Guys with collections....you ever loose interest

This answer is hopefully good therapy for me. I need the money more than i need the cars so i must sell 2 out of 4 cars. I must quit spending on cars and help my kids get through college and grad school. When I see a car i cannot do without just relax and enjoy looking at the car ...it doesn't have to be mine.

There / how about that.

 

Guys I too have lost the drive to continue. my stable consisted of 11 cars now I'm down to 2 just solld my 56 nomad and took a bath on it but it's gone and I paid some bills. After 15 years of doing this for a living I have gone a different way and got back into plastics last June .After almost a year of staying away I still have not had the urge to do anything car related I think I'm done . met many great people in the car hobby/ business and they continue to be my friends . When they ask me to do some car related fuction I make up some excuse not to go . I guess the next thing to go will be the equipment, probably take a bath on it too. oh well life is short and so is my memory. Mark

 

My collection has about 300. We have 7 licensed& insured. It was intended to be a salvage yard. It Never made any real money . I mainly built inventory& swapped nickles. Then when the price of insurance got to be more than a older vehicle was worth folks stopped driving and buying parts for them. So now Im driving semi truck. I havent really lost interest just dont have the time. Im going to keep my 55& 56 chevy,s 56 ford pk,55GMC pk, Two 64 fairlane HTP,s and one 66 chev PK. Might keep my OT 69 firebird. I also have a collection of farmall tractors I will keep. No one wants to pay even s**** price for most of them. In two years and 7 months Im gonna retire and im getting ready. I just bought a 12,000 LB Atlas four post lift so I dont have to make this old body crawl under any more. When I retire the herd will get reduced to about two dozen. Im gonna keep a few parts cars for the keepers. Cant seem to find any buyers for projects in this economy. A potential buyer wanted two 65 chev car bodys. One is a 2 dr htp the other a four door. I really wanted to sell them. I quoted a price of $500.oo for the pair. That was too much money for him to want to buy. At $230 a ton that is s**** price. However I will always have old vehicles till the day I die. OldWolf

 

I had several projects sitting alongside the shop two years ago. I sold off all of the non-runners, and a couple of runners, too. Down to four done cars and trucks that interest me. One of those I've owned for over thirty years now. Another is a 40-year-old IH Travelall that is my new driver. Less headaches, more room in the shop, less I have to pay for tags and insurance.

Still have a ****load of great parts that everyone wants to give damn near nothing for, though.

 

Most of what's been posted could apply to me, and I bet to many others. I wrenched for Cadillac right out of high school, and found my interest in cars was affected by doing it 40+ hrs. a week. So when I got home from the military after being drafted, I decided to change vocations and it was a great decision because my interest in cars was renewed again.
After 16 yrs. of drag racing my car and trying to raise a family too, I parked the car and lost interest in it, but still enjoyed other's cars. 10 yrs. later (with some prodding from my wife) I got the old race car out and rebuilt it to sell. By the time I was done in 2000 I changed my mind and decided to make it street legal and keep it.
Since then I've found a renewed interest in my car hobby, and bought two more vehicles. Three running, driving cars, although only the old race car is completed. The other two are very close though, and driven almost daily.
Half the fun of owning anything collectable is the hunt and the build. No matter what I've collected over my lifetime of over 60 yrs., I've always found I had somewhat of a let down when it was completed. There's always the joy of accomplishing the goal, but then you look around and tell yourself, "What now?".
I've done it many times with other collections, and sold them to finance the next one, but I've always channeled the interest somewhere, as I can't just sit still and watch life go by. One of my previous collections is now financing my present builds, and I don't mind seeing pieces go when I know what I've got planned will be fun too!

 

1971BB427, exactly how I feel. I worked in the body shop field out of high school and had my first truck but never did anything to it because I did that kind of work all day long. Once I changed fields I started using the body work on my projects as a release. I enjoyed it a lot more once I didn't do it all day long.

I wonder if gynecologists feel this way.

 

I find that the older I get the less interest I have...at 65 I an getting a little old to be crawling under cars...I have 4 cars,all done and ready to drive..one of them I haven't driven in 5 yrs,just to lazy to move the other cars out of the way....and cleaning them is starting to be a chore,if I had to do it again they would not be done all fancy...lots to be said for suede paint and no shiney stuff..the cost of building would be a lot less and I wouldn't worry about getting scratches in the paint...
so I guess you could say yep,I am loosing interest...

 

I have project cars sitting there for over 20 years. I keep saying I'll get to it when I retire. Now I'm thinking two is a good number. On second thought maybe three. I can't stop myself.

 

Just close the garage door. They don't eat anything. You don't have to take them for a walk. They will be there when the mood strikes again. The last couple of years I've had to force myself to go out to the garage. It's very easy for me to find a snag and use it as an excuse to shut the door and go watch a ball game on TV while BSing on the HAMB. I'm going out there now to prepare my project for it's initial start up that I hope will take place this week. I'm actually excited by the milestone. It has taken waaaaay too long. Months have p***ed with no progress. Once I get past that snag I'm back on track until I reach another hold up.

Some guys are just collectors and not really builders. Does it make them a lesser person? I don't think so. I do think that they miss a big part of the enjoyment that comes from driving them and sharing stories with people at shows.

I'm doing what makes me happy. I really don't care what other people think. AFAIK there is no law that states one must work on his projects or else he must sell them to others that will.

I don't think that anyone can maintain that fire for the entire time and has to take a break from time to time. Don't let it get you down. JMHO

 

I recently sold all my woodie stuff (kept one 1950 ford), sold all my muscle car / performance stuff, and it felt great.....And then, the Model A bug bit. And for some strange reason, a whole new collection is developing.

 

Now, if any of you guys want to slim down on your 32 roadster collection . I can help.

 

Maybe true maybe not....3-windows and roadsters ain't growing on trees...better yet ones complete with all the parts..It makes more sense to buy a car worth $100,000 as a basket case for say $30000.I have complete cars as well that are running and driving like a 53 mercury convertible...and a 1950 chevy panel truck with 335 original miles which is the lowest milage advance design chevy in the world...but the people out there that have the Money for these things are slim to none.

 

I have 8 or 9 old rides, but don't find myself taking the time to work on them, although i'm always running across more that I'd like to buy. Mabey thats why they call me a hoarder... I feel as if I ever get myself set up with the shop space / square footage that I desire, I'd start knocking my projects out, but with no place to dissasemble and leave my cars to work on, it can seem sort of hopeless at times. I really don't want to get rid of anything, although it may happen sooner or later...

 

I know guys that have tons of parts, project cars etc. I was getting that way too. I downsized pretty much everything. I just didnt want to become one of these old guys who's kids resent me for dedicating more time to cars than them. Ive known guys who have p***ed away in that position, and thier kids (adults) sold off everything. It cool to own a ton, as long as your priorities are straight.

 

You my friend,... seem to be on the cusp of the dreaded "Paralysis of ****ysis" ,... A common disorder that befalls many Hot Rodders,... (and guys just trying to save all this cool stuff from the hoarders !).

I feel your pain , as I to, am afflicted by this cruel condition,..... I did a post on it a year ago,.... you are not alone my brother !

It seems like when I had one driver and one or two projects, they got done,... Not-no-moe ! ,.... This is the thread I started last year,... I hope this helps.

*Ah-hum !*,..... Hi,.... My name is Dennis,.. and I am a Autoholic !

The Paralysis of ****ysis​

 

this thread sounds more like wanting to talk about "what i have" than getting rid of too many projects that will never be done.

 

^ this is the real truth.

Older people are bailing and downsizing. The economy will get worse, not better. Careers and jobs that used to fund hobbies are gone.

It takes a very special project car to still bring good money. That's because a person with tons of funds buys a mint one from a dealer or auction.

 

I'm going theough it right now. I sold a collection once and I know I should do it now. I have an Econoline pickup I have had for 42 years. If I was to drop the wife would never attempt to move it. Needs to go. Four cycles in the garage that are in my way. She would give them away. And the pink Dodge, she would sell it. I would like to sell them all and start a fresh project of something I have never had.

 

sell all except you two favorite, and use that money to finish one and then have a project you can tinker on when you have the energy..

 

I usually only ever get up to about 3 cars at a time at most, not including my wife's old car. If I had the space for more, I'm sure it would never end.

Why don't you just pick a few, maybe two or three, sell them and use the money to make whichever of the other ones you want even better? That's what I would do....In theory.

If I remember right, that Chris Craft is a hardtop, right? Don't sell that! You know how hard those are to find...

Or if you do sell it, call me

 

I sold a whole bunch of **** and it feels great!. Still have two projects but they both run. My bank account it paddded so I dont have to worry for a few months if I lose my job in this ****py economy and I havent had to drink a whole bottle of pepto everyday from stressing out. If having all that stuff stresses you out in anyway or you have to ponder it there is no use in keeping it around imho.

 

I second that. Once it's done, I move on mentally. I gotta keep the project going or it's gone. That's why I don't want to completely finish things... because I know it will be the end. I would never buy a finished car. Ever. Don't get me wrong, I love driving them, but if I can't dream about what I'm gonna do to it next, what's the point?

 

My advice sell enough to get one fixed up nice to drive and enjoy. Then start gathering more up again. I have 4 drivers and one project. I think that is at least two to many!

 

I am trying for the first time to get rid of some of my cars...by trying I mean just the exploration phase. It is hard for me to let go of any of them, but I am actually starting to formulate real plans. It is a big step. But I also think it will have good results, giving me room, money and ability to focus on actually FINISHING a car to a point where I can enjoy driving it.

It is hard, though, because I am finally realizing that I have a sort of addiction/inferiority problem, and I think also a bit of the paranoid/hoarder problem.

When I dream for a car, search for it, find it and pick it up, it is like an endorphin high. It is the same as treasure hunting, with huge pleasure coming from finding the exact car (that I also believe will never come along again if I don't grab it fast) for a screaming deal. And the screaming deal usually equals total heaps in my case.

Once the high quickly subsides, after what used to be months (now only weeks) I discover that I really actually want another hard-to-find car. I become very specific and even reason "logically" why I need to find this other specific model, and then my mind becomes obsessed with finding it.

And then the wife asks why I am searching again, and if I am going to sell the other car or cars. The hoarding paranoia kicks in and I suddenly defend how difficult to find all my other projects are. "I'll never find another one." "I've am***ed too many rare parts for this one." Or, "Ive done so much work on this car... it would be a loss to sell it unfinished." That then becomes, "It isn't worth selling it anyway with the old car market on a dive."

I think I am finally realizing it is time to thin my herd, bad economy or not. And I want to learn to get past the habit of buying an entire car instead of parts for one I already have. When I look on the cl***ifieds and see a '64 GTO hood (that I need!) for $2,000, and then scroll down and see a complete '26 T Roadster project for $1,800, I get infatuated with the amazing price of the roadster and buy it. And the cycle just repeats itsself...

Whoooo. OK, I'm done with my confession.

 

Every once in a while I think I'm acting my age (60) but for the most part think I'm still in my 20's, and can finish all my projects, and somehow fund them. There are no unwanted projects, but I'm always amazed that a part that I've walked by for years, some how catches my eye and hits eBay. If it had been a $20. or $50. dollar bill sitting there I'd have spent it years ago. If I sold EVERYTHING, a big part of my life would be gone, the money would get pissed away on household things and I'd be in some type of rehab. I think I'm happiest at flea markets, buying stuff to flip, never had the funds to do cars, but parts and literature are real easy.

 

those of us that have the stuff are refered as HOARDERS........

we are accused of having a disease...........

well someone has to take care of the history and the stories, more should write stories and preserve the memories for the future because;

when we are dead it is gone

 

Not a what I have thread just a what do I do thread...I'm not some old timer either I'm 26 years old...I just want to explore new interests

 

yeah, and i sold a few of them..only to be bummed i sold em ..
so im keeping what i have now...maybe sell one..maybe

 

Ill have to agree that we are Hoarders. However I dont think it,s nearly as bad as those on TV that fill their homes full of trash ect . And cant wont part with any items. If we die and leave our Heirs a hoard of old junk,automibile,s & parts. They wont have to pay to get rid of it. A auction or the s**** man will pay cash for most of it. Sometimes there is great fun in ac***ulating the hoard. A collector dont really have to do anything with it to enjoy having them. Like Arrow head collectors you dont see them making bows & arrows to shoot those arrowheads? Nope they just want to own and look at them and the more the better Are they Hoarders? I cant see any great harm in being a vehicle hoarder. As long as you pay the bill,s and take care of the family first. OldWolf

 

Thats why God created Flea-Markets and Parts Meets . Sell what you don't want today and buy more stuff next week when you wish you hadn't sold it all last week . I do it twice a month