Is it just me...I can't be the only jack@$$!!

I dunno about the rest of you but there are way too many RIP threads popping up...dont waste any time you have! Drive it and finish it while having fun in it!

 

My buddy busted ass getting his ride all pretty for a show last year. He got parked next to a piece of fantasy, rusted up, yard art on wheels. Guess who got more attention? You guessed it, the yard art. Who had more fun per dollar? You never know who is admiring your ride that you drove there and had FUN in the process, regardless of how you look at it.
My '53 T'all is clear coated grey primer (don't tell anyone that I just washed and polished primer) I didn't want to have to worry about it getting coyote racing stripes on it while driving through the brush on the way to the house.
Drive it, if it makes you happy, and have more fun per $ is my vote.

LJ

 

Not to worry. You are as normal as many of us.

In 1993 I started working on a design I had in mind for a kingcab 37 Chevy Pickup. Lots of stops and starts in the build as my kids went off to college and money went toward other priorities. When things settled down I finally got the truck road worthy and thought I could finish the build while I drove it. Once I got it in one color primer that was it. I was having so much fun behind the wheel that I could never commit to taking it apart and finishing the body work, paint and interior. I did several trips to Michigan for the Dream Cruise, replaced an engine, replaced the tires and wheels and made small improvements that would not take the truck down for long lengths of time. Hell I even built 4 other cars while I owned this truck. People would always stop and talk with me about the truck. I got lots of compliments and thumbs up when I drove it. Found it once on Google maps after one of my trips to Detroit. I did not worry where I parked it or what the weather was when I drove it. It got hit once in a parking lot so I put a band aid over the dent that said "hit and run". I guess I would say I made a good decision in not finishing it.
Last year after buying back a chopped 37 Sedan I built over 20 years ago I finally decided to let the truck go. The nice part is that the new owner can now finish the truck in a way that will make it his truck.
For me no regrets. I have lots of pictures, a diecast model I built of the truck and a ton of great memories of my years with this truck.

 

I say if you got the itch to drive it then button it up and GOOOOOOO. You can always paint it later and you will have all the bugs worked out by then......

 

A person can talk himself into anything. If it takes another year, then so be it. Otherwise, start driving it now and hope you get to finish it later. Sounds like that's what you're going to do anyway and just needed validation.

 

I built a 35 Ford pickup from the frame up, painting as I went. Got to the last rear fender that needed to be finished and couldnt stand it. Drove it 5 years and needed to pull the engine out for updating the steering box. Got the hood and radiator out and its been sitting for 15 years untouched

 

Once you drive it you'll forget about perfection. Get it on the road.

 

Drive it, there is always time to restore it later.

 

I have to say that I've had more fun with my work in progress drivers than I ever had with my finished cars, afraid to drive, might get scratched, might get dirty, have to park it away from other cars for fear of door dents, I think it's gonna rain and a dozen other excuses to keep it in the garage.

I have to say I need to get my rear in gear on my present project as it has haunted my garage since the 80's. Granted, I've not worked on it for years at a time, doing other things and finishing other projects. I'm gonna shoot a coat of sealer on it and drive it.........this year.

 

Not driving it is no fun.

 

Nice looking Olds!

 

I say drive the shit out of it but make sure you paint and buff it first otherwise you'll be shunned on for building a rat rod.


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Also, you're throwing this question out on a website that has a thread about guys using a BUCKET as a seat for the first drive. Drive the damn thing!

 

Absolutely, driving a car without fresh buffed paint will lead to public riducule!
Get that car on the road and drive it, you will remember why you started the project in the first place. Life is too short.

 

drive now , time has a way of slipping away...

 

If you've never had one done as nice as you plan to, get it done now. Concept space cars be damned.

 

I say "drive the sucker". I have two finished cars in my collection. I end up driving one of my work-in-progress vehicles most of the time. I've sat here trying to come up with a good reason to explain why I do that but I am not sure. Maybe I should sell the nice ones..?

 

Here is what I am doing. I have been down 3 years with the Apache... What I started with was a stripped cab, a box of parts, and a stack of sheetmetal tied to the frame while I transported it home for the first time.

I am in the same boat as you are... At this point I have to make sure everything is buttoned down, do some quick maintenance, then I can drive it.

I have decided before I go through and put time and money into doing the paint job I am 1) going to get it one color of primer 2) drive it and work the bugs out before I paint it. Nothing would piss me off more than painting a vehicle and having to pull an engine out and scratching the hell out of something. If I were you, drive it for the season, tear it down and paint it in the off season, that is the best advice I can give you.

 

Count my vote with the drive it now crowd. Like many others, I am in the same boat - had to sit out last year while working on my project. A whol;e year missed. Still looks like crap, but will be driven within a couple of weeks now, looking fwd to this cruise season.
Tho some were hesitant to bring up age, it is a realistic consideration. If you have regrets when the time comes, would you regret not painting? Or not driving? Easy choice for me.
Drive the peewauket out of it this year, blow it apart next winter to resolve new found issues, and to paint if you so choose.

 

For me, I get more enjoyment out of the build than driving. I do have two other finished cars but they sit under car covers in the shop. If you are itching to have it on the road, get the frame done and painted and make it a driver. Then, you can figure out how to mask off and paint while it is together. Do it your way!! Most of my builds seem to be on the seven year plan.

 

Life is short.

Enjoy it now, I spent 1.5 years building mine to a driver condition, I have enjoyed it for almost a year now and I'm fixing to tear back into it.

Godspeed
MrC.

 

Drive it. I am getting mine into driver mode to work out the bugs and then pretty it up later.

 

I am over 2 yrs into what I thought would be a few month project. I am finishing up the loose ends and driving it this summer. Plan for a chop and glossy paint at some point, but need to get in and go. It is hard to keep the motivation up without getting behind the wheel. When it gets cold out, I will start taking things apart again.

 

My first build took 3 years, but after that, at least I had a finished car to drive. My next project took a year but since I had my first car to drive, it was no biggie. After that, I always had one car to drive while I worked on the next.

 

Spring has sprung i say get in & drive the shit out of it while you still can

 

Actually, I think my next project will be a highboy frankenstien concept wanna-be-bubble-top incorporating repurposed 50's fins of some sort...I have the bug to build one and have drawn up a few concepts that I can't get out of my head.

 

I second that. Perfection isn't all it's cracked up to be. Seen to many friends reach said perfection, and then they won't drive it anymore either, because the perfection might get ruined.....

 

I agree with 40 Stude Dude, DRIVE IT! But, if you decide to put stuff off, make sure you stay motivated to go back and do it and not keep putting it off.

 

Glad to know I won't be the only one in primer !

 

Drive it now and gather parts and other resources for the up-grade later. Work the bugs out of it and get it ultra reliable.

Plus your ideas may change as you drive it for a while, the vehicle always develops a distict personality.

Bob