Auto memories from the days of the original T Bird

[Alamobird]

I remember being able wto see and change all 8 spark plugs in my first car without having to remove any other parts to gain access. One of the great automotive innovationsof the day was moving the distributor from up against the firewall to the front of the engine block.

Replacing the rotor, points, plugs, and capacitor was an easy job. A new cap and plug wires was easy, too. The parts had to be inexpensive because I could afford them out of my summer earnings without jeopardizing my beverage budget.

A long socket, gap tool, feeler gauge, screwdriver, distributor wrench, and timing light was all that was required for a tune up. I kept a steel .50 cal ammo box in the trunk with these tools (except the timing light). The box also held a 3/8 socket set, vice grips, flat and offset box wrenches, screwdrivers, Allen wrenches, battery terminal brush, liquid wrench, fan belt dressing, and several other sets of pliers.

I somehow managed to keep the car running all through college and two subsequent years in the army using only this modest collection of tools.

Cars are are a bit more complicated today.

[Rondor]

Yeah;;; Like my 2015 Expedition That has 26K miles and had a bad positive battery cable.. Cable $350.+ and labor even more. Thank God for warranty. Some rocket scientist engineer designed a new cable connector to clamp to post. It now has a wedge that pinches the terminal together by tightening a tiny bolt pressing against the wedge.Bolt stripped out. Cable sits on a bracket with 3 modules hooked to it and only comes as a complete unit There are 3 connections on other end which are nearly impossible to get to, 3.5 hours labor.

[Rondor]

Good memory sneaking friends into Drive-In in trunk Many trunks back then not very big and had to find a dark place to let them out..Spending sat. night cruising the drive in resturants, which back in 50's and 60's were Mom and pop franchises like A&W or pig and whistle. all Before McDonalds and Burger King. and all had car hops.

[jerrym3]

Good memory sneaking friends into Drive-In in trunk Many trunks back then not very big and had to find a dark place to let them out..Spending sat. night cruising the drive in resturants, which back in 50's and 60's were Mom and pop franchises like A&W or pig and whistle. all Before McDonalds and Burger King. and all had car hops.

There's a few hot dog/hamburger/pizza drive-in places here in North Jersey that haven't changed that much Two friends and I still go to one spot for dogs every few weeks. Our favorite spot was replaced by a bank. Our favorite diners, where we talked cars for hours and hours, are also gone.

[007Cruiser]

Where do you go for dogs Jerry?

[2K2BIRD]

Wow. You guys are old. I was born in October after the first Thunderbirds hit the show rooms in September. But .... I do/did like wing windows and the lever that let you open that "flow through" ventilation under the dash. My second car was a Dodge Polara with the push button gear select on the dash, so I know a little about these things of which you speak, ha.

[007Cruiser]

My first car was a handed down ‘64 Dodge Polara two door with the 383 V-8. Darn near met my maker in that car. Fell asleep at the wheel in the middle of the night headed back to school. Woke up just before I hit a bridge abutment. No problem staying alert after that. When I got my first new car, it went to a cousin. He promptly totaled it.

[jerrym3]

Where do you go for dogs Jerry?

Rutts Hut, Clifton. (Our favorite hot dog place was Callahan's, Fort Lee, but that closed years ago.)

Rutts Hut was fortunate to survive a major excavation project years ago when they extended a multi-lane highway, Rt21, from Newark to Passaic. The main road, which was on the east side, was demolished and relocated to the west side of the building. Had the building been 50' further east, or the excavation 50' feet further west, it would probably have been demolished as well.

[007Cruiser]

Rutts Hut, Clifton. (Our favorite hot dog place was Callahan's, Fort Lee, but that closed years ago.)

Rutts Hut was fortunate to survive a major excavation project years ago when they extended a multi-lane highway, Rt21, from Newark to Passaic. The main road, which was on the east side, was demolished and relocated to the west side of the building. Had the building been 50' further east, or the excavation 50' feet further west, it would probably have been demolished as well.

I have heard good things about Rutts. Never went as that is too far away to just get a dog. If I ever get near there I’ll stop in.

[jerrym3]

My first car was a handed down ‘64 Dodge Polara two door with the 383 V-8. Darn near met my maker in that car. Fell asleep at the wheel in the middle of the night headed back to school. Woke up just before I hit a bridge abutment. No problem staying alert after that. When I got my first new car, it went to a cousin. He promptly totaled it.

Yeah, that will wake you up.

I was driving home alone from Ft Dix in my 57 BelAir in1962 on a weekend pass after an all night exercise. Coming up on the NJ Turnpike, I fell asleep and the steering wheel started to vibrate. I was riding on the median.

I woke up, pulled over, and dropped every window regardless of the outside temp.

[JerriLampon]

Slightly before the first Thunderbird (1949), the best ride and sleep I've ever had.
1942 Chevy

[BLACK BEAUTY]

I remember the 'reverb' radio in my 60 Impala 409..boss!

[EllisonCal]

Cal, Was the oil change interval also 1,000 miles? I forget that but remember tune-ups, with plugs and points every 10,000 miles - about $80 for 8 cylinders as I recall.

Yes and the lowest cost oil was either the Opaline grade or Pennsylvania grade straight 10W, 20W or 30W. It was $0.40/quart so an oil change was only $2.00 if your car needed 5 quarts, 6 with a filter change which we always did. After 1000 miles you would be surprised how dirty that old oil looked. When the oil was really bad looking , I mean black like coal, we would use a flushing oil that was a high detergent very thin oil and we would run the engine at an idle 15-20 minutes, then drain it and replace with the correct grade and a new filter. I can't believe I remember all this s***.

[EllisonCal]

I have a memory from Chicago and it was "Skip's Fiesta Drive-in" on Illinois route 64 (North Avenue) Melrose Park, IL. They had pretty girls on roller skates in skimpy cow girl outfits. There was about a 1/2 mile from Thatcher Rd. to the entrance to skips with no streets or lights. It was affectionately called the N.A.T.A (North Avenue Timing Association). Some of you may figure that out.

[Brad]

Free AIR.