Folks Of Interest How do you know when it's time to let one go?

Over the decades, I've built several cars, and bought and sold a bunch. Some I've kept for a few days, some for decades, and everywhere in between. I've sold them for several different reasons. Sometimes I just had too many cars. Some I lost interest. Some I got on the road, and decided I just didn't like them. Some I drove on road trips, and they were so bad I just couldn't stand to be in the car ever again. Some I needed the room. Some I needed the money.

How do you know it's time to let one go?

Yes, there's a reason I'm posting this. I'm thinking about Plan II, that I might be over it, and ready to part ways.

 

Definitely not in an elevator..............The reasons are many.....money , time , the wife , the kids , eyes are bigger tnan the stomach.....lol.....sometimes breaking your patterns in life are whats required to refresh and meet a new way of seeing , meeting new experiences and people and all the wonders of this world...my 2 cents..

 

Most of mine I let go of so I could get something else. A few I got tired of sinking money into without the results I wanted. And I have just gotten tired of some of them and wanted something different.
A few times I hated it later after getting rid of one, but most times they just became good memories ignoring whatever bad they might have been.
Got a replacement for Plan II in mind?

 

I know there are lots of reasons, but I think it boils down to "if it makes you happy". If not, time to go.

 

Tanya Tucker had a hit years ago that might, with a little paraphrase, fit the situation. She said "if it ain't easy, let it go." So, if it ain't fun====.

Ben

 

Not really.

And its a combination of things...having 3 old cars to keep up takes time and room. I built the car to do a specific thing, and I've done it, more times than I imagined I would. It's been a blast, but it's also getting old.

 

Things change over time.
Go with the flow, bro.

 

Over the years I've sold more than one car I wish I still had but don't we all? I can't help with your question but I can say is that if you do sell Plan II, whoever ends up with it will be getting one hell of a car - complete with some awesome history.

 

Life and our taste change. Most of the time if you follow your gut instincts you will come out on top. Most of the time. I do miss my last 54 Chevy. It has a very good home!.

 

If you don't see yourself driving it forever, then it's time. If I am not in love with the car, they usually don't last around here.

 

sometimes i just want a simpler life

 

I'll start the bidding at $500.... Cash.

 

When the next one comes along.

When it disrupts your life (wife?) relationship a little too much.

When someone makes an offer you can't refuse.

When you can't work on it anymore without saying "you lousy fucker!".

When the next one comes along.

When you have a hard time resisting stealing parts from it to get the other one up and running.

When you look at it and for the 2nd time say "....not today"

When the next one comes along.

Wait, sensing a pattern here...

 

I'm terrible at selling cars, especially on the old stuff. I get attached and never like letting go. Only have really sold some OT daily cars once they became more money pits than reliable transportation. I really only have my C10 I would sell, but it would have to be someone offering the number I have in my head at this point. I tried selling it when Ron Hings car was on BAT to raise the funds, but too short notice. Glad Mark scooped the car up so it wouldn't get lost again.

 

If you’re thinking about it, it’s time for it to go.

 

I had an O/T El Camino that I bought in tech school because it was a good deal, I had a 350 for it, and wanted a project car. I raced it, drove it on the street, it was my Mom’s daily for a while and worked on it-a lot. I kept it for around 20 years. One day I woke up and decided I was tired of working on it. That, and there was no place to put Little Truckdoctor. I sold it and really haven’t missed it at all. Truthfully, it wasn’t truly what I wanted, but at the time I thought it was. I haven’t replaced it yet, but I want a full size Chevy 1955-65, and those aren’t cheap or around much. Jim, I know how you feel, but my Dad used to say, you can’t keep them forever.

 

I think you hit the nail on the head, ^^^^^ but it's hard to come to that realization and really consider moving a car along to someone else to be the caretaker.

I built a T roadster with my son when he was still just a 7th and 8th grader. Thought I'd never sell it and someday it would be his. He does appreciate the time we spent building the car together and likes the car, but now he's 33 and his interests are way more focused on things other than cars, and that's fine, to each his own. So, I made a hard choice and the car is currently listed in the HAMB classifieds. It will be hard to see it leave when it does sell, but it just doesn't fill a need anymore. But, I seem to fall into the category of enjoying building more than the driving the finished product. For now, I'm enjoying racing the FED dragster I built, as well as the Model A coupe that my wife likes a lot more than she ever liked the T roadster.

Good luck with your choices, Jim.

Lynn

 

I've got two cars I've had over twenty years and two others I've had over thirty years and I'm 46 years old. Still with the same girl since 16. I know nothing of letting go. They're all still in good shape though, girl included.

 

When they don't thrill you, and you can't make them happy anymore.

 

When I built the Stude I spent more money on restoring it than I should have, because I wanted everything to be right, well as right as I could make it. After it was done it was a nice car to drive but I wasn't in love with it anymore. My wife and I share a large shop (she does metal art) but having three cars sucked up a lot of space. The Stude is in Florida, the new owner wanted one for the last fifty years so we are both happy. I guess the time was right.
That said....the 38 Chevy that I've had for fifty years will be an estate auction sale (or when I have to go to the home

 

It usually takes a better one to let one go. I say I will never let go of my one of 64 made O/T cars, but if the money is right, who knows? I had 8 cars when I got married, besides daily drivers, I’m down to two.

 

I like to hunt them, buy them, drive them for a while and then let them go! And then on to the next search. Thats where I am now!

 

I have a small stable of "keepers" that I don't plan to ever sell. Then I have a revolving door of ones that come and go. I think it boils down to some kind of sentimental attachment with the keepers. They are all ones that I either chased for a long time to be able to buy, or that I put together with the idea of not letting go of. So far I've been pretty good about keeping the keepers, and have only let a short-termer overstay its welcome a time or two.

ironandsteele.com​

 

When this stuff starts to rule your life... purging is liberating.

 

This is true. I have White Glove rifles I haven’t shot in years many worth more than old cars I’ve bought. I’ve started selling off a few and dumping the money in my FED. It is nice to just get something and not worry about paying for it.

 

I recently sold two projects that had a lot of work done already because after a real bad 2023 i just wanted to simplify. Now i can concentrate on fewer things.

 

When was the last time you used it for what it's good for? I note the last couple of trips out have been in your vette. Wondering if it might be just using it on drag week type things might be the problem, ie big effort, big expense etc? Happens with age! Dwindling local tracks might be an issue? (We've never had local tracks in the UK, ha!). Go do cars n coffee in it and see how you feel, maybe? Admitedly I'm looking at the why, not when. Not sure if there's a difference!

Chris

 

When they stop putting out and start nagging at you every night, then you find out they bought a life insurance policy on you. Wait, what were we talking about?

 

I totally get it. But I also really hate selling cars. Also the thing is plan II will always be Jims car.