Thank you, Jeff, for dropping by over here at 🌿Leaves, and for sharing your own memory! I just had a feeling that my men readers. would have an interest in this little "poem".
Actually, those ACs worked until the ice melted. Back in BAC, people did what needed to be done.
My brother kludged the best AC system yet. He has an early seventies Dodge truck with a flat bed he uses for hauling firewood or whatever. He decided it needed AC, so he bought a small window type, replaced the truck back glass with a sheet of plywood. He cut a hole in the plywood for the AC to fit into and powered it with one of those quiet suitcase type generators.
When I was in high school, my summer job was painting old John Deere tractors for a JD dealership. It was kind of a humble job on the face of it: round stuff got painted yellow, square stuff was painted green. But I discovered that the old fashioned enamel paint could be applied to create a glasslike finish, so I decided to create art.
The owner of the company noticed my work and appreciated it. What a boost for a kid tractor painter. One day he drove a Falcon Ranchero into my work area and told me he wanted me to paint it. It was his first car and he wanted it restored.
When I finished, it was glasslike. I had a job there as long as I wanted it!
Fantastic! I remember, as a kid how blown away I was at the concept of “three-on-the-tree.” I couldn’t believe they used to do it that way. I also liked the way it rhymes. Still do.
Back in my community college days I had a classmate who'd give me a ride to campus almost daily in her Ford Ranchero. That was more that 50 years ago. But I can still see the familiar wheels arriving at about 0745 to pick up the "financially challenged" Greek --and with a driver who was always in super happy mood... to this day I don't know how she did it (I mean being in good mood).
I'll bet she still runs great too. ))) That green air scoop could blast all the bugs that missed the windshield right into your face inside the car. Dried ones that stayed in the scoop got blasted inside just as you start on the road. Them's wahr the days!
Yes, that AC was a plain and simple accessory, designed without much forethought of all the consequences. But it is darned cute hanging from the window, I have to say.
Ha ha ha! Glad you liked it, James Ron. Tinkering with old cars, finding parts, bringing them back to life - so much satisfaction in that. I can see the attraction and appreciate it, even though I have no intrinsic interest in cars. I see the fun in it.
My first car was a ‘63 Falcon station wagon. Paid $75, sold it to a scrap yard for
for $35 a year later when the little 6cyl. froze up. I’ve owned over 50 cars since then but none of them carried as many memories as that rusty little oil-burning dream machine.
I never saw the air conditioner thingy before. Looks like a rocket (or t-shirt) launcher. 🤣 Neither the Ranchero or Chevy’s copy the El Camino lasted long. But the El Camino eventually became more popular (and valuable) when Latinos in the Southwest began converting them into Lowriders. You know the song. 😉
Oh, yes. It is true. Whatever makes my boy happy is what makes me happy! He has a smart, funny, loving wife, a great job, a paid-for house, beer in the fridge and a couple old cars to tinker with. He has earned it. We call that "Fat City" here in Santa Cruz...
And a Very Kool Sweet and Sassy Creative, Fun-Loving Mom who is almost always "Open" for Happy Hours, Thank You, and where I get to hear these stories read by the author. Lucky Me!
I was 15 when this came out. Back to the future. First car Plymouth Savoy 2 door 383 cubic inch wedge head with torqueflight trans white with tan interior and bench seat.
Thank you Richard for dropping by at 🌿Leaves today. The photo of that Ranchero attracted several new visitors. All men, of course! Thanks for contributing an "ode" of your own on your beloved Plymouth Savoy. "383 cubic inch wedge head with torqueflight trans" is pure poetry!
Sharron, it's a beauty. My buddy had a red El Camino. I got my license in late '70 and my dad bought a car from a relative of ours for a whopping $350. It was a '64 puke green Nova and she had been mistreated let's just say. But it was MY car, right? I had to sweet talk to her some mornings to get her to start, but the old Nova never let me down. It had three on the tree too but actually it was 2.5 on the tree. Up in second gear all I had to do was barely touch it and it would drop down into third, haha. Never will forget that car. Drove it all the way through H.S. Thanks for sharing. - Jim
Men always have so many memories of cars they've loved, hated, worked on, raced in, gave up on, fooled around in back seats in, , etc. I love the enthusiasm.
Thank you, Jeff, for dropping by over here at 🌿Leaves, and for sharing your own memory! I just had a feeling that my men readers. would have an interest in this little "poem".
Sweet. Except for the AC — that’s just silly.
Silly yes - the Venetian blinds as well. It's a cool old truck. Built the same year my son was born.
Actually, those ACs worked until the ice melted. Back in BAC, people did what needed to be done.
My brother kludged the best AC system yet. He has an early seventies Dodge truck with a flat bed he uses for hauling firewood or whatever. He decided it needed AC, so he bought a small window type, replaced the truck back glass with a sheet of plywood. He cut a hole in the plywood for the AC to fit into and powered it with one of those quiet suitcase type generators.
Southerun engineering.
Ha ha ha! Every guy has a car story. I love it.
When I was in high school, my summer job was painting old John Deere tractors for a JD dealership. It was kind of a humble job on the face of it: round stuff got painted yellow, square stuff was painted green. But I discovered that the old fashioned enamel paint could be applied to create a glasslike finish, so I decided to create art.
The owner of the company noticed my work and appreciated it. What a boost for a kid tractor painter. One day he drove a Falcon Ranchero into my work area and told me he wanted me to paint it. It was his first car and he wanted it restored.
When I finished, it was glasslike. I had a job there as long as I wanted it!
A fine memory - especially for when you are having a bad day!
Fantastic! I remember, as a kid how blown away I was at the concept of “three-on-the-tree.” I couldn’t believe they used to do it that way. I also liked the way it rhymes. Still do.
Hah! I caught John in a memory here. I thought I might.
I’m that predictable!😂
Only in that you are a male of the species...
Back in my community college days I had a classmate who'd give me a ride to campus almost daily in her Ford Ranchero. That was more that 50 years ago. But I can still see the familiar wheels arriving at about 0745 to pick up the "financially challenged" Greek --and with a driver who was always in super happy mood... to this day I don't know how she did it (I mean being in good mood).
A fine memory of perhaps a happier time for you in your long life, AT
That's a beauty! Always wanted one of those or an El Camino.
Of course I had to check out Poor Man's Falcon Club. Looks like a fun group.
Men and their toys. It is lovely to be part of it, to be around all that enthusiasm, camaraderie, goofiness. Spoken from the POV of mom...
I'll bet she still runs great too. ))) That green air scoop could blast all the bugs that missed the windshield right into your face inside the car. Dried ones that stayed in the scoop got blasted inside just as you start on the road. Them's wahr the days!
Yes, that AC was a plain and simple accessory, designed without much forethought of all the consequences. But it is darned cute hanging from the window, I have to say.
That's a beaut, alright! El Jefe for sure!
Ha ha ha! Glad you liked it, James Ron. Tinkering with old cars, finding parts, bringing them back to life - so much satisfaction in that. I can see the attraction and appreciate it, even though I have no intrinsic interest in cars. I see the fun in it.
My first car was a ‘63 Falcon station wagon. Paid $75, sold it to a scrap yard for
for $35 a year later when the little 6cyl. froze up. I’ve owned over 50 cars since then but none of them carried as many memories as that rusty little oil-burning dream machine.
Great story! So glad this little “poem” brought back memories. Paul. And thanks for stopping over here at 🌿Leaves this morning.
I never saw the air conditioner thingy before. Looks like a rocket (or t-shirt) launcher. 🤣 Neither the Ranchero or Chevy’s copy the El Camino lasted long. But the El Camino eventually became more popular (and valuable) when Latinos in the Southwest began converting them into Lowriders. You know the song. 😉
You bet I do. That’s why the Ranchero has been named EL Jefe. The Boss. It is still a car coveted by our Latino community.
You LOVE the Guy who LOVES this car. You love It, too! It's a Beauty!
Oh, yes. It is true. Whatever makes my boy happy is what makes me happy! He has a smart, funny, loving wife, a great job, a paid-for house, beer in the fridge and a couple old cars to tinker with. He has earned it. We call that "Fat City" here in Santa Cruz...
And a Very Kool Sweet and Sassy Creative, Fun-Loving Mom who is almost always "Open" for Happy Hours, Thank You, and where I get to hear these stories read by the author. Lucky Me!
And in "mint" condition - it appears.
Well... not exactly mint -- that would cost too much. But he drives it every day and is constantly adjusting, enhancing, polishing...
Generator or alternator?
My boy says it originally had a 12v generator but now it's been upgraded to a one wire alternator .
I was 15 when this came out. Back to the future. First car Plymouth Savoy 2 door 383 cubic inch wedge head with torqueflight trans white with tan interior and bench seat.
Thank you Richard for dropping by at 🌿Leaves today. The photo of that Ranchero attracted several new visitors. All men, of course! Thanks for contributing an "ode" of your own on your beloved Plymouth Savoy. "383 cubic inch wedge head with torqueflight trans" is pure poetry!
LOL OH Sharron, that's not poetry, that's porn. teeheeteehee
Euw! ha ha ha ha ha maybe.
.. sweet ride ! 🦎🏴☠️
Sharron, it's a beauty. My buddy had a red El Camino. I got my license in late '70 and my dad bought a car from a relative of ours for a whopping $350. It was a '64 puke green Nova and she had been mistreated let's just say. But it was MY car, right? I had to sweet talk to her some mornings to get her to start, but the old Nova never let me down. It had three on the tree too but actually it was 2.5 on the tree. Up in second gear all I had to do was barely touch it and it would drop down into third, haha. Never will forget that car. Drove it all the way through H.S. Thanks for sharing. - Jim
Men always have so many memories of cars they've loved, hated, worked on, raced in, gave up on, fooled around in back seats in, , etc. I love the enthusiasm.
Yup. It's a thing, haha. You know we're shallow as hell - and you can read us like a book;) ....and yeah fooled around, with the radio way down low.
I'd guessed that about you, and perfected the art throughout your life.
Ouch, haha.
Had a little Night Moves and Bob Seger going on there in the back of my mind and memory.
Of course, you did.