Hot Rods So now what do you do with it?

Wife would ask for creature comforts also, so after 5 years she got seat belts after 9 year got this. She doesn’t complain much after 57 yrs together.

 

Sell it and buy an accordian

 

We had one of those con-vert-tables once for about a year. She liked that top down (on a sunny day) better then I did! I was a welder by trade, the bright sun didn't work well for me. Her car has a sunroof (that doesn't leak when it rains) and she has it open often, I have to close it to drive her car.
I'll pass on the roadster.

 

What would you suggest ? Do we all need to have fun your way ?

 

I get people asking why I drive such a pretty car when there is obviously still salt and sand on our Minnesota roads…My reply? I am 68, and will rust out before the car does….

 

This is exactly right!! Make it your daily driver! Get rid of that new car payment and just drive your old hot rod. People seem to forget at the end of the day your hot rod is transportation. It will take you from point A to point B just like your new car or truck will. You don't need those heated seats, and all the other bullshit that they are putting on the over priced plastic china made shit that Ford, GM and Dodge are pumping out these days. That stuff is for Sissy's!! Drive what you built with your own two hands and have fun at the same time. just my 2 cents

 

I'd pump the brakes a little bit on that.

First off, many classic insurance policies strictly forbid turning your classic into a daily driver. You have to have a late model, or at least another car, as your primary mode of transportation. So even if you could, theoretically, make your classic your daily driver, you may be setting yourself up for a situation where if something happens where you need to make a claim (or worse yet where you injure someone else), your insurance may disclaim coverage.

Additionally, many of the cars folks here have built/own are high end cars with seriously good paint, chrome, interiors, highly detailed engine compartments, etc. Again, even if the car can technically do it, the rigors of daily driving car are not something I would want to put a car like that through. It doesn't make sense to me to restore a car only to destroy it with abuse.

That said, there is no reason why you can't get your car out and drive it a lot, and really enjoy it on the road, without making it your daily driver. There is a distinct difference between using your car often, and destroying your car little by little by wearing it out in daily use. As I said in my post, I drive my cars a ton, something around 15,000 miles a year without ever once driving my car to work. But that comes in the form of dry evenings and weekends, trips to shows out of state, going to the gym or wherever, provided there's no salt/brine on the road and I have a safe place to park it. It's a big investment of time and money to build or buy one of these things, I want to keep it decent for as long as possible while still using it.

 

I’m having the same issue with a 998 point AACA Grand National Champion and Dearborn Award winner 51 Ford Woody wagon that’s sitting in the garage. It’s going to the Pebble Beach Concourse de Elegance for its final show but after that what the hell do I do with it? It’s really way to nice to drive and it’s way to nice to sit and rot.

 

It got "too nice" by someone building it that way, didn't it? If it can be done once, can't it be done again? If you don't get enjoyment from staring at it, drive it!

 

never figured out the dislike of car shows by car people or the thinking that you need to sit in a lawn chair next to your car all day. looking at Hot Rods and assorted old cars and talking with fellow car people is boring? . you are in the wrong hobby, find one you are interested in.

 

Ain't it grand we're not all the same , don't all like the same things , & don't think the same way!

 

Bad thing is that it has one hell of a provenance, it’s been in movies, magazines and several commercials in its time along with 10 years worth of awards that I would have to spend a fortune to bring the car back to its condition now. Poteet has a hard on for the car and I might see what he wants to trade for it, at least then I could drive the hell out of whatever I end up with. But it was my dads baby and the world revolved around that car so that also puts a big wrench into the mix

But then again if I drive it and enjoy the car, the world might be alright. I guess after Pebble Beach I can go ahead and get a scratch on it then I won’t care what happens next

 

Nobody Said you have to be the one to restore it to it's glory. Use it then pass it on to Poteet or another collector. Of course that's easy for me to say.

 

I'm retired, so a "daily driver" has a different meaning for me. We do have a transportation appliance that my wife likes to drive, but it has been paid for for a very long time. That said, we only have 2 vehicles here for two licensed drivers, so those Specialty insurance companies don't want to cover me, we carry liability insurance on our vehicles. If I wreck it, I'll deal with it at the time, if someone else wrecks it, I've been there before and have come out OK. Before the 49 was complete, I drove a beater, its nothing that would be new to me.

Lostn51, I understand your position. I've not ever had that level of a car before. I don't know if I could ever consider it a daily driver, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't enjoy driving it. I also don't think I could let it sit in the garage and not get used. I've had friends with high end street rods that if it looked like a cloud might show up wouldn't drive it, but I've also had friends with high dollar street rods tell me that was why they bought insurance. I can tell you the latter guys enjoyed their cars a lot more. The point is, you can insure the car so that if something bad happens, it can be returned back to pretty close to what it is now. After you quit chasing that 998 point trophy, a paint chip or two won't turn it into a pile of junk. Unless it is still a factory paint job, it can be redone again. If the person (you or anyone else) that wants it returned to the trophy winner, that person can undertake the expenses involved to do so. Between that last show experience and the restoration back to the trophy winner, you can get a lot of enjoyment out of it by simply driving it as it was intended to be used when it was first built at the factory.

The other option would be to sell or trade it for something you can enjoy driving. With family ties, that may be harder then just driving it and enjoying the great ride it probably will provide, and let the next guy fix it back up to chase the trophies. You have put in enough time chasing the points for your dearly departed dad, it is time for you to enjoy the car now, or send it to someone that will follow in your dad's path.

 

listening to some knob who bought a finished car beak about how much it cost and why it’s the best one ever is it interesting.
People who build cars are, and they certainly don’t seem to dominate the number of people at the shows in this area.

 

No need in me pumping the brakes on anything! State farm insures my Hot rods with no restrictions. I do not have to log my miles like some of the specialty insurance Companys require. Also these days a new pickup cost 60-90K depending on what you are after. So what makes more sense Pay 60-90K for the new pickup and lose your ass as it depreciates at a fast pace? Or drive your old car that even with some road wear holds its value a hell of a lot better than that new plastic china made piece of shit that is being sold today. You do whats best for you and I will do whats best for me! I had a guy tell me about 10 years ago I was crazy for paying $27K for my 32 coupe. The same guy had just bought a new ford for $44K. I told him let's see who is ahead in 5 years. He traded the truck in along time ago as it was wore out and a total piece of shit. I turned down 38K for my 32 about 2 months ago. bottom-line is wear and tear doesn't concern me as when it breaks I can fix it! And I do not need a computer to do it. But I understand what you are saying I just don't agree with you. Just my 2 cents

 

Just a comment to be considered , letting a car sit is hard on it , one could even call it destructive , driving them is beneficial , good for most everything , especially if they aren't stored in a climate controlled building .

 

I bought my 57 vette in rough shape for $9000 in 1985 or so . My Uncle jumped my ass about why do I need that thing and why did I waste my money ( more than I had ) and on and on . He had a new then 85 chevy pick up that cost twice as much .
I said to him in 10 years that truck will be worth $900 and my Vette will be worth more than I paid for it . Well I just saw him 5 new trucks later and the last one was $70,000 he said you still got that Vette / I said yeap hows that truck you bought back then . He just laughed and said well I guess you you were right .

Unless its some perfect high end show queen thats only for taking to a show insure them and drive them.
I just insured the model A PU for full coverage with towing for a declared value of $25,000 and its no more than my newer work van. Its satin black and has NON HAMB approved suspension and im going to drive it until the salt hits the roads . Its worth less than my newer PU . I took it to breakfast this morning and to Walmart shopping after and it rained on the way home. Its not that rare and there is nothing on it I cant replace really . If it gets crashed or stolen Im covered and I at least got to use it. Now getting the damn bugs off it is another matter I hate that if I go for a 10 minute drive .

If it was super rare or had stuff I cant replace or the paint was some $10,000 job then Id care a bit more . Ill be dead in 30 years so if its worn out then my kid can worry about it .

 

Had to run some errands tonight.

 

Hello,

One day, my wife and I were coming down PCH in Newport Beach. We were on a hunt for different plants and trees in two separate nursery grounds. We have been going to these two stores and grounds since 1968 and they are some of the best for plants and accessories.

On the way, we saw this orange GMC PANEL VAN sitting by the side of the road in a protected side road parking area. It was seen by my wife from a far distance, due to the bright colors of the custom hot rod. It was one good looking panel van and had just enough custom accessories and paint to make it stand out. Normally, the bright flames and body color is a little over the top for a daily cruiser.

But, since the advent of couples and families now on the hunt for more outdoor activities using station wagons, panel vans and even the new-fangled sprinter vans, why not an old original panel van? It may not have the pop up roof line of the sprinter vans, but it does have a lot of room in the hollow cave. But the convenience of a pop top roof is just to stand up to put on a pair of pants or a dress. So, that is what inside seating does most of the time.

On our way home, we drove by a stretch of empty beachfront areas and there were rows of parked panel vans, sprinter vans, station wagons and only a single car versus the larger space vans. So, why not a nice custom hot rod panel van for those long weekend stays on the beachfront locations?

Jnaki

We used to see this Chevy panel van in the Westside of Long Beach. It was usually parked outside of one of our favorite places to get a bite to eat. The Santa Fe Importers store was a center of activity during all hours, but during lunch, we could see the local hot rod shop guys hanging out or picking up an order. Notice the 1419 Santa Fe Avenue address on the building next door, in the yellow circle. It was none other than the last Mickey Thompson Speed Shop with Jack Ewell at the helm.

The store is still open and just as packed at lunch hour… today. A vast 77 year history in the Westside of Long Beach at the same location, just "spiffed up" a little bit, but still full of loyal customers... YUM!

old Friday Art

 

Drive it.

The world will be cooler if you do.

 

I have been “daily” driving my OT car lately since getting a couple things fixed on it after buying it back recently. When I say daily driving, I don’t mean to work and back since it sucks as a driver type car with a 4000 stall converter, 4.10’s and slicks since I work 30 miles from the house. However, it gets me to Walmart, the parts store, grocery store, takes my daughter to her classes twice a week, etc. Every trip to town is better driving it than some boring late model. I was just telling my wife this morning how quickly time goes by letting something sit. Before you know it you are having to rebuild the fuel and brake systems just to drive it. I own these old cars to drive them. It is more fun for me and starts conversations everywhere I go which is much better than just looking at them in the shop. If I’m not driving my cars it is because something needs fixed (which is a regular thing), not because I can’t find something to do with them.

 

I’d drive that thing every chance I got, that is a bad mamma jammer!

 

Now that I semi retired I drive old stuff every day. Traded the work van for a 72 chevy truck. Drive the others more also.

 

Congratulations on having the car accepted at Pebble Beach, the Thursday Tour with a good 80% of the cars is a highlight of the week. Bob

 

1929 Ford tri-motor was in town last week...so I drove there..didn't want to mis this

 

Here's what I do with mine: Go to the hardware store. Go get groceries. Go downtown Sunday afternoon for cocktails at a cool Tiki bar. Go to a concert. Go for coffee. Go to dinner out. Go get gas. Go visit a buddy. Go camping. Go get another car. Go on vacation. Don't complain about having nothing to do.

 

Hello,


Since you are living in B.C. (B.C. Canada?) there should be countless areas to take a nice road trip along the coast or inland into the wooded mountain regions. The sight of those heavy tree lined roads running along a stream or ocean channel like between Victoria and the mainland is something we would be doing almost weekly.

We have been living in So Cal most of our lives and it never gets old as the coastline is endless and the weather is usually nice enough to get out for a cruise weekly. There are so many places we have been, but going another time is always great. Something else to see and do. Over the 50 plus years of So Cal climate, cities, mountains, deserts and of course the long coastline always give us a reprieve from the daily lives.

When we were in B.C. twice, we did not see plenty of places we had mapped out. But, there is still time for us when we get rolling again. Currently, hot rod or not, there are plenty of spots in good old So Cal that we have been to, but to revive our memories and wonderful experiences, a nice cruise on a sunny day always brings it back home, again.

We even got caught out in a hail storm as we got near the dark clouds being moved inland by the ocean winds. The clouds came and went, but dropped pea ball hail on the whole station wagon, thick enough to use the windshield wipers. Then bright and sunny all the way home along the coastline.

Jnaki

So, it is the place where you live, explore it with what you have. A hot rod always is a different way to enjoy the ability/reliability of the build, yet out in nature’s surrounding beauty. Big city driving has nothing on an open road through the forest or ocean front cliff drive.
We learned from the very beginning. If it is there, then it does not matter what you drive, go explore and enjoy... The flathead 40 Ford Sedan Delivery may not have been the most powerful or fastest car on the block, but, it did get us to where we had not gone before. Now, I sound like a Star Trek dialogue...ha!

As we all know a few places where we can get our monthly supply of a full power acceleration runs in our own neighborhoods. It is just to keep the blood flowing nicely, that is a back up for those days when you aren’t traveling. Or you could have a garage full of cool custom hot rods like someone we all know on the HAMB and play all day moving them around or going to the local diner for lunch. Ha!

 

when I read this I thought you had a 4 door, the back door opened and a woman fell out.

 

Drive it!