by "ImmoralMinority" (araimondo)
Published 12/27/2017 at 18:25
by "ImmoralMinority" (araimondo)
Published 12/27/2017 at 18:25
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STARS: 6
My FIL is visiting. I have griped about him here previously, mainly his total lack of understanding of my Japanese car obsession. He is getting better; he regarded the Cressida politely, if without zeal.
The T Bird is a different matter. He understands and appreciates that giant hunk of American steel. He is actually really good with cars, having spent a lot of his life restoring cars and boats. He told me that when he sells his current boat, he plans to take up restoring outboard motors as a hobby.
He is having s blast with his grandson and the T Bird, and it is cool to see them bond. They checked and topped off fluids, washed it, and used rubbing compound on it. It actually showed some shine in some places after decades of grime and oxidation came off.
You should have seen my son’s face when he saw that metallic green flake emerge from the dull green surface. He was so happy; the car might as well have been a million dollar McLaren. Do you remember that feeling to be young and love a car?
I am really glad I could give that to him, and to provide a language he and his grandpa can share.
In the picture above, they are backing out so my son can take his grandpa for a spin. I wish my dad was here for this kind of stuff, so the least I can do is live vicariously through the grandpa he still has.
"HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles" (hondasfordsvolvo)
12/27/2017 at 18:54, STARS: 1
I wish my dad was into cars as well. Instead he views working on a bar as punishment for not working hard enough to be able to afford having some one else fix it for you. He is knowledgeable about older cars, but only because backing the early 80s he was a broke young father of two supporting the whole family. It wasn’t till about 85 when the worked his way up the chain enough to not need to work on his cars. Now he wouldn’t turn a wrench If you paid him. On the other hand he loves carpentry, and construction, where as I could care less about either. The only reason I want to do either is to make custom shifter knobs, and build my own garage.
"razorbeamteam" (razorbeamteam)
12/27/2017 at 18:58, STARS: 5
My brother tried to take up “restoring old outboard motors” as a hobby. Instead, he took up “disassembling an outboard motor and losing interest”.
"Spaceball-Two" (spaceball-two)
12/27/2017 at 19:00, STARS: 5
On Christmas Eve I lost track of my son. He’s 2 1/2. I thought he was off playing with his cousins. I scanned the room and I didn’t see my dad anywhere either. On a hunch I walked out to his garage to grab another beer and there was my son sitting on the fender of my dad’s C5 with the hood up listening intently while grampa explained the inner workings of a Ls1. I watched and listened as they walked around the car and when he sat in that black leather seat this tiny hands on the wheel I almost lost it.
"wafflesnfalafel" (wafflesnfalafel1)
12/27/2017 at 19:04, STARS: 0
I have a buddy at work like that. At first I thought he liked cars in general, nope - just American cars, and really only GM and Ford. Doesn’t know anything, nor care about really anything else. Ogles EB Mustangs and the Focus RS, but has no interest in even talking about the new Civic, Subies, Yotas, etc. And don’t even try to point out that many Fords are made overseas while other “foreign” brands are made here. He is smart, competent, skilled with a wrench and a genuine nice guy - just has no interest whatsoever...
"shop-teacher" (shop-teacher)
12/27/2017 at 23:15, STARS: 1
That is fantastic!
"shop-teacher" (shop-teacher)
12/27/2017 at 23:21, STARS: 2
That is really great to hear about them bonding. I hope my kids can find a way to do that with my dad on my father-in-law. They’re fresh out of grandmas, so grandpas will have to do.
A buddy of mine restores old outboards. It’s a lot more manageable than an entire boat.
"CaptDale - is secretly British" (captdale)
12/28/2017 at 18:36, STARS: 1
Do you remember that feeling to be young and love a car?
Yes, I had that feeling when I bought the Healey. It isn’t a feeling I have had in a while. I mean I love the Goat, but she has issues and until those are fixed I just feel like I am failing her.
Though my mother’s Birthday gift to me was having her mechanic rebuild the Healey engine and trans so I can get the car back together. Though I am a little sad about missing out on engine building for it, I am excited to have her back together.. someday.