Speaking of fathers (and towing), here’s a classic shot posted at the Cohort by Kiwi Bryce. I’m sure it’ll also bring up some memories. In my case, though, not so much: My father would have been the last person I’d call if I needed a tow. An electroencephalogram, yes, or a history of classic philosophy (not that I did, or would have paid much attention). But not a tow.
In this case, it sure doesn’t take much of a rope either; a clothesline, perhaps?
My dad is always the first person I call when I have car trouble. I grew up with him having classic cars (and he still does) so he understands. With him it’s not a modern truck and a rope, it’s a beat up ’70 F100 and a chain.
However, I’m usually able to fix or rig it up on the side of the road and limp it home.
Sometimes I don’t know what I’d do if my dad didn’t share in my gearheadedness.
Now that brings back some (not so good) memories… ’65 Mustang (best friend in high school), my ’71 Vega at least a few times, my ’64 Beetle and ’71 Transporter, the ’98 Grand Caravan after the serpentine belt popped off due to snow/slush packing up into the engine bay, my son’s ’84 Mustang L several times this year already, and numerous other cases where I was able to cobble together a temporary fix that held enough to get me home…
Not much weight in a Austin 7 racer I have to assume its dead as I havent seen it again since that day.
one of its relations is still self propelled up here
alistair
This would be called a `toy car’ here. Or a kids’ car. Its funny how people here (India) look down upon small sized cars. Even a slightly larger car sells for much more money, and most auto styling tries to make small cars look larger. I think A-segment cars only sell here because they’re cheap and you can somehow fit a small family into one. That’s also one of the reasons for the overall small car market, considering the dramatic increase in incomes and spending in other sectors. A large, family-sized economy car is the need, but no-one makes them anymore.
Love that Austin. For those who don’t realize it, you’re looking at the beginnings of the British specialist car industry, starting with Swallow (aka SS, aka Jaguar) and a few others.
England’s equivalent of the Model T.
With my Dad being a mechanic (now retired), he was always the first person I called in my younger years when I drove British Fords. He rebuilt the engines in my first two cars (Ford Escort and then Ford Sierra). He gave up working on his own cars though when he and Mum bought their first Subaru Legacy in 1996 – the underbonnet view was chock-full of the turbo and emissions controls and wiring, and Dad hates all that sort of stuff. He’s much happier with old-school technology that he can fix without special tools or a computer. Nowadays when their ’08 Legacy needs a service, Mum and Dad like to go somewhere with a nice waiting room with good coffee – so they’re moving with the times!