Depression period people were tough. i watched my Grandfather cut his thumb with a hatchet while splitting some kindling he went to Grandma's sewing basket and got a curved needle and some thread and stitched it up himself. i was maybe 8 or so in 1968 i said have Grandma take us the the hospital he said ain't got $$$ for that and that's how we've always done it. Tough assed Old Okie Indian.
I had no idea how outdated I am compared to this society Anyway Back to fixing that neglected guitar. Thank You for motivation and making me drop a tear or two.
My Mother did the same. My wife used to say your Mom could squeeze a Nickel so hard she'd make the Buffalo Shit. i had to wear Sears Tough Skin jeans with "double stuff in the knees" (patches for those who don't know and she used to buy Rit Dye and Dye our blue Jeans and it would turn the Levi's tag blue. She'd say we may be poor but we don't have to look and act like it. have you ever heard the saying " to proud to white wash and to poor to paint.
Just pulled a 65 mustang out of a barn it had been parked in back in 1983. Beautiful little numbers matching, rust free Sd car! Can't wait to get her running, take for a drive and put up forsale.
The story about the mustang really hit home. My pos c10 was the same way. Bought it wrecked out of a local field, me my brothers and my dad fixed it up. My dad worked nights and was off on tuesdays and Wednesday’s and I remember a time or two where I stayed home instead of going to school and we worked on it. I loved it. I sold it last year after owning it a few months shy of ten years, and it kills me everytime I see one.
Thanks Rob. I had a Monte Carlo in high school (I graduated in 97) that was everything to me. Dad and I built a 283, then a 327, then a 406 and probably 6 transmissions until we had one that would stay together behind that 406. I finally sold it around 2010 because I needed money to help my mom out. It gutted me. Recently I bought a 73 model Honda CB350 motorcycle and have started the process again. Your videos keep me going, sir.
My grandfather was a Penetecostal preacher and ran off with the church piano player in the early 80s. Divorced my grandmother, married the piano player that was 20 years younger than him moved to Florida and blew over a million dollars. Ended up in a single wide trailer with a POS C10. My dad and uncle went through 3 and 4 divorces and married, divorced and remarried and divorced their second wives twice. So I'm 49 and never been married and never will.
It's just like the truck in my picture. To everyone else it's just an old beat up crew cab sierra. But to me it's my baby, when she dropped her first motor I was instantly on the hunt for another one. Could I have bought another one? Sure, but the value of learning how to do an engine swap on a modern vehicle and the time spent with my friends helping me wrench on it and work on it is priceless. And that's why I will never sell it, I'll hand it down through the family instead.
I am younger than Rob but it’s so funny that he made this video because I remember the old-timers that I grew up with were like that and instilled into me fixing something first.
I love everytime he talks about the triple black gt because its so relatable. Ive bought and sold a handful of cars and even owned a few nice ones! Ive bought a 162k mile e420 for $250, a lincoln LS, and even retired a Toyota avalon limited recently. They were all nice, but my favorite out of them all is currently my piece of sh!t ranger. 2009, 4 banger 5spd that just turned over 320k miles. It hurts me to drive for long periods, its dented on almost every panel, and its as plain jane as a truck can get but i absolutely love it. Ive smacked a hot water heater at 25 mph, slammed a riding mower into the bed, ive tortured the hell out of this truck and it keeps going. Its been ran low on oil(2qts) at least 5 times, its overheated more times than i can count, its been ran on 2 cylinders long enough to kill the original cats, and it currently has an exhaust leak loud enough to wake the dead but theres no chance it will ever get thrown away. New cars are always cool until the new wears off, but having something your attached to and willing to keep as long as possible is something you cant put a price on.
It’s hard not to be in a throwaway society when manufacturers like Apple make repairs so expensive that it makes more financial sense to just buy a brand new one
It's easy to be a "throw away" type person if you don't have the satisfaction of a day of hard work for something. Your car story is no different than relationships, jobs, etc. I used to tell a buddy of mine that people spend thousands of dollars trying to figure out why they are dissatisfied and it's simply because they lack the satisfaction that comes from a day of hard work and job well done.
So TRUE Rabbit,I,m 48 and more old fashion.....but have seen guys just a few years younger with that throw away mentality! Still have my first car,56 chevy since 88.....and same wife for 20 years! and my Dad was a T.V. Repairman to boot!
I loved this story. It reminds me mentioning a while back how there's so many throw away cars. Your Grandpa's t-shirt and jeans is just like how my Dad was. I grew up as a Ranch Kid and my Dad wore western shirts and blue jeans. When he was dying of cancer he made Mom promise that he was buried in his western shirt and blue jeans and requested everybody attend the funeral in blue jeans and work clothes. He did not want the men to wear suits and did not want us women to wear dresses, dress suits or skirt suits. So we wore blue jeans along with all the men. Mom picked out the most beautiful headstone. It has 2 horses at a windmill/water tank waiting for Dad and Mom to return.
My first car in 84 is just like that little car behind you. It had bridge hampton blue paint, my 1st paint job! Totally appreciate the story and so wild that my 1st turd is sitting right behind you. Little Malibu with A 72 SS Camaro 350. , Good times , all free time and every penny I could scratch together went into it
You have to remember the generation Rabbit is talking about. The lived through the great depression and knew how hard life could really be. So when you say they are/were cheap it has to do with what they lived through compared to what most people have lived through today. I remember my grandfather chewing half a stick of gum, then putting the chewed gum from his mouth on the cabinet door and going back later and chewing it again. I strongly believe it has to do what that generation lived and survived through versus most of us today with all the cushy convenience that we enjoy.
This took me back to my 16-17 years of young adult hood. Parents helped me get an 06 Cobalt SS/SC; almost brand new. Dad hated it but he loved seeing my passion for it so it was acceptable. (Traded to an 08 gt 3 years later) but Built it through high school; made a million memories. That whine from the supercharger was so loud, that instant boost from the roots style m62, old man grinned and nodded. I own that cobalt again now 11 years later; going through the third motor. I can’t throw away this hunka junk. It’s my hunka junk and dammit im proud to say that. Peace rabbit. And prosperity brother.
they take the trades out of the school. socially say a blur collar worker isnt anything special. then try to pass laws that dont let you work on things you buy. This is by design . happily i see a small change in the trend. show on blacksmithing, auto repair etc helps to keep the people free to do as they please. always love the stories
Rob, this is one of your greatest work sir. If NO ONE knows anything else about you, or can only see one video of yours, I sincerely hope it is this one! The throwaway plague is rotting away the core of our country. There is nothing better than built vs. bought. I've done both and find myself getting back in the garage getting my hands dirty, even though I have a clean newer daily driver ready to go. It is just different.
I had a 72 Datsun 240z straight piped going to high school in the early 2000s. My parent could also hear me pull into the block, now I realized why they tolerated it! Love the videos
With classic cars "back in the day" you were lucky to get 100k miles out of a car. My fist car (2004 suburban) by the time I sold it is had 302k miles on it. On the original engine and transmission. That says something I think.
That's a good example. There's certain aspects that just go both ways. A fridge or oven from the 70's probably still works today but a 70's engine almost definitely has tons of work and rebuilds to be running correctly to 100k vs your Suburban motor that doesn't need that much to hit 300k. Stuff was definitely built to last back then but at the same time not up to the tolerances or advanced materials of today.
The prevalence of the overdrive transmission in the mid-80’s has meant that a car SHOULD last 200k miles (non-European). I would say the back in the day engines weren’t the problem, it was the transmissions wearing them out
Really liked this story. I can say they don't make some things like they used to though for sure. I had a new dryer that I replaced parts on starting at year 2 of ownership and had to replace parts every year from then on and the dryer was purchased new in 2016 (Samsung washer and dryer). Replaced the tensioner pully in year 2, drum rollers and belt in year 3, heating element in year 4 and then the electric motor starting going bad. When the electric motor started to go out I just went a bought a new Maytag dryer in 2020. I remember my parents and grandparents dryer lasting forever without having any issues. The first dryer I ever bought new was in 2005 I believe and it was a Roper by Whirlpool. It was still working good when I divorced my first wife in 2015.
It probably goes without saying Rob, our grandparents were part of the, "Greatest Generation". My late father-in-law's closet was crammed full of shoes. Why? Because when he was growing up his parents couldn't afford to buy shoes for him or his brothers. I still wonder why it's called the Great depression. There damn sure wasn't anything Great about it. We would all benefit from the wisdom of our grandparents. Particularly when it comes to not making the same mistakes over and over. Oh yeah, Just how exactly did you fail High School art class❓ 🐇™ is good 🐇™ is wise❗🇺🇸👌👍
my Dad is the same way still he's 86 and has a closet full of shoes and clothes and he has a thing for Wing Tips because when he was a kid only the well to do could afford Florsheim's.
I love Rabbit, Every video I have seen since day 1 of this channel never disappoints Although I am only 20 but I would much rather be 20 in 1970s, when I was getting my first car in 2017, my parents were shocked I did not go for brand new cars they told me to pick, but instead proudly drive my grandma 90 Crown Vic wagon he left for me when he died in 2014 I will always keep that car for life It only got 60,000 km
My dad bought me a Nissan hardbody for $200 but engine was in bed in pieces, and I had to buy all the parts and have machine work done and build it to drive it, but I loved it and drove it for yrs and I took care of it, made me appreciate the truck a lot more since I built it
I kept my 1st car. I got it when I was 20 now I'm 50. It took some money and work to keep it good throughout the years but it was worth it. When I was a kid / teen through the 80's, all I ever heard was adults regretful of selling their 1st cars and/or old muscle cars and decided that was not going to be me. I don't drive it everyday but when I do It still makes me feel like I'm 20 again.
I failed art, I hated the teacher and he hated me. On the final exam he asked, " what can I do to make this class better?" And I answered, "you could quit" Funniest 50 I ever got.🤣🤣🤣
If you saw my e36, you'd know I'm not a "throwaway" kinda guy. Smh, it's a turd but when we're done with it, everyone in Knoxville will see why i saved it.
I thank my dad and granddad every time I have to work on my daily driver. That car is the most barebones 1999 grand prix that ever existed. But its mine. Eats head gaskets and rocker panels but it never crosses my mind to toss it aside because I just turn and bolt on the spare parts I keep in the trunk for that damn 3100 motor. Grandpa still tells me to crap a chevy big block in it every chance he gets.
Hey Rabbit. This makes me want to share the story about my car with you. It's not a classic or even all that fancy. It's just a 2004 Hinda Civic. Just a lil tiny sedan, but I love this car man. When something breaks on it breaks, I fix it or Get it fixed. It hasn't been in the shop since I got it last September. Since I've had it, I've replaced the starter, spark plugs, alternator, coil packs, air filter, wiper blades, Valve cover gasket, etc. Still gotta update the brakes and a few more small things. I've been learning how to fix all these things on this car and it feels to have done most of it myself. There are a couple of things that my friends have helped me with, but I got my hands dirty and fixed most of it myself and this car doesn't even have 200k miles yet and I plan to have it a while. I feel confident that I can tackle any of the smaller repairs it'll need with time because I've invested the effort to learn how to do it. I am not a mechanic at all. Hell, a year ago I didn't even think I would be any good at fixing cars. I was wrong then. The best part of the story is that my ex wife thinks I'm crazy for doing all this, but I told that I was taught as a kid that a man ain't worth his salt if he can't do at least some simple repairs on his own car. I have a dear friend in the parts business and I'm willing to put in the work to learn how and then do the repair work and yes it does make my money stretch a lil further. I ain't got a ton of that to around anyway. My ex wife doesn't think I'm as crazy anymore. Her and I are still really close and this car has actually given us some laughs and nice memories. Ain't that the good stuff after all?
You worked for it, that's why it means so much to you big fella, & that Trans Am was just dropped in your lap, most of my buddy's got given there 1st car, I spent 18 months putting mine together with my Dad in his garage, I'm 50 now & still have it, '72 BMW 2002ti, thanks as always Rob, Rj in Oz
Lol ironically I have a $15 car vacuum that the cigarette lighter plug broke on and I'm contemplating repairing it with a new $6 plug. I could fix it with solder and an iron for free but I don't have those either.
@James Wotring I went and bought 2 new plug ends for $3 each. One for the vacuum and one for an air pump I had been hot wiring to the battery any time I needed to use it.
My uncle was SO cheap he used to wash out and reuse coffee filters. Also, his idea of a fresh pot of coffee is to add 2 scoops of fresh coffee grinds to existing coffee grounds in the coffee maker.
I love your videos I like classic cars but I love old tractor trailers and you give me the motivation to find one and build it up like my grandfather's was thank you
I have a good friend who owns his own garage. He's kept my '05 Subaru and the other vehicles in the fleet running longer than they probably needed to be kept. His theory is, and I'm inclined to agree, is that the "worm turned" when some bean counter figured out that they could make more money from fixing the cars than selling them.
Love the video Rob. I spent a couple hours tweaking the Holley double pumper on my 71 Camaro yesterday trying to get it to idle right. Adjusting floats, idle screws, sweating in the Georgia heat and humidity. Some might call that torture, but I had a blast. Can't wait to get off work and continue tonight!
When I was a kid (late 1960's to late 1970's, my mother used to give me broken cake mixers to sewing machinery and said, hey why don't you take this apart , figure out how it works, and fix it. We didn't have the tools you need to fix it, and I didn't have the knowledge, but more often than not, I'd get it working again. You lean a lot that way. Another great video Bud
My first car was a salvage auction 85 tpi Z28. I bought it off my uncle on my 16th birthday. I sold it two weeks later with a $1200 profit . I would love to have that back. I remember the first time I drove a Sn-95. I honestly like them better than fox's
Wife drives probably the nicest 05 SLT Envoy on the road today. Everything works, leather looks great. She has the $$ in an envelope to put a crate motor and trans when the day comes.
This exact thing is what I've been telling people for years and years, and when I do, people look at me like I'm crazy. I'm not saying I'm not (that's for others to decide) but I'm glad somebody shares my view.
My 66 may not win any contests but she’s black cherry and mine. I enjoy the hell out of her! Sorry, just watched your vid on enjoying your car. What I meant to say is, I live in a border state. Been looking for an entertaining southerner. As we say in the south, you’re a good ol boy Rob. Believe it or not, I failed the hell out of high school art.
And happy Father’s Day man, from a group of fatherless car guys! We all hung out this weekend and did what our dads would want us to, fish, drive something wild, grill and beer. Wishing you atleast one good big day of appreciation and retrospect. Remember the good not the bad
Sounds like my uncle Tubb “Tubby” He has one tie for weddings and funerals and it has had the same knot in it since the 60s! They used to save the slivers of bars of soap all kinds of little tricks to save fractions of pennies. Considering the time it took the value of the actions outweighed the value of the products saved. But that’s a way to “get paid” when money was otherwise not offered ;-) Thanks for the videos, cheers! From Cedarhurst Farm, Honea Path ;-)
Actually, I build my own desktops so if it goes out I'll rebuild it while I finish watching the video on the old slow spare from my parts pile. I get your point though. I still wear many of the same clothes I wore 20 years ago. Sure, I replace one article of clothing now and then but most of what I wear is older than any kid in school.
Rob definitely one of the best videos you've done. I appreciate the fact you understand how much work goes into some of these rides. I've been spinning a wrench for over 20 years now and not too many people understand why I do what I do and how much work it takes to build the cars like the ones you sell. Thank you, keep the stories coming!
I don’t know Rabbit if you’re thinking about it the right way. Tech things aren’t exactly the easiest thing to fix or find someone who can fix them. Things like cars are sort of a different though. I think it’s more a lack of valuing things. Take the way you acted towards the TA vs the Mustang. You were given the TA with little to no strings attached. You put forth little effort yet had that great reward. You weren’t as invested into it. You built that Mustang and even if everyone thought it was a turd, it was a gem to you. You put that effort and time into it. You earned it vs being given it. Lots of kids now don’t earn things but are given them (and I’m not saying all kids/people). You tend to appreciate those things you earn more then those just handed to you.
I know exactly where you’re coming from. Had a little Firebird I put a lot of blood, sweat, and tears into. I’m sure nearly everyone thought it was a POS, but to me it was the coolest thing on the road… Probably because of all the blood, sweat, and tears LOL. Appreciate the video and the retrospective.
I agree with you 100% Rabbit! I have a 2010 Lexus RX 350. Before you haters start, I know it’s not a classic. That’s beside the point. It’s the first car I’ve actually owned. As in bought and paid for, no financing, no monthly payment etc. I guarantee you I’m still gonna be driving it when I die. Why? Well because it means too much to me to throw it away. It’s going to the shop on Monday for a new front wheel bearing. I’d replace it myself but I don’t have the tools for that job. I did my spark plugs last year, took the entire intake manifold apart and reassembled it 5x in one day until I got it right. (Kept needing to go get tools I didn’t have). My Lexus won’t be the last car I ever own, but it is one I won’t sell or replace. I’ll have it repainted, I’ll replace every part on it if necessary but I will not sell it and I’m willing to do most of that work myself because I love my RX 350.
Now I'm mad. I'm used to RU-vid algorithm not showing me new videos from people I'm subscribed to but theres always been my 8 or so favorite channels prominently shown in my feed. I had to click on Rabbits channel and then videos to see this one. Even with the damn bell on they don't seem to think of letting me know theres a new video. I've been a subscriber since the 3rd or 4th video and haven't missed one yet. RU-vid needs to get their 💩 together.
What really sucks is it's getting harder to fix things because they either dont make parts for it anymore or it's on back order. A few years back my brother over heated and scored a cylinder on my father Tohatsu 35 hp outboard motor. My father has passed and I remember as a kid going across the lake in the Lund and my dad would always say it's me and my Tohatsu. My mother bought it for my father as a fathers day gift. I took it apart to do a rebuild and told my brother that the pistons and gasket set was around 200 bucks and boring the cylinders was around 150 he said it was to much. So it sat for years till I got a wild hair up me. I found the guy who bought all of the old Tohatsu parts. I had to have custom pistons made because Tohatsu quit making them. So Wisco made them and they where not cheap and he had a gasket set and he called me hun on the phone which at that point I didn't care he could of called me sweet peaches for all I cared as long as he got me the parts. On my mothers 65th Birthday I gave her the Tohatsu all redone repainted looks better then new. I feel like my Dad when I crank that motor up and I make sure to mix the oil a little rich just like dad. That noise and smell of that old motor it just gets me. I feel great on the inside like nothing else matters it's just me and my Tohatsu. Thanks Dad!
Once we went to the NAFTA in the 90’s and Chinese goods rocketed in as well, it became cheaper to toss TV’s and other gadgets away and buy a “new improved” version instead of repairing it. Cars. When I was a kid if a car had 100k miles, it was junk and had no value for daily transportation. I remember my dad selling his 69 Falcon for $75 with 130,000 miles. Today people take out $15,000 loans for vehicles with 150,000 miles.
It’s the truth especially with these new electric cars no one knows how to fix nor can they even get access to the parts you gotta just throw it away and buy a new one
Lol my parents fought like cats and dogs too... Asked the old man one time why he just didn't divorce mom, his reply was "It would be a shame to ruin two homes."
Hey rob I'm building a racing lawn mower and it goes about 5mph my goal is to get it to 50mph you're helping me stay motivated to get it done so thank you
it’s called obscellesence or something like that and it’s why lightbulbs have always lasted around a thousand hours. if they made the perfect product they never would be able to sell more. it’s even the reason they started painting cars different colors.
Hey Rob, like to meet you someday.Yes you came from good stock as they say. I believe there is more in you than you like to show. BTW been married 44 years now and we own a Maytag washer and dryer that is 43 years old, harvest gold baby !
I've made this argument before. Im 36, my generation, we throw everything away. Items and people. Always wanting the new best thing. And it's destroying the middle class. Always trying to one up the neighbors wasting money on new phones and cars every 3 years. Makes me sad.
I am shocked every time I see a comment on one of these videos where somebody says they had a back back when and they junked it because it needed a couple hundred dollars worth of work. Even if it needed an engine rebuild, it would have been money well spent since you knew the rest of the car was in good condition. The front brake lines just blew out on my 1963 Plymouth so my mechanic took them rebuilt for $18.00 US. Most people would have just replaced them. I couldn't because they aren't available where I am, but there are more rebuilt parts on my car then new ones.
I couldn't do a thumbs up, Life sucks sometimes. I'm sure you cherish the times y'all shared. When you find, "the One", nobody else can even come close. Best wishes !
Amen rabbit... I worry as well what's gonna happen to these classics when the people that don't work on them and can't respect them (throw away minded) start taking over the hobby...
Sounds like me and my c10, keep fixing and changing it up ain’t worth nothing but worth everything to me not throwing that one away! Keep up the stories rabbit
While for some these vehicles would simply be "expensive toys", I believe most of your buyers know you and the quality of your stock. The reason for the price tag on that fine 4-wheeled piece of machinery is because it has been maintained and modified to suit the times and also be as good as if not better than original. Because of safety, it also must be mechanically sound in every way. That takes an investment... of time and effort. Once you've done it yourself, you never ask why again. 😁
I’m certainly not the norm there either. Ive been married to my wife for 19 years now, Love that woman as much today as when I married her. I’m a cheap bastard too, I’ve rebuilt 6-7 transmissions on my kitchen table. Its easy to give up & just buy new, but as usual I dont do things the easy way.
We make our extra money from what people "throw away". I have a gorgeous Avalanche that was 1 bid from going to the scrap pile. Now everyone wants it. People are very short sighted to our benefit.
