Some encouragement for those getting frustrated or burnt out, and opportunity for those of us who have "finished" (ha ha) to share...

Working in corrections I have odd days off, my wife's working, no kids, and a new project to start on near OKC meant that I got to spend 11 hrs and three days on the road in old blue. I loaded her full of luggage and tools and parts and headed down, cruising through the flint hills of KS, and the plains of OK, runnin 75 and catchin' smiles and waves the whole way down.
Every time I stopped for gas some one, old or young, would indeffinately walk up and begin a story about their old truck, or their grand dad's. "My dad bought one of them new in 48!" this old guy told me, with a giant smile on his face. "I used to herd cattle with it!" he laughed as he rubbed the fine gray hair on the back of his head.
As I worked on the new project (an old merc car) Old blue was parked beside. More than once I was scratching my head, either at what the PO had done, or about what I was going to do. Then I'd look over and think "Well, I figured it out on that one, so I'll figure it out on this one."
Well, I got what I could done, and loaded up some parts to bring home and work on over the winter, while the car stays down in OK. On the way back I had to stop for gas, and once again had a guy come up to me. He asked if there'd been a car show or something. "No," I told him, "Just started on a new project." "Then why'd you drive this?" he asked. "Because that's what it's made for." I told him. He looked at me like I had three heads or something, shook it off, and said "well, it's a nice truck" before he walked away.
I don't often have a chance to take a trip like that, but that's when I enjoy my truck the most. No, she's not the most spacious or smooth ride, she doesn't have A/C or power steering, but there's nothing quite like cruisin down the highway in my old truck.

 

Thanks for sharring,
I know for me, its nice to hear. There are times when I think I'll never get done.Other times I think of packing it up. BUT I HAVE A DREAM ,,, bad thing is, sounds like your living my dream right now.

 

Amen to that, there's nothing like cruising in the old iron. I get thumbs up and waves and conversations from total strangers between my '51 F1 and my 65 Mustang Fastback. One fella scolded me for driving the horse in the rain one day when I was at a gas station. Told him the car isn't any fun parked in a garage. My neighbor thinks it's pretty darn cool I drive the truck in the rain and don't hide it from the elements. It's survived 55 years so far I don't think a little rain will hurt it.....Scott

 

Blue awsome truck I love the roadside shot next to the trees. I totally agree, why spend the time and money on something only to not drive it or worse yet have it so low and sooooo clean that it can't be driven except on and off a trailer. Diffrent strokes for diffrent folks I guess.

 

My sentiments exactly -- well said!!

There's nothing like a road trip!!

-- Ross

 

YES! There is nothing better than road tripping in an old vehicle. I won't cruise 75 mph down the interstate with my stock 3 speed behind the flatty but that's OK.

 

Yup it is fun to spend time in the garage making it all fit together, but it is also fun to hear the engine rumbling along, one hand on the wheel heading somewhere with a machine you built

 

Very well said indeed.

Thanks for sharing with us

Bobby

 

BLUE your livin my dream a dream I've had for many years i bought my truck four months ago i figure in a couple of years I to will be living my dream. All i want is my 50 on the road as an every day driver. I'm not restoring it all original i don't have the money. but it will be done right and it will be SAFE because i have a wife and a sixteen year old son that will be driving it to. So Drive and enjoy.

 

I think several of us in here have experienced what you have gone though. I've always considered putting a Toyota steering box on my truck so I can have power steering. I decided not to because I love the looks of people when I try to pull out of parking spot and I'm really struggling with the steering wheel. The smiles are worth a million. I'm confused though, does this mean there aren't any trailer queens in here?

 

I don't know... Most of us love driving our trucks too much to trailer them.

Mine is off the road indefinately for now, but I loved the conversations, questions, waves, and smiles from everyone when I was driving her.

The most fun I had was showing up for work in my old beat up (no power anything) truck. I get out wearing dockers\polo type shirts carrying my laptop. The looks were pricelss.

This is a really good thread to read for thiose of us whos trucks are not on the road. It keeps us encouraged that someday we too may get in on the fun (again or for the first time).

 

Mine is off the road for another year or two at the most so all I have to go on is dreams and alot of plans but my 56 will get done.

 

I think Bob J. is the only one with a Trailer Queen. I can testify to that as He had His Panel in my front yard on a trailer while he was towing it around the country visiting people.

 

You have to be somewhere, doing something, when your not at work. I figure, in the long run, no matter how much you spend on that old truck, it's cheaper than 'drinking' or a 'redheaded girlfriend'...LOL

 

HEY!

Some of us redheads have trucks of our own!