What Vehicle(s) Are You Thankful For?
The time for giving thanks in the United States is rapidly approaching, and we here at Hagerty Media naturally like to highlight automotive reasons to celebrate the season. You could say that those of us on this side of the screen must be thankful for cars, trucks, and everything in between, as they are the reasons we have jobs in automotive journalism. But there’s more to it than that, and we’re seeking input from our enthusiast readers to elaborate on this question of thankfulness:
What vehicles are you thankful for?
To start off the conversation, my answer is simple: it’s the support vehicle. We recently learned of a first-generation Dodge Viper being removed from its aerial display at a Chrysler dealership in Henderson, KY. I am quite thankful for that big truck and its crane for doing the right thing, as they helped save a classic Viper. Not all display cars get a chance at a second life.
I’ve personally needed a tow truck a few times this year, and when I see that Ford/Chevy/Dodge truck with a towing apparatus on its hefty frame, I generally breathe a sigh of relief.
We need to support these support vehicles because they are here for us when we need them most. And not just tow trucks, but the vehicles used to create and maintain our roads, and the big rigs that deliver everything we need to function in our society.
But there are plenty of others that deserve our thanks and praise as well. So, Hagerty community, what say you? What vehicles are you thankful for?
To be honest I am very lucky to have 5 interesting vehicles and they are all reliable and in top condition.
Too many people are driving daily in cars that are not safe for the streets. I used to work where the best car some have don’t have brakes all the way round. Tread on the tires or even a floor under their feet.
As car cost go up this is going to become more and more common.
In New Jersey – and I am pretty sure its not the only state to have done this – there is no more safety state inspections, its emissions only every two years (and exempt for historic vehicles). So long as your car – and I am talking about everybody’s daily driver here – doesn’t have a check engine light on and passes emissions, you will get your new inspection sticker even if the car has bald tires, no brakes, no brake lights, broken taillights, broken headlights and a windshield with a huge crack all the way across. Seriously. States going down this road will make the problem of unsafe cars on the road even worse.
i read where the state of MI made a study of traffic accidents due to non-inspected safety items in states that did not have safety inspections vs their own statistics. there was practically no difference in the numbers and concluded people compensated for their vehicle’s short comings i.e. drove slower, took shorter trips, drove during the day or only when dry out. the state closed their inspection program for this reason, and that it saved the tax payer (and state) a lot of $$. i wonder if being a no-fault insurance state had anything to do with it…
This is – in the words of Harry Doyle – “Ju-u-u-s-st a bit outside” of the traditional definition of vehicle, but it has four tires, an engine, steering wheel and seat, so I’m gonna present it. The Farm Tractor. I grew up in mostly rural Idaho, and much of my youth was spent hauling my paraplegic father around farm fields, trying to set him up to shoot at ducks or pheasants. More than once, I’d get us stuck and have to go plead with the farmer to come put us out with his tractor. I learned at a young age what a versatile and indispensable vehicle those things can be. Later I witnessed how they made it possible to prepare the land, plant and eventually harvest huge amounts of food and other crops. When I bought land to create our small ranch, I initially had to hire much of my tractor work done, as I was still working. Eventually, I decided it was time to own my own – albeit a smaller one, as ranch land is largely range land, and I’m not tilling or mowing more than a few acres of it. I finally found a deal on a 1954 Ford 8N with a 3-point and all sorts of attachments. That baby has scraped, tilled, spread, drilled post holes, and given grandkids some wonderful times (truth-be-told, Grandpa too) on the place for about 20 years. It – along with countless tractors throughout my entire life – has done a LOT for us and for that I’m truly thankful. It’s due for a rebuild, and as soon as I clear project space in the shop, I’m going to express my gratitude: it’s going to get all spiffed up with mechanical overhaul, new tires, and fresh paint.
Unless you need a front end loader and power steering, a N series Ford is hard to beat for a utility tractor.
You can fling a dead cat here and not hit one. That faded gray is a classic patina.
You talkin’ about the tractor or my beard?
I know a guy with a JD 4 Series that can handle any front end loader work I might need, so my little Ford has been just right for 99.99% of my needs!
I have to go with the Hyper response and say quite a few. My Corvette came to me in need of a lot of work, but I got it all done and it has been a very fun and surprisingly reliable car. I bought an Allante on a lark because it was cheap and have had no significant issues with. My 1 Series beemer bought as a daily driver has been problem free and is a blast to drive. My most recent acquisition a 72 F350 was literally drug out of a farm field and was surprisingly intact and operational. Although there was a lot of time, sweat, and parts hunting invested into getting it road worthy, the actual out of pocket including purchase price has been astonishingly low
Thankful for vehicles, period – the working, farming, emergency, transport, and service vehicles that allow civilization. But it’s the motorsport and classic/collectible stuff that provides the enthusiasm for that civilization, no ?
i’ll have a personal response further down, but i’ll agree here – i think a blanket gratitude fits best. where would we be if we had none of the above? (no offence meant, but) probably like the amish, and they likely don’t allow motorsports for entertainment!
Ah, but they DO have vehicles, no? Just powered by the “original” form of horsepower!
horse drawn carriages? hmm, maybe if they’re insured by hagerty and can go online for this article?? i’ll say no since they don’t have spark plugs and i don’t think their powertrain would like to be filled up with petrol, either!
Fire trucks. I was a paid on-call firefighter for a few years — the village we were living in expected anyone who could physically manage the job and who did not travel for work to sign up. I learned to drive the beasts, run the pumps at -40, and back them into the garage properly after a call. I have huge respect for those trucks. A close second would be ambulances. The ambulance arriving as we were cutting people out of a car wreck was always a moment of relief.
Trucks, trains, anything that helps our good to cross this nation.
I agree with thankfulness and need for a vehicle that saves the day or moment. I am most thankful for something that brings a bit of joy to this grey reality. So I offer tasteful customs and hotrods. To the observers taste.
Becoming a driver in the early 70’s, I’m thankful for all the cars you could still buy for under $100 as your first vehicle. You never went anywhere without extra oil, water, duct tape, a flashlight and wire hangers in the trunk, as well as a set of worn and rusty, but functional tools. You learned to work on cars out of sheer necessity, and had about as cheap access to freedom as was possible.
Well said.
All trucks and their drivers. Who got food and everything else to us during the pandemic and every day.
Thanks, Men and Women drivers and your machines!
+1
next in line behind emergency response & service vehicles, i’ll look next to a friend and his rides and car trailer, and my personal vehicles. i can mostly blame my friend for the heard of vehicles i now own, having towed most of them home. most were a fair distance, some out-of-state. he’s towed with a ’97 z71 1/2 ton 4wd, a ’97 suburban 1500 4wd, and currently a ’02 yukon 4wd. the last vehicle, he bought it when not used for 10 years. changed fluids & tires, then we bought a new car trailer and towed a ’91 zr-1 with 23k mi from vista, ca to the nashville area. my 34 year old nissan truck of 13 years ownership has been very reliable, and has been a great tool by helping out with getting many jobs & projects completed. can’t imagine a lifestyle without a truck.
The ambulance my son drives and the 777 my son flies. They have both found their niche. Not much more a dad could wish for. And even more thankful for the woman who brought them and another good man, into this world. The best thing about this time of year are the moments spent reflecting on the good things.
I too have sons driving an ambulance and flying triple 7s, another is a electrical engineer. I’m truly thankful for three good men and their wives giving me 4 grandsons thus far. As for vehicles, I’m going with the Willys Jeep and Ford Mustang, especially the ones modified by Carroll Shelby.
I am thankful for my two ex-U-Haul Ford F-350’s. Retired U-Haul trucks can be an excellent value.
In a metro area a sewer jetter. Cuz you want poo to run downhill
Coffee trucks
Where you can get bad coffee and sometimes beer
ALL HAIL RUSTY FENDERS !!!!!!!!