You finished the car and now you want to sell it ???

[Don selleck]

great thread Greg.

 

[XS22J8R]

I am conflicted on the subject, because I did a ground up OE restoration on my high school ride, a T/A Challenger, that got completed after a 16+ year cluster including years in restoration shop jail in another state, and a less than satisfactory experience after I moved the project to a shop closer to complete body and paint, along with some of the heavier lift reassembly items like the K frame/engine assembly and rear end.
When I went out to retrieve it after that work was done, with someone with a trailer I'd enlisted to help, the paint got damaged when we were unloading the car and the winch failed, a fender scraped against a ramp cable.
Got that fixed, got it put together, and started for the first time just a week before MCACN. Hired a local car hauler to get it there for me, and at setup, I noticed a scuff on the stripe, that he denies he did, but we'll never know for sure.
Which is one reason I get scared to do much with it, fearing it gets damaged again.
Since then its been out to some shows but I don't do much with it, and I feel bad it became a garage queen. It's too nice to drive much, not to mention I'm no fan of the manual steering or the way my left leg bangs the steering wheel when I use the clutch.
I go to cruise nights all the time in our too short season here, and local shows. Over the years I figured out how I like to roll, and that is in my convertible with the top down, or in more recent years since I bought the Magnum, in it with the T Tops off.
I actually have 2 six pack hardtops, and they both mostly just sit. The other one's in storage and I'd like to sell but I got burned out on my failed efforts trying to do that, so may end up owning it until I croak too.
I've owned my T/A since I was a teen so it has sentimental value. No financial motivation to sell it, not going to buying a boat or a plane or something I'd need to raise funds to get.
So maybe it should go to a better caretaker, but I can't see ever selling it even if I should. Gotta get motivated and get it out of the garage this year dammit!!!

 

[SteveSS]

+ the '71Challenger. I always forget one or two. At 68 I still don't have any grandchildren. Both my son and daughter are very much "car people." They'll inherit whatever collection I end up with. If they keep them or sell them it's up to them and I'm fine with that. Most money decisions I make are based on providing them with the most financial stability I can.

 

[68BabyBlue]

I've never done a ground up restoration, but I've flirted with the "too nice to drive" issue. I never gave in to it, but I can understand an artist not wanting to blemish the creation after the sweat and tears to get it done. Because of space constraints, I was able to own some nice cars, but until recent years only one at a time, so I didn't part with them easily, took something really outstanding to get me to move ahead. Previous owner of my current car put 10 years into the restoration, so I can understand his decision to only drive it 1000 miles in 28 years of ownership. His loss was my gain. I already matched that with three trips to Carlisle.

I like to see them driven. Even though I've not a restorer, I think a key element of the ownership experience is having the knowledge, skills, and motivation to keep the car running properly, even if it takes delegating some stuff. I was pleased to see our fellow member who bought my Hemi GTX is driving it as well.

 

[cr8crshr]

Just cannot keep them all for all the time is my take. After a bit, they tend to be just garage queens with an occasional startup and drive. But for the most part, they just sit and collect dust. I have done 2 cars...66 Chrysler 300, and 66 Ply Satellite, the way I wanted. Drove them for a bit, kept them in the garage for far longer, and sold them to downsize and free up garage space. Still have a ton of the parts I accumulated that I cannot even give away, let alone sell, so periodically they go to the recycler. Don't need the money either these days either. I get the attachment to them and will not accuse those who do keep them otherwise. Just me, as it is easier to move on, as you cannot take everything with you when and if the need arises...cr8crshr/Bill

 

[moparwacko]

I'm in the fix it up and move it on camp. I've had over 50 in the past 50 years. Darts, Dusters, and all manner of B bodies, and now an old D100.. The one that eludes me is the 67 WS27. With all that, the one that never got away is my 69 RR. It has stayed over 33 years. I personally know every nut and bolt on that car. After 30 years it needs the body and paint done again - but it's still a turn key anytime anywhere driver. It has developed into an heirloom- my Son drove it to his prom, it was in my daughter's wedding, etc. Each time I think about selling, I just close the garage door and walk away and the thought passes.

 

[Budnicks]

It may sound weird, but I enjoy building them more than driving them. That said, The Roach isn’t for sale.

I'm in that boat sort of too, mostly big 3 muscle cars, a few rods & a bunch of racecars,
a few Jeeps & a lot of 4wd trucks, mostly Power Wagons
all my adult life I built cars,
26 racecars & now 114 cars/trucks in total
(like 20 or so of that, were new cars, & 14 work trucks on the co. dime,
not builds really, later I leased trucks for buss., albeit I did utility boxes/beds, lifts & racks etc.)
sooner or later, I would sell one of them, usually it was
for good reasons at the time, so I thought
Usually a financial reason or needed cash for taxes or something/someone in the family
& not wanting to take if from investments
"that actually make me $$", not cost me any $$$

I've had my current 68 RR RM23 LL1 Surf Turquoise Poly, since Dec. 2005
I am getting fed up with a bunch of stuff, don't get me wrong it's 'my bitch'
mostly stuff that's out of my control like, the sh-tty fuel/s here
eating away at my fuel system constantly, aluminum or rubber components mostly
having to do stuff now, every year or 2 times a year NOW
stuff I never really had to 'as often' anyway, on my drivers,
even collector type car, as was back in the day
Now also my tires are aging & still has most all the thread,
casing on both my Dakota & RR are getting old, casing 25 & 20 years old respectively,
with 1/2 to a lot more of the tread still there
(like only 6k mile on my RRs tires, like new looking, 1/2 tread still there 42k miles
on the Dakota, I got my $$ worth in the truck)
another $3,500 to $4k just to fix/do that too
no big deal, but such a waste, money that could be spent on something else
& this one (RR) is far from done, after almost 20 years, it's always something
they are never really done...

I need to drive them more, something always takes my 'car enjoyment' time away


It's never ending...

Like RC, I also enjoy the hunt & looking for parts & the build process
maybe the lil' kid dreamer & racer still in me
I'm not enjoying the constant PITA, that comes up w/projects now
or the expense, some unscrupulous types of people gouging everyone in/for parts
while trying to build then now too

I'm not enjoying that much of late, my time is occupied, with other stuff
(my 88 y/o dad for 1, my young dog & family all over Ca. & Or.)

I'd still like to build another, maybe a 68-71 D100
(short bed 'Dude tribute', modern Hemi drivetrain & lowered, trick independent suspension,
nice interior, cool wider taller wheels & tires, 'no dork dishes' )
I just don't have room, at the moment & my stuff will never sit outside,
it needs to be in a garage, or under cover, I do have a carport I could spend all my car money
but then that puts off the build, building the shop & me at 66, I'm not sure I want to do that

 

[RJ Squirrel]

Like others have said, if building is in your blood you just cant keep all of them!

 

[Budnicks]

Quite a few of mine I bought to fix & flip/sell, (prices weren't like today either)
usually to help fund my good builds, of for one of my kids to drive,
at one point I had 6 drivers at once all living in the house
& 2 other off at school
usually in a car/truck (my girls were into 4x4s & Jeeps) I built for them
or usually another racecar, being funded by projects
I never liked taking investment $$ out of the bank, I sold something instead...

until I moved up here
I still had a 47,000 sqft warehouse, in Port Chicago area by Concord
I could keep stuff, I had 3 lifts too 2) 4 post & a 2 post, came in handy
I took out of one of the Concord dealership...
I leased the space for $1 a month from a dealership owner buddy,
sort of gift for me doing the upkeep & maintenance on the office building attached...
That I got paid dearly to do too....
I also had my company office on the 3rd floor of the office structure, free of charge
overlooking the 10th tee of Diablo Valley Golf Course
& I had most the bottom floor of the warehouse for my use, it was a 2 story,
the 2nd story was smaller like 25k sqft was used for mostly file cabinets,
full of dealership documents/taxes storage stuff
I rotated in & out at their expense, I go paid to do...

I do mis having that room & a place to build stuff,
& not piss off all the neighbors working late night on a racecar...

I miss the days of all the car guys coming around
"drinking all my beer & bench racing" cutting up on each other
some bringing their cars to work on there too
I do most all of my stuff all alone now, it's not the same,
boring sometimes even
not the enjoyment it once was, with everyone around & cutting up

everyone moved on or moved away or got divorced
I still keep in touch with a couple, but they are not close by

such is life

 

[Kern Dog]

I do like having a friend around when tinkering on the car. It is more fun that way.
Years of construction sort of shaped that sentiment. Working on jobs with a bunch of guys, all aiming toward the same goal was the plan.
It is one of the reasons why going to car shows now is as much a matter of looking at cars as it is talking to fellow car people.

 

[XS22J8R]

I do like having a friend around when tinkering on the car. It is more fun that way.
Years of construction sort of shaped that sentiment. Working on jobs with a bunch of guys, all aiming toward the same goal was the plan.
It is one of the reasons why going to car shows now is as much a matter of looking at cars as it is talking to fellow car people.

This relates in a way as to why I don't enjoy my "garage queen" more. It took me a 4 years or so until after it was finished to recover enough financially to think about getting a trailer, and a truck to tow the trailer, so I could drag the car around to national shows. Not just the resto bills on it, but then another big bill a year or so after I thought it "done" for a shop to fix stuff the previous shop screwed up, and also my beloved convertible was getting tired and I had no funds or bandwith to do anything with that until after getting the T/A done and bugs fixed, so then a couple years later I had a partial engine overhaul and bunch of other stuff done to freshen up the vert.
After all that I could start thinking seriously about buying a truck and trailer. But I digress...
I ordered a new Ram 2500 in early 21, and bought a enclosed from an estate, sadly it belonged to a local active Mopar guy who had an aneurism and passed away.
Now I can hit the road to shows with my show car!
Except sadly, I quickly found out my local long time car buds can't get away for shows like the Nats and Calisle, or even overnights. Family issues, work, yada yada.
In younger years, even earlier in middle age, there were guys eager for weekend getaways be it to go to a car show or fishing trip or whatever. Now it's all but impossible to get anyone away from home for anything.
And doing a big adventure out of town to a show with a friend or two is a lot of fun. Solo? Just seems like work and is stressful.
Heading out to local cruises I see lots of people I know and spend lots of time visiting with them, and sometimes end up meeting new car guys too. But that is an activity I partake in with my driver cars, not the show queen.
I love it when a plan comes together, but sometimes best laid plans and aspirations don't! And that is frustrating to say the least.

 

[Black_Sheep]

I do like having a friend around when tinkering on the car. It is more fun that way.
Years of construction sort of shaped that sentiment. Working on jobs with a bunch of guys, all aiming toward the same goal was the plan.
It is one of the reasons why going to car shows now is as much a matter of looking at cars as it is talking to fellow car people.

I really enjoy the build process, nothing else matters when I’m out in the garage wrenching. Driving is a pleasure too, if I don’t have to deal with idiot tailgaters a drivers fondling their phones. I don’t really care about trophies and such, I have more than my fair share already. Shows and cruise nights are a convenient excuse to hang out with good friends, our circle is growing smaller so it’s time well wasted…

 

[Nutso]

Reading this thread it seems like there are folks that like building and restoring cars and some folks that just like to drive them. I understand the excitement of building one and having it come together. My first mopar was a green 1969 Coronet 500 with a 440 swapped in place of the 318. It was rough, not too rusty but it leaked (I didn’t have a garage) and the interior was thrashed. It was loud, fast, and cool but my girlfriend at the time didn’t like it. I had the front end rebuilt, fixed the brakes, and I replaced the door hinge pins, aligned the doors, replaced the grill, and got seat covers. It was all I could afford at the time. I sold her to a guy in Bremerton who wanted to restore it with his son…I hope they did.

I bought a really clean B5 1967 Plymouth Belvedere II with a 400 swapped in place of the original 318. It was a clean car with nice paint, clean interior, and 3:55 gears. My ex girlfriend liked cruising in it…it was fast and fun. I built a 383 with some older buddies (both gone now) and we put it in the car. That was fun, drinking beer, bench racing, and putting together the engine in my friend’s garage after work. I miss those guys! Life changes happened and I had to sell the car and go back to school.

I got a decent job and bought my roadrunner, it looked beautiful with black paint and came with a freshly built 440. We stripped off some paint and found it to be hit, rusted, dented, and the body was twisted from drag racing. I had it repaired (I’m not a body guy) and painted…it took almost a year. My mopar buddies helped me put in the engine and my one buddy Larry helped by supplying me with all kinds of parts I needed that I didn’t even know existed. The previous owners had stripped the car for drag racing so all the wiring harnesses, interior trim, and under dash components were missing. We got her together and his wife put the interior together for me. There were some issues with the car that bothered me and after I had it ‘done’ (they are never done!) all I could see were the flaws. I realized that it didn’t really suit my needs anymore (it had a 440 six pack setup, 4 speed, 4:10 gears, bench seat) as I live in the country and this thing was a stop light to stop light street fighter! I need a cruiser and possibly A/C! I sold the roadrunner to a good dude and he has repaired a lot of the issues that bugged me…I’m very happy he is enjoying the car.

I enjoy building them but now I’m looking for a similar car to my first one…a green on green 1969 Coronet. I still regret selling that one. It was highly optioned and had those cool turn signal indicators on the fenders. Maybe I’ll get another project?

 

[TN Mopar]

I think it is easier to understand if we think in terms of art
It is our creativity, our art that drives us to build a car
when the car is done, our thirst to create is no longer satisfied

I often get asked what I would do if something happened to my Charger
but the truth is as long as I have the tools I can create another one
I will always have the memories of the old car and now new memories with the new car

I do have the first car I ever owned and wont sell it because I want my son to have it
but I have had and sold others, I miss them but the parts I love best are the building and the dreaming of what the car can be

 

[Coelacanth]

I'm not a hoarder, but I have a hard time selling off anything that I've invested a lot of time and effort into. This doesn't just apply to my '86 GN or '70 Charger, but all the vintage RC cars I resto-modded, and even all the dozens of HO-scale AFX Magna-Traction slot cars I collected and rebuilt.

Vintage RC car gallery

Slot car collection: I have 3 of these makeup racks full of slot cars now:

 

[Triplegreen500]

Sometimes I'll buy an old car (like a 71 SSP I used to have) just because it's a neat old car and it's a Mopar, and it'll be fun to work on. I bought the SSP to fiddle with, and "practice" mechanic stuff. Then, a friends car blew up and she needed a cheap car for college.

I also bought a Newport years ago (66? 68? Can't even remember). Sitting in front of a guys house with a sign on it - old Mopar for sale? Must look. Big block 3 on the tree car, didn't run...$250. What the hell. Picked it up, made it run...eh, not as fun as I thought it would be, sold it. Same deal on a 49 Coronet - cheap, cool old Mopar...not real useful so I sold it.

Some cars I get because I love them - my Charger, obviously, and my Satellite wagon. Keepers. My Daytona - my first new car ever, lots of history...keeper. More immediate though? I'm working in FL for 3 months. A smart man - a grown-up - would drive the nice, clean, luxurious Grand Cherokee. Me? Brought the Wrangler. The Grand is nice...respectable ..but an appliance to me. I LOVE the Wrangler. Convertible, fun to drive, nice stereo, I just smile when I drive it.

I think that's the deciding factor. Some cars, we fall in love with (for whatever reason), and others we just...drive.

 

[Armyvet25]

A wise man once said…
A man with one watch knows what time it is. A man with two watches is never sure.
Yeah, okay. How does that apply here?
Another man, not as wise, said You cant ride two horses with one ***.
To me, this sort of infers that with too many cars, I’d never get them done, I can’t drive them all. Maybe selling the Dart will allow me to actually move forward with this car…

View attachment 1907778

Since the NASCAR theme is my latest idea for it…

View attachment 1907777

Thought about doing the same for my 71

 

[mmissile]

Best time to sell, is when it's fresh and everything still works.

 

[diesel_lv]

Who thinks like this?
You look and look for the car that you want, you find one and go through the trouble to get it just how you like it…then get bored and sell it ?
That just ain’t me, man. I’m keeping this car:

View attachment 1907744

I don’t drive it as much as I should but I love looking at it. I’m always tinkering and changing something just to stay engaged in the ownership of it.
I’ve read of and talked to some guys that build a car with great enthusiasm but within a year if completion, they are looking to sell.
Who does this ?
I have this 4 door Dart that I don’t need but I am enjoying having it around.

View attachment 1907745

This may be one that I just get running and sell. Who knows…,

That Dart is the perfect "daily". Slant 6, small 2bbl, electronic ignition with a good advance curve for highway cruising, O/D trans n 2.76 gears. Get almost 30mpg on the highway. No power/electric anything to go wrong. Run forever.

 

[DeltaV]

How about this variation? You sold a car that was personally maintained to a very high standard, which included keeping it spotless inside and out, only to have the next owner do nothing (good) to it. He drove it, slapped some stupid stuff on the inside and outside of the car, seldom washed/waxed it, seldom vacuumed it, and I doubt the windows were ever cleaned after my ownership. Oh yeah, wires hanging out from under the dash and an aftermarket radio installed using a battering ram?

I ran across the car about 18 months after I sold it; and was shocked to see it in the condition described above. I went home and collected up some stuff I had for the car and gave it to the owner the next time I saw the car at his workplace. He was very happy with the car and the free box of parts. A nice guy.

The car was a black '87 300ZX.