Been lurking here for months taking in the sights, checking out the build threads, finished rides and thinking about what I would like to do next. Haven't had an old car project for years been playing with motorcycles, tractors and a backhoe.Spent the last 4 years paying for one of my childrens expensive private university education.Fortunately the last payment will be made next month and I can start seriously hunting for my next project. Before I start spending I thought it might be a good idea to get the wife something she could enjoy and be proud of like we are with our cl***ic cars.I got lucky and found a mint Mercedes 500sl hard top convertible the wife has wanted , for dirt cheap with an engine problem I can fix easily. Hoping a little money spent upfront will reduce the budget "friction" that that can occur from time to time when you are spending time and money that is required to build a nice ride. Curious what some of the guys here do for their wives/OL significant other.Does your better half share the p***ion for the hobby, enjoy the ride or just tolerate your obsession. Mine is usually pissed when I drag junk home becomes interested when it starts shaping up then loves bragging when it is done and especially when it is sold for a few $$$. Here is the OL's new pride & joy bought it for $1,750 last week and found a broken timing chain tensioner.$400 in parts and it will be running next weekend.That thing was about $90k 20 years ago
We don't talk about that kind of car here except to say that we used the parts off one. Read the rules. The guys over at www.hotrodders.com seem to like cars like that and you may be a lot better off posting photos and what not of it over there.
im sure your proud of it but your in the wrong place with that car.read the rules.and see what we are about.i could use the seats out of it thou.
I think if you actually read the post he is just saying that this is what he got his wife to cut some of the friction for when he starts working on a Hamb friendly ride and was just wondering what everybody else does to keep the other half happy so they can persue the old car hobby, or if your wives are into the hobby themselves.
I sure as hell would never put my pride and joy into a pos such as a mercedes....as already stated, you are in the wrong place with this one. Maybe trade it for a early 60's caddy, then she'd have her *** in some cl***!!!!
Toymont Glad someone understands! Curious how men share their hobby and deal with the problems that can result from spending money and time on something other than the wife/girlfriend. Some of the funniest stories involve asking for permission or forgiveness. I just went preventative hoping to build a little slack for the day a loaded trailer arrives. Tend to be of the school that goes with forgiveness is easy than permission. I am thinking about a 40's - 50's truck but still very undecided. Currently watching Craigslist in a several state area and talking to some local hobbyists.When the right vehicle at the right price shows up I will know. Till then just seeing what appeals to me and what works.
We understand pleanty, that mercedes just don't belong here. Get your 'ol lady a real car so she can share the p***ion you have and then she won't h***el you as much when you bring home another project. Reve**** psychology does wonders!!!
My wife has been talking about a pickup truck so I'm looking around for a 61-66 Chevy short box stepside or Fleetside if the old style box isn't happening. I do have a line on one but it is not a solid deal yet. Was hoping for Christmas delivery but...
That may well be but the RULE is that we don't post photos or threads about off topic cars even if it gets us sugar points with Momma. As I said above there is a whole group over at hotrodders.com that absolutely loves those cars along with any other modified or not modified vehicle that anyone could dream up. This thread will be closed when the moderators wake up and that should be the end of it.
Well what does your pride and joy ride in? If mine wanted a 60's Caddy that is what would be in the driveway. See a lot of guys spend a fortune on their stuff but the wife and kids get ****.
I always had GFs that loved cruising and showin off, but totally hated me spendin my life in the shop. After the last sentimental failiure i'll be chosing the next one carefully.
I don't have a HAMB project, but I love coming here and reading. This place inspires me. But I do have a answer to your question . When I wanted to get back into racing, I decided to race a Dirt Late Model. My wife likes watching racing but did not come from that kind of lifestyle. So I had a similar problem as you. How can you justify the money and the time to someone who won't understand. We have 2 daily driver cars in our home, but only 1 car payment. I "pitched" it like this. Most suburban families these days have 2 car payments. Whether it be a lease or whatever. The car payment we had at the time was for a little Scion. Including insurance on that car it came out to $400 a month. Since it was in our family budget that we could afford another "car" payment. I chose that my car payment money went towards the race car. So that is what my racing survives on. $400 a month plus whatever I win .
the question is what do our significant others do/drive. please dont focus on the guys back story of car. my wife gave me "permission" to get a/c for my willys. we were goin to the home depot and she said it was warm and that we needed a/c. so i clarified and stated/asked that i now had her approval to buy such things. she said it was required if she was gona go any where else with me in the pk. so she doesnt mind it. shes just not crazy about it like i am. as for her. i do have a 56 cj5 sittin in pieces that i am gona do a small block chevy and auto trans for her. and of course a/c...
Snafu Good plan on the budget must be tough to keep a car in tires and fuel on that! Fortunately we don't have any car payments even that OT late model daily drivers are bought cash and usually come home on a trailer or flatbed. Having two kids in college a high school senior and a 5 y/o has made my budget for "extras" similar to what it was when I was in college.
I got off cheap! After reading the cl***ic travel trailer thread have been thinking about including that in the project but it is still a little to early for that yet. If a cl***ic Avian or Airstream showed up I might wind up sleeping in it
Summertime ride for my 'ol lady is a 4 door 56 belair. We have a couple kids and the moredoor works great for that. Sold her 65 mustang to get the 56, before that she had a OT Trans Am, and before that was a 23 T-Bucket. Her favorite summer ride was the 23 T-Bucket, but unfortuneatly that one got sold and $ was used for down payment on our house. We talk regularly about getting another bucket for her to drive to work, no need for kids to ride then!!! Her winter time ride is an OT 2007 HHR. I'm fortuneate that she does love older rides, it does make it soo much easier when I find a new project. I understand needing to keep the better half happy, and the rashin of **** I'm givin ya is mostly cuz the mercedes need not be shown here. I'm sure you are happy and maybe even proud of it and that is just fine with me. Lean towards getting her into something older and nice...you never know just how much she might like it. If she does, it will make your life hording old cars much easier, at least it does for me!!! Cheers....
A Fiat Topolino followed me home one day, and I knew it wanted to become a street legal altered with blown Chev in it. (It had a RHS ch***is & guards on it so most folk couldnt recognise it for what wanted to become) My wife saw it, and reckoned it was the first hot rod that I had ever brought home that she actually liked. A few years later, I "gave" it to her for Christmas, and figured I would get it back the next month on our 21st wedding anniversary, - women like that romantic stuff aye. Cant remember what I got for my anniversary present, but it wasnt a Fiat Topolino. We rebuilt the car "her way" & its still got guards & its still hers. And I still have my blown BBC bucket.....
Damn snafu...that really is not much of a budget for a DLM. Any luck persuing sponsors? That is really the best and just about only way to finance a racing gig. Shine that rolling billboard up and get out there selling advertising space!!! Good luck and remember....GO FAST, TURN LEFT!!! Well actually you'll be headin left, turnin right!!! If ya like mottos, I like the one 333 Half Evil used to say; "Lift Last or Loose"!!!
The other me Those are some nice rides! Your better half must really know how to drive those old buckets can be a handful My wife likes the nice Euro muscle cars so a portion of a large old Snap On box has metric specialty tools. Drove to Michigan with a trailer to get the toolbox and she was almost as happy as I was because the price was great and we got a ton of old body working tools thrown in. G***erTodd "Cant remember what I got for my anniversary present, but it wasnt a Fiat Topolino." Funny how that works! Don't think mine wife will even give me a key for her new toy. But I haven't heard about selling my backhoe recently either.
She is quite a good driver. Yeah, our bucket weighed in at 1654 lbs. with a full load(6 gallons) of fuel and the wife in it!! The funnest thing I watched her dive was 333 Half Evils Trans Am. It was a SBC-4spd car with 4.56 gears and ran mid 10's. That thing had her all over the place but she did end up making a few good runs with it. Afterwards I had told her that having a wild SBC or BBC and 4spd in a T bucket would be fun...she just shook her head and said "for you maybe" but I liked the one we had the way it was!!!
Just one! He bought the first set of tires. I will get 2 seasons out of the fronts, the rears are long gone. I have another potential sponsor lined up for next season. But its all about survival with this car. We are a top ten car, we stand no chance at winning. Its all about going fast, and having fun. And the satisfaction of beating someone that spends 10X what I do haha. Sorry about the hijack OP .
"the satisfaction of beating someone that spends 10X what I do haha." That is sweet indeed! Grew up building 60's muscle cars because they were dirt cheap and parts were plentiful. Hot rodding has always been that way taking cheap old stuff and building it the way you want it to be. Sort of lost some p***ion when a lot of stuff became collectible and stuff started getting stupid expensive. When I find the right project it will be inexpensive like my first two I bought at 14 with paper route money 1955 F250 v8 $50 1969 GTO 23k miles no motor or trans $100 found a 68 Catalina wagon 400 with 16k miles for $50 and a m22 rock crusher 4 speed for $75
well that may be true else where but not here. my wife is getting ready to sit her little *** in a fresh up 67 impala with a heavy chrome engine and beautiful body and fresh paint.BUT shes waiting for me to find and build her 20S SEDAN. she has her dd 08 300chrysler with the hemi.but she has to have a dependable car that she can wear out in a couple of yrs as she puts about 100,000 miles a yr on one just for work.if not that 67 would be her daily until i got her a sedan.and i have never bought my kids a car and im not gonna start now.if they want one they can do just what i did and thats work and buy one.
I am in the process of restoring a 68 ford bronco for my wife.... Then I came across a 1931 model a pickup and she is in love with the idea of me building that next. I will finish the bronco first as I have a lot of it done already but but hopefully the the 31 will end up being her daily driver on non snowy days.
like someone said - rules tell you what you can"t do - not what you can do! you have done good by momma don"t go any further on it - not on your case here - think read the shaving cream signs have a good long ride here with us
The Jalopy Journal
