Idiot Magnet

I don't know where I got my orignal interest in cars.. but my earliest memories are before I was in school, maybe 3 or 4 sitting on the front side walk watching cars go by I was born in '63 but I distinctly remember liking .. of all things... the 66 ford wagon.. "woody". True Blue Oval for A Long Time!!

Then in High-school my best friend Scott and his dad had just been finishing up the resto of a '32 model "A" when I met him. spent a lot of time hanging out at his house, as he worked on the "A", a '70 Cuda ( he still owns that one, paid around $2000 back in '79) a 75 Monte Carlo, a 77 Jeep CJ 5, and I don't know how many Friday and Saturday Nights I went home blowing blue snot out of my nose from sanding dust.. Mask what mask..LOL.. Actually we reconnected at the Reunion last June, Looks like he's going to be welding patches in the floor of my Comet! He has repainted that Cuda about 3 or 4 times along with a few trucks and cars. Maybe I can get some help on some other stuff too! Anyway, who knows how a positive influence as simple as sharing your interest with a young person can have on them for years to come.

 

Yep, the maverick gets a case of mistaken identity, even my mustang gets it from time to time, but the, Ranchero.... its hopeless.

 

I never turn away anyone that has interest in my car(s). I never assume they know my cars as well as I do. I don't expect it and I don't fault them for what they don't know or their mistakes. It's a compliment that they have even noticest my car.

We know Mavericks better then most. Now if someone says they are an expert, is arogant about it and they don't know S**t, then I will gladly help them insert both feet in their mouth.

 

I am always more then happy to talk to people about my car. Even if they do think it's a Nova. Then there are those people who come up excited "Damn, I haven't seen a Maverick in years!" and you tell them, Yea, I got 7 more besides this one. Priceless.

 

Having a '72 Comet, a lot of folks have a hard time IDing it, and it has become a habit to say "think Maverick with some different trim". I even had a personalized plate made that says NO MAVRK as a joke because even when someone does have half a clue that is usually the first guess. 90% of the conversations about it have been pleasant.

Then there is the work aquaintance who started off asking "You driving a VEGA!?!" (probably because of the four taillights) I politely replied that it wasn't and offered to take him for a ride to show him the car. Most Vegas don't have 351Ws ... Didn't take me up on the offer. Regardless, every time I have seen him since, he has to ask how the Vega is. It is okay, he has proven himself in so many other ways to be one of the biggest asses that we work with, so it becomes a case of "consider the source".

I think one of the funniest cases of mis-identification was when I was bracket racing my '71 Torino and the track announcer said " hey, we got a sharp-looking Ranchero in the far lane ... don't see one of them everyday ..."

Almost made me late on the tree ...

 

I have 4-5 Rancheros, I never mind talking to people about them or my Mavericks. I do mind (so-so) when they say el camino! I always say, Ford did it before the el camino back in 57. Once in awhile I do see el caminos and always have to say,,,,Nice Ranchero!

Always best to converse with people on cars, many youngins never seen these cars. Sparks interest also. You just never know who you are talking to. Things always do come back to you,,,I'd rather have it kissed than bit!

 

I hear ya buddy. I love seeing their face when they say they haven't seen one in years and I tell em I have nine with intentions of getting more.

 

Some pretty good stories guys. Thanks for all the feedback! In the future I'll try to take some of these things into consideration. If you dare to be different you should be prepared for stares and questions. I shouldn't let one or two people ruin my good time.

 

Very good way to think about it

 

People stopping,staring and asking questions are a few of my favorite reasons for owning my Comet. It gets a lot of attention when I attend shows and cruises. Not that many of these cars here in Michigan. I had my neighbors 8 year old son tell me he has never seen a car with window cranks on the doors! Makes me feel OLD! Bring on the stares and comments!!! STEVE/ITSACOMET!

 

I get the same reactions too, I even had a guy that owns a mom and pops auto parts store here follow me down the road, pass me, then flag me down to try and buy my car off of me. Then there was one time at a gas station a guy asked me if it was a falcon I said no its a maverick then he proceeded to ask if it had a 351W in it. I think its funny that everytime someone sees an older car tehy automatically think it has a big V-8 in it, and then theres always the storys of how they knew someone that had one with a boss 302 in it.

 

going south on interstate 75 this morning a big rig layed on the horn when i passed him. later when i got off at my exit he layed on the horn again and was waving big time.

(chances are he wanted to know what color i was going to paint it.)

......

 

Upon reflection, maybe Mavericks are idiot magnets. Just look at who all own one. I had a '74 Grabber once and when I decided to sell it, it attracted two of 'em from 50 miles away!!!

 

I had my neighbors 8 year old son tell me he has never seen a car with window cranks on the doors! Makes me feel OLD! Bring on the stares and comments!!! STEVE/ITSACOMET!

Reminds me of my buddy (he's even around 30) We went to Indiana and picked up a old 66 Ford truck. I had to play with shifter under the hood and had him move shifter from park to nuetral several times. When he moved the shifter, he reached up to the DASH and turned key on, when he put in park, he shut key. I had to chuckle an ask why he kept turning key off an on, he said you have to turn key on to unlock shifter! I did explain about how us old farts grew up!

 

Hahaha! I had that problem when my column shifter linkage gave out.