Hot Rods So now what do you do with it?

In my case, I've had the single purpose "Hot Rod" (actually a dedicated drag car) that spent its life in the garage, and only being brought out to play about 6 or 8 times a year. I gave it to my older son a few years back, and we take it out together. It's a good father/son experience. And now my grandson comes too!
My most recent project absolutely had to serve as a working driving vehicle. So I replaced my late model Ram 1500 with this '65 F100.
The goal was simplicity, efficiency and reliability.....and a bit of the "cool factor". Maybe I've gotten less adventurous in my golden years, but I wanna get to where I'm going without having problems or spending big fuel money. With this truck, I would not hesitate to drive it anywhere. Even to the nursery to pick up a load of fertilizer. How many of you can do THAT? It doesn't have all the comforts of the late model, but comfortable enough. Probably much more so than the factory stock truck was when new. And the 22mpg hiway mileage makes it fairly easy on the fuel budget.
Now, I like car shows and cruises in moderation. My truck is not a show contender. For me, it's the social aspect. Getting out and being with other like minded people.

 

I was thinking the same thing!!
I know where to find Moriarity!

 

Trying to find " like minded people" at a car show/cruise in is a formidable undertaking .

 

Man! This place has gotten soft, some one crying about not having any place to drive their hot rod too? Come on, Jeez! I drive my high power, bare bones , loud as the devil can scream coupe every chance I get. And chicks dig it too!

 

For me, the destination is a secondary consideration. I’ll go to car show, cruise in, cars & coffee whatever. I just want to drive the car, anywhere. My concern is nowadays is fuel cost. Not working and with everything costing more, I sometimes feel a little guilty and self indulgent taking my car for a drive but nothing beats how good I feel behind the wheel.

 

Yep, it's a car;
Burn fuel & wear out tires. Go places, see things, visit friends & family. Enjoy driving it for the sole purpose of driving it...
Next question...

 

Its all in the perspective. I drive my truck everyplace I can (9,000 miles last year). My truck has been more then 400 miles from home several times. On the road, I fill my tank when it gets near the 1/4 tank left mark. That is around 12 gallons of gas (the 87 octane range). The truck pulls a very regular 17-19 mpg on the highway, so that puts the miles per tank at just over 200 miles per tank full.
Local gas is just under $3.60/gallon here. That 12 gallons cost $43.20 @3.60/gal. At $4/gallon (that is 40 cents a gallon more then the 1st price, and less then $5 total, to enjoy a 200 mile ride), that 12 gallons cost $48. At $5/gal that 12 gallons would cost $60 ($1.30/gallon or $17 more total, for that 200 miles). We did not encounter any $5/gallon gas anyplace in those 9,000 miles across the mid west last year (but we did not do the west coast). Even if we did encounter that $5 gas, that extra $17 isn't going to kill me, finically (Yes, we are on a fixed income as well). We probably can't buy a meal on the road for the two of us for that $17. Even if we have 3 tanks fills that are over $5 /gal on a 400 mile road trip, it is still less then one night in a hotel. We don't do 400 miles without a night at a hotel, I'm getting old.

Most of the gas prices we encountered were at least 20 cents per gallon to over $1 per gallon less then the cost of gas at home. No place did we buy gas that cost more then the gas at home. My wife has gasbuddy.com on her phone (its a wonderful thing). When we get near that 200 mile mark, she starts checking the gas prices at upcoming gas stations (so we can pick how much we will spend for a gallon of gas). What ever we can save from what the gas costs at home, more then makes up for whatever more the gas may cost someplace more expensive. A few extra dollars for a 200 mile tank of gas isn't going to cause a huge financial drain on my pocketbook.

I'd rather be driving and enjoying the experiences of this country then sitting home wishing I could do something. Everything that is fun has added costs involved. I don't feel guilty about enjoying the drive.

 

Lots to see west of the Rockies.
And oh yeah, I’m a lot closer to 50 than 80.

 

Well generally a 6000 RPM hole shot cures me of any stress from a rough day .

I plan on driving the Model A PU every day and every were around here . Its why its in satin black I want to run it like a shot truck but a cool shop truck. I hope to wear it out several times over .

Id love to restore or restify/ repaint the 57 Vette but honestly I do have the if its to nice id not drive it much or leave in a parking lot . I don't think id want a really super expensive paint job on it but id like better than what it has .

A buddy has a beat up 66 Chevelle that has big power and all that and its as rough as a cobb but he likes to get it out every few weeks and take a blast down the road .If it was not post HAMB friendly id show some pics . He wants it to be more of a beater than really nice . its safe and all that but he just enjoys a fast car to take for a run and go through the gears . The magnesuim wheels are to die for . I HAMB friendly car can be about the same . Id like a 55 chevy like that .

 

sooo, what are these creature comforts that your wife needs?...jus wonderin...

 

I hear what you’re saying but here in Oz, that same 12 gallons of fuel will cost me about $100.00 so it does come into consideration. Not saying I still won’t use my car, but my wife doesn’t enjoy my passion ( and that OK, we share a lot of other interests) but it means I do think about my costs, but it also means that when I do get the old car out on the road I appreciate it so much more.

 

She doesn't like cold at all, and she feels the need to be able to see the road ahead, so heat, defrost, and windshield wipers are a must. She does better with heat then I do, but fresh air passing through the ride (even if the windows need to be closed) helps with the heat. She doesn't like to get wet from water leaks if we get caught in a hard rain, so it needs to be sealed up pretty good.
Lap and shoulder belts. Storage areas for her to put the stuff she thinks she needs to bring along (as the years pass, those storage places are getting smaller, she is gaining the understanding that we can buy some stuff on the road, everything doesn't have to come from home. But they are still required), if she can have one of those storage places that is out of sight, that is even better, a lockable storage is even more better. She needs the port to charge her phone. A very large cup holder for her monster coffee container, and then the large water container after the coffee is gone. Of course, that requires a pit stop about every 2 hours. She doesn't mind the wind if the windows are down, but if they are rolled up, she doesn't much like wind blowing past her. It can't be loud, and it can't smell like gas or exhaust inside the ride. It better have comfortable seats. Room to carry folding chairs is also a must. I'm sure there are a few more things, this is off the top of my head.

Most of it is not hard to fit in, and the list has been refined over the years. I started out by asking her what she wanted, and what she didn't like about the hot rods. When I made the effort to accommodate her wishes, her attitude about riding along changed dramatically. If I mention going for a ride and she is usually ready to go. Long trips (more then a day) are planned, short trips (a couple hours) are spontaneous.

 

So I'm thinkin' a roadster is out of the question? Ha-ha...

 

I built a street legal hot rod and drove it all the time and took a trip to the salt flats and ran it down the short course 10 laps. The oldest blew a head gasket later on the way home from school one day. I had big plans for a faster rebuild but wisdom took over and the car just sat tell I sold it. I then built a race car and got a trailer. The wisdom part was thinking of all the stupid stuff I did on the streets with that car and knowing I couldn't be trusted again if I had a car like that for the streets again. I truly get my need for speed at the track even if it doesn't happen very often. I am done collecting driving awards on the street.

 

Drive it, enjoy it as much as you can. I've seen this truck a time or two at the local Home Depot doing truck stuff.

 

No wonder this hobby is dying. If errands and trips to Costco are the most fun you get with your cars that’s pretty bad.

 

"I was thinking the same thing!!
I know where to find Moriarity!"

well Scotty B's is no more. they closed down after being there 30 years. the owner wanted to retire so he is not renewing his lease this year which runs out in mar. but i think his last day was around dec. 18.

 

I take my old stuff to plenty of car related events if I have time. That is not the point though, as folks were answering the question you asked...

There are a bunch of rural, curvy, remote roads between my house and Costco. I have enough imagination to make that trip a driving adventure, and then I can stop by Costco if I want. Or not. The point is to enjoy driving the car. The destination is irrelevant. If you cannot understand that principal, we cannot help you with your original question.

 

I just try to use old cars for what they were meant for...driving. If I can't drive my old cars to wherever I need to go, why do I need them? I am having this struggle with a street/strip car I recently bought back. But, I am also planning about a 600 mile road trip for it later this month. We will see how 4:11's, a 4000 stall and slicks work for that. I am hoping for dry weather obviously or will need another set of rear tires before the trip. I pretty much don't do car shows anymore unless it is something that is more like a family reunion setting like some shows I go to. Otherwise, driving is what cars are for.

 

If you don’t want to have it sit, don’t want to drive a distance just to race it, don’t find much joy in just using it as a car I think your only left with one choice.

create something to do.

I drive my cars as much as I can get away with but it’s clearly not as much fun as other things. I do enjoy road trips in the car but when I was wanting for a “show” or event that hit the mark for me I just made one.

I made a most of the day route of twisty roads with good views for spirited blasts and ended it at a good spot for tacos. Called 50 people 10 cars showed up and we had a blast.

now and then @Kevin Lee puts on a day where we meet for food and spend all day going to local shops, manufacturing places and a couple good stretches of road between.

another friend a time or two a year gets a crew together to take back roads to a good ice cream spot a couple hours away, and yet another has a night at the local dirt track with hot rod parking and a few laps to help pack the track.

even the first local swap meet of the year a few of us drive our old cars instead of dailies and find a buddy with a spot to park inside under a tree together and it’s way more fun.

all to say, there’s plenty of guys around sitting on their thumbs wanting something more fun to do. So plan one seems the most often answer.

 

This is why I have owned my 51 for 51 years…

 

@Tim sounds like a hell of an idea!

 

Kill as many insects, wear out as many tires and burn as much fossil fuel as possible!!! And enjoy the awesomeness that driving an old car brings!!!

 

[QUOTE=" I've seen this truck a time or two at the local Home Depot doing truck stuff.
QUOTE]

I used to make dump runs with my 1939 Chev. (No remarks, Please)

 

I've got over 100k miles on my '34. Guess that puts me in the driver group.

 

We do all of these thing as well. My avatar is my core group of friends at the Hot Rod Hundred, but we're just as likely to go get tacos, or hang out at Brian's house for BBQ, or...

My cars are about my friends and family as much as anything. The cars just give us something else to talk about and do.

 

The possibility of catastrophic damage& the ensuing time & monetary loss that might be incurred is enough to minimize any clutch dropping on my part .

 

There has got to be several like minded guys like you on "treasure island" , Jeremy is one that comes to mind. There are so many cool places to go on Van Isle you can hit a different place every week. Call it the " Sunday Mystery Cruise"....no lawn chairs! Only stop to see sights , eat , have a leg stretch or pee breaks. Take videos of the journey and post them.
I rarely stop to look at a parked car but nearly snap my neck when I see something cool driving down the road.

 

I don't think I would enjoy having a vehicle that I don't drive and just sits there in the garage looking nice. I have alot of old vehicles, and to me I use them as vehicles, I drive them. The only time I don't drive them is when it's either to rainy, or they aren't running