Monday Musings

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Some of you may note today’s Monday Musings post is not numbered. While I have not researched to generate empirical evidence, I believe that numbering these posts costs me blog views. If I had numbered the post title, it would have been number 86.

 

There is no D-Day Museum in Gettysburg.

Abigail Shrier speaks truth to Princeton.

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Once again wading into the debate about whether or not to modify a “classic” car is this Hemmings article discussing the pros and cons of various possible upgrades. Here is part of the opening:

 

“…But while many appreciate a stock machine and what it has to offer, there are just as many owners who minimize outings in their classics. Why? The creature comforts aren’t there. You need to stick to back roads because it’s not pleasant on the freeway. You don’t want to wear it out. You don’t trust it more than a few miles from home.
Factory-stock vehicles have that authentic feel, but cars of the past were built to a different set of standards. The world that these cars live in has changed. Technology that once felt space-age has become commonplace, even in cars that are more than a decade old. Such advancements only highlight what’s lacking on a vintage vehicle, particularly to those who experienced some of today’s classics back when they were new.”

 

My views on this topic are well-known to regular readers. With the possible exception of an extremely rare and historically significant car, I think an automobile owner can do whatever they want to their car, including the installation of a modern and reliable drivetrain, modern suspension and brakes and modern creature comforts. I also do not believe in owning a de facto museum exhibit. A car should be driven, even if it’s just 1,000-2,000 miles a year.

Of course, the idea of modern upgrades led to the whole restomod movement. If I were to purchase the body of this car, why on earth would I want to leave it stock?

 

See the source image

 

Via Pinterest this is a picture of a favorite of mine, albeit an idiosyncratic favorite: a 1942 DeSoto. With the hidden headlights and fence-like grille, I think this car has one of the greatest “faces” of any automobile. Still, why would I want to drive a car with an 80-year old engine (that produced all of 115 HP/190 LB-FT of torque when new), brakes, suspension, etc.?

Obviously, a good restomod will not be cheap. I am somewhat reluctant to write this, but I think that some/many who buy an older car and then defend their decision not to modernize the car really can’t afford to have the work done and can’t do it themselves. Steve Strope criticizes modern “rat-rods” with an appearance to match the name. He says the original generation of these cars looked ragged because owners couldn’t afford to make them look nice, not because they were making a design statement. Hey, political correctness is just fascism in disguise. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

I am still not close to being in a position to acquire another car, but even if I were to buy a Studebaker Gran Turismo Hawk, I would do what I could to modernize the car and to make it more reliable.

 

 

As always, I welcome thoughtful comments, both from “The Big Five” commenters and from those of you who have never commented.

 

#MondayMusings

#InvisibleCarUpgrades

#1942DeSoto

#SteveStrope

#somanycarsjustonelife

#disaffectedmusings

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Published by rulesoflogic

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2 thoughts on “Monday Musings”

  1. To quote George Carlin: “Political Correctness is just fascism pretending to be manners.”

    I love the DeSoto photo. The classic lines of the older cars screams beauty to the sameness of the body lines of today’s cars. I agree that restomods are the freedom to have the beauty of the old classic body styles with the modern safety and reliability of modern drivelines and chassis. In order to drive in today’s traffic you need the power of modern engines and transmissions and you NEED the brakes and suspension of a modern chassis. In Arizona, air conditioning is akin to life safety. A modern engine and it’s attendant fuel injection make for a much more efficient and smooth running engine as well as meeting the need for cleaner air. My own truck project will keep the classic lines of the 1948 Ford truck with the modern independent front suspension and modern parallel leaf rear suspension. Disk brakes all around. The fuel injected Ford V8 and transmission meet my needs for power and inspire the project name of F-1 Lightning as it is patterned after the Ford F150 Lightning of 1993-95. I know I have bored you with the details before but, this was for your new readers.

    We continue to pray for the recovery of your lovely wife and for good results from the post surgery tests. We know who is in charge here and it ain’t us. We just need to trust in Him.

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