Customs So...How Many times has this happened to you

I thought I would share this. I was recently at a large cruise in (roughly 2000 cars) enjoying the day with my family and local club that I'm a member off. As usual lots of people looking around and admiring the cars. One particular person was looking at my car while I was standing 10 feet away talking to another Pontiac owner. This individual spent 10 minutes looking around my car and reading the dedication plaque on the front, as he started to walk away he said very loudly to me (not knowing I was the owner) with a disgusted face saying that who ever built this car was lazy for putting a Chevy motor in a Pontiac. My wife was standing next to me and pleaded for me not to say anything back, after 30 seconds of mulling it over I decided to confront this guy, I explained that I was the owner and asked him why he would verbalize his negative thoughts out load to anyone that would listen. I also explained that I'm probably the youngest person there that owned a car and I have to work with what I can afford. I admit I was very upset and confrontational to this guy, which in retrospect I wish I had listened to my wife and been the better person. Come to find out this guy didn't even own a classic and simply was a spectator. I will never understand why people cant appreciate the love and work that goes into any classic/ hot rod, it may not be your cup of tea but shit man keep it to yourself.

 

You'd better get used to it.

 

You will always run into people like that. I have had comments like, why does your car have a Pontiac grill and Oldsmobile hub caps? They just don't get it. Ignore them. It's your car and you make it the way you like or can afford to make it.

 

I refuse to get used to it, however I admit I can do better job ignoring it

 

One of the reasons I strongly dislike car shows of any kind.
Too many loud mouthed "experts" who actually know nothing and tell everyone how much they know.

As you found out most of them wouldn't know what a 9/16" wrench was and some of them will never own a hot rod.
A lot of them are lucky if they know where their hood release is.

I could go on

 

Too many people were never taught or forgot the old saying: if you can't say something nice, better to not say anything at all.

It's everywhere.

 

Just remember...........Humans are a weird species and there are ass-hats living amongst us.

 

Should have told him it's a Pontiac engine with Chevy valve covers...
Or told him the car is actually a Chevy, heavily customized with a shit load of Pontiac sheet metal.

 

This guy has probably heard some of the "cool" guys say that. That makes it ok for him to parrot their thoughts. Those "cool" guys are probably too chicken to verbalize their thoughts in public but your guy doesn't know that...he just blurts it out. Notice he said it really loud so the people standing around would hear him spout the wisdom so they would think he was a really cool guy like his heroes. I'll bet he was really surprised when you confronted him. He'll probably do it again too. Most of those guys don't learn.
BTW, a buddy of mine here also has a 39 Pontiac...........his has a 403 Olds installed by the previous owner. He has to brush off those comments daily. He told me he'd really like to put a 455 Pontiac motor in his car but the 403 is already in the hole, it's fresh motor and he likes the way it runs...plus there's the money issue.
I kinda go the opposite direction. I have a Pontiac motor in my ford in my avatar.
You get to learn to brush off inane comments by ignorant people or start saving for a Poncho motor.

 

It's a way of life no doubt! It doesn't happen just at car shows/cruises either. I was visiting a club garage meeting if you want to call it that. I didn't know all of the guys ( about a dozen or so), they were bad mouthing my '56 pickup (sorry no pic, haven't learned how to upload them from my phone) one of them said "Chrome is out", Guess the chrome grill, headlight rings & bumper were to much for him. I'm not sure how I kept my big mouth shut (so unlike me..) but I did.


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Wish that was the only thing that I had bothering me. Ignore it and enjoy your car the way you like it.

 

Where does it end. People here rip apart anyone's car they deem is a rat rod, even though someone worked really hard on it. They also will rip apart anything with bags or ifs, tons of threads here about 4 doors sucking, fiberglass cars sucking etc etc etc. People that ride Harleys usually don't like other kinds of bikes or anyone not riding a Harley (I've had them say my bike should be hung from a tree and burned). People refuse to sell cars if the buyer will rod it. You pull up to a cruise night and are basically told you and your car don't belong there.


You would think that just the common interest of old cars or motorcycles would create a bond because within the overall population we're rare, but it doesn't. All you can do is try your best NOT to be that person that is judgmental about others, just try to let them not bother you. Carry on, do things that make you happy.


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Illigitimi non carborundum.

 

I hardly ever go to cruise-ins and only to the swap meets at "shows", just because of the a-hole comments, especially about a SBC in a whatever kind of car, like that was never done "back in the day".

You can't get upset, there's just too many ignoramuses around.

 

Blue one,
I have to disagree some . In the 2 years I have owned and built the Pontiac I would say my expereances at shows have been 99% positive..

One of the reasons I love this hobby is the enthusiasm and enginuiaty people put in there cars, the back stories where it came from, where they got it and were there vision is taking them. It's apiece of history, maybe not a complete piece but history neverless.

I guess the real question is , if you can't appreciate all or 1 of these things then why the hell even go to a show .

 

I have an old car. I've done 2 'cruises' in the past 3 years. Just because I have an old car doesn't mean I have to do this stuff. I don't have my car for anyone but me (and my daughters and wife). We like it. It's ours.

 

He outed himself by not having the understanding and mindset that folks who fix up and own cars like yours have and thus probably wasn't a "car" owner himself. You were at the cruise for your own enjoyment, with your own standards and any entertainment for others and their expectation is secondary. I'm sure your car wasn't the only freak among 2000. Don't let anybody steal your joy!

As to explaining yourself to the Fast and Futile, tell him you are Mad Max and point out what else you have in there that's not pure Pontiac. Maybe you built that Chevy motor 10 years ago with your dad, your son, your dog, whatever, and just found this car with no motor a month ago to put it in. It's your business why you do or did a certain thing. After all, Pontiac was using Chevy-ish (GM corporate) engines for many years before they shut down. We have enough rules that we have made up for each other without having to kowtow to the unwashed public, too.

 

Amen to that brother Flatheadpete, I bought and built the Pontiac after my 17 year old son passed away in a car accident. We share a common interest in cars, so I decided to build the Pontiac as if we were doing it together. Now my wife, 8 year old son and 18 year old daughter enjoy the Pontiac every weekend without fail. It's been great therapy for all of us and we have made life long friends in the process

 

With apologies to the glass half full folks, people are insecure little assholes. Try to remember that, you'll never go wrong.

 

Geez man,
Don't take this stuff so seriously. Everyone is entitled express to their opinion. With the odd crap we build we thrive on these guys!...

 

If you cant ignore the idiots, you're going to be running around like a blind dog in a meat house. And really, who DOES put a Chevy in a Pontiac? .

 

This has been going on for as long as there have been car shows I am sure but some have noticed as have I an increase in the amount an intensity of the negative comments. Some of this might be blamed on the recent election where we as a people gave credence to the concept that you can say anything you want about anyone without there being consequences. Then there is also the theory that cars shows have become nothing but a penis measuring contest for the gold chainers. I simply say build your car the way you want to, enjoy it as it is and try to ignore the clowns, life is too short. To quote Shania Twain "So you got a car, that don't impress me much". Drive it, enjoy it and enjoy the people that make it fun.

 

....The Dr. Phil show will be back after this commercial break..........Seriously, ignore em, I learned a long time ago that the loudest most obnoxious ones are usually in the worst shape, emotionally.
Funny stuff, belair!

 

HA my mother said that all the time! That right there sir is the voice of wisdom

 

When I go to a car show I expect:
1.The perfect parking spot
2.The cars next to mine to be of my taste
3.The weather sunny and warm, not hot
4.The participants to idolize me
5.The spectators to wish they were me
6.To win every conceivable trophy possible
Oddly none of these on the list occur..Damn it I'm not going to any more, so there.

 

Just so the record is straight I'm not losing sleep over it, attending therapy seasons , or crawled up in the fetal position. At best it adnoyed me.

As for the " who puts a Chevy motor in a Pontiac anyways " question, yes one day there will be a poncho motor in it. Not because of dummies that pose the question to me but because I think it should have one. It boiled down to Chevy motor available now put it in and run it or let it sit till I could afford a poncho motor.
Sue me

 

For your next car, build a Pontiac with a 6cyl Ford engine in it or better yet, a flathead. Then stand by and listen to the comments.

 

The heck with that, we need the good old fashioned, smoking and drinking on tv, folding-chair beating, insane guest vs rabid audience, Morton Downey Jr Show !


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Be like Cuba , 56 Chevy belair with a Hyundai desiel