I got the idea into my head that I wanted a car like the yellow coupe in "American Grafitti". I had a huge mortgage and kids so the bucks were thin. I could only afford a glass T body so I braced myself for reality and ordered one COD. I then stared at it for 2 days. Jeez, it was tiny. I had started telling all my relatives and both my friends about how I was going to build a hotrod. They replied: "Sure you are." Soon it became apparent that I was in WAY over my head. I had never welded anything and had never even heard of an angle grinder. In fact some of the frame parts I cut with a hacksaw. I was working full time plus 20 hours a week part-time. Stayed up late alone in my garage and had many disgruntled glances from the wife. I could hang it up any time but since I had bragged to all those folks about what I was going to do, I would be too ashamed to quit. I actually did hang it up out of frustration twice. I got discouraged when it came time to set up the master brake cylinder and brake lines. I felt that was way out of my league. Marty, a tech rep at Speedway, gave my confidence. He had done it on the T he built and convinced me it was no big deal. I had other trying times but I perservered. It took a year-and-a-half before I actually started the engine and drove it around the block for the first time. I clearly remember getting out of the car and crying. I was just bursting with pride.
Every time I take that car for a ride I shake my head in awe of the fact that I am driving a collection of old used and basically hand made parts. An actual, cool looking custom model T roadster, made from scratch, that drives down the road. Excellant handling and drivability thrown in. Now I can only speak for myself, but buying someone elses dream just doesn't fit into my lifestyle. I can not believe that there is any other way to achieve the contentment, pride and personal satisfaction that a person gets when designing, engineering and building something as complex as a legal roadworthy automobile. When anyone gives me the thumbs up or a big grin as I drive by, I get a special feeling in my heart. That car is an extension of ME. That is egotistical of course but it makes me feel wonderful. That was what I was after when I started the project: something to show for my existance. If I fail to come up to par in other chapters in my life - at least there will be that car.
To sum up I guess what matters is how badly you want something and how much satisfaction you want from it.
Every time I take that car for a ride I shake my head in awe of the fact that I am driving a collection of old used and basically hand made parts. An actual, cool looking custom model T roadster, made from scratch, that drives down the road. Excellant handling and drivability thrown in. Now I can only speak for myself, but buying someone elses dream just doesn't fit into my lifestyle. I can not believe that there is any other way to achieve the contentment, pride and personal satisfaction that a person gets when designing, engineering and building something as complex as a legal roadworthy automobile. When anyone gives me the thumbs up or a big grin as I drive by, I get a special feeling in my heart. That car is an extension of ME. That is egotistical of course but it makes me feel wonderful. That was what I was after when I started the project: something to show for my existance. If I fail to come up to par in other chapters in my life - at least there will be that car.
To sum up I guess what matters is how badly you want something and how much satisfaction you want from it.
