Old cars bringing people together

[StescoG66]

Just want to tell a wee tale from the other night which made me smile.
Took the Sprint out for a quick whirl as I do as I think cars should move not sit stationary. Anyway, stupid arse here mis-judged it and ran out of fuel but thankfully only a short walk from the nearest petrol station......

Walked round and in to Shell on Springburn Road and got talking to the young lass behind the counter. Petrol can bought, filled with finest E5 and with a roll of the eyes said 'back in 15 minutes'
Sure enough, 15 minutes later in I drive and stick some more fuel in and go in to pay.
"Hello again" said I
"Sorted then" said she
"Yup, replenished and good to go. Pump 1"

She bursts in to a huge smile " Wow! An old Alfa Romeo. Love it!! What is it? Never seen one of these"
"Sprint 1.7 from before you were even a lustful thought. I love it too"
" want to take a photo for my mum. We both have Alfas - MiTo"
Then proceeds to show pics of her lovely wee motor. At this point a similarly aged lad comes in for provisions and joins in.
Anyway, out she comes photographs the Sprint and we then go our merry ways.
Long winded I know, but heart warming that something so inanimate, a lump of metal, can cause such a reaction.
Fair brightened up my evening let me tell you

Edited by StescoG66 on Saturday 5th August 09:57

[dontlookdown]

That is a lovely looking Sprint. There was one at the Festival of the Unexceptional last weekend, they shouldn't have let it in IMO - it definitely was exceptional!

[anonymous-user]

Stevie, I am so happy, and impressed, that you have got to this point. Enjoy every minute of your special car!!

[Olivergt]

Fantastic story.

I can also guarantee, that there a million more heart warming stories like that.

I have an 88 BMW 7 series, I've only had it a couple of years, but it gets quite a bit of interest and takes me to places to meet people I wouldn't have gone to before.

Hopefully more adventures coming up shortly.

[J4CKO]

Always good to have a positive exchange, old cars can be quite disarming.

I remember driving my wife’s 1967 Fiat 500 and at that point I was knocking 18 stone and six foot, that stimulate some conversations !

[SteveR1979]

J4CKO said:

Always good to have a positive exchange, old cars can be quite disarming.

I remember driving my wife’s 1967 Fiat 500 and at that point I was knocking 18 stone and six foot, that stimulate some conversations !

Are you shorter now??

[donkmeister]

I went to pick up a few big bits from the Halfords near me. Young lady came out with the pallet truck and said she'd bring it out to my car. I was in the Lexus (old LS460), and her eyes lit up. Turned out her and her OH were in the JDM scene (she had a Pulsar GTi-R) so seeing something Japanese (albeit not purely JDM) and relatively uncommon started a nice conversation about the JDM cars we each love. Good to meet others who don't see cars as solely transport and/or insta-bling.

[StescoG66]

biggbn said:

Stevie, I am so happy, and impressed, that you have got to this point. Enjoy every minute of your special car!!

Thanks bigG

Will be at The Rhynd tomorrow with some pals - one with an X1/9, possibly a 124 Spider, and 3 Bertone coupes - one of which is very special Just if you are nearby......

Olivergt said:

Fantastic story.

I can also guarantee, that there a million more heart warming stories like that.

I have an 88 BMW 7 series, I've only had it a couple of years, but it gets quite a bit of interest and takes me to places to meet people I wouldn't have gone to before.

Hopefully more adventures coming up shortly.

It is amazing isn’t it, and I do find it heart warming. In the Sprints case, for something that really wasn’t that common even in its day I remain surprised how many people either remember them or indeed had one (or a Sud/33) with not a bad word to say...

Edited by StescoG66 on Saturday 5th August 10:09

[Slowboathome]

I love hearing stories like this about the younger generation. Challenges my occasional assumption that their only interest is social media.

[StescoG66]

Slowboathome said:

I love hearing stories like this about the younger generation. Challenges my occasional assumption that their only interest is social media.

I reckon the girl in the petrol station to be about 19/20 the lad that walked in about the same. There is hope!!

[andy43]

Love stories like this. Cars do bring people together. I love chatting to people about odd cars, whether they’re mine or theirs - it’s always interesting. Alfa looks lovely, so delicate, can’t remember the last time I saw a sprint.

[andy43]

Saddick Khan has left the thread.

[StescoG66]

andy43 said:

Saddick Khan has left the thread.

i

Sad sack Khan is nearer the truth.....

[Cliftonite]

Old cars bringing people together. Minor thread title amendment, please!

[anonymous-user]

StescoG66 said:

biggbn said:

Stevie, I am so happy, and impressed, that you have got to this point. Enjoy every minute of your special car!!

Thanks bigG

Will be at The Rhynd tomorrow with some pals - one with an X1/9, possibly a 124 Spider, and 3 Bertone coupes - one of which is very special Just if you are nearby......

Olivergt said:

Fantastic story.

I can also guarantee, that there a million more heart warming stories like that.

I have an 88 BMW 7 series, I've only had it a couple of years, but it gets quite a bit of interest and takes me to places to meet people I wouldn't have gone to before.

Hopefully more adventures coming up shortly.

It is amazing isn’t it, and I do find it heart warming. In the Sprints case, for something that really wasn’t that common even in its day I remain surprised how many people either remember them or indeed had one (or a Sud/33) with not a bad word to say...

Edited by StescoG66 on Saturday 5th August 10:09

Thanks for letting me know Stevie, but I won't be driving tomorrow in deference to the bottles of wine I am going to drink tonight...we are in Arbroath now, gimme a shout anytime you are up this way, would be great to catch up after all this time. Been a Labour of love for ya, but it looks to have been worth it big time. I've lost all my old car pics so can't even post a before for people to marvel at the after!!

[Kinky]

Cliftonite said:

Old cars bringing people together. Minor thread title amendment, please!

[StescoG66]

biggbn said:

Thanks for letting me know Stevie, but I won't be driving tomorrow in deference to the bottles of wine I am going to drink tonight...we are in Arbroath now, gimme a shout anytime you are up this way, would be great to catch up after all this time. Been a Labour of love for ya, but it looks to have been worth it big time. I've lost all my old car pics so can't even post a before for people to marvel at the after!!

As good an excuse as one can get - enjoy the grape juice. Counts towards the five a day in my book (as does cider)

A nice red kind sir? Masi Campofiorin or a nice Rosso/Brunello di Montalcino perhaps? Either way - Salute!!

[unsprung]

An uplifting story, OP. Threads here could do with more of that.

Looking back over the years... A shared interest in cars has produced ready acquaintances with passers-by at various car parks and shops. Some of those people with age and background notably different to me.

Closer in, a shared interest in motors has at times managed to provide a boost of sorts at work. Sustained the occasional strained friendship as well.

One day, there'll be the autonomous, ride-sharing pod. And things won't be quite the same!

[MikeM6]

Love stuff like this, I get some appreciation when I get the '67 MGB out on the roads, even if it is a bit of a heap. It makes people smile, not a a single bit of envy to be seen but just some joy.

[shed driver]

A similar tale. I took my P5B coupe to Lytham car show last year and in a middle aged man was talking to us, he told us how his father had had one for many years. "Can I see if it smells just as I remember?" Soon he was sat in the front seat and then started crying - he said it was just like being back with his father. I must admit it did get a bit dusty!

SD.