What's more important to you?

Our cars are always in various stages of build and some of us have their priorities set for different things. Mine? I just want to get it runnin' and drivin'. I don't really much care about how it looks. Just as long as it runs and stops. Then I'll work on the looks part.

Other folks are happy with it sitting up and working on it bit by bit and are in no russ to get it runnin'

How do you feel?

 

exactly the same.

 

The wife and I have a deal. I can drag home any piece o' crap that I want as long as I get it running and moving ASAP.

No time to get pretty ... just get it moving.

 

I think that once a car hits the road and you start having fun with it,..the desire or motivation to finish up the details deminishes to a point where you say ,.... "ah it can wait" and go work on the new project in the garage, it just seems in my experence you should get as much done as you can before you put it on the road.
However we had a guy in the club back in the 70's that was constantly working on his 40 Ford sedan and you could see some progress every week
until it was totally finished,.. he kept it looking fresh the same way, but it was the only car he ever built and still has it, ( but it still looks great !)

 

Harmsway got it right. Once its running and driving, I dont wanna stop driving it and that makes it hard to make more progress on it. And I do want to start working on another

 

Gotta have it on the road...I like driving 'em as much as I like building 'em. For me, it's gotta go fast, stop quick, and lay low....the interior, paint, and bodywork WILL come, but not first.

Bryan

 

Running and moving is the first goal for me, but I do tend to fart around with little things to make it look better too. Painting small parts, cleaning, buffing out paint (if there's any left!) and trim all get done while I'm scraping cash together for mechanical stuff.

I got tired of seeing the paint on my Rambler fading all the time so I bought about 10 rattle cans of clear lacquer and driveway Earl Scheibed it. Looks better and I don't have to buff out faded paint. Of course all the wornout primer bare spots are glossy too! Clear-tina I call it.

 

I think it depends on what type of finished product you want and if you have another hot rod to drive while you're finishing it.

When I did my roadster I just wanted to get it out.

On my sedan I’ve got it running and I’m driving it while I work on it, but I still don’t expect a show car out of it.

I’m working on a coupe that will not see the streets until it’s done and painted, because I plan on keeping the fit and finish to a much higher level. It will be done when it's finished, no short cuts, no deadlines.

 

I'm on the same track. Learned that years ago. I think this is the secret to burn out prevention. Get it on the road and then finish it.

 

Actually given all my options I would really like a cheese burger.

I normally try to keep two, a driver and a project. My drivers are usually a little rough around the edges, I a mechanic what else can i say.

on the other hand on my project I have a tendency to go to extremes to make it right as rain.

Unless you're independently wealthy you have to have a driver right? let that one be your beater ( I think you guys call that a trad rod) and then take your time building a real hot rod.

 

My brother always says it more fun to drive through the gate then to walk through the gate.

I couldn't agree with him more. I'm SOOOOO close to getting my coupe on the road I can't stand it. I only have a couple more big ticket items to buy and then a ton of assembly work. All that after I get the body straightened out. It should be driving by EARLY next year and then and only then will I worry about working on the fenders. They sit in the garage attic until it's running. I'll drive it while working them over.

Vance

 

Vance,
I don't know if you are aware how close to real traditional rodding that is. Even into the early '60s when Rodders were supposed to have cash on hand a lot of 'em got driven while in the process of getting finished up. The ultimate goal was to have paint and interior in 'em but the vast majoriity (save for show cars) were a work in progress.

 

Both. My (dare I say it?) VW trike, I'm in no hurry, because I want to get the truck going ASAP!

 

P&B, I am shooting for a 60-64 era car so I guess I'm right on track. I plan on having it painted and the seat done before it's maiden voyage, but the other stuff like fenders, hood, door panels and headliner will wait and get done in the mornings BEFORE the cruising. And it ain't gonna have a radio and prolly not even a heater.

I've had the car for three years, (and in pieces for all that time) and sometimes it feels like three lifetimes.


Vance

 

I think everyone has different levels of doneness. Kinda like ordering a steak, some guys like there cars well, and others medium rare. This seems to depend on the project as well. I cuold give a rats ass about body work on my truck, while I try to keep the Caddy as nice as I can(afford). But both are drivers, and that adds a whole new set of variables to the mix. Two weeks after I shot a new coat of semi gloss black on the Cad, my wife curbs the fender. Sure I was upset at first, but those things happen when you drive,
and if you dont drive it, then whats the use.

 

Chris, your analogy couldn't be more spot on for me. I used to order my steaks well done up until about 5-6 years ago. Out of the blue, I ordered one medium rare and I've been a 'knock the horns off it and throw it on the plate' kinda guy. Now that's funny!

Vance

 

I find that once I drive it, I really don't want it any more. So I usually just keep building on it. Building is the real fun to me anyway, so I tend to use my driveway as a test track to make sure it all works then it gets covered and stored and I'm on to the next one. The red 51 in my avaitar is the exception. It gets driven some because it has 'special memories'.

 

Whacked,

You're right on with that one. I've had my 54 Bel Air for 3 years, started as a wrecked and slightly disassembled 210. 4 parts cars later she runs. I've got things to finish and I was pushing to have them done for our local festival last weekend but it didn't happen. Glad I didn't because if I'd have gotten plates, it'd be driven regularly around the neighborhood and I wouldn't want to put it out to finish anything. Show was a bust anyway! I'm afraid also that once I get it on the road I'll be tired of it and want to sell or trade for something else.

It is like an toy. It is great to play with when you first get it but you find another one and it goes back in the toy box. When you open the toy box after a long while you remember how much fun it was so you play for a while!

I like to play...need a bigger toybox.

 

At my age; 70, I don't have the time to sit and look. Once it's running and
safe. Im'a drivin' that puppy. My neighbor across the street, bought a '35
Ford 5 window coupe 2 years ago. He just keeps buying parts for it and won't
even try to start the old engine. I've offered to help him get it running so he
can find out what he's got. Hopeless ! Spends his free time on the Ford Barn
web site instead of wrenching. Get em goin' and enjoy the fun of driving these
sweet things. Then you work on getting just the way you want, when you have the time and bucks. Believe me, those people you think will turn their
noses up, are just wishing they had the courage to deal with building their
own ride.Seeeeeeeeeeees ya, Carlos

 

I think it's a loaded question when you make the second choice "sitting and pooping"

But really, how can one build a serious custom without making looks a priority?

The running & driving part is just a way to get the sculpture heading down the road.

That being said, now that I've had it on the road, much of the past 3 years have been spent refining the quality of the mechanicals more than it has been spent on looks because it takes the fun out of driving when something isn't working just right. Now that it is more dialed in mechanically, I hope I can get back to focusing mostly on the fun stuff.

 

is anything realy done

 

DRIVING.

WTF kinda 2nd choice is that?

if you sitting and pooping in your car maybe you should visit another forum... or get some depends.

 

I think a car should first run and drive and if you work on it over time I think you really find the best ways of making it cooler and you end up fine tuning your perception of what you want it to be. If you become too in to making it perfect first you miss the boat. The most important detail to pay attention to is the stuff that turns peoples heads. I like everything mechanically radical and on the ground and some day I will get to paint and making it mint but now the thrill of having a car is driving what I saw in all the littlebooks. I always say it takes a lot of patience to drive old cars and if it was that easy everyone would have one. Another cool thing about getting it going first is that you can look back at the different stages the car went through. But thats what I think anyone can do what they want. The sky's the limit.

 

Yes, but that fact is usually found out too late.
It usually goes along with the statment; "Gee, I reeeally liked the first version better~!"

Like, the Golden Sahara before the four fins got added.

As far as what this survey says; I think it's fine to get your old jalopy running and using it for beer runs and going to work if it's your driver.
Just don't clutter up a "Custom Car Show" with what looks like an ugly unfinished rolling pile of poo that just alienates more VOTERS who will be more than happy to outlaw our hobby if they don't like too much of what they see.

Chainer shows still say "No VW's or Mini Trucks" and it won't be long before "Rust Rods" are added to the list.
I would venture to say that ALL* (*99%) "civilians" don't like and don't want to hear or see the typical "rat rod" or are even scared of them and their usual "gang" of ugly tattooed greasy drivers, and a lot of "finished" car guys who do know what they are don't like them and are tired of them "giving the whole hobby a bad name"
In spite of what a bunk of alcoholic rockerbillies who wear a "rat rod" as a fashion statement like the mohawk and spikes they sported sixteen months ago when they were "Goth" instead of "Grease"

TRADITIONAL cars weren't called "finishied" when they were rusty and full of holes.
Sure they might have gone to school or work while being worked on, but the owner would be of the mind and say "Look what I'm DOING and it's going to look fine some day!" not "Look what I DID and what the fuck you mean when am I gonna finish it? It is finished!"
Paso is starting to look like the "buy it whole today before we part it out tomorrow" row that usta be at the front gate of the local "traditional" junk yard.

Rust and open headers are going to bring back the "traditional fifties" total intolerance that the Cops had for rods back then, it took decades for "nice" "Street Rodders" to overcome it and it'll be over soon if all the young punks don't exibit some self control.
Right now, Cops are still "at war" with the rice tuners, but haven't you noticed they are dissappearing? They will turn their "cars are just utilities" war back at us soon if we don't cool it and get the obnoxious ones to cool it too.


Yea, I said it, and I meant every word of it.

 

a little off topic but I bought a 65 rustang for my wife about 20 yrs ago, rebuilt everything mechanical, replaced all the rusted out places with new metal, upholstered it,(except headliner and dash pad) painted it, put new tires on it.. Needed valances, bumpers, and a few more little things. Told her to drive it and I'd finish it as soon as I got the parts. She said she wasn't driving it till it was done. I started it up backed it outta the garage and didn't touch it again, except for yearly starts. It sat so long the tires rotted, and the paint faded. Finally sold it.

 

I remember the days of having a hot rod as my only transportation... Not fun driving to work then having to take it apart and put it back together again right away for simple transportation... Now I am established enough to have an everyday driver (non hot rod) and a "finished" Hot Rod as well as a project or two... I really don't have too much interest in driving the projects until I think they are close enough to being finished that I am not putting them together and taking them apart just to take them out for a drive now and then...

Dave Brisco

 

I agree with louvers, were the same age same generation of thinking. Bought it in 85, 94 started driving it with only a windowsheild in primer, two years later chopped it put glass in still in primer,later got the finders straitened out quick paint job handles gone,hindges changed primer spots. Some day it will be done, but look what fun I would have missed if I had waited, 15K miles of smiles

 

BOTH ...

I have the Roadster to drive ... and enjoy
The coupe is going slowly ... as nice as I can make it ... I wanted to drive it to Shades of the Past 06 ... but it will not happen. MY work was not up to the level of my expections so I had t rework some and and slow down ... Plus ... it has been HOT ... too HOT to get much done ...

 

Already happening here, at least to an extent...every club in town, both motorcycle and car, are being watched very closely. For now, it's not too bad because the real focus is on crotch rockets...both racing and theft rings.

I hear what you're saying on unfinished cars and the public reaction...that's why we steer clear of the "chainer" shows unless they specifically have a suedes and unfinished area like the R and C show in SF. It's not necessarily that we want to show off an unfinished car, it's that we can't wait to drive it and if the shows will have us, we're game.

Of course there are people who do exactly what you describe.

Bryan

 

Puttin the chin in the wind, and the knees to the breeze