why do we own these cars ?

moparedtn said:

I didn't see where he suggested it does?
Instead, I read possible ways the hobby can be used to help with building relationships with the younger ones.
I know my dad and I were closest when either a)baseball or b)old cars were involved, so I hear what he's saying.

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This is how my son got involved with cars. his tastes may be different than mine.. but its a step forward in the right direction.

The old iron can withstand EMP, the new stuff will have computer failures and not run.

Besides, we need an excuse to buy too many tools and extra garage space.

slimt said:

This is how my son got involved with cars. his tastes may be different than mine.. but its a step forward in the right direction.

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Yup. Pop was no Mopar lover specifically and he wasn't an old car hobbiest as much as he'd been someone who grew up fixing them out of necessity, but in later years, he finally got over that and enjoyed them.

themechanic said:

...too many tools and extra garage space.

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No such thing as either one.

It's a progressive disease. First, you get one car, then another. Next, you get a new tool box, that one is full, dang it, should've gotten a bigger one, and on it goes. Work bench, garage storage, rolling tool box with work surface, tool cart, floor jack, bigger fast pump floor jack, etc.

The thing that irks me is having to buy that "single use tool". You know, special tool to tighten the antenna or the fuel sending unit or the big ole socket for ball joint removal. My most recent one is the steering column bearing tool. At least that one is small enough to loan through the mail when you're done with it, like some people have. The 3/4" drive 40 inch breaker bar is too big and heavy to ship but I could not have replaced the ball joints without it.

I drive mine quite a bit and it still puts a smile on my face. Even with the crappy mpg and quirks. When I'm not driving it, I look at it as a piece art. It is easy to stare at and play with when it needs maintenance.

How can you divorce your first Love? First new car bought, had it before I found my better-half. Still have it even after all the trials& tribulations of life; all 3 kids have ‘Stangs, but they still love da Bee. Heck, it’s older than any of them.

Thanks to all you members with replies. I love my car I just have not been enjoying life. I know if I sold the Bee it would take a week for me to start looking for my next project. My son always said to me I would not be happy if I didnt have a car to play with.

themechanic said:

It's a progressive disease. First, you get one car, then another. Next, you get a new tool box, that one is full, dang it, should've gotten a bigger one, and on it goes. Work bench, garage storage, rolling tool box with work surface, tool cart, floor jack, bigger fast pump floor jack, etc.

The thing that irks me is having to buy that "single use tool". You know, special tool to tighten the antenna or the fuel sending unit or the big ole socket for ball joint removal. My most recent one is the steering column bearing tool. At least that one is small enough to loan through the mail when you're done with it, like some people have. The 3/4" drive 40 inch breaker bar is too big and heavy to ship but I could not have replaced the ball joints without it.

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I consider those tools medals earned for being able to fix these old cars. I have an axle puller for my 62 Plymouth with tapered axles and it is as unique as the car. I also find it neat to try and engineer tools for specific jobs.

davek said:

Guys and gals thats my question. Im 54 and always had a mopar. My latest is the 70 Bee. I enjoy getting it back to as close as original as I can or afford to. It seems I barely drive my car now a days and I ask why I keep it. If I sell it I probably look for another one to build. Is this the sickness we have? Why not just let it go and buy something modern and just enjoy life.

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It's a sickness. I think I contracted it when my neighbor brought home a brand new 1970 383 Charger 500.

A few years ago I sold everything and renovated our kitchen and living room fireplace. I swore I'd never buy another project, only a finished car that might need a few things.

Half way through, just like Christine caught Arnie's eye, I was lovestruck by a ratty undrivable Coronet. The rest is history.

I can't tell if I like working on them or driving them more.

I just don't know anymore. The OP's questions are a constant reminder for me every day. I busted my butt rebuilding and restoring my 66 Ply Sat. Spent countless buckets of money on parts and such. Body work, machine shop, newer upgrades, all of it to build my dream ride. I really wanted a 70 RR but that was way out of my meager means at the time so I settled for my 66 and built it as I would have ordered it back in the day. It is not a true RR but to me it has the same innards to be as great and as stout as the 70 RTR of my dreams. Now that I have hit the 70 years young period, it mostly sits in my garage along with my brothers 66 Chrysler 300 family heirloom and his 69 A100 which occupies a parking spot in front of the house. Yep we got a few MOPARS here but the rarely get driven as they once were. It my be just lack of desire from the anti-climatic results of the build...I finally did it myself feeling...and admired for the job I did. Really is a sweet ride if I do say so myself. It isn't registered since my move from CA to NV and only on a few rare occasions will I fire it up and run around the neighborhood where I now live. I am out in an unincorporated part of Reno and not a very large Police presence but the Sheriff occasionally cruises here but very few and far between. A risk I know but my neighbor is a Reno Cop and every chance he gets when I do take it out he tags along for the cruise, and if I do get stopped, my line is I am finishing up some work on it and testing my results out. May work but at least Reno being a very collector car-centrist town, it just might work. But that aside, I just don't know why I don't drive it as much anymore? Got my plate full with my new house so maybe that is part of the reason, And some health issues that have drained my energy level quite a bit so I am lacking that extra get up and go feeling. But I will agree that when I do get it out, fire it up, see the neighbors give me a thumbs up, and then the thumbs up I get on my short neighborhood cruises, it brings back all that blood, sweat and tears along with the money outflow in true focus as time, effort and money well spent. Now get off my *** and get it out there cr8crshr/Bill...

davek said:

Guys and gals thats my question. Im 54 and always had a mopar. My latest is the 70 Bee. I enjoy getting it back to as close as original as I can or afford to. It seems I barely drive my car now a days and I ask why I keep it. If I sell it I probably look for another one to build. Is this the sickness we have? Why not just let it go and buy something modern and just enjoy life.

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They are meant to be driven so drive it! I sold a couple of nice cars several years ago because I got skeert of driving them and used the pretense of selling them to help fund my drag racing sickness. I still have the car that was going to be my street legal drag car but it's been on the back burner so many times that.....well, I dunno. At least I used it for a daily driver for nearly 10 years and even raced it some.

cr8crshr said:

Now get off my *** and get it out there cr8crshr/Bill...

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Yessir. Please do!

When I was a young pup my neighber took me to National speedway,standing on the starting line with my hands in the chainlink fence with the smell of rubber and nitro I was smitten!
All the fast cars had blown hemi's in 71/71 when the AWB and floppers were racing they all had injected or blown hemi's.Ther were a few cammers and BBchebs but they couldn't compete.I knew then that someday I would have a blown hemi!! Took 100 cars to get there but.........I'm here!

Cranky said:

They are meant to be driven so drive it! I sold a couple of nice cars several years ago because I got skeert of driving them and used the pretense of selling them to help fund my drag racing sickness. I still have the car that was going to be my street legal drag car but it's been on the back burner so many times that.....well, I dunno. At least I used it for a daily driver for nearly 10 years and even raced it some.

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I drive mine a lot more than I ever used to, at least going back to my early 20's (when I daily drove my '68 Bee).
Sometimes it isn't pristine clean and yes, every time I take it out my head is on a swivel - these are a great way to keep
up your defensive driving practices for sure.
When I drive, I just go ahead and assume that anyone I come across will do something stupid right in front of me -
so that when they actually do, I'm not surprised and I've already picked out an evasive counter-maneuver.
That's just part and parcel of caring about whatever it is you're driving, whether the GTX or one of the newer rides
around here.
Finally, let's face it - some folks are so busy staring that they forget they're driving....and yes, there are idiots
out there who might intentionally do something stupid, too.
Just gotta be vigilant. All part of being a good steward.

when I was young I had older cousins & a couple uncles
& my step Dad was into cars, a drag racer
It was ingrained into me, early in my life

it's just something to spend all my $$$ on
(that I don't have much of anymore)
now the kids are grown, keeps me sane, well sort of

it's a sickness, real world lessons in futility or frustrations
or an addiction
& even a joy sometimes
& a hassle too

it started with a stingray bike, then mini-bikes, then go-carts, then motorcycles,
then a dune-buggy made out of a rear engine 61 Renault
it grew into cars, muscle cars & dedicated racecars of all makes & brands
I love them all
My MoPars were/are my 1st real love for door'd cars

& I wouldn't have it any other way

Fran Blacker said:

I ask myself that when I see 69roadr's accident. 3 years ago I almost got sideswiped, takes a lot of fun out driving.

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sure does, but you can loose them safely tucked away in the garage. And we all only have so many heart beats. When I lost this car it was the first time since 1983 that I didn't have a Mopar musclecar. It felt weird.



Now that I have my current car pretty much done, I don't drive it like I would have years ago. I'm picky where I take it (no Wallmart parking lots), but if the roads are clear and dry, out it comes. I know of several finished cars near me (and you guys do too) that haven't been out in this century. Be careful, drive them for what they are, and have fun with them.

I can"t see as well as the old dayze............

Mine is a labor of love. Not that I dont like getting elbows deep, but the car was given to me...with a stipulation...when I was through driving it, I had to give it to my son and his wife. It belonged to her uncle, who passed a couple years ago. It was a big deal in their family. Since no one in the ramily had any mechanical inclination, it was offered to me. I am doing my damndest to get it functioning again. Be assured...I cant wait to get behind the wheel !

My older brother and cousin were muscle car guys and it was hell watching them and all their buddies in their hot cars before I was old enough to drive. Wasted no time as at 17 talked my mom into co-signing on my 1st car '67 GTO convert (I always had a thing about droptops while getting a lot of **** about this from hardtop only guys like my brother). Then got a '70 Cuda vert, later I had a brief stint with a 'vette; not my thing, and then restoed my mom's '72 Cutlass vert with my dad. We did a pert full clone to 442. My dad with all his talent taught me a lot. The sort that could do anything and his skills came in handy as that Olds was pretty rusted. Anyway, my older cousin had a '64 Fury and then a Polara (Dodge was a 426/4sp) he got new and as a youngster just never forgot how cool they looked so had an affection for the older B's. I got a CA '63 Plymouth (vert of course) and have had it since '95. It's a completely different car and equipped with some modern upgrades to make it drive better than it ever did new. Well, the old car hitch is an addiction I suppose or just keeping a connection with the past; my brother likes new cars and gives me crap about all the tinkering required with old rides. In WI our car fun season is short so the winters bring more tinkering (among all the other projects and the day job) and waiting for the weather to allow getting it out of the garage and to the shows. Much as I think about another nice old ride, I don't think I can part with my '63...too much time together, sweat, swear words, money, etc. I reckon I'll leave it before it leaves me. One of those guys who put more into it than it would sell for anyway and fine with that...