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Went for a drive the other day in my 52 f1 and I got to thinking about the differences between the two daily drivers my wife and I have (dodge diesel and grand caravan) and the three cruisers 52 Ford f1,40 Buick and 53 Buick.The dailies are typical cut and thrust type where you can steer with 2 fingers and stop really hard if you have to. Two of the cruisers have rebuilt fresh brakes and suspension to stock.The 53 has a late front clip rear 4 link,huge pdb p/s auto.52 is stock but all new brakes,tie rod ends kingpins,springs and rubber bushings.My dads dd was 51 f1 flathead 4sp and moms was a 55 Plymouth wagon. These are what I learned to drive in. I noticed driving the 52 after just getting out of my dodge that braking,steering,following distances and stopping all had to be lengthened out. Turns even with that big steering wheel and stopping has to have planning and forethought. . Back when I first started driving that's how all cars were. Didn't give it a second thought.
Good points, Riki. For us old guys it's not much of a problem going from modern cars to our vintage stock trucks. We learned to drive with that technology. But how about a young driver that has never driven anything older than a late 90's vehicle.
My Mother has a newer vehicle, must have been a smooth-talking salesman. First time I was ever in it she had left it in the hospital parking lot during a stay. Coworker dropped me off after dark, key thing unlocked it fine. I'll tell you what, don't get in a newer tech in total darkness and fumble around getting key, dome lamps go out. I couldn't find anything; no door handles no window crank. Probably felt the same as today's generation going back in time.
I remember driving my dads 72 C-10 all over the place. Drum brakes all around. Even brought it into the city 65 miles away for work after college in late eighties. Thought nothing of it. Weird and wild, what we used to do and how much driving has changed as well as our expectations.