Men Of A Certain Age, I are one

I need to whine amongst my peers.

About 13 years ago, I decided to stop messing around with stupid little Rangers and Nissans and buy a proper man's truck. I once had a $200 '65 Ford that treated me very well, so decided to get another of the same vintage because they are cool looking and I could use it for car cruises as well as occasional hauling of stuff. I wound up finding another '65 in pretty nice shape for a few thousand bucks and we established a good working relationship. Since we are both the same age, I tend to tolerate it's curmudgeonly quirks as it ignores mine. I changed it to disc brakes, added some fatter tires and gave it the dual exhausts it always wanted. And that's about it...my 'rolling restoration' plan never came to fruition. There was always another neat car or the race car taking up my time, and the truck just worked. When I started racing, it was put to use towing the entire ensemble to the track. Grassroots, baby! I was absurdly surprised at the attention it got in the paddock--everyone loved Big Red. Cruised down the highway loaded at 70 mph with little effort, and returned 12 mpg while doing so. I scoffed at newer trucks costing thousands more; what did they have that my old truck didn't?

Well, as we both approach 50 and having just had a less-than-stellar trip home from the track, I now have the answers. Power steering. Air conditioning. Cloth upholstery that I don't stick to after sweating my cajones off loading everything. Weatherstripping that actually seals. Shift linkage that doesn't jam between gears. Brakes that don't require both feet to stop in a hurry. A sound system you can actually hear above 35 mph. And cupholders.

Depressing fact: I'm getting old(er). Annoyances that I once barely noticed now grate on me as the miles pass beneath the tires. The threat of a heart attack while trying to back this behemoth into the driveway has become more real. The oil blotches it leaves on the driveway are beginning to piss me off. I'm having to face the reality that I may never actually restore this truck, at least not while I'm using it as one. I'm browsing Craigslist for new-ish trucks and feeling both enticed and guilty. Big Red and I are partners; groaning through life with a shared birth year and keeping each other going. Putting it out to pasture is somewhat of a weird reflection of my graying, balding temple and disconcerting. Ugh.

Do I NEED another truck to tow my race car to the track a half-dozen times a year and haul the occasional lawn mower or load of mulch? No. Do I WANT another truck to do these tasks that won't make me dread putting the key in the ignition? Very much so. I can afford another truck; it's not that. It's just sort of admitting failure.

You and I are somewhat close in age. I happen to own a 1985 Chevy C30 Dooley. "Big Blue" isn't perfect, but she fulfils my needs for a truck when they arise. She is in excellent condition for a 30-year old vehicle, but she's hell on gas, and the A/C doesn't work. I would love a new truck, but I can't begin to justify the expense. That, and I think I'd regret getting rid of her. There just can't be that many old trucks as rust-free as she is.

I would argue that your truck is a desirable classic. I would make a list of things that it needs, budget an approximate cost, and compare the total to the cost of a new-to-you truck. Regardless of the results, you should keep Big Red. Make the repairs/upgrades, (or pay someone to do it) and enjoy the attention she gets.

I'm 4 years your junior. I unapologetically tow with a completely loaded 04 Chevy 2500hd diesel because, well, just because. Lesser trucks made me have to think about them and their limitations (and mine). Who needs that after a long day at the track?

WV is hot in the summer. At least treat yourself to some AC!

This is why I love my brodozer.

All it wants to know is what do you want to haul and how far do you want to go. Then it does it with zero drama.

I can buy a 2000 5.4 Triton (yeah, I know about the plugs) truck with a lot of miles but well taken care of for $2500. It's extraordinarily enticing.

I can't do everything Big Red needs while using it. Replacing the rotted core support means pulling the entire front end off, and on a 50 year old truck that means rusty bolts, so it won't get done in a weekend. That's just one of the myriad tasks that need to be done. A park-it-outside sacrificial work truck would free me to dismantle B.R. at my leisure.

I hate to admit this, but that reality is the same for a lot of old cars.

I love my Alfa, a lot (the one you see to the left). But as I age, the less I find that I want to drive it. Same reasons as you.

Almost 20 years ago, filling the car with luggage, tires, and driving it to a convention was fun. A short while after that, breaking the car at the track, which required that I had to borrow a tow home changed things. and now I cringe when I hit a bump, I don't like it when the sump guard hits the road, the headache I get after a half hour sucks.

So many people like the idea of driving an old simple car- it's "romantic". The reality is that it's an old car, and drives like one.

There is nothing wrong with that. Honestly. I'm a little younger than you (turn 40 next year) and the thought of a 60's classic car is ehhh at best. The vinyl, no ac, and the poor brakes. It's just old. I have a 1966 Barracuda that I inherited. It's a cool car and gets some looks but I'm not going to drive it in the summer in Texas with no AC and Vinyl. So 6 months out of the year it sits and just gets a drive around the block.

Are all of those fixable? Sure. But by the time that you do all of that, you could have a very nice newer car with all of that and the drive will probably be better. I've been on the fence about consolidating the fleet down to 1 car. (I have a Volvo C30, MR2 Turbo, Forester XT, and the Barracuda)

alfadriver wrote: So many people like the idea of driving an old simple car- it's "romantic". The reality is that it's an old car, and drives like one.

I love old cars, but I absolutely hear you. This is why my eternal lust for a 67-68 Mustang fastback has been shut off permanently ever since Ford built the perfect car for me in 2005. Those same 'charms' your Alfa exhibits caused me to sell my 124 Spider after 23 years of ownership and part with the Mini when it became apparent the paint wasn't going to stay stuck to it much longer. Where I once enjoyed spending hours in the garage wrenching on old stuff I now groan about how hot/cold it is out there and seriously ask myself what the garage down the road would charge instead.

I've been thinking about selling my BGT for all of the above mentioned reasons...what makes me hold on to it is the fear of regret in a few years and the likely false notion that it may be worth more in the future. Honestly I doubt it, they seem to appreciate with inflation but not much more. I might be in a position to do something better with the money that's sitting in it...

I'll be 53 in a few months.

I sold my stripped, lightened, and really quick Swift GT to build a 2000 Swift with full interior, no rattles, no leaks, suspension that allows me to go in a straight line over bumps and windows that go up and down the way they were intended. At least for now I still think these little cars are fun, and I was wrenching on it until 1 this morning.

alfadriver wrote: So many people like the idea of driving an old simple car- it's "romantic". The reality is that it's an old car, and drives like one.

I want to drive an old car that makes the right noises and looks cool on my own terms for fun. I don't want to ever need to drive it. My truck isn't a piece of nostalgia. It is a tool that allows me to do other things else I'd never have the expense and inconvenience of it around hulking up driveway space. I think a lot of "men of a certain age" have stopped driving to work on race springs with their elbows banging on the roll cage for this very reason. If it was the only way I could have a race car - I'd suck it up but having options... I elect to apply them. Hell, I even swapped my race car for one that was less brutal for this season.

I love the look of ddavid's old truck (and it probably sounds good too) but those things are not required of tools. 10hrs in a hot, windy, uncomfortable interior anticipating/managing trailer weight is something I used to endure for work 20yrs ago. It is not something I'd do on purpose in my leisure time.

Y'all are Bob Costas, ClifFord, Zombiechero and Mongo are my trucks and I am 51. Lol

GPS has the truth of it. The truck is the tool that lets you do interesting things. And nothing's worse than a tool that isn't up to the job. That's why the newest member of my fleet is Brutus, the big Dodge tow machine. It's got satellite radio, cruise control, viciously effective AC and is quiet inside. It drags the fun cars back and forth across the country and I enjoy the trip. I never have to fix it or worry about something letting go in the middle of Nevada. It just pulls.

So go ahead, get yourself a proper tool. It'll let you do the cool stuff.

ddavidv wrote: I can buy a 2000 5.4 Triton (yeah, I know about the plugs) truck with a lot of miles but well taken care of for $2500. It's extraordinarily enticing. I can't do everything Big Red needs while using it. Replacing the rotted core support means pulling the entire front end off, and on a 50 year old truck that means rusty bolts, so it won't get done in a weekend. That's just one of the myriad tasks that need to be done. A park-it-outside sacrificial work truck would free me to dismantle B.R. at my leisure.

This sounds like you already know what to do. The old truck is a keeper, but as a toy not a tool.

Dammit, man! Do you not realize this is a matter of SAFETY?! Rotted core supports? Two-foot braking? Bad weatherseals that can result in rain getting in and potentially BLINDING you? Lack of A/C that will cause you to DEHYDRATE and reduce your reaction times resulting in a flaming explosive crash? Get thee a new(er) truck NOW!

You're welcome.

--Dept of Rationalizing I'm Not Really Getting Older It Is a Matter of Safety Department

In reply to Giant Purple Snorklewacker:

The problem is- what is fun?

What makes an old car more fun to drive than a newer one?

The best I can come up with is that my GTV is a heck of a lot harder and more interesting to drive fast than my Miata is. But to get to that point, I need to be autocrossing. Other than that, they are equally as fun, but the Miata has the advantage of not having the same faults the GTV does.

The last time I drove the GTV to work- I honestly can't remember. The drive is 35 miles, 95% freeway. When I drive the GTV, I have to deal with a loud drone, leaky windows, a lot of wind noise, the HC smell I'll have in my clothing, etc. And there's no fun alternate route to here. The Miata being a little more modern- it has many of the same problems, just a lot less of them. Better yet, when I drive it in town, it's not likely to leak gas, overheat, bottom out, or have me worried that someone is going to bump into it. Or if it rains, the GTV's windshild leaks...

Basically, the fun meter has gotten less and less every year. Which kinda sucks.

Yeah, I'm the same age as you geezers. Sold my DD, this (with a 20 valve, Koni's, coilovers, etc.):

and got this:

as a DD instead. 70 miles a day, no problem. Not near as tired when I get home. For a Phun car, I have:

and for something to wrench on (At the moment):

When I was in my 20's and 30's, I towed a motorcycle trailer at least 100,000 miles with a rather nice '64 Fairlane. Vinyl, sheetmetal dash, no air, no sound, iffy brakes. I loved it, I remember it fondly, but I don't "miss" it.

at age 53, i bit the bullett, this sumbitch will pull a house at 90mph....

Nothing wrong with that man, I don't care if you are 20 or 75. A long trip in a noisy, uncomfortable and hot vehicle sucks!!! Nothing wrong with towing in comfort.

On the other hand, a retrofit power steering setup from a newer F-100 is a bolt in proposition, and you can buy an aftermarket air conditioner designed for that truck. Adding both, along with some new weatherstrip, will be a lot less expensive than buying a whole new truck.

I have a similar story. An 84 Suburban also known as Big Red. A 3/4 ton 454 model I bought specifically for towing and figured I'd do a rolling restoration on it while using it.

It was about 20 years old when I got it and had it's quirks but liked it for its style and tow capability for the price I paid. I started making trips back and forth to FL from CT as I had two homes then. Normal maintenance along with replacement of restoration items and accessories like ARE wheels was ongoing while using it so it was getting nicer as time went by. Then the whole rig with my 66 Mustang in the trailer was stolen in Atlanta.

I replaced the truck with a 6 Y/O F-350 Dually and bought a new trailer. Amazing difference in safety, towing capability, comfort etc. Mileage was more than double, insurance was cheaper because of ABS and air bags. Then Big Red was recovered.

The nice stereo system I'd installed was gone, door lock punched out, steering column smashed along with some other damage. I bailed big Red out of impound and figured I'd rebuild it since we had a history and it's a cool old truck. Well I have too many other projects I'd rather do so Big Red mostly sat, only being driven occasionally around the neighborhood. Each time I drove it I noticed more and more of it's shortcomings compared with modern trucks. Column got replaced, then brakes needed work (from sitting), then power windows started quitting, windshield needed to be replaced (fogging), weatherstripping started leaking, rust started gaining momentum and the list goes on. I sold it to someone who wanted an old truck project. It'll get treated better than what would happen if I kept it.

Meanwhile I've been very happy with the F-350 and it's treated me well. There is no comparison when towing and the creature comforts/safety features are outstanding. There's no white knuckle rain trips, no cringing at the sight of an 18 wheeler coming on the opposite side of a 2 lane, and it sure is nice to drive home in comfort after an exhausting event.

Edit: I'm 55 so I'm right in there with the rest of guys of a certain age.

[URL=http://s240.photobucket.com/user/NOTATA/media/84%20Suburban/84Suburban007-1.jpg.html][/URL]

[URL=http://s240.photobucket.com/user/NOTATA/media/Dually/MVC-001F.jpg.html][/URL]

By a newer beater tow rig with A/C and 'retire' the old Ford to Sunday evening runs to the Dairy Queen cruise night. Add vintage Air A/C, some sound deadening, a nice seat cover and enjoy.

aussiesmg wrote: Y'all are Bob Costas, ClifFord, Zombiechero and Mongo are my trucks and I am 51. Lol

..and what was your tow rig for the challenge last year? Something with A/C, automatic, etc..

47 here. Being able to start the truck so it could cool down while I loaded the car on the trailer is magic. After spending the whole day autocrossing during summer in Atlanta, not having to change tires and sweat the whole way home is worth the price.