I grew up on a marine base, and my favorite people on base were the older mechanics. No one messed with them because they had seen it all, and they could fix anything! Ted is the perfect example of what they were like.
And you don't mess with them because they xanscrew up your car just enough to make it an annoyance. Oh and it guys theu can make your computer super slow.
That is a very special tractor with a lot of history behind it. Not to many of these vehicles exist anymore. I think they should restore it to its original condition and preserve it for generations to come. That's what I would do. Awesome video thanks for sharing.
I would like to see it restored... that'd be a challenge and we need to keep the history alive... kids today are amazed when anything is repaired and not just thrown away
Now we should call Ted as The Necromancer since he revived dead old cars and make them run again. Never in my life I imagined a necromancer to be this wholesome
Completely get Larrys point here. It's like the tractor equivalent of a rat rod. The rust and the patina are all part of the charm. Remove it and completely restore it back to new and it just wouldn't be the same.
That green "Doodlebug" @ 4:58 is amazing, looks beautiful. I would tune it up, and throw slicks, and nice seats and dash on it, and make it into the "Doodle-rod"! Oh, and a era appropriate boot on the back!
That GM truck in the opening looks just like my '39 Chevy paddy wagon (Portsmouth PD) I bought shortly after being transferred from the USS DACE (New London, CT) to Portsmouth, NH (USS ALBACORE) in Aug. '67....Sold my '56 Caddy Hearse and bought the paddy wagon (thought it would be a better surf wagon...am from So. Cal.)....Enlistment ran out in May '68, so drove the paddy wagon to Ft. Liquordale, FL to attend a commercial diving school....4 months later, drove it to Torrance, CA to my folks house....(more story to tell, but will leave it here).... (note: my actual first truck just before graduating high school '63 was a '29 Model A sedan delivery, not running.....don't count it, since it never ran when I owned it....somewhat comical story about that, too) Just discovered ya today.....Hooked!!....Subscribed....
All these nearly hundred + year old engines always seem to start straight up with so little maintenance. It's amazing. No computers and electronics to bugger things up. Well, I guess the old adage is true, they just don't make things like they used to.
You should to tell in one of your videos about the story of your business, how you started? How it happened? Where you from cuz I see the emblem on the wall. Tell most stuff about yourself
What a great vehicle, I have always liked doodle bugs, I’m 78 yrs old , my dad had a 1930 bug with a dump body and it would do incredible wheelies if overloaded. One of my friends had one made from a 1950’s school bus. This had double transmissions for very low speed gearing. Good to see this preserved and not overdone 👍👍😄🎩
I've been working on cars my whole life and did it professionally for 30 years. It never ceases to amaze me how those 100 year old engines can still run.
@@JRL_33 Hopeless? We have 3D Printers now, and I know people who have one (probably a small one) at home. That doesn't make current engines any less complicated, but it's still helpful.
@T0MMYDUDE, *IT'S REALITY* It's something that we can all aspire to owning, the chances of me ever owning a $1million Ferrari are non-existent but the chance of owning, using and getting the enjoyment out of a doodlebug are a possibility. Not only that, it is going to be "personal!" Every part added over the years makes it unique and functional. Enjoyment and smiles as you use it and definitely an eye-catching ride!
That's why I don't watch channels like Paul Dalton. He's good, don't get me wrong but he only cares about doing cars that cost so much that his viewers have never seen one in person. For example, in one video Dalton boasted that he has two Bugattis in his shop waiting to be washed and he only uses Zymol, which is hilariously overpriced "car caviar.'
Yah. I watch Shmee150. He’s a great guy, but he’ll go to museums and show all of the modern cars and never stops at the older stuff. I find myself saying, “yeah, another……”
Other detailing pages: “watch me hose down this kinda dirty camry.” Larry: “watch me pull a dinosaur out of the woods and give it life again” Love it Larry! This is the kind of stuff that makes you the best detailing channel on youtube and easily top 5 automotive channels in general in my book.
This is 100x better content (for me) than the latest supercar with 3 slightly dusty panels and a small mark on the seat from a show. You looked like you had a ball too.
Larry, I just sent this video to my 83 year old dad. My mom passed in August, and I've been spending more time with him recently. He's been telling me stories about his father, a self-taught mechanic (among many other skills), tearing down and rebuilding cars in their driveway during the frigid Minnesota winters. This video is going to blow his mind. Thank you for giving us both such a tremendous gift.
I've watched you detail 20+ cars, but by far this is truly my favorite! Oh man, it has so much character you can feel how happy it is to be back into working condition. Old bugs have a soul, and this one was a gem. Great job and thanks for sharing!
Ted totally walks past the Porsche and says: “whoa look at the Doodlebug!” 😄👍 Great preservation and fun project. Now you gotta clean your floor. Hehe 😉
This takes me back to my youth (1940s). My grandpop had a model A that had been converted to a flatbed truck, which we called a 'peach flat'. Boxes of peaches were loaded on it in the orchard and hauled to a packing shed. It was also great for joyriding through the pasture. Thanks for doing this video.
These are my favourite projects of yours - perfect supercars are cool, but doing the best you can with what you’ve got and appreciating it as flawed is way closer to the average project. Great job!
I absolutely love this one!! Ted reminds me so much of my father. Just an old school mechanic that can keep anything going. And Larry, you look like you had a blast with this thing! Very endearing!
Loved the Doodlebug! I definitely agree with your thoughts about older, simpler cars outlasting the newer, shinier cars we have now. Ted is an absolute legend.
Well this is just fantastic ! It was amazing to see the vehicle come alive, and it was really nice to see you restore it. Something out of the ordinary. I think it's very important for the present as well as the future. It's nice to see more and more people that does things like this :) * Btw your videos are always the best ;-)
I adore this sort of thing. Old stuff, still doing what it was made for almost a century later. You did exactly the right thing - gave her an honest wash and waxed her fancy likes. She looks sublime - way cooler than any supercar.
I purchased a doodle bug this summer in worse shape but no less charm. Learned alot about getting the transmission going again from Larry. Great Easter egg on a detailing channel. Thank you both so much!!!
I usually don't click "Like" on videos, but I did on this one. So cool to see a 100-year-old (can I call it a car?) returned to a useful state. Henry Ford wanted his cars to last forever. I'm glad some of them are still putt-putting around.
Really enjoyed this vid master class in getting things done very interesting just shows it hasn’t got to be worth £500k to be entertaining.. Thank you 🙏
Great work and very satisfying to see an old school guy who knows how to fix almost anything be happy….this poked like a labor of love for you Larry….always enjoy your videos especially this one ☝️
I've never heard the term Doodlebug before, but we do have an equivalent thing in Sweden. Ours were called EPA-tractor as a reference to an old chain of stores with low prices, called EPA. Since the 70s we have a modern equivalent called A-tractor, and these are popular among 16 year olds here, since you need to be 18 to get your driver's licence in Sweden, but you can get a tractor licence at 16, or in some cases 15. These vehicles are not allowed to go faster than 30 km/h or 18.64 mph. An EU-moped can go 45 km/h or 27.96 mph, but A-tractors are better if you wanna ride with your mates.
The doodlebug reminds me of my rustbucket open cab 1943 dodge weapons carrier that had a top speed between 45 and 50 mph. We drove it to S Dakota from San Diego California and numerous trips off roading in Baja California. Every young person should have access to an ancient vehicle, tear it down and rebuild it to gain valuable basic knowledge on how things work mechanically. Thank you for this wonderful video!
Such great content! It's refreshing to see a preservation of a super unique vehicle, rather than the generic detailing videos that are common. Nice work Larry, your passion really shined through on this one.
I'm a 73 y/o old long-time retired mechanic and I cringe when I watch today's 'Technicians'. They don't like being called mechanics because mechanics get their fingernails dirty. The vast majority, if they can't find the USB port they simply say "It Can't be Fixed, Scrap it". What they really mean is they don't know how to fix it... Like a Real Mechanic would do !
I love your support for maximizing the life out of things. The range of vehicles you work on is admirable. As another idea apart from typical super cars, would you consider doing a video (series maybe) on detailing at a DIY car wash? Many of us live in apartments or condos without the resources but can get to a car wash. Different levels we could do with the equipment at them as well as do’s & don’ts would be great. And with winter coming up, maybe incorporate that into it too.
My grandfather bought a 1931 Ford Experimental Farm Truck only 6 made while hunting with my father next to Ford’s dairy farm in Michigan, my grandfather saw the vehicle went and asked how much Ford said $50 plus my dads shotgun. When I was young the Ford museum offered him (absurd amount of money ) for it but my dad promised his dad that it would Always keep it in the family. My dad has restored it he takes it to shows. He taught me how to drive, take care of and repair it. Know he is teaching his grandkids how to do everything.
Bro when i saw that thing fire up on first try ABSOLUTELY blown my mind away since i loved cars since i was a little kid until know and its pretty cool to see something run again after being untuched for years on end and still working after 100 years its just so cool everytime i see something like that its almost like my spirit is leaving my body like no joke this was really cool!
Love this episode. Watching your face as you scrubbed rust with a scotch brite was hilarious after watching so many hours of you very meticulously and gently cleaning hyper cars.
There is a lot of homemade tractors in Polish mountains Bieszczady. Some of them are using stationary engines, truck gearboxes from the war era ZIS, GMC and Studebaker. Nick name for a homemade tractor in Poland is "Popeye" or "Esiok" - from the engine name S-320 - S [es].
This THEE coolest one yet!! The Doodle Bug is so cool! I actually love the rusted patina look! I also love the fact the YOU, Larry, one the most famous detailers out there has to keep mentioning logic things like dressing the tires on this old tractor just as a joke because certain small minded people would pick on something like that, clearly people who make such comments should not be watching this in the first place, small minds can’t comprehend logic. Amazing video, facts, knowledge and logic Larry!!
Flatheads are the best !!! I had in my teens a flathead 6 plymouth futura, It had a vaccume leak putt putt putt. So I pulled the head off and saw that one of the valves wasn't seating. so I got me a hammer and tapped the valve to straighten it out to seat better .. ( LOL) well after I got it back together I started it up and it ran quiet like it never had a problem. It lasted me for another 5 yrs. it was only 15 bucks to license then. as opposed to the high registration ya pay for now days. Nice job on the tractor ...
I really enjoyed this episode, you reached almost 100 years in history and got this Ford to run again! You detailed it, that's so cool. The story behind it is a cool I bet. They sure built vehicles very well back then. They don't make things like they used to. I often wonder about old vehicles and old homes the stories they could tell. I like history too much.
Ted is da man!! So hard to find guys like him these days. The doodlebug looks fantastic! They just don't make 'em like they used to! Imagine 50+ years from now finding a modern day car like this...would it be worth saving? Hmmm...probably not, but THIS!! Yep!
In about 1953, when I was six, a neighbor had one. It was a miracle to me. He had jumped into Normandy with the 82nd but, at the time, that meant nothing to me.
I always find videos like this so interesting and I am always amazed how some people can get these old rigs working again. Had no idea what doodlebugs were, American inginuity at its best. I don't always watch videos to the end but glad I did as Mike Musto is a good friend of mine. Looking forward to seeing that video as well. Keep up the good work!
What a likable, unassuming, quiet & laid back fella, like ALL the best make do & mend mechanics always are, 'nout' to prove to nobody! as we say in Cumberland UK. I also must say.....an enjoyable well put together video too my friend.
This older Gentleman repairing and restoring the Doodlebug reminds me of my Maternal Granddaddy. He was a Mechanic, even owned and worked on a Model A Ford, way back in his beginnings. Great episode!
Thank you Larry for doing this and highlighting how preservation is even more important than restoration. They don’t make thing like they used to is very cliche, but totally true. Cars made today will not last 100 years
I don’t believe that a vehicle which has been open to the elements for over 91 years is still recognisable as a vehicle . Even if left untended in a barn it would likely be in bits . Surely this is a set up .
I was drawing until you said a Doodlebug until I knew you were talking about the name of a car which the name originally came from a German V1 guided rocket.
I love the fact that you’re willing to create a story instead of just creating content, this video really shows how great your personality is and how willing you are to start a project from the beginning.
