I just got into this model A project and now my other car is getting dusty, I am even considering selling it to finance the rod. I've been working on a 70 T/A for about four years and I almost feel guilty even thinking about selling it like I'm cheating on my wife or something. My Dad says when it stops being fun it's ok to quit a hobby ya know? Too bad I won't recover half of my investment in a racecar. I thought 600 horse on the street would be the shit but be careful what you wish for because when I finally did it, I realized it's not what it's cracked up to be. Ever felt torn up about selling a car or what? What did you do?
Every single day. Resigned myself to sell the '70 Mach 1 in pristine condition cause I enjoy the Merc so much more and tired of seeing the Mustang under cover.
i spent years building my first car up. it was a lowly 63 ragtop vw, but it ran 12.80's in street trim. when i decided it was time to build a hot rod, i cut that bitch up with a sawzall!!! i made way more for it in parts than i could get whole. it was tough, but when i look at my hot rod, i don't even think about that old car
Yup! Terrible feeling. I traded my first car, a 1962 V.W. Bettle, painted tan with metallic purple flames on the hood and front fenders, lowered in the front with big and little tires a kickin' stereo... man that car was good times... ah the memories; for a 1928 Ford Roadster that I never got around to building and ended up selling for $4,000 here on the H.A.M.B. I think about it this way, I probably would have never sold that tired old bug for $4,000 so it does'nt bother so much. I guess I did'nt want to be one of those old guys that regrets selling his fisrt car. But oh well I got over it, you probably will too.
Still goin through it myself -- I have the 58 which is on the road looks awesome drives great and was my dream car for a long time but I also have the 29 A sedan project sitting out back that I really dont have the money or space to do right now - and I REALLY want a loud fast obnoxious hot rod. One day I think I am gonna sell the Olds to finance the hot rod but then I think about not having a car on the road for even part of the season (remember here in Canada we only gets about 6 months to drive) and then I go and wash the 58 and drive it and listen to the radio and blah blah blah and I cant imagine not having it. IT SUCKS!!! I have had less trouble breaking up with girlfriends!!! AND!!! Speaking of girlfriends we just bought my gal Gill (who is on here as luckyedselgirl) a car for her which I will be mostly responsible for the upkeep on (but believe me she is more than willing to learn its just a matter of being there to teach) so now I am even more strapped for time. Sometime I think I should sell all the A parts sell the Olds and by an almost complete project that I could finish over the winter and other times I think I should stop talking so much Whatever you choose will be right for you man its just a tough choice
Na, not me, when I get tired of a car, I can't wait to get rid of it! As soon as my next new love is at hand, the old ride becomes a parts hauler for the new ride. Soon as that new one is almost ready for the road, the old one is gone. Been that way for at least the last 10 cars, or so. What is really aggravating is when the new ride takes a couple of years to get road ready, and I have to keep driving the old one. Neat as they might be, they are still "just" cars to me, but I have had some sort of hot rod ever since I could afford two cars. There is the good car (the hot rod) and then there is the beater work ride (might be the old hot rod, might be something a lot newer). Gene
Jared, suck it up and build your coupe!!!! You can always sell the coupe to finance your build on the other car you sold to build the coupe.....hahaha Lucky
i was out in the garage today thinking the same thing, bout to put a price on the 55 and the 57. not really pressed and i like lookin at em if i aint workin on them. maybe i just need a bigger garage and more time to drive and work on them. i look at all the body work the 57 needs and the 55 not being real co-operative in the stay freakin running so i can drive it area. but they are a investment, and i can always sell em, just dont need to today i guess.
Dont sell it, just build your A another way. I had a totally stock one owner 1968 camaro and I sold it to buy a 1965 Impala SS 327 4 speed and I miss them both alot, the Camaro cause it was so clean and completly stock and the Impala cause it was a real SS, 4 speed, kick ass cruiser, and I did a ton of work to get it really nice. I thought times were hard and I needed to sell them to get ahead but man I miss those cars. The worst is my friend who had bought a really clean original Boss 302 at the pomona swapmeet for like 7000 back in like 1993, sold it for 10000 in 1997 and hes really kicking himself now, not just cause the price of those cars went through the roof but just owning something so cool and totally stock, not having to deal with some one elses redneck hack job you see so often on late 60's muscle cars.
Personally, I'd have no qualms selling a '70 TA to build an A...I suppose you could throw that 600 hp motor in the A and have the best of both of your worlds . Not trying to be a jerk here, I just think driving an A would be so much more fun than any muscle car (I had one back in the day that I loved, but I don't miss it...it would be worth 3 times what I sold it for too). Bryan
that's the great thing about car covers and a barn/shop/garage. When I get done building and test driving to make sure it doesn't fall apart, I just slip it in a slot and drop a cover on it. They don't eat a damn thing sitting there, and when I feel like driving them they're right there. The new project is always more fun than the finished one to me, so the done ones sit quite a bit. Kind of a plus really, as they don't require much upkeep. I have a different outlook on selling my cars.... you didn't build it, you don't deserve to own it. I can always put up another garage.
the only way I can do it is by sacrificing one to build another. They will always come back around. Why own one forever, when you can own alot...in a long period of time. Sell it, and build your coupe. Its time to move on
I sold my 49 chev to a buddy of mine to make some room to finish my 29A Two things in this deal helps, I'm still get to work on it and he never sells anything .
I feel your pain, I traded a real nice 68 firebird 400 that always got compliments no matter where it went for a totally cut apart 55 chevy 210. I mean literally 3 bolts holding an empty shell to the frame. I got some cash and a shit load of parts with it. Been working on the 55 for a year now and finally started the finish work on the body for paint.Still needs interior wiring and some other stuff but now I wouldn't trade back for the 68 for anything. Sell the TA and do the A in the long run you'll have a much cooler more fun hot rod that doesn't have to be perfect or in collector condition
I definetly know this feeling. I used to 4wheel trucks ALOT. Now i have found my true calling i think and am trying to sell the pile of truck parts i had for a build. For me it was an easy desicion though, what would be more practical? A freakin pickup on huge tires with a stupid amount of HP or my 48 Poncho. Needless to say i think the Poncho is more reasonable and will be way cooler too.