The Ford Barn

ford38v8 · 03-04-2026, 02:31 PM

My wife is wheelchair bound. When we go out, we have found that most people jump to open doors for us, which makes a bright spot in everyone's day. Comparing the politeness of days gone by with the modern day, the biggest shift I see is road rage. Back in the day, hand and arm signals gave folks an outlet for how they feel, now half the time you don't even get the courtesy of a turn signal.

Bob NH · 03-04-2026, 04:17 PM

Guess at 91 I must be old school too. Losing dad at 13 years old, I never had that training, it just seemed the natural and right thing to do by watching others and I'm still at it today ! Open doors, remove Hat if indoors etc. If I happen upon a woman no matter the age if she could use a hand, I'm there, just seems natural .

Kube · 03-04-2026, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seth Swoboda

I didn't realize that about gas caps. I just figured they would be fairly common. I learn something every day. I need to figure out how to turn this hobby into a career.

Ha! I could advise you on just that. I did that very thing... had a lot of really great times restoring cars for others.

ford38v8 · 03-05-2026, 01:46 AM

When I sold my '38, i let it go with an original Ford script lockable gas cap, the one with the rivet. It's chrome was intact but showed the years, as you would expect. I got to thinking after the fact that the buyer was a relative know-nothing and likely would replace it with a shiny new Drake cap, chucking the old cap in the trash. I wake in the night with a shudder from those chilling dreams.

34fordy · 03-05-2026, 08:52 AM

[QUOTE=ford38v8; Back in the day, hand and arm signals gave folks an outlet for how they feel,

You are so right Alan! Most signals given these days are with just one finger!
Patience seems to be a dying virtue.

Seth Swoboda · 03-05-2026, 09:36 AM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

I'm getting off topic here but..
In July of 2025 I was pulled over by a county deputy while driving my '37 standard V8, during daylight hours. The officer asked me if I was aware that I only had one brake light. I told him I was aware because the car was a "standard" model. He asked me to get out of the car so he could show me. When we walked to the back of the car he looked twice and said "I only see one tail light. I responded "yes, that's because it's a standard model". I then went into an explanation of what the differences were in a standard and a deluxe.
I also explained to him that I use my arm to signal for turns. His response "I saw you stick your arm out the window and I didn't know what that was".
The officer was very nice and he complemented me on the car.
He did have one issue. My year of manufacture, 1937 Illinois plates, came back invalid on his computer. I laughed and said I forgot to give you my extended antique Illinois plate. It was in the trunk with a valid registration.
The officer told me that I was doing everything correctly. I told him that I had other pre-war Fords and he would see me driving again sometime.
Overall my experience with that was entertaining. The officer was very nice. He was at first confused but I used the moment to teach him about early Fords. I think he enjoyed it.

03-04-2026, 02:31 PM	#21
ford38v8 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 7,634	Re: Wanted ad (non) responses My wife is wheelchair bound. When we go out, we have found that most people jump to open doors for us, which makes a bright spot in everyone's day. Comparing the politeness of days gone by with the modern day, the biggest shift I see is road rage. Back in the day, hand and arm signals gave folks an outlet for how they feel, now half the time you don't even get the courtesy of a turn signal. __________________ Alan

03-04-2026, 04:17 PM	#22
Bob NH Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Meredith, N.H. Posts: 816	Re: Wanted ad (non) responses Guess at 91 I must be old school too. Losing dad at 13 years old, I never had that training, it just seemed the natural and right thing to do by watching others and I'm still at it today ! Open doors, remove Hat if indoors etc. If I happen upon a woman no matter the age if she could use a hand, I'm there, just seems natural .

03-05-2026, 01:46 AM	#24
ford38v8 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 7,634	Re: Wanted ad (non) responses When I sold my '38, i let it go with an original Ford script lockable gas cap, the one with the rivet. It's chrome was intact but showed the years, as you would expect. I got to thinking after the fact that the buyer was a relative know-nothing and likely would replace it with a shiny new Drake cap, chucking the old cap in the trash. I wake in the night with a shudder from those chilling dreams. __________________ Alan

03-05-2026, 08:52 AM	#25
34fordy Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Fort dodge, Iowa Posts: 1,453	Re: Wanted ad (non) responses [QUOTE=ford38v8; Back in the day, hand and arm signals gave folks an outlet for how they feel, You are so right Alan! Most signals given these days are with just one finger! Patience seems to be a dying virtue.

03-05-2026, 09:36 AM	#26
Seth Swoboda Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Southern Illinois Posts: 4,213	Re: Wanted ad (non) responses Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) I'm getting off topic here but.. In July of 2025 I was pulled over by a county deputy while driving my '37 standard V8, during daylight hours. The officer asked me if I was aware that I only had one brake light. I told him I was aware because the car was a "standard" model. He asked me to get out of the car so he could show me. When we walked to the back of the car he looked twice and said "I only see one tail light. I responded "yes, that's because it's a standard model". I then went into an explanation of what the differences were in a standard and a deluxe. I also explained to him that I use my arm to signal for turns. His response "I saw you stick your arm out the window and I didn't know what that was". The officer was very nice and he complemented me on the car. He did have one issue. My year of manufacture, 1937 Illinois plates, came back invalid on his computer. I laughed and said I forgot to give you my extended antique Illinois plate. It was in the trunk with a valid registration. The officer told me that I was doing everything correctly. I told him that I had other pre-war Fords and he would see me driving again sometime. Overall my experience with that was entertaining. The officer was very nice. He was at first confused but I used the moment to teach him about early Fords. I think he enjoyed it.