hog") and sold it long before I got a license. Would have loved to have kept that car. I begged them to keep it but in those days, parents did not let kids influence major decision like they do now. :rolleyes

Last but not least, the author is a local radio commentator (a smart one at that) and it always strikes me as ironic to see this come out of an area that has such a strong anti-car culture. Of course there are many gear heads too but the overlying mantra is cars are evil. He mentions just that in the piece.

 

[BlackICE]

Last but not least, the author is a local radio commentator (a smart one at that) and it always strikes me as ironic to see this come out of an area that has such a strong anti-car culture. Of course there are many gear heads too but the overlying mantra is cars are evil. He mentions just that in the piece.

Not surprising, the public schools teach the kids about global warming, the evils of burning fossils fuels that spew green house gases.

 

[BelgianGT]

A huge portion of kids now days are totally satisfied with a smartphone. They don't even care to get a license, let alone a car.

Absolutely true. Over here we only can get a licence as of 18. My daughter's almost 20 - my son 19 in 3 months and neither of them make the effort of getting a driver's licence. My daughter at least tried and didn't pass already 3 times. I bought a car for them( starters car) and it's standing there without usuage. I've asked their mother whether I'm really the father

Both of them are very keen about their Iphone

 

[Empty Pockets]

Pockets,

... but the overlying mantra is cars are evil.

...ditto guns (witness the PopTart "gun", the paper "gun", and all the rest).

But, regarding cars: I've noticed fewer and fewer young kids and teens attending car shows/cruises in my neck of the woods - with parents or w/o. I would hope that's not the case in places like, say, the Carolinas - or Cali, since it's the birthplace & Mecca of rods and customs. But I'd bet even there the 'count' is down. 'Does not bode well for the future of the car hobby.

What's that Janice Joplin line, "You don't know what you've got 'til it's gone"? 'Case in point...

I'll shuddup now.


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