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| 1930 Model A Ford Coupe |
to drive in the identical car when I was nine. I grew up on my Grandparents
farm on the South Dakota/Minnesota border. With a good wind you could
spit and hit either state, if you're into spitting, that is.
I lived with my parents during the school months but back to the farm in the
summers where I could drive all over the countryside in my Uncle's coupe,
Little Beauty.
South Dakota was the last state to require a driver's license..... 1954 and 1959
for taking an exam. That was only for men and women didn't need a license
until much later. Shows how many women were on the road. Haha
Little Beauty had the famous rumble seat and beneath that was a little fold-up
luggage rack. It was a magnificent place to carry your big chunks of ice for
the ice box. If the car didn't start, you set the spark (by the steering wheel)
got out the crank and gave it a few turns. There, one had to be cautious.
Don't let go of the crank as it could back-lash and break your arm.
As I was driving this morning, I was recalling all the driving changes.
And now, kids just don't have the freedom we had. We didn't have TV or
computers. but we had a radio and could drive. Lots of changes........
some good, maybe some not so good. What do you think?
I always loved watching these old films where there's a car chase and the police are stood on the platforms sticking out of these cars hanging on to their hands and lives as the sirens (they always sound like bells ringing) as they chase the bad guys! And you drove one of these?! Wonderful!
ReplyDeleteI guess for me the bestest progress with cars are the inclusion of seatbelts!
Take care
x
I remember learning how to drive in one of my Dads old cars in our field. Of course the car wasn't as old as your Little Beauty, but by todays standards it is now an antique... Kind of like me... antique.
ReplyDeleteTerry
DeleteAntique, my eye. You are the springiest spring chicken, ever. I learned on that little coupe in a field, too. It was threshing time and we always took coffee, sandwiches and a sweet something out to the field in both mid-morning and mid-afternoon. My aunt always did the driving but I was always nagging her to teach me how to drive. On the way back to the house, she let me drive and after a few chugs and stalls because of the clutch, I got it and after that she always let me drive. Yay..... I loved driving then, but now I'd rather let someone else do the driving.
Oooh, seriously gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteSarah Allen
(From Sarah, With Joy)
Sarah
DeleteAnd fun. Wish I had that little coupe now. :)
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteSorry--I had too many typos. When I was young, I used to have to walk 5 miles uphill in the snow to get to school & 5 miles back--also UPHILL!! I love some new things, like computers, but I love those old cars even more!!
ReplyDeleteFishducky
DeleteHahaha. Uphill both ways, huh? I love the computer too. So much information at the poke of a key. How fascinating. But, no one was unhappy and yearned for a machine where one could communicate with people all over the world. We'd prob listen in on the party line for excitement. Haha
A lot less hassle the old ones were and in some ways better made too. Although the breaking the arm part may not be so good lol always some good things from supposed progress, but bad crap too.
ReplyDeletePat
DeleteMy Grandfather had a big old Desota and it could get in accidents all day and never get a dent. Marilyn's husband restored an old Pierce Arrow and what a car that is. It even purrs like the cats. LOL.
Something more freeing about simple
ReplyDeleteHoly Ghost
DeleteSeems especially true after one gets older. Complicated never leaves us time for anything else.
And we had cars we could fix without computers.
ReplyDeleteNice, huh?
Al
DeleteAmen to that. My neighbor bought an old Ford Bronco that doesn't need the computer.... he restored it and I lust after that car. He bought it for going backwoods into the mountains. He actually hand painted it a lime green (one of the new colors) and I don't know how he got such a smooth, shiny finish on it. It is gorgeous. And I've heard, if there is a solar flare hit, those old cars will still run.
Solar flares, the Yellowstone volcano, alien (from other planets, not south of the border) invasion...whatever. Part of me wishes something would put us out of our misery.
DeleteBut, that's probably selfish thinking, from my kids' points of view.
A hammer is all you needed to fix them
ReplyDeleteJohn
DeleteMaybe a screw driver too. Tools you can carry in the glove box.
I believe it was Agatha Christie who said, "But for everything you love there is a price." That is how I feel about this technological boom. Each time a new advancement is made and something gained, something equally precious is lost. Are the gains actually helping or hurting? Considering where this road appears to be heading... I think hurting. Man, I hate to say that.
ReplyDeleteRobin
DeleteAre you an Agatha Christie fan? I love mysteries and collected every one of her books.....I kept a list of them in my purse and usually found them at thrift stores or garage sales. After I read/had all of them, I loaned the box of books to my brother and once loaned to my brother, they never come back. Probably just as good, as he has more storage space than I do. LOL Marilyn and I were just talking about that and if/when we are off the grid, how many people could survive?
What a good point- it's not just loss of ability to get yourself out of a jam on your own without a cell phone or loss of being more active. It's actually a loss of freedom. Amazing.
ReplyDeleteMust be the reason I am so very limited in how much technology I choose to participate in. I am such a freedom freak. There probably won't be a whole lot more of my type left. Just like there aren't many like you who remember such wonderful times and things.
Jasmine
DeleteI don't know what's what any more. Most of the kids, with whom I come in contact these days, live with in a tight schedule. The probably have to be chauffeured everywhere because of "bad people" on the street. But I knew when my uncle said I could drive his car, if something went wrong, I was responsible to get myself out of trouble. That fact alone seldom allowed me to go crying to an adult for help. I've got to think that builds character and maybe it doesn't. I'm just bewildered.
Karen
ReplyDeleteYes, one definite advantage of modern electronics is being able to meet truly wonderful people from all over the world. Now most kids learn to drive in driver's ed. Perhaps, by law, they have to take that course if they want their license. I don't know.
I liked the innocence of the previous era's. Kids could just be kids and play. These days I find that kids want to be more like grown-ups. It must have been nice to spend summers with your grandparents on the farm. It definitely sounds great to me.
ReplyDeleteMurees
DeleteIt's true. We did a lot of things when kids and some of the things were downright dangerous. But we learned to judge for ourselves and take responsibility.
What a grand first vehicle. I do remember those underage driving days. My toy was a big green pick up truck but I was a bunch older than 9. Impressive.
ReplyDeleteWhen at my families last week, I was a bit saddened to see even the preschoolers hunched over an iPad. Also a bit disheartened that they navigated them much better than I could.
Patti
DeleteThis car belonged to my Uncle. He was generous and let me
"Ride around, Sally," when I was at the farm. Hahaha.... the preschoolers can really show us up.
What a beautiful car. And I really wish I had lived in an era before TV or computers...where real entertainment was actually going outside and interacting with nature and the world :)
ReplyDeleteKeith
DeleteI am grateful that I was born exactly when I was. We had everything we needed..... that was for sure. And the food was normal food, not GMO. I would have been shocked if, at that time, someone had told me I would live to have this computer and all the information at my fingertips.
Oh, I just love, love that vintage vehicle. I can't believe that you learnt to drive a similar one when you were only nine years old!! Wonderful! I can remember my dad cranking the handle of an old black Ford that we used to have. That would have been in the mid 1950's . I can remember having to double de-clutch on older cars!! Now, some cars can virtually drive themselves! LOL!!
ReplyDeletethisisme
DeleteI was considered tall (5'7" although my kids and grandkids are taller) and reached that height early. I could easily reach the pedals and they often used me as a gopher once I knew how to drive. So you recall the crank too. I haven't used a clutch for such a long time, I'd probably chug and kill the engine.
What an elegant car from another century. I wonder what it would be if it were restored!
ReplyDeleteWe lived on a farm in Illinois. There children of 14 or more were allowed to drive for the needs of the farm. I wasn't one of those; oh no I was inside beside my mother. But, I longed to put my foot on the gas, and take off!
Susan
DeleteThat isn't the one I learned to drive..... that one is probably long gone to scrap metal. Driving is such a feeling of independence. I dread the day when I will no longer drive. I bet you could hardly wait to be able to do the "gopher" drives for the farm.
Television is a way of dominating the masses. They are brainwashing devices in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteI never watch it, but when I do, I analyse every word they say. I analyse all the actions. I wrote a blog post based on this analysis but I never published it... maybe one day I will have the courage to post it...
Julia
DeleteI do watch certain programs but only if it's a matter of convenience. You should post your TV post. I agree. We have entertainment thrown at us ...... and sport games...... so we don't really notice what is going on in the real world.
I'm sure many people agree and would give you support if you post it. I will.
Dear Manzanita,
ReplyDeleteI so want that Ford Coupe. These days, the car almost drives itself. These days, you have to have your car plugged into a computer to check out the computer in your car. I hanker for the simple days of motoring. The times I would play my eight track and motor down the highway to some highway music.
I have been in a 1939 Mercury Sedan Coupe. I was ten years old and I felt like a gangster! :)
Take car, um take care, dear friend.
Gary :)
Gary
DeleteNice words..... a kind comment. On the cars that almost drive themselves, I get lulled into sleeping while driving. Ain't a good thing to do. I've always liked old cars. Something about them I find fascinating.
You would feel like Bonnie and you can be the Clyde. Ha
Kids today have all the neat stuff, we had freedom and innocence...oh, and TB, Polio and other bad stuff...otherwise I go with the freedom and innocence,
ReplyDeletejoeh
DeleteI guess there is always a certain amount of bad, along with the
good. I'll always vote for freedom, though.
I confess i can't drive...I don't need to also it is way too expensive here to learn how to drive and maintain a car. So a bicycle it is!
ReplyDeletePoke the Rock
DeleteOwning and maintaining a car is expensive. I'd rather just ride a bike..... for sure.
I think some changes are good, others not so much so. I wouldn't like the crank, I'd be the one to break my arm. ;)
ReplyDeleteThe car's a beauty!
Rosey
DeleteNo you wouldn't. You'd quickly learn how to remove the crank and not leave it in, so it could go around and hit your arm. LOL
Hi, dear Manzi! Sounds like you had some exciting and adventurous childhood times! Well, I think everything has its positive and negative sides. We have to just learn to focus only on the positive, finding it and creating it. ;) And...I still haven't learned to drive.. :)
ReplyDeleteZara
DeleteYou will be driving if you really desire to. Where I live now, one really has to drive because there is very little public transportation.
Some wonderful advice you are giving.
I'm sure I'm giving away my age when I say I've always wondered what a 'rumble seat' was!!!! But cars like Little Beauty have a style sadly absent from today's autos!! Back when we were kids, we'd run off to play & come home for tea. These days, if you see young kids playing with no adult nearby, you wonder what's going on. I think the loss of freedoms is a bit sad ...
ReplyDeleteRed
DeleteAh, come on, give your age away. 20? 23?
Living in a small town definitely has advantages. For the most part, life goes on almost the same as it was back in the 1930's. I moved from a big city by the time kids couldn't be left alone. But when I lived in a large city and my kids were little, outside of stores would be lined with prams and baby carriages while mothers shopped. The economy was so bad, why would anyone steal a baby and have another mouth to feed? Do you think we are coming back to that?
Nice car. It is amazing how much the car changed and evolved in such a short time.
ReplyDeleteIt must be fun do drive one of them.
Lady Lilith
DeleteIt really was fun to drive, but the cars are more comfortable now, in fact so comfortable, that it's easy for me to want to go to sleep when I'm driving. Haha Cars now also have better heaters and all the electronic toys and stuff. I still drive an old truck (not as old as the one in the photo) in the summer because I constantly garden and I can haul my bags of fertilizer, dirt and tools. When you have a new shiny car/truck one always tries to be more careful. Ha
So what do I think about Little Beauty? She's a little beauty, of course! You already know what I think about old cars, since we have several of them, including a 1930 Model A. You'd be surprised at how many of them have been restored and are still street-worthy. (Lots of modern updates to most of them, though, like better braking system, etc. Heck, ours even has air conditioning!)
ReplyDeleteReminds me of a joke I used to tell in elementary school: What's the difference between a classroom and a Model A? Give up? In the classroom, the old crank's up FRONT!
Take care, Manzie. A very Merry Christmas to you and yours.
Susan
DeleteNo, I guess I wasn't aware of your thoughts about cars. A 1930 Model A. How neat. Somehow that does jar my memory. We've been blogging for some time and I vaguely recall that. Did I ask if you drove in those old car parades? That is what I remember. Isn't it funny how memory reveals just a little at first, then blat, the whole thing. Ha Are you serious that you have AC? Yeah, better brakes and and heater would be a big plus up here in this frigid land. Although this mountain land is nuts.... it just went from 30 below zero (and busting my water pipes) to 50 above, only 2 days later. I can't seem to find a car with a hot eoough heater.
The old cranks in front.... hahaha Do any of the kids actually know what is meant by a crank? I've found that many adults don't know. Cranks can be fun. We used to have to crank a lot..... guess that is why people were more social .... to take turns at the crank. Haha. Ice cream.... remember that crank. Butter... a crank, actually called a churn, I guess. We didn't have to go to the gym to pump iron.... just turn the cranks. LOL
What a neat car! However, I'm waiting for the car that will drive itself. That's what I need.
ReplyDeleteKay
DeleteThey have chauffeurs. Better than a drive itself car. My eyes are getting so dim that I don't trust myself driving anymore. My kids think I must cheat on my driver's lic. eye test. How would one do that?
My father had a car just like that! Complete with rumble seat. I think it was one of the things that attracted my mother to him.
ReplyDeleteTimes change, and in our lifetimes have changed a lot. But not as much as they will in the lives of our children and grandchildren!
Blessings and Bear hugs from the Bear in the province/country to the north!
Hey North Bear
DeleteIf it were not for that rumble seat, perhaps ..... who knows where the Bear would be today. ????? Thank heavens for the open-air "romantic" rumble seats. LOL
Enjoy life to the fullest and I'm sending love and peace to you and your family.