Features How do you do it long time owners???

The Nomad is @~13 years, my 71 OT convert is mostly done, I have thought of selling the wagon but not sure i can get to the point of selling it to have the funds to start on a new project. seems if you can have a list of things to do to keep it improving it helps you stay interested.

 

My 40 pickup was bought in the first year of my marriage,, it has always been the one the will always be here. But it is not the only one, so there have been times it has sat for years awaiting rebuild. We have had a number of cars come and go and some others have been with us for 15 years (ute from Aus), 7 years land speed car, 9 years land speed truck (that has never made a pass), 59 Morris Minor Traveller awaiting its turn. And the ones that have got away: 64 Falcon wagon, 63 Galaxy wagon, 65 Chevelle wagon, 65 Chevelle Malibu,,, but the 40 remains

 

Loved designing n building things=raced every thing!
But OP ask why keep one?,an reading all these posts,is good number of why's,often def.
My own why=I had a ton of fun with first one,,both building an then driving.
The fun & driving part by some gets missed by more ways then will be admitted too,sometimes ether do too, didn't come out as good as the ideas was,or idea is not that any more,or even did a bad job of it****>the never admit part.>
So driving was not as much fun as it should of been,bad planning .
I designed an built a lot of cars,even for others as well,an did fix the screw ups by other builders at my speed shop{ known as improvements} so driving turns into fun.

 

Were do I begin. When I was 21 In 1976 I bought a 1967 Corvette Roadster.for $1000.00. Got married in 1978.After 44 years still have vette and wife. WOW Still doing good. This car has sentimental value. wife and I dated in it. But since I have added to My stable of cars. Non of witch i will ever sell. 1947 willys CJ2A jeep, 1930 Model A Coupe.(avatar) Model a roadster hot rod 1955 chevy Gasser. One more 1930 Model A Coupe to be built. Keeps Me going I guess. Being in the auto repair business alot. LOL I drive these cars all the time weather permitting.

 

I have had my truck since 1979. My mom bought it for me as a surprise after I had arranged the deal. She has since passed away and there is that sentimental attachment to keep it there. In addition, I have driven it off and on since then but life, family etc. got priority. But I am usually thinking of what to do on it and slowly accumulate parts for those thoughts. All of that keeps the inspiration going for it.

 

Humm good question, I think most of us have had cars we wish we wouldn't have gotten rid of when we were young and dumb. This leads into the phase of "Fuck it I ain't gonna do that again" that we all seem to go through. My heart still hurts from the 32 FW and the cherry 57 we sold in 74 and regret to this day. So after building the 36PU and Flat FED there is no way they are getting away from me.............

 

When I go to sell a car and find out there's only low ballers out there or I have more sweat and $$$ than people want to pay me for, then I wind up keeping the car, unfortunately that's why I'm up to six cars at the moment...

 

I'm really more of a "Nostalgia Nut" than a "Car Guy". I must have had a great time when I was younger because I would really prefer to relive those years. I have my '51 Ford Club coupe because my first car in high school and after was a 1951 Ford. I have my '67 Corvette Coupe because the first new car I ever bought was a 1967 Corvette Coupe. While they're both decent enough cars they would probably be seen as a little "shabby" by most car enthusiasts. I drive them a lot, and they show it. Every time I get in the '51 I'm 17 again and when I hop in that Corvette, I'm a smart-ass 25 year old., rarin' to go.

The "T" is kind of a different story. When I went to get it out of winter storage in the spring of 1970 and found that someone had stolen just about all of the good parts off of it., I was heart-broken. At that time, I didn't have the wherewithal or the space to put it back together again, plus there was the problem with the weakened frame. That was my car though, so I borrowed some tires and towed it back behind my mother's garage where it sat for a long time. When I finally got a decent shop, I dragged it home and started to reconstruct it. It was always a back-burner project because one of my other cars always needed something. At the present time, my plan is to clean up and sell off the Corvette so I will have the time and money to finally get back on the "T". Wish me luck. I will never sell the '51, because it's now "done" and is a comfortable, practical car to drive. At my age, I can't say that about the Corvette.

 

I've had this one since I was 16 (30yrs ago) no I intention of selling it ever. Had my 1927 Chrysler finished for 15 years no intention of selling it. Somewhat finished my 40 Plymouth 4 years ago don't think I'll sell it either. That's my problem...I can't see them go after putting so much work in.

 

The best description for these vehicles is "keeper".

 

Agree 100%, other interests and hobbies help a lot. I get burnt out quickly and having other things to keep me busy helps a bunch. Sometimes the farther from being car related the better. I also tend to agree with another post that the more fun it is to drive the longer I keep it.

 

The key to aa long term relationship with a car is change. I never let them go for a long time without making upgrades or changes. I dearly love the builds, as they're the best part. But I also love driving them, and making changes every so often.

 

I guess I fall in the "saver" bunch for the most part, I traded a 57 Bel Air Hardtop for the the 38 Chevy basket case in the avatar in about 1973, I really wanted a 30's era Ford (33-34 especially) but stumbled on this old Chevy, here's a couple of pictures from 74 (I think) and maybe 76, the little girl, my daughter, in the car was about 10 then. The rear wheels are still on the car. I had no skills, a buzz box Lincoln welder and a torch but somehow made do.

I haven't had a lot of cars, another 57 Bel Air, 49 Chevy sedan delivery, a 48 Fleetline and 55 Dodge pickup back in the 80's that never got finished (a sad story and later a Vette and chopped 49 Ford. They never were cars I was really attached to. The 38 has been to two NSRA Nationals in the 80's, was my daily driver for awhile after a divorce and then later sat for 30 years in dry storage. After another divorce I did some updates as I could. I guess the car still isn't done but....I can drive it anytime I want to and it just feels RIGHT!!

My father in law regrets selling his 57 Ford (that he bought new and installed a McCullough Blower on) but since then he has kept all but one car that he bought since plus the 64 Fairlane that his dad owned. No...it isn't a Thunderbolt, just a four door

My cousin never keeps anything, everything he owns is for sale. I worry about his wife

 

I've had my '55 Chevy 2 dr post 50 years. My '34 Chevy coupe I've had 38 years. Got a '32 steel Ford 3 window in '76 that I kept 12 years. The '32 and '34 just happened to come along at a time when I didn't have to sell anything to get something else. I lost interest in building the '32 due to all the fiberglass 3 windows so it got sold. Got over 100k miles on the '34 now. I guess for me it came down to getting a car dialed in that I liked so there was no need to move on.

 

I think a few things come into play with folks that keep cars a long time. First of all you have to like the car. If you don't like working on it and driving it, you're not likely to have it long. With long time ownership come memories of the things you have done and places you've been and the people you've met. Some people don't have a sentimental attachment to their cars, some do. I do. Making periodic changes to the car helps to keep things fresh and interesting.

I suppose if you somehow manage to get a car that you spent a lot of time searching for, you know, the one that has to be just so, and it turns out to be everything you hoped it would be, you're on the right track for long term ownership. If, on the other hand it turns out to be nothing like you expected ... well, there may be no fond memories and no long term ownership.

 

I've got a couple I've had 40+ years. Still got them because: #1-never got them done. #2- I own such garbage that if I tried to sell it nobody wants it.

 

my '64 SS ragtop is the one i never should have sold!

 

58 years-----Now gave it to my son to enjoy---After line chasing for 300,000 miles.

 

I think you answered your own question. Finishing one would be the reason to sell it. Never finished a Hot Rod project, and 70 is 2 months away so don't put an money down on it ever happening. I've been real happy having what are now "Keepers", sold lots of stuff over the years to get things. Maybe it is time to finish the inside of the garage & basement to have a better view of things. Not everyone has the same goals with projects.

Bob

 

I posted on this thread... 10 likes... now its gone... what gives ?

 

Sure you remembered to hit the post reply button? I forget myself some times, that is why I'm asking. Bob

 

I get where you’re coming from, I built a few choppers/bobbers as I was mainly a biker, but only kept them a few months after they were done. I’ve owned plenty of daily drivers and bucket list sports car, but never thought any were keepers. Some things just run there course and then they go. I’ve just bought a nearly built traditional hotrod model A coupe which I’ve wanted for many years, it needs a bit sorting which fills my need to tinker, I would love to think this is a keeper but only time will tell. I think it’s either in our makeup or not, or I just haven’t found the one yet?


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i did... I got 10 likes on it ?????

 

52 years this one, it's easy, punched out 425 Nailhead, go find a New Corvette, wax their Azz, go home and think that was fun, think I'll keep this thing! Pict with my friend Tom at the wheel.

 

Just moved a few boxes around in the basement this morning, found one with some wood interior nailing strips for the Steelback. Cleaned them and sanded them. I'll put a coat of sealer on them later today. Maybe that is the key to having projects for so long, just work on them one bit at a time when the mood hits you. It is a hobby. Bob

 

I added to the likes on this post. Now your only 8 down. Post a pic of a puppy or a cute girl next to a car and you will be on the plus side in no time.

 

Simple. I have an addiction.

 

I fell in love with my 64 Falcon Futura hardtop when I was 8. In 1998, at 16, I was able to buy it. I spent all of my time and attention on it for a couple of years, then put it away while I was in the service. I drove it a bit after, but it has been sitting idle for about 25 years. I love the car, but other projects come first, because I haven't experienced them yet. The Falcon will be a retirement project, most likely. There is only one car that is more special to me, and that is my Dad's Forty. Neither of them will ever leave me if I can help it, but to the casual observer, they are just objects. If you don't understand, I won't bother trying to explain it...

 

It took me a loooong time to realize what it was that I wanted .

I went thru a stage (years) where if I had a car for more than 6 months , something was odd .

It was really after I got into some deep thinking about my next truck that I was able to figure what I was looking for . I had already experienced it 20yrs before. So my hunt focused on that .

Had the '40 pickup for 23yrs now , cannot see any point selling that which REALLY works for me .

I've still had others that come and go . Some quicker than others LOL . Really , we are all different and our brains work special just for us ... yours will do so for you too

 

Sometimes its the journey, not the destination.. I used to be a long time owner, and then the sickness of wanting to own everyone of them got to me. lol !