Drive you show quality car

skyman51 · Oct 16, 2012

I have been collecting and selling cars for 40 years. Many folks today tell me that is too nice to drive. I ask than, what is the point of having it. If you think it is the Mona Lisa, and you want to open your garage door and admire your work of art, that is your choice. My choice is to drive mine. I recently purchased an absolute show quality 1967 Hemi GTX. It is going to get driven, otherwise someone can buy it and lovingly stare at it. I want folks to see and emjoy it, and I am proud that it is mine. I don't want to do that by pulling on and off a trailer. JMO.

plowman · Oct 16, 2012

skyman51 said:
I have been collecting and selling cars for 40 years. Many folks today tell me that is too nice to drive. I ask than, what is the point of having it. If you think it is the Mona Lisa, and you want to open your garage door and admire your work of art, that is your choice. My choice is to drive mine. I recently purchased an absolute show quality 1967 Hemi GTX. It is going to get driven, otherwise someone can buy it and lovingly stare at it. I want folks to see and emjoy it, and I am proud that it is mine. I don't want to do that by pulling on and off a trailer. JMO.

Each is own. I drive mine enough to keep it loose but most the time trailer but I'm the one has the investment in it.

Pops1967GTX · Oct 16, 2012

skyman51 said:
I have been collecting and selling cars for 40 years. Many folks today tell me that is too nice to drive. I ask than, what is the point of having it. If you think it is the Mona Lisa, and you want to open your garage door and admire your work of art, that is your choice. My choice is to drive mine. I recently purchased an absolute show quality 1967 Hemi GTX. It is going to get driven, otherwise someone can buy it and lovingly stare at it. I want folks to see and emjoy it, and I am proud that it is mine. I don't want to do that by pulling on and off a trailer. JMO.

I agree.... Good for you skyman...I didn't buy & restore my GTX to sit behind a trailer either. I wish I had more time to take it out. And I don't drive at 55..........

RustyRatRod · Oct 16, 2012

I couldn't agree more. That's why you have insurance.

skyman51 · Oct 16, 2012

plowman said:
Each is own. I drive mine enough to keep it loose but most the time trailer but I'm the one has the investment in it.

I understand your choice completely. I too have quite a large investment in this car, but I did not buy to see what it might be worth down the road. Anyway my wife will be here after I am gone so it will be her decision what to do with it. I drove these cars when they were new. It reminds me that over 45 years have gone in the blink of an eye. Life is too short for me to worry about a dirty suspension or a nick in the paint. If you get hit, that is why there is insurance. I don't drive it but a few times a summer, but that is enough to enjoy it. I drive it to car shows and do not put it on a trailer.

Dennis H · Oct 16, 2012

Agreed. Drive it. Mine is just driver quality. Trailering that I see in Reno and other places seems to be too much of a hassle. Nothing compares to a road trip in a big block Chrysler. See you in Van Nuys for Fall Fling this Saturday?

skyman51 · Oct 16, 2012

Dennis H said:
Agreed. Drive it. Mine is just driver quality. Trailering that I see in Reno and other places seems to be too much of a hassle. Nothing compares to a road trip in a big block Chrysler. See you in Van Nuys for Fall Fling this Saturday?

I wish I could. Believe me, I would not hesitate to drive it across the country. It is as good as it was the day it was driven out of the Plymouth Dealer.

djais1801 · Oct 16, 2012

i completely agree...my uncle is a chevy guy, 2 car garage...2 lifts, where the following nut and bolt restored NCRS Top Flight award winning vehicles sit: 1954 Corvette, 1967 Stingray convertible, 1969 Camaro SS396 4spd, 1962 Impala SS409 4spd Vert...and hasn't driven them in over 5 years..

terzmo · Oct 16, 2012

I'd NEVER own a trailer queen. I get enough compliments every day on My ride and that's fine. I go to cruises and extremely few shows as cruises are free.(the shows I do go to are huge and I like to look at other cars but never stay longer than 3 hours unless I have a for sale sign out).I'd rather drive My car and shows cost money and waste an entire day. I'm "over" getting a boner over a trophy or bitching about how a show was run. It's like the guy who has a 10k shotgun in a cabinnette...look but don't use....

Yes 45 years goes by quickly...I was 17 when the first R/T was out and couldn't afford it a 1.05 an hour part time...(was .95 but minimum wage came into affect and was My Boss pissed) Best I had was a 64 barracuda..273/4 speed and then the draft caught up. But now I have a 67 R/T....

bigredbird · Oct 16, 2012

skyman51 said:
I drove these cars when they were new. It reminds me that over 45 years have gone in the blink of an eye. Life is too short for me to worry about a dirty suspension or a nick in the paint.

Yep. I was still three years short of driver's-training age when my car came down the assembly line, but you're right, these time capsules that we drive and care about are signs of how years fly much too quickly. I'm gonna take my machine out on a "drive it like ya stole it" ride tonight in your honor, Skyman!

:VB toast:

skyman51 · Oct 16, 2012

bigredbird said:
Yep. I was still three years short of driver's-training age when my car came down the assembly line, but you're right, these time capsules that we drive and care about are signs of how years fly much too quickly. I'm gonna take my machine out on a "drive it like ya stole it" ride tonight in your honor, Skyman!

:VB toast:

Thank you for the compliment. You make me proud. I too am a Chevy guy also, I am down to two cars now. I had two all originals, a 70 LS6 Chevelle and a 69 Z28 Camaro. I sold both, but I still have a 1967 427 Corvette convertible. It is the only one that my wife loves. She drives that like she stole it and it is a very correct high level driver with docs. She could care less about any of the muscle cars.

sublimegtx · Oct 16, 2012

bigredbird said:
Yep. I was still three years short of driver's-training age when my car came down the assembly line, but you're right, these time capsules that we drive and care about are signs of how years fly much too quickly. I'm gonna take my machine out on a "drive it like ya stole it" ride tonight in your honor, Skyman!

:VB toast:

I was 10 when mine was built. I'll do the same. Mine is only driver quality, a 20 footer as some would say. But it gets 25 smiles per mile, and I'm not afraid to put my foot to it. Check my photo gallery if u'd like. :cya:

CTMopar · Oct 16, 2012

I agree also, I wouldn't find any enjoyment owning a car and not wanting driving it. I can't stand it when you go to a show or cruise and you see guys unload their car across the street or around the corner. The exception being a race car or someone traveling a long way where gearing wouldn't support the trip (for a show not a cruise). They call it a cruise not a tow for a reason. I like to see cars that you can tell get driven. One of my favorite cars I saw this summer was a 70 Satellite fitted with a 440, 4 speed. The owner almost seemed ashamed that the paint wasn't perfect and it wasn't a spotless origonal big block car. I bet this guy has more fun than the guy with the 'Cuda that has mirrors to show how clean his oil pan is and has never seen 65mph in the car.

RustyRatRod · Oct 16, 2012

There's a guy from south Georgia comes to Macon about twice a year for a couple of shows. These are really big cruise ins...they are not judged shows. He is what I would call an exception. He trailers his original 64 427 Tunnel Port Galaxie lightweight 4 speed car.....but to his credit, he parks it like 1.5 miles up the road, busts it off and drives wickedness down the street. I ain't a Ford guy, but that car makes me think about it. It shakes the very ground you're standin on at idle. lol Course he trailers it to the track and races HELL out of it. lol

70rr-brian · Oct 16, 2012

I own mine to drive it. The fact of the matter is, for me, I would much rather drive these old cars compared to the newer ones any day of the week and twice on Sunday. They simply have a feel and a character that has long since disappeared. I like knowing explosions are occuring on the other side of the firewall. I like a car you can steer with your right foot. This is how it should be.

womanator · Oct 16, 2012

Mine is just a driver quality but it has been driven 10,000 plus miles since I have owned it.
Last 5 years I have not driven it much.
I have at most $6,000 invested in it.
A whole lot of barttering and dealing on parts.
Best of 11.85 et.

Some cars are meant to be driven.

2059 · Oct 16, 2012

IMO They are built to drive, and drive it I will on occasion however, I will have put WAY too much time, effort and money into this car when it's done to have 5 guys in an '81 Monte Carlo, with no insurance and questionable citizenship, out smokin a fatty, rear end me. It's not about the insurance for me, it's about finding acceptable parts for any repair. Heck I don't even drive my 08 Challenger that much for the same reason. just over 5000 miles in 4 years.

skyman51 · Oct 16, 2012

2059 said:
IMO They are built to drive, and drive it I will on occasion however, I will have put WAY too much time, effort and money into this car when it's done to have 5 guys in an '81 Monte Carlo, with no insurance and questionable citizenship, out smokin a fatty, rear end me. It's not about the insurance for me, it's about finding acceptable parts for any repair. Heck I don't even drive my 08 Challenger that much for the same reason. just over 5000 miles in 4 years.

I understand where you are coming from and your scenerio could happen, but you could also have a massive heart attack for no reason or be hit by a bus as often said. I have MS and I can't worry about stuff like that anymore. I have a whole different take on things now. You see other folks with serious issues and feel bad for them. Believe me it can be you tomorrow. My situation ended a career I loved and I can't drive anymore because it also damged my eyesight, so I am going to enjoy life the best I can for what ever time I have. I don't mean to be stupid, I just am saying put things in perspective. I will not give up my cars.

Roadcuda · Oct 16, 2012

I'm like everyone here, I have my cars to drive and I do. I drove my '69 Road Runner to Carlisle this year which is a 650 mile round trip and despite the record heat it ran just fine. This past Sunday the people who run the local Mopar cruise-in had their fall cruise which was 230 miles and half of that was in a steady rain. I normally don't like to take my cars out in the rain, but took my bird anyways. I even had a bear walking over it!! A few weeks ago I put 220 miles on my '65 Formula S. My cars are in overall good condition but have their minor body flaws so I'm not afraid to drive them as I know they are all sound mechanically and to date none of them have let me down, whether I'm 5 miles from home or 300 miles from home! I know of a guy who has 2 TA Challengers and all they do is sit in his garage, he rarely ever drives them. I just don't see the point in having these cars and not drive them. It don't make sense to me.

69clone · Oct 16, 2012

I agree, I much rather see dirty wheels and nicks in the paint than a 100 point car. They were built to drive and should be, not locked up... One of the guys at a local show always drives his hemi Daytona or 69 convt. Hemi roadrunner to the show rain or shine and isn't afraid to burn rubber in them.

Drive you show quality car

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