Sunday, June 26, 2011

Studebakers and Melons

Introducing the all new Studebaker


My grampa only bought Studebaker because my Uncle Herm worked at the plant in South Bend.  Got him an employee discount.  First thing gramps did with a new car was remove the fan belt.  "Uses gas and don't need it."  Gramps never drove below 50 on them Indiana backroads.  Wow, I'm experiencing déjà smell  here- that hot-day, dusty wind blowing in from the open window summer smell.  I spot a roadside truck-stand.  Grampa!  Let's get a melon!"   Gramps would pull over, and ask the farmer which was his best melon?   He pulled out his pocket knife and plugged it (cut a triangular shaped plug).   If it was proper red, and proper sweet, he bought it.  Prolly cost a dime.  If not, he asked the farmer to select another'n.  I think, 'cause the first one always passed muster.  That's how it was done.  

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Ah. The good life. For us, the Studebaker was "The Beach Buggy" ( after it had 100K miles on it ) and Dad droves us to and from the beach here with it. And we too would hit the farmer's market on the way home for fresh watermelon to eat on the way home. Used to spit the seeds out the window at the side of the highway.

Good times. Miss him he was a great guy.
( the car was fun too. and it always ran, saved our lives when a teen ran a stop sign at 40 mph and broad sided us. Me and the dog bounced around like ping pong balls in the back, but that great car held up, and we all walked away from that one.)

toadold said...

Another armored car, a 1950 Buick with knee action shocks. It became the icy road car for the teenagers because of the thickness of its sheet metal. It got dented but never crushed and drove away from everything. It deserved to be buried not scrapped.

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