It's more fun, and in a different way. We used to wrench on our rods all weekend, drive them to the strip on Sunday, put them back together Sunday night, and drive to school or work Monday morning. Now, I can take my time, and really appreciate what I'm doing. And when you're retired, every day is Saturday, and every nite is Friday nite.
I say do what you want. Granted im 20 years old and i dont give a damn what anybody thinks. Im still at the not having the tools and scrounging through junkyard stage.
it's still fun..oldies blasting on the radio and making a part work that you built with your own hands..owner built cars might not be as good as the cars purchased ready to show, but the pride in the build makes up for it. most folks appreciate a owner built car versus the pro built..I have a 12 yr. old grandson(53olds) that is into the hobby big time, and sometimes knows the answers I don't. for me , that keeps me enjoying the hobby..
Great post Terry; I did not renew my sub. to Street Rodder or Rod & Custom mag. because I just can't relate to the cars they cover. The hot rods I build are made from what ever I can find laying around. I would rather drive em then clean em. My motto is, just do it and have fun doing it. Bob
I think the builds are a lot more fun, mostly because of the internet. 10 years ago, if I needed a trim part, I might have to hunt for it for years, every junkyard and swap meet, now I can search for it and have it in a couple days. If I get frustrated with how something works, I can ask questions and get answers from people who've dealt with the exact same problems before. How does this work/what does this fit/what will interchange, that kind of stuff. Plus, if I spend a bunch of time on something, a big welding project, or bodywork, or whatever, I can share pictures of work that would otherwise never be seen.
Interesting thread here. Don't know that I've been to that point or not. I can say that with the variety of cars I now own, from factory correct original in appearance to period correct custom, at 42 years old I'm realizing I enjoy working on them more than having them all together and road ready. I spent a lot of time re-working everything on my 56 Chevy this past 2 years, digging deeper than when we did the first time back in '81-82, basically going through everything except repainting the body itself. It was a lot of fun, and as a perfectionist it seemed I was doing it just to bring the car up to my standards as compared to 25 years ago. But it was kind of rewarding to win a significant award within a week of it being back together too. Then it got really cold out and now I'm just itching to drive it somewhere!
I think I was starting to go down your path but I turned away from it fortunately. My Willys pickup is all rough on the outside, but i'm making the interior better than it was when it was new. This is exactly the way I want the truck.... while i'm driving in it, it's gorgeous... if some 'tard backs into it or slams a door into mine... OH WELL! I can honestly have fun in this thing and not worry about it at all. On the other hand i'm restoring my wife's '64 Typhoon to a very NICE daily driver for her... and my '58 Commander HT will be a show car... Sounds like you need more cars man. LOL... And to reply to your original post... it's just as much fun today as it was years ago. Years ago I didn't have the tools or experience to make cars/trucks that were all that great. Today i've got more experience, tools, and friends that actually know what they're doing that can help if I get stuck. I will admit that the adventure is a little gone now. Back then driving somewhere 50 miles out was a huge road trip and it was a big adventure in and old car/truck... Now my vehicles are much better built and maintained... I'd go cross country in the Willys without a cell phone and not even blink about it. Where's the adventure in that though!?
Very interesting indeed--some guys enjoy driving them, some building them--some a little of each. At 66, I've built my share but always the way I wanted them-to me the thrill is in the build and then enjoying the finished product for a while--then---do another one or redo the one you have-don't really care for the big car shows but do enjoy the little shows where others just show up and B.S. for a while and look at the cars. I don't think I'll ever get tired of building them, but don't drive them as much as I used to-but still drive mine when I can--errands, to the store, picking grandaughter up from school,etc. etc.
Had the EXACT conversation today with a co-worker who's building a mega buck BBC Camaro. He has gone insane on trick high dollar***** and taken details to extreme. I was joking about what a POS my Stude was next to his car when he told me he really envied me. I just gave him a "Yeah right" look and he said "No, I mean it, I really envy you. You're having fun with your's, it gets just as much attention as mine and it hasn't bankrupted you or given you ulcers worrying that it might get scratched or dirty. I honestly envy you." I didn't know what to say.
Keepin up with the Jones's is where the gold chainer mentality came from. It's all point of view. That high school boy didn't care what was good enough for anybody else, he just wanted to go fast and look good (in his own eye's) doing it. Change your POV and channel that kid when you start to wonder if you're still having fun. If you'll let him out he'll have fun and you might learn something from him.
Terry, thanks for starting this thread. EVERYONE, thanks for your replies. This is good, it's very good. I've read the BASS builds several times. His work is 'beyond words.' Seeing what Brian Bass builds has helped me so much. My "A" Coupe will not look anything like what he builds, BUT, thanks to him and the other builds I have read about here it will be a 'safe' car. My welding has improved a little too,... MAC 55 said "I garuntee you The guys at mooneyham didnt intend thier blowers to get thier biggest workout underneath a polishing rag an da can of never dull . Build however you think youll have the most fun with it." steel rebel said "Perfection, Procrastination, Paralysis. You have to watch out for the three P's." Good words guys, Thanks much. Lucky667 <!-- / message -->
I have always built what I could with what i had, after I retired I thought I would finally build that trophy winner well It's still sitting in the barn unfinished while I have put together a couple of every day hot rods that look good but are just for fun. Do this hobby for fun the reward is driving them for me and smiles, waves and an occasional thumbs up are my trophies.
Yes it is...even though I work as a mechanic all day during the week. I'll never get tired of it as long as I can picture the engine pushing me back against the seat.
To me it's about the hobbie man I love anything that moves under its own power.I'm trying to show my kids what the hobbie is all about. case in point my son is doing a 51 ford he's 13 but its all him I work with him. He has to make his mind up to what he wants thats all the fun !!So do what You want and the hell with what the rest of the people thank. I thank its about YOU and the hobbie.. ENJOY and thank about all the fun you have. If someone don't like it oh well. Tell them what I tell them "when I build one for you I'll build it your way until then I did'nt ask for YOUR input now go get in your mamas car and go home " Some people thank it's all about them it not it's about you and your car. Thats my 2 cents
Here is the deal. Brian Bass is just another guy like the rest of us........only difference between some it his PASSION TO LEARN AND IMPROVE! Sure he is artistic, but a phonecall away are 50K hotrodders that can help, prob 200 of them are killer arteests! It comes down to what you want. Cant weld like Brian? Fine, maybe you are an HVAC guy, trade the***** out with someone who can weld!!!! Etc......please strive for better EVERY time you enter the shop! And this guy, this Rocky sorta dude has become my de-facto brother,uncle, pal and friend when it comes to cars. I have so much respect for him and what he does. The Rocky33, his Pnocho, the old Poncho wagon his new coupe.........all done in a SMALL single garage, on a limited budget and he GETS IT! Rocky has FUUUUNNNNNNNNN! Yes, it IS as fun as it once was in fact better!
Terry.. Its not always about the car, and how good or bad it is, compared to someone elses. Remember the long**** ride You, Tina and Samual took to come up to Ohio from Texas for the Goodguys show. Would it have mattered if the truck was a perfect? Or did it matter that you had no side glass at all? Sit back, take a deep breath, look around. No sense beating yourself up over these kinds of things. Its those things that you, and your family will remember..Not that the truck wasn't a flawless show piece with Bass-quaility welds. Take care bud.
I've never seen a Hot Rod sitting outside a psychiatrist office. Come to think of it, I can't remember seeing anyone driving one who wasn't grinning at least a little.
terry as i read your post, i too was thinking about meeting you in columbus a few years ago.. I'll bet that trip was fun.. ttoday my time is more valuable, money isn't quite as Plentiful, and priorities have shifted.. on the subject of cars... I really believe that you can have a nice car that you don't drive.. or a "decent" car that you do. driving Is the fun part.. I think you need to take a ride..
In high school you probably got laid in your car. Now probably not so much. Doesn't take a rocket scientist to see what it's gonna take to balance fun levels.......
More fun than ever......just different as you age. When I was a kid it was fun just to be around my gramps motorcycles and dads cars, working with them, hoping to catch a ride.....then finally I could drive, that was fun....., until the tickets. Cruising East 14 was cool......,until NAM (that wasn't fun). Got back, got into the build, and can't stop. Usta drive my roadster everywhere 280,000+ because it WAS fun but quit that. I'm 62 and everyday as I walk past my '28 it reminds me of all the fun I had. I pass other reminders of my past walking thru the shop as I head towards my newest FUN project....'56 Ford 4dr 8" chop, straight axle, BLOWN 331 Hemi.........might be more fun than my '26 T.......STILL HAVING FUN!
I still enjoy seeing other people smile at what I've done...and to know that it touched a part of their life and made THEM feel good and smile.... yeah, I STILL enjoy THAT. I still enjoy going to bed tired from a hard day working on it, but going to bed, too, with a sense of accomplishment and pride that nothing else seems to give me. Yeah..I still enjoy THAT, too.
its tuff, soo far im not 100% happy about anything i did, i always feel like i couldve done a lil better and it never seems to look as good as it does in my head
This guy "gets" it, because when you get in the car of your dreams and go down the road burning gas, if you can't help but start grinning ear to ear, you probably are enjoying what you're doing, and doing "it" for the right reasons. Without that grin going down the road, literally or figuratively, it's becomes pretty obvious you don't enjoy what you are doing and need to modify your behaviour so you can, or move on to some other kind of endeavor entirely.
This thread really hit me.My old 37 coupe has been on the road now almost 30 years--30YEARS!*****,some guys on this site aren't that old.I built the car cheap--because I was always broke.Fast forward to today--I'm still broke,but for different reasons:kids in college / 2nd wife / new house-etc.So I'm out in the garage--just spent $140.00 on 2 pints--2 PINTS!--of paint to fix a bad spot that some****hole hit then ran away. The "smart" thing to do is either sand down the whole car or strip it and repaint complete.But you know how it is--IF I had that kind of money,should i do it? What would happen is I'd get it torn down,then it would set for years waiting for the cash to rebuild it,because you just can't paint it:maybe redo the drive train,redo the interior--you get what I'm saying.So I just try to maintain it so it's safe,reasonable good-looking,and dependable.Besides,I've got a 56 Chevy to build-I figure get that done,then MAYBE go thru the 37--or maybe build that 32 roadster I've been thinking about--
I've gone back and forth on this a few times... No matter how many times you arrive at "Do your own thing, have fun and forget what everyone else thinks", you're CONSTANTLY being hit with the opposite. Magazine cars, advertisements for fancy parts, build threads, high dollar shop built cars at events... All those things constantly tell you that you SHOULD be worried what everyone else thinks, that your version of "fun" doesn't meet contemporary standards. I've heard most children are happy because they just play, have fun and everyone around them is always commenting on how cute or beautiful they are. Daddy's little girl, Mommy's big boy, etc... As they grow older, they get exposed to a bigger world. Peer pressure, competition with covergirls/actresses, sports heros, advertisements telling them they're too fat, need bigger this and smaller that and generally expecting unobtainable standards without extraordinary efforts. The innocence of childhood is lost. In a way, you're describing the same thing. Extraordinary people can raise the standard to a nearly unobtainable level for the average guy. Comparing/sharing your work with some high school buddies is fun. Doing the same with a Ridler contender is not fun and causes a feeling of inadequacy. It would be almost impossible to disconnect from the world we've immersed ourselves in, but maybe taking steps in that direction would help. Cancel the magazines, go to swap meets but skip the show cars, don't read any Bass threads and just do the best you can, always. Challenge yourself. Ask for advice or share your work with your good friends, but skip posting it for the HAMB world to critique.
Ah, in the early days..... Crap ! Have fun, enjoy the build wrenching in the garage, with buddys dropping in, do some benchracing, then enjoy the ride. don't build for someone elses standards, build for the heck of it man ! And of course it will be as much fun as it ever was, it might even be better !!! Enjoy !
This reminds of when I was driving my*******fied Astro van back in California. It was shaved, lowered, bright Skittle-Metallic-Pearl Green (it was bright) and was wearing 15x7 astro supremes with a nice little white wall. I loved this van. One day I'm sitting at the light and this dude rolls up real slow in his daily driver honda-whatever-it-was and has the balls to tell me "You know, I really think your van is ugly." I simply looked him in the eye and said "Oh! I'm sorry, I didn't know I was building the van so you would like it." At that moment in time and the look on the guys face saying "I should've keep my mouth shut, and I'm an****hole", cemented into my mind that I'm enjoying this sport, life style, culture, whatever, that we call Hot Rodding for me and no one else. If I can make some money off it then so be it. If not then who cares as long as we are having fun. So if you think your skills are not up to snuff, then get in the garage and practice. Long way of saying "Build what you want and to hell with everyone else" Viva
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