ok, bought or self-built. Let's talk about it.

[**DONOTDELETE**]

My wife is very pregnant right now and I dont post much because I promised I would stay away from the computer. But she is out with her friends and I think this needs to be talked about.

My name is Paul Hoffmann and I am a general contractor in Santa Barbara. I build homes for a living. I surf when I can and I also fly planes (real and R/C). I have a small crew of guys that work for me and after all the work is done I need to cough up paychecks and make sure the subs are all doing their jobs right.

I have built several hotrods. Some are cool, some were stupid. I dont really feel the need to build my 3 window simply because it is way to cool of a car and honestly it will never be all mine anyways. It will always be the Quinton/Joehncks Bonneville car and never "Paul's". I knew that when I bought it and I know it now. I have built hotrods and now I am having one built. I'm still a hotrodder, although I was never that great at it anyway.

After I built my last 34 I was very proud of it. however, it didnt make me feel like a man. On friday afternoon when my guys get paychecks, I feel like a man. They dont know I didnt get paid, or what my insurance is, or that I actually made up work for them last week so they can get 40 hours and feed their kids. They dont know it, and I feel good for doing it. I always have to stay ahead of my guys and get work for them or get paid for work so all the balls can stay in the air. The way my life is right now, I could never finish another hotrod. shit, even when I had time my cars were just o.k. at best. I need Rudy.

Billy Gibbons bought his car. does anyone ever stop to think about all the people that live off of him showing up every night and playing "La Grange" one more fucking time? He's an old man and should be sippin whiskey by a lake somewhere in Texas. Sure, he makes good money but he deserves to.... that's why he's in the fucking hall of fame.

I guess what I am trying to say is that in Construction, do-it-yourselfers are a joke and in the world of hot rods, clients are worthless goldchainers. Why is that? Can you imagine if I finished a house and laughed with my buddies about how all the owners did was "just buy it"?

As both a builder and a buyer, I ask you guys how did this happen? Does Cole know how to play "For Whom the Bell Tolls"?, can Rudy play "Cheap Sunglasses"? Is building hotrods the only skill worth respecting?
If a traditional car is being built, who cares how?

Jimmy White, Cole Foster, Rudy, and all you other guys that build for a living need to eat too. Why are the customers looked at by other hotrodders as worthless? No other field of work is like that.

[Phil1934]

Harry Truman said "There's lots of people who know how to run the country better than me, but they're all busy cutting hair and driving taxis." I agree such cars seem to stir a negative response. I remember the owner of Newmad answering the same responses here. Most of us look for inspiration, and it does not all have to be in tech. A well conceived concept has as much or more to offer. No one commented on the consistency of the design and the no compromise execution. It is a nice car.

[Tman]

I run the front end of a Hot Rod Shop, I have also been a contractor so I can relate to what you are trying to say. MY customers are the best, they are also the SHOPS customers but since I have to deal with them on a daily basis I take it to heart and treat them like I would like to be treated. I dont care if they cant paint or weld, their purchases and labor $$$$$$ pay MY meal ticket. Last night I fed 150 of MY customers wiith a BBQ and open house, I offerred a beer to the ones that wanted one. I fed them like kings and they thanked me, THAT made me feel good!

[BigDdy31]

I'm glad you brought this up Paul as it is a topic that is frequently on my mind because I am a freak about doing most things myself. And I'm not half bad at most of it, if I do say so myself.

I am only going to give my personal opinion and I won't try to speak for anyone else, anywhere. But here goes:

The only guys I have a problem with (and not a huge problem) are people who ONLY buy and then take credit for things. People who have never tried to do things themselves or at the very least tried to put themselves in the shoes of a craftsman. You know the ones I'm talking about. The ones that tell you, "Oh yeah, I put a pool and hot tub in last year about this time." And what they really mean is that fifteen Mexican immigrant workers put their pool and hot tub in and they, as the owner, aren't even sure how to work it now that it's done. The same guy will go to the Sonic in his fiberglass 3 window and tell you how he put on a blower and installed 4:11 gears and what HE really means is the his mechanic did it for him but he isn't going to give any props for it unless you start asking him tech questions and he has to admit he doesn't even know how his car went together.

I have built structures before (I'm not bad at it but I bet I'm not nearly as good as you and your guys LOL) but if I were to have a house built, due to my previous experience, I would have decent input for my contractor when he asked me questions about what I wanted. I think that's what I would like to see from the goldchainer crowd that only buys. For them to try to experience things so that if they have a car built due to a shortage of time or some injury or illness that keeps them from enjoying that part of the hobby then they can at least claim some connection with the car they own.

Billy Gibbons and the other guys from ZZ Top have done actual work in their lives (I know this because I grew up down here and have known some of their family members). You have obviously done both hard work and mechanical work. But some guy like Malcolm Forbes on 'his' Harley or *insert celebrity name here* who can't even find the end of 'his' garage because he owns so many cars (some of which he has never even driven), I think they need to get in touch or hand off the credit for their collections to the automotive designers and craftsmen who built them. There are people who build and people who drive and though there is nothing wrong with being in either group, it's important for a person not to misunderstand or misrepresent in which camp they reside.

So I don't disagree with what you say but I think honesty becomes very important in those situations.

Totally O/T: Are you having the '59 built? I don't care if you are but I'd love to see pics if you get going on it. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[cheaterslick]

I'll just admit I get jelous as hell seeing Billy Gibbons' cars, bikes, toys...that's really the root of wanting to say "fuck Jey Leno" and all those other people throwing cash around. I work SO hard for my $ like most everyone, perhaps my only way of feeling better is by focusing on fabrication, engineering and handbuilt shit those guys couldn't do. Each case is different, some rich musicians etc. really DON't deserve the resources they have (I just came off a month of tour in the US http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif) I suppose it's a matter of GET vs. DESERVES...

If I can though, even on my own small scale, I love to have friends who run small shops do work on my cars. They are working like I do; and it makes more sense for me to go make a paycheck and hire them to do something they've done a hundred times, as opposed to me spending my days off struggling with something on my own. Not that it happens very often because I know everything... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

[daign]

Money....

[Crease]

Paul,

The truth according to Chris.......

You're A OKAY in my book if

You built your car, even if it sucks.
You bought your car, but you know why it was built that way.
You hope to someday build a car.
You and your buddies are buildin a car.

You only suck if...
Your uncle had a car just like mine, but it was a buick and it was amphibious. Of course they must follow up the statement with..."Hey, what color you gonna paint that thing?"

I build mine, but that's just cause Im broke.

Get your ass out to Texas Paul and good luck with the baby birthen.

[Deuce Roadster]

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

OK...JUST MY 2 CENTS

Houses and HotRods are like Apples and Oranges.

Most everyone buys a house (or has one built)
HotRods were the domain of the DoITYourselfer, until lately. Sort of like Choppers.. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif You use to have to build one, now you can finance one.

I went to Gatlinburg in 1969 (about 500 rods) and there were maybe 50 "nice cars". Lots of homebuilt, in progress, or poorly done (by todays standards) hotrods. I was 21 http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif and I could paint, fabricate and build a hotrod as good or better than most of the cars in attendance......excluding the TOP 50.

Now theres 3000 or more in attendance at Shades of the Past. Now there's 1000 "nice cars", because of the hiring out of services. Very few can do everything to the high standards required today. That's the difference. That's WHY folks buy or have built a new home. The competition for recognition in the HotRod world and lack of ability in building a house.

I have never been around Billy Gibbons, he may be cool ? Should I cut him a bunch of slack because he plays in a band? Or because is is lucky enough to BUY want he wants? I doubt if he is the guy you want to depend on help for if you are broke down on a deserted highway. Should he be bashed for having the CA$H to buy it? No........TO ALL OF THE ABOVE.

Everyone who pays taxes supports a bunch of people ... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif and Billy G would not pay the roadies and such if it was not a part of doing business.


I am GLAD that Rudy can sell his roadster and come out. I am glad that Billy G got a nice car. I am glad the HAMB is here and I am a member. But it really does not matter what we think, or do, or say about this........... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

GoldChainers are like the RUBS in Harley-Davidson world. Some are jealous of they ability to BUY what they want. So they did not push a panhead 2 miles home in the rain uphill back when they were young........who cares.

Thank GOD that there are GoldChainer..........or you 34 coupe would not have sold for half the money http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif They are driving the prices up and the bitchers and moaners cannot keep up.



I wish I had enough money to be considered a Gold Chainer........

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

[lownslow]

wutchutalkin about gooch?

haha ...nah i walways wanted to say that http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

anyways, i totally agree with what you are saying.....dude i love my customers.....or goldchainers/checkwriters....whatever some people like to call em.....it is because of them i can pay my mortgage , eat, and have my own cars....etc. etc.......that comparison to you being a contractor is great....yeah no one else looks down upon others who have shit built for them except some of the car people......it is LAME......its funny i had a guy who I painted a car for come to me when he is a good painter and could have done the job himself.....but he now has the money to pay someone to do alot of the work and just wants to enjoy it when it is done......i see nothing wrong with that at all......good post man........

[Dago Red]

Somewhere out there, there is probably a message board dedicated to building your own house, where they badmouth people who "just buy them." They're saying stuff like, "That Paul Hoffmann has talent, but the houses he builds are gay. They have no style." and "Check out what I scored at the architectural salvage place!" Then they start bitching about how high prices for porcelain doorknobs on eBay have gotten since that article in Martha Stewart Living.

And if you find that message board, odds are you'll find at least one other HAMBer already there.

[Baumi]

I´m a hairdresser , self employed with 14 employees and building cars is my hobby.Not more and not less.
I know what you´re talking about when it´s about pay checks and organizing.
Of course it´s not easy for me too to find the time to build my cars and keep them running, but it doesn´t matter to me how long it takes , because I enjoy every minute building and thinking . It´s kinda relaxing to me. And it feels good having something done by myself. Perhaps it is some kind of challenge.

But I´d never call someone a goldchainer who has his car built .
My best friend started a project a couple of years ago.He was building a show quality custom 57 chevy coupe with 57 Buick grill etc. Now he suffers from ALS disease and can´t finish it anymore by himself, so he has it done. But he is the guy who uses his head and tells them how to do it. For me he is still the builder, because he´s breaking his head over every detail of the car.I´ve learned a lot from him although he´s sitting in the rolling chair , he can´t use his hands and he can hardly speak. But he still has the knowledge and the skills. And the most important thing: He still LOVES to build cars. The next project will be his 53 Chevy Panel Truck.
You see, in my eyes he is definetly both, the builder and the customer.
Just my 2cents.

[av8]

You may not think so, Paul, based on my comment about BG being a gold chainer on your thread about Rudy's roadster, but that was an unsuccessful attempt at sarcasm.

IMHO, the praise and attaboys for Billy displayed some hypocisy on the part of some on this board. I couldn't help but wonder what the tone of the posts would have been had the buyer been Don Orozco or Bruce Meyer, both worthy keepers of the flame and without whose commitment to preserving our hot-rodding past, albeit greatly over-restored, we would be poorer for it.

I know BG is hip to what it's all about, and understands and appreciates his rides, so no slight was meant. I do feel, however, that the car should be thought of as Rudy's Deuce for at least a little while; Rudy built it on his own dime, and not to a client order.

Like you, I don't really understand why there is such vitriol in the "us vs. them" mentality that's become a prevailing theme in the movement. In the Day, the contempt hot rodders and the custom-car set had for each other's rides was good natured in comparison to the present situation with regard to how much or how little work one does on his ride.

Life on this planet would grind to a halt if we were all good at the very same thing, particularly if it was building hot rods. Thankfully, some are exceedingly good at putting roofs over our heads, providing us with pleasant places to shop and work, growing food for our tables, and even entertaining us. Rather than be met with contempt, these folks deserve to be welcomed when they enter the movement.

Thanks for this thread, Paul. It's something that needs to be adddressed and you've done a good job of that.

[slammed]

The Gooch: Liked both post's: Rudy and the 'question'. Alway's seem's to be a handful some where, that like's to pee on someone's good work's. Without fail. Keep the faith.

[**DONOTDELETE**]

AV8, this has nothing to do with what you wrote at all. Hell, any reply from you at all is a compliment. I wasnt at the show because of work but Rudy called me and after he told me people seemed to like his car, I asked if a Mike Bishop ever stopped by. He said no. He was looking for you. You helped build that car and he wanted to thank you for hanging out with him late at night.

[Killer]

[ QUOTE ]
Why are the customers worthless? No other field of work is like that.

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't understand this statement.

[**DONOTDELETE**]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Why are the customers worthless? No other field of work is like that.

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't understand this statement.

[/ QUOTE ]



referring to anyone buying or having anything built as goldchain and therefore less legit.

[Killer]

oh.

Thats fuckin stupid. I hate the goldchainer bashing...

Build it yourself or buy it, don't matter as long as you drive it.

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Killer, I fixed the last part of my post, I hope it makes more sence. I need to pay someone to put my thoughts down right. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[choprods]

Ive done hot rod work of most all kinds full time for 28 years and part time for 35........I like to rib people -sure but the reality is I provide a talent.
Most folks can do some of the work they hire done.
But usually its best to have one chef fix the soup http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif if you know what I'm saying.
I have to say this....MOST of the folks Ive worked for and built complete cars for are decent folks that will always give credit where credit is due.
A few are assholes- which I fall into the same category with on occaision.........
I think that we need each other and had ought to treat each other well.
I see no shame or disrespect in having a car [or house] built if you feel the job will be done either better/faster/more economically etc.
Most folks with a family a job a small or large bussiness or even just a lot of activities that they enjoy are REALLY TOO BUSY TO BUILD A CAR IN A REALISTIC TIME FRAME.
I personally hire parts of my own car done -even after all these years.
It really boils down to a case of common JEALOSY in most of our cases.
ITS HUMAN NATURE ,and we can hardly escape that! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
I gues if I had a popint here its that this whole build or bought issue itself and 37 cents will mail a letter![REALLY not that important.] http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Joe T Creep]

This is a really interesting topic that I think about a lot also. I used to not work and I had all the time needed to do my own work and even though It wasnt high dollar, I still did good work on all my own cars. Now I work 65 hours a week and My garage has no more room for all my parts and equiptment. The last heavy work,channeling and extending the frame on my truck, was done by a local hot rod shop and not by me. I was up there every night after work going over it with them and doing what I could but they did all the real work. Does this not make me a "real" hot rod guy? Am I no longer "cool" enough to act like I used to before when I had no job but lots of time? Should I take the crap from the Idiot who has been working on his car for the last 2 years building it because he had no job and consequently no money to build it with because I am now a responsible person with a good job? I dont think so.
I think that its less about exactly who built it and more about the person and their interest. People who see a rod they like, buy it, and want to pretend that they built it can go to hell with every other ass that wants to take credit for something they didnt do.
I know lots of people who have built their own cars and they can brag about that, but most of them hardly ever drive their cars. Does it make me as equally cool as they are because I drive my cars all the time, but I didnt do all the work myself?

Point to ponder.....

Bah......

Joe

[JohnnyB327]

atleast you know he is going to drive it. I went to the goodguys show in spokane washington and i saw a 37 or 38 zephyr that was being trailored around. The owner had put 500 grand down to have that car built. custom heads for the V-12, marvelous paint and interior. He then put the car on the barret-jackson auto auction and sold it for 316,000 dollars to jay leno.....
reminds me of storys of animal abuse where theres a malnurished dog so the state takes it away and it then gets a new owner, an owner that probably will treat the dog like it should be treated.

[JohnnyB327]

self built gives you a feeling of self beeing.

[ELpolacko]

[ QUOTE ]
Build it yourself or buy it, don't matter as long as you drive it.

[/ QUOTE ]

Killer, you nailed it.

I build classic truck chassis for a living. I hack away at honing my skills in other areas like body work, metal work and such. I can relate to "the Gootch" in every respect when it comes to being an employer. Probably the hardest most thankless job I ever had and I love it!

Gold chainers put food on the table for me and my employees. Some of them truly paid thier dues and deserve the reward of someone like me spending my time crafting a great car or truck for them. Some are true enthusiasts and have no business wielding a mig torch or set of wrenches and need help from time to time.

[Ryan]

I couldn't agree more with ya Gooch. There has always been a stigma on bought cars and I never really got it...

I built my belly button - the '38, but when it came time to do my dream car I called Tardell. I'm not ashamed in the least.

All that said, I can totally understand the meaning a car has when you build it yourself... You have a little more (or sometimes a little less) passion for the self built stuff.

[earl schieb]

While y'all have been debating class envy and self gratification versus check-writing, I've been doing TRADITIONAL stuff---BLASTING up and down country roads, BURNING up fossil fuel(paid for by my goldchainer customers) http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I have enjoyed this thread, being an employer, builder(well, paint/body and light fabrication)AND check writer(I CAN'T do EVERYTHING!) http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
Most of the "goldchainers" I encounter(business-wise) aren't bad people at all if ya take some time to get to know them instead of passing judgement on contact.

Bought or built, this hobby beats the hell out of collecting stamps!

[Slag Kustom]

i have built cars , bikes and have bought just the same . for the most part i enjoy spending time in my garage with welder or grinder in hand. if im not there im chasing women or drinking at a bar. the only people i dont like are the ones that say they built a car (i sent it here i sent it there and so on) if i can find a car i want and some one built it well i will shell out the cash and buy it. most cars i build are some one elses prodject they gave up on an i get them cheaper then the money i would have invested to get it to that point.

[Fat Hack]

Well starting from the top, Gooch...since you started this thread, I thought your coupe was one of the toughest rides on the HAMB! Loved it! Perfect? No. Flawless? Naw! But it was COOL, and that was it's weapon!

As for buying vs building, I think the only "buyers" who deserve a dose of disrespect are the big dollar check-writers who truly have no idea what they have, how it was built or what makes it work. These are the clowns who trailer their four wheeled trophies from event to event and just return a blank stare if you ask 'em the simpelest question about the car. They are not hot rodders, they're just buying and displaying their latest rolling status symbol.

On the other hand, you, me or countless other HAMBers have no doubt stumbled across finished, or nearly finished cars that spoke to us and made us long to own them! I wanted to buy Kulturepimp's truck so bad I could TASTE it...even though it needed lots of finish work and sorting out. The vehicle was 'roughed in' and done EXACTLY how I thought it should have been...and I was dying to own it so that I could do the rest my way!

When my Chevy is on the road, and a few pennies are set aside, Thom is getting the nod to build a near duplicate of his old truck for me. It won't be finished...or even running, but it''l have the things done that I can't do...the rough bodywork, frame construction and chassis set-up. I could just as easily wait till I had MORE money and have him build the whole thing, but I want to be involved in it, and add some of my own blood, sweat and tears to the finished product.

If money were NO object, I'd feel no shame at all in calling up John Buttera and Fat Jack Robinson and telling them "I want you both to collaborate on a car build for me...". I'd tell 'em that I want a Model A coupe...powered by Ford...surprise me!

In a case like THAT, it's a matter of wanting to own a piece of greatness! Those two men are my oldest hot rodding HEROES, and the thought of being able to have them work side by side to build a car for me using their collective skills and creativity would be one of the greatest highs I could possibly imagine! Like being able to have Van Halen play at your birthday party or something! Just an awe-inspiring experience!

Having said all that, I'm in your shoes to some extent, Gooch. I've bilt all my cars because I HAD to...nobody else would do it, and I could never afford to have one built or to buy a nicely done ride...so it became a neccessary means to an end.

The 'end' for me is driving them. I love nothing more than to be out on the road...alone with the machine and headed nowhere in particular. To get there, I gotta BUILD 'em...for now...but I'd be proud to no end to drive across country in a Buttera/Robinson car if I ever match all the right numbers one Lotto night!!!

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[beatnik]

I dont think buying a done car or having a car built, if the caliber of car you want is above you're abilities, makes you a gold chainer, as long as the cars is being built with parts you get to choose.

I think owning a car you know nothing about makes you a gold chainer. The type of people that stop at a shop and say "I'd like a 32 Ford Roadster that drive nice and I don't car what parts are in it"

If you see a car you like, you start talking gearhead, and it doesn't matter what type of car it is, and it doesn't matter if they bought it or built it, as long as they know whats in the car. They dont have to know the cam specs, but damn you better know if it's an got IFS or a straight axle. I think it's more a matter of a persons knowledge, which to most gearheads = respect.

[Muttley]

I think alot of the reason that cars that are bought get a bad rap is because they all seem to look like these: http://i12.ebayimg.com/01/i/02/18/94/4b_12.JPG http://i24.ebayimg.com/01/i/02/17/98/88_12_s.JPG http://i23.ebayimg.com/01/i/02/16/cd/46_12_s.JPG http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif


and not like this: http://i19.ebayimg.com/01/i/02/0e/75/47_12_sb.JPG http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[burger]

i like to buy 'em half done and finish them. you get the most car for your $$ that way.

if i were a better fabricator (i'll get there), i could probably start out with raw materials and build it even cheaper yet.

maybe for someone else it's cheaper to just buy it finished.

maybe they don't like working on cars.

i like working on cars. after a long, stressfull, physically inactive day at work, heading out the garage and getting dirty helps me unwind.

maybe driving a hot rod or just looking at it helps someone else unwind.

maybe they just like the attention.

whatever gets your rocks off, i guess.



ed

[BELLM]

First off Billy Gibbons is not an old guy. He is probably my age, http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif has looked like he does ever since the first time ZZ top blew me away with their music, long ago. He worked hard at his craft to get where he is today. I am grateful for people like him, and I am sure Rudy is too. Without people with more resources than me hot rods would have been legislated out of existence years ago, money talks, politicians listen, we get to keep on building cars. I cannot afford to have work done on my cars. I made some choices in my life, had family to support, never had the balls to really take chances, therefore never made the big bucks. I really respect you guys that take the chances, provide jobs for the rest of us. I hauled in a 50 Ford yesterday that has been in a barn for over 20 years. I would love to hire someone to clean out the rat nests, strip out all the rat piss stinky upholstery, etc for me but I can't afford to, so I do it all myself. I love perfect shiny beautiful cars, I love ratty old pieces of shit, like I own. This is one of the reasons I love the HAMB, my less than perfect home built cars are accepted here as much as shiny hig dollar cars. By the way, my wife & I built our house, took us 5 years, we think it is really nice. Wish we could have afforded to have it built but we wanted more house than we could afford, we live in the country, no permits needed, no deed restrictions on 100 acres,only way to get it was build it. We poured concrete, drove nails, laid rock, wired, etc. Had the heat pump hooked up & one & only room of carpet, my office, done professionally, otherwise we literally did it all. But I grew up around new home construction so I knew what to do. Regardless if it is bought or built someone is always going to have an attitude. Me, I just love cars & appreciate self -built as well as pro- built. Sorry for the long post.

[crewcutkid]

I think Keith Weesner has or is having a car built for him. According to an article I read about Weesner, the reason he got into painting rods, kustoms, etc, was because he was a lousy mechanic. Therefore, I do not believe it's bad to buy your rod. Lotsa guys did it back in the day, at least according to my father. Even though it wasn't complete, my dad traded his surfboard for a 38 coupe when he was my age. Kinda "buying" his own rod, I guess. Sad part is, my gramps made him sell the rod later on.
Anyway, That's my $1.50.
-Crew

[**DONOTDELETE**]

[ QUOTE ]
I think Keith Weesner has or is having a car built for him. According to an article I read about Weesner, the reason he got into painting rods, kustoms, etc, was because he was a lousy mechanic.

[/ QUOTE ]

NO. He builds his own cars with a little help from friends. He's a friend and I wrote a story about him for The Rodder's Journal. Crew Cut do you have a HAMB tatoo yet? You seem to have found a home- Don't you think that signature art of yours is a little BIG???

[zonkola]

I'm doing one of each right now.

My '49 F1 pickup is being built by Gordini's Garage and is about three weeks away from being done. I've barely turned a wrench on it and I feel great. I've actually put a fair amount of work into it--sourcing the original '49, specifying the design and parts to be used, finding a cheap donor truck for the drivetrain, finding various used parts and painting/polishing/restoring some of them--but at the end of the day I'll be telling people that Gordoni's Garage built my truck because they'll have done the lion's share of the work. My efforts will only represent about 5% of the build.

On the other hand, I'm doing the majority of the wrenching on my roadster project. Gordini's will be helping me with the body modifications, but I'll be right there every step of the way, learning how to work sheetmetal and grinding welds. I've put together a rolling chassis, sweated a jillion little details, and designed and coded my own calculator to help nail down the exact specifications of the engine. The roadster is a hands-on project, and I'm digging it.

Frankly, if I had millions lounging in the bank I'd have a bunch of guys building hot rods for me. Both household names like Brizio and Cole, and unknown talented guys looking to get a foothold would get phone calls from me. I'd spend my time designing the cars to a minute level of detail--I'm a product designer by trade, so the initial idea and detailed planning is the part I enjoy most--but I'd be happy with someone else doing the actual build. (Although I might save a project for myself, just to get my hands dirty.)

I think a lot of the anti-gold-chainer sentiment is backlash against a certain type of individual who buys a really expensive pro-built "me-too" car, trailers it everywhere, looks down his nose at the home builders, and abandons the hobby in a few years to do cigarette boats or whatever else is trendy that year. In my opinion, shallow, snobby idiots deserve whatever scorn they get. But I think guys like Bruce Myer and George Poteet are good for the hobby, even if many of us are a teensy bit jealous of the resources they have to work with.

[DeadFast 33]

I did it cuz I didn't want to hate it when it was done. It was the best decision I have ever made, car wize that is.

.02 dollars,

FLIP

[metalshapes]

Being a Fabricator is a skill or a craft and just one of the many skills and crafts out there.
Good thing too, if everybody was a Fabricator who would I go see the next time I've got a tooth ache?
If a cusomer wants to give me the credit for the work I've done on his car I really appreciate it, but he does not have too.
If he payed his bill, he owns it... not me...
If I would have lived 200 years ago, I would probably have been a Blacksmith, and I would have tried to be the best Blacksmith I could be.
And nobody would have been talking about that Kickass set of Horse Shoes I just made...
There is honor in being a good craftsman, just like there is dishonor in being incompetent ( and it is worse when a craftsman calls himself an "Artist" to try and mask his incompetence )
Which is really the only way a " buyer " can fall on his face IMO, acting like he built it and getting caught in the lie ( because he does not know enough about his car to answer all the questions.)
If he bought it, and he says so, why would anybody have a problem with that???

[30tudor]

It's not about right or wrong but it is a fact: If you don't build it yourself it will always be somebody elses. The Hirohata Merc will always be the Hirohata Merc regardless of who owns it. And no, a new set of wheels and fresh paint do not constitute a build.

[metalshapes]

[ QUOTE ]
The Hirohata Merc will always be the Hirohata Merc regardless of who owns it.

[/ QUOTE ]

Do you know for a fact that Hirohata built every bit of that car?

[james]

I think it has to do with respect. As a painter, I hate when someone buys a painting, but doesn't ask any questions or even care to meet the artist. The art, or car, is nothing more than another trophy to show off, or an investment. Those "goldchainers" should be despised. But as for Billy, or even Ryan for that matter with Tardell, I bet Ryan will know the car back and forth, and be able to point out every detail, and he'll be quick to point out who did what. That's respect for the artist. I struggle to find time to play with cars, but I'm always broke, so if I don't do it myself it won't get done, but I would gladly pay for somethings if I could. As far as the construction comparison, a freind of mine's an architect, and a lot of his work is mcmansions, and all the people do is bark off a list of high dollar junk the NEED included (goldchainers), but sometimes he gets a client that stays involved the whole way, letting him design the home the way he wants, and they treat him like he's Frank Lloyd Wright. Respect.

[Kilroy]

Since I am the one who seems to get miss-understood as bashing people who bought cars... Even though I never said anything of the sort... I'll add my dos centavos...

WHO-THE-FUCK-CARES...

Done. Not really.

I mean buy it build it glass it billit it. Whatever. It's your car. But the one thing I don't understand personally is how you can own/drive a car that you haven't personalized in some way. To me that's the one rule of hot/Kustom Rodding. You have to make it yours otherwise drive a honda. Even if the only thing you did was get a fat stack of headlight stickers from going to LARS 10 years in a row or a healthy coating of lakes dust or Boneville salt... Make it yours.

And that was my point about Rudy's roadster too. It looks completely neutral. No soul. And I find that uninspiring.

But on the other hand, it's a perfect blank canvas for someone like Billy to make his own.

[Dirty2]

WOW !!! I think that is why I started liking rust !!!!!!!!!!!

[crewcutkid]

Okay, my mistake on weesner. But there are people into trad. rods and kustoms who have cars built for them due to lack of time, experience, know-how. I can respect them for at least wanting one and keeping the spirit alive.
-Crew
JimA
I'll try and make my sig smaller. It gets a lot of complaints. Sorry.

-EDIT-
Izzat better?

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Kilroy, I thought everything was cool. Relax. I wasnt talking about anyone.

no soul? what?
six months alone in his garage. come on, thats soul.

Yes, obviously I will have something to do with the restoration choices of my car but let's face it I have to make it look sort of like the car it was.

I liked your addition to the Rudy love fest on the other thread. So did he. He says you're right.

[bufordtjustice]

Heres my 2c. It does not matter a damn bit whether you built it or was built by someone else...as long as you enjoy it and don't mind giving credit where credit is due. The people that suck are the ones that take all the glory from others while they did nothing...mainly a gold chainner thing but it could happen anywhere. Hot Rods aren't necessarliy(sp?) about being able to say you built your own...if you enjoy it and run its wheels off...thats what its all about, enjoyment.

Greg

[Sam F.]

have a BEER or JACK-OFF,,you'll feel much better

and Flips 33 is the REAL RULLER!

[GR-RRR]

A person needs to do what they are comfortable with. On my wagon I will do what I can myself. But I have limited time, skills, and equipment. There are some things I feel more comfortable having a profesional do, such as some of the welding on the frame. Also it could be more cost effective for me to have someone do the body work, since I have zero experince there. If I had someone willing to work with me and train me on the areas I lack skills in it would be different. I did most of the mechanical work on my GTO, but did have the body and paint work done by a profesional.

If a person has money to pay someone to do what they want, that is fine with me. Some people don't have time due to other commitments. Just think of some of the great cars that were built by shops for customers. The cars still get built, they are just not owned by the builder. The point is we can still look at them at not know the difference if the owner built it unless we are told. Basically a well built car is a well built car.

[I go pogo]

I'm an artest/sculptor and i have this desease that i want to do everything myself. I cant go to buy a gd table with out thinking "i could make it better", so i don't buy it. I've built houses, everything from the framing to the land scaping. i am now building a hot rod and i love it. by the time i've finished i will have fondeled every nut bolt and rivet. having said that, henry and his boys have allready had a lot to do with the parts i am useing. when i had the engin board out, i used a mechine shop. I take pride in what i do well and i admire what other people do well. the long and short of it is this some one is allways ready to rage on you to build them self's up, if you love your car then to hell with them. if you are interested my next project is a gold chane.
pogo
ps. as uoy can tell, spelling is not one of the things i do well.

[Kilroy]

No, No, No...

I meant no harm. I was just saying that it's cool to buy a car or whatever.

The fact that it was in Rudy's garage for any given ammount of time doesn't show through. Nothing says that that car is Rudy's other than you. That was what I keep trying to say.

Your 32 has never been an issue with me. I like it. And I would love to see the Rodsteration in progress. It will be noteworthy sitting in the middle of 5000 32 3windows. That's where I think it has a slight edge over the roadster. Much more to talk about....

Love and kisses Phil (Can I borrow that from Germ?) http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[Boyd Who]

One thing to consider...if buying a car wasn't cool, who would you sell your cars to when you wanted to build something new? Lots of HAMBer cars get sold, so somebody's gotta be buying them!

[DrJ]

[ QUOTE ]
One thing to consider...if buying a car wasn't cool, who would you sell your cars to when you wanted to build something new? Lots of HAMBer cars get sold, so somebody's gotta be buying them!

[/ QUOTE ]

What he said.... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[guy with a wrench]

Ok, I'm the "stranger" here and my opinion doesnt count for much but here it is anyway.
Build it, buy it, billet, glass, or rusty steel, it makes no difference. The difference is.. Those who love the cars, and those who pretend to love the cars. If you can build it great if your a great builder even better. But, if you dont have the knack for it, or want more than your personally capable of doing _and_ can afford it..BUY IT.
The pretenders tend to focus on shiny billet,paint jobs that cost more than my house and belly button ideas of what is cool, thats what creates the problem, some cars made with those same things are built by or for the "real" enthusiasts and we catagorize people on what we see.
I bought a frame and body, but couldnt wait long enough to gather the money to buy a dash or seat, or a pretty floor, or pretty wheels so I improvised otherwise you can be damn sure I'd have a name brand seat, flashy dash, and wheels you could eat off of. I love the cars, I love the hobby, pretenders just love to be noticed.

I read, I ranted, I feel much better now. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[klazurfer]

To me , it`s all about passion ! Take a look at the pic included , and ask : Where did those Chromed backing-plates come from ?. Why did he use `32 spindles instead of `37-`48`s ? why did he use `32 perches instead of repro ? Is that axle an "Okie" ?? Clamped tie-rod .. Why ?? What kind of shackles are he gonna use ? Doesn`t those shock-absorbers look a bit too new ?... I could have posted a LOT of pix like this , and I could have answered ALL of your Why`s & what`s . To me , this is the difference between bought VS home-built . The guys who build their own Hot-rods usually have the answers ! The guys who buy finished Hot-Rods , or have one built for them , MIGHT know , but not down to the details I usually find interesting ... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif ( NOT Allways , BUT Too often )

[Rocky]

If I was energetic enough to make big money and spend all my time doing it, I'd still want to be in this hobby. That means I'd need somebody else to build my cars for me and I would BUT!
I would sorely miss the problem solving and satisfaction of fabricating that his hobby gives me. Some guys do cross-word puzzles to keep sharp and to get some measure of satisfaction from a job well done. Some guys buy and sell coporations and they get the same "jolt" for doing it that I do when I step back and look at a new alternator bracket I just made for my hot rod.
I feel sorry for the natural builders and fabricators that get mired down behind a desk and a tie and can no longer feel that satisfaction warm their innards like I do. I feel no animosity toward the guy that has his car built for him at all unless he's that guy [already talked about here] that claims all the credit for the work a shop has done.
Of course, that guy must secretly long to have the talent and time to have done the work he just paid to have done.
One of my favorite daydreams [yeah, I'm broke enough to have time to daydream] is what I'd do if I won a big powerball lottery. It scares me! If my life changed too much I wouldn't like it. I guess I'm in a pretty good place and I gotta wonder if the bucks-up dude having his car built is as contented as I am building my car with used and swapmeet parts. I really doubt it.

[Tman]

If anyone is deserving of winning the lottery it is you Rock! And I would help ya build em http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[slammed]

Most all of the post's have been very good, positive infact. But to find fault with other's joy and word's of praise for another man's work. To this, is asked why?

[burndup]

Desired goal: To have cool shit and enjoy it...

Path 1: build it yourself

Benefit: yo po' ass MAY eventually get it before you die.

Little Fringe benefit: You might be the sort who enjoys building shit.

***
Path 2: BUY it, cause you CAN:

Benefit: Lookit all the free time you have to do WHATEVER and enjoy your cool shit.

Little fringe benefits: WIDE OPEN, WHATEVER you want cause you got nuthin but free time and shitloads of money.



Hmm, which path would I rather take?

Time is money, and a lazy bastard will always be poor...

[Flat Ernie]

There's hot rodders & there's scenesters who do what the masses tell them is cool. Just like bikers and RUBs.

It ain't hard to figure out who is who & buying vs building doesn't really have that much to do with which category you fall into...

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

['Flyin' Dutchman']

I "WILL HAVE TO BUY" a done, or almost done car... Because I just don't have the space to build one.
I sure know how to maintain a car and can do mods myself up to a certain level of course...

I did have room to built my bike, together with my buddy and my dad. I built that thing in about 7 months and it's a loooong way from finished. Apart from the looks, I think it still pretty much sucks... I know I can do way better but just wasn't having the patience last winter... Good work needs sooo much time!! I really understand that some people have their cars build. If I would have the $$$$, I would have one build... If I would have the $$$$$, the space and the time.... Yeah, guess what.

[ChrisinPhilly]

Interesting topic Paul, I agree with your point of veiw. Honestly I farm out a lot of my work on the chevys to guys that do a better job than I ever could. But your topic made me think that I have given back a shitload,job related. Last night was a perfect example. I worked 3pm till 530 am, in a highly racially charged mob scene. Over the years I've had three fingers broken, ankle broken, a chunk of flesh ripped out of my thigh,stabbed twice, had toilet bowl cleaner thrown in my face, had several teeth punched out and currently need shoulder surgury from a beating I took about 5 months ago, I've been in some life and death fights and I'm lucky enough to still be here, so I feel that , hell yeah I earned it.

[side_valve]

Some goldchainers were “us”. I know a guy whose dad ran a small Midwest gas station and still has the scar from working on his hopped up flathead / 39 coupe in high school. Now he’s in his 70s, a multi-millionaire from working really hard, so he’s writes a big fat check for a couple cool hotrods. He still likes them all and doesn’t look down on my low-buck junk.

An ahole is an ahole. It doesn’t matter if they built, bought, trailer queen, cheat, liar, yellow, or purple - you’re still an ahole.

[four-thirteen]

at the local cruise in north saint paul on any giving friday, you can find a buddy of mine always sitting in a lawn chair on the north end of main street. he's 63 years old. he spent all of his life driving truck and building hot rods and bikes. i think it was close to 200 cars he's built. i can't even fathom how many bikes he's laid a wrench to over the years. his current and only project now is a '38 willys with an injected 392 hemi. and he has paid someone to do everything on the car. he had a tube chassis built for, and had someone else chop the top. why is he paying someone else to build it? lack of time? nope, he is very retired. lack of skill or knowlege? nope, was one of the best craftsman i know. he just doesn't feel like building one more car. and he'll know every part of the car, how it was built, what parts are on it.

the difference is knowlege. the blanket statement that those who buy are goldchainers, and those who build are hot rodders is just stupid. David

[Psychobilly Boi]

Hi Guys,

Thought I'd chime in with my opinion:

Before I bought my ride, I went around askingt he same question...buy or build, buy or build. What it boiled down to is this: I dont know how to build a car as well as the person who I ended up buying off.

Sure I dont get the satisfaction of saying I built it but I get the satisfaction of working hard in jobs I didnt always want to save and get this ride and acheive my dream. The path is the same - hard work, sacrifice and dedication and the end result is the same - car.

I think alot of the gold chainer dissing is just jelousy and to be honest I'm guilt of that.

By the way, I'm one of those guys who ALWAYS tells people who built this car when I'm asked.

Danny

[OGNC]

I don't think it matters if you built it, bought it or rented it as long as you're putting some miles on it and have a big smile on your face. Hell, some of the best times I have in a car have been in the passenger seat of my friends cars on the way to events. As long as you're having fun, who cares?

[DrJ]

I was just wondering when this thread was going to turn down the junction road about Hotrods that are or aren't ever "raced", just cruised and look like racers bu have never been on a track.
(I drove the blue truck, 40 GMC, on the Las Vegas Speedway fast enough to find out what "push" means, but other than that, I don't "race" in it, its just a fun to look at and drive grocery getter.)

[Deuce Rails]

[ QUOTE ]
If I was energetic enough to make big money and spend all my time doing it, I'd still want to be in this hobby. That means I'd need somebody else to build my cars for me and I would BUT!
I would sorely miss the problem solving and satisfaction of fabricating that his hobby gives me. Some guys do cross-word puzzles to keep sharp and to get some measure of satisfaction from a job well done. Some guys buy and sell coporations and they get the same "jolt" for doing it that I do when I step back and look at a new alternator bracket I just made for my hot rod.
I feel sorry for the natural builders and fabricators that get mired down behind a desk and a tie and can no longer feel that satisfaction warm their innards like I do. I feel no animosity toward the guy that has his car built for him at all unless he's that guy [already talked about here] that claims all the credit for the work a shop has done.

[/ QUOTE ]

Very well put.

I'm a little surprised, and more than a little impressed, at the consistent tone of this thread. It's thoughtful, considerate, and honest. It could have ignited a flaming tirade, but it didn't.

I'm with you guys. Just enjoy it. Whether that means making it yourself, like most of us, or getting someone who has more skill, time, or equipment to do it for you.

And don't worry about what someone else will think.

--Matt

[Missing Link]

[ QUOTE ]
Somewhere out there, there is probably a message board dedicated to building your own house, where they badmouth people who "just buy them." They're saying stuff like, "That Paul Hoffmann has talent, but the houses he builds are gay. They have no style." and "Check out what I scored at the architectural salvage place!" Then they start bitching about how high prices for porcelain doorknobs on eBay have gotten since that article in Martha Stewart Living.

And if you find that message board, odds are you'll find at least one other HAMBer already there.


[/ QUOTE ]

By far the best comment on this 30 minute life wasting bullshit thread. The hypocritical bullshit numbs my little pea like mind...

[Boones]

no shame in having a car built. either all or part of it. It does not make you macho if you can. I bet 99% of the cars out there have something done but someone else. and 99.99 have store bought parts on them (built by someone else).

[thirtytwo]

[ QUOTE ]
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

OK...JUST MY 2 CENTS

Houses and HotRods are like Apples and Oranges.

Most everyone buys a house (or has one built)
HotRods were the domain of the DoITYourselfer, until lately. Sort of like Choppers.. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif You use to have to build one, now you can finance one.

I went to Gatlinburg in 1969 (about 500 rods) and there were maybe 50 "nice cars". Lots of homebuilt, in progress, or poorly done (by todays standards) hotrods. I was 21 http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif and I could paint, fabricate and build a hotrod as good or better than most of the cars in attendance......excluding the TOP 50.

Now theres 3000 or more in attendance at Shades of the Past. Now there's 1000 "nice cars", because of the hiring out of services. Very few can do everything to the high standards required today. That's the difference. That's WHY folks buy or have built a new home. The competition for recognition in the HotRod world and lack of ability in building a house.

I have never been around Billy Gibbons, he may be cool ? Should I cut him a bunch of slack because he plays in a band? Or because is is lucky enough to BUY want he wants? I doubt if he is the guy you want to depend on help for if you are broke down on a deserted highway. Should he be bashed for having the CA$H to buy it? No........TO ALL OF THE ABOVE.

Everyone who pays taxes supports a bunch of people ... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif and Billy G would not pay the roadies and such if it was not a part of doing business.


I am GLAD that Rudy can sell his roadster and come out. I am glad that Billy G got a nice car. I am glad the HAMB is here and I am a member. But it really does not matter what we think, or do, or say about this........... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

GoldChainers are like the RUBS in Harley-Davidson world. Some are jealous of they ability to BUY what they want. So they did not push a panhead 2 miles home in the rain uphill back when they were young........who cares.

Thank GOD that there are GoldChainer..........or you 34 coupe would not have sold for half the money http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif They are driving the prices up and the bitchers and moaners cannot keep up.



I wish I had enough money to be considered a Gold Chainer........

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif


[/ QUOTE ] there is lots of truth to this ....i work in a shop customers pay my bills i hate the term gold chainer and all the hatered and jelousy placed in their direction the guys i get to dealwith are like you gooch ,they are bussinessmen with no time to doit themselves but like you they have paid their dues building something or at least knowing what they are talking about is kinda a right of passage knowing that you are better off building a house insted of a car is just bussiness sense

i do have more respect for guys that get it..kinda like the people that understand hop-up, the old american rodder, and the hamb....

the guys who just writes a check cause they think the want a better 32 roadster than the guy down the street i dont understand .....and i dont think they actually get hotrodding either

[SamIyam]

You'll never hear me bitch about people who have cars built for them... it has fed my kids for the past five years when my teaching salary has come up short.

And there is a big misconception when it comes to the people who have them built.

About half the people I have built cars for could have built them themselves... but they work hard at what they do for a living (JUST LIKE ME) and do not have the time.

I myself will not spend a dollar to save a dime... if someone can mow my lawn... and it takes them a half hour to do it... I can be working making 35.00 an hour when I just paid them 18.75 an hour to mow the lawn... I'm money ahead.

This is basically an example of how people think... and yes, I pay someone to mow my lawn. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Sam.

[DrJ]

[ QUOTE ]


...I myself will not spend a dollar to save a dime... if someone can mow my lawn... and it takes them a half hour to do it... I can be working making 35.00 an hour when I just paid them 18.75 an hour to mow the lawn... I'm money ahead....
Sam.


[/ QUOTE ]

That argument only holds water (cuts grass?) if you actually DO work that SAME 1/2 hour while the gardener is mowing the lawn... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif


Lets face it,
We all build Traditional HotRods from prefab kits whether we know it or not.
The kits were made by Henry Ford, years ago.
Just like the AMT kits we built way back when (last month maybe) we may get our parts from several different "stock kits"
Maybe a frame from a '32 Ford sedan "kit" and a roadster body from a '31 "kit" and some running gear from a '48 Mercury "kit" but in the end, what we do is bolt together parts from the kits Henry manufactured.
Yea, we have to cut some and bend some of them to make them fit, but the more original "kit" parts we use the more "traditional" the finished rod is deemed, to this group anyway.
If you think you are doing it anymore "hardcore" than that, you must be in the iron ore mining pit or coal mine right now, mining your own steel materials. get my drift? http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[Germ]

rat rod building is the REALITY show of watching a DUMB tattooed kid with autism put together a 60's scale toy model,,,,,,,,,,,
except he uses school paste cause he likes the way it smells and because OOLD SKOOLZ RODS,,,, says thats what REAL GREASERS do when they are not ROLLING out the BARS with their crew of SMALLED COCKED TEDDY Boys in matching DORK band jackets......

whatever it is. and whatever you make it into,,, RUDY built a car, that LUKESKIPTALKER. wasn't allowed to FART in while he is pretending to be DRIVING for his HAMB pictures.........

Remember the SHITTIER built,=The COOLEST looking....COCKED without an eye even batted towards something that would PICTURE BUILDERS PRIDE....

I curious what can BE done to make a TRADITIONAL styled 32 roadster different from the other ones built????

m,aybe you can add a fucking LIONS TAIL instead of a coon tail......

REAL MEN WEAR GERMAN GOGGLES, and leave the WONGSHIELD(tm) for CHIPS motorbikes....

GANGSTARR

[Flat Ernie]

[ QUOTE ]
I'm a little surprised, and more than a little impressed, at the consistent tone of this thread. It's thoughtful, considerate, and honest. It could have ignited a flaming tirade, but it didn't.

[/ QUOTE ]

I think it has a lot to do with who started it & the initial thought put into that original post. I think maybe a similar thread started by raggityracing (or whomever our latest favorite flamee is) could well have devolved into a flame war...

...because...

...we are all hypocritical at times - well, maybe that's not quite accurate - but our interpretation of traditional seems to be flexible. We are, to some degree, just like OCC - we build theme cars. The theme is "traditional" - our degree of accepting that, or not, is likely linked to our level of hypocricy (poor choice of words, but only one that I could think of that fit).

This isn't a poke in anyone's eye, just a casual observation...


http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[Deuce Rails]

[ QUOTE ]
This isn't a poke in anyone's eye, just a casual observation...

[/ QUOTE ]

And it's a good one.

[hatch]

DrJ...your computer will explode at 10,000 posts...watch out!!!!


Oh yeah Doc...I agree with you.... we are all just "kitbashers".....except for the few guys that can mine the ore and cast a new block in their "hobby foundry"(tm)....MAN...THOSE GUYS ROCK!!!! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[345window]

Gooch...congrats on the wife being pregnant!
I have built two homes and lived in both. I have fixed up and lived in two other houses. I have built several Choppers (between 1977 and 1984) before I switched to HotRods. I never finished a car I started. I hired a plumber and an A/C guy in both the houses I built. I did my own A/C in both the houses I fixed up. I bought the coupe nearly ten years ago and it was painted in 1979. I have had just about everything off and back on to that car. My friend Mickie painted the door and quarter when it flew open last year.....we do what we do when we can, and get help one way or another when we have to. We do not all have the same talents, nor bank accounts, nor it appears tolerance to leave others to do things we might not do. Ah, the dificult task of living free. I bought lotsa ZZ Top stuff over the years, it's cool that he spends his money on HotRods...cooler yet that Rudy can feed his kids on it.

[50mercfan]

the whole judgmental attitude of some hot rodders just dosn't make sence to me. built, bought, driven or trailered. who gives a shit. a nice car is a nice car. most people that buy cars know thier limitations. thats why they buy them instead of build them. they like old cars as much as we do, but for what ever reason they don't have the skill or tools to build them. so that makes them not worthy of owning a hot rod? bullshit.

goldchainers? ever stop to talk to some of these guys? maybe they ran at bonneville in '48. you see them sitting in their lawnchairs behind thier $100,000 street rods and automatically you've got them figured out. wrong. i know a goldcahiner thats been building hot rods since the 40's. you should hear some of the storys.

i think a lot of people on this board dream of a day when they can build cars for a living. well, guess what. someone has to buy them from you or pay you to do it. are you going to put them down when they do?

did you ever stop to think about how unimportant hot rod building is? i'm like most people on here i think, as far as about 90% of my life revolves around old cars. all my buddies are car guys, most coversations i have are about cars. it's all i think about and it's all i do. but in the big picture, related to real life issues, it's very unimportant. my point being. just chill. enjoy your car and let everyone else enjoy thiers. what differance dose it make?

my comments and thoughts are not directed to any one person.

[1oldtimer]

the only people that i have a problem with are the ones with a bad attitude, like they are trying to buy coolness (or something). you ask them a question on how something was done, instead of a "i'm not sure, i didn't build it" you get a fuck you for talking to me attitude. the worst example was someone at a show talking LOTS of shit about someone elses car (that was homebuilt) loud enough for the owner (and everybody else) to hear, it turns out this person bought their car and had barely enough mechincal knowledge to be dangerious. i work on cars for a living (old and new), most of my customers are great. i do get a few that don't realize that "classic or vintage" car parts can sometimes be more expensive then new car parts. i've helped build houses, done drafting, even some engineering all because i like the knowledge, i like to learn. i work on my own cars because i want to. there is no shame in not knowing everything.


just my 2 cents

[Nads]

I do everything myself because I'm a talented motherfucker.

[hatch]

And "Oh So Handsome" http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Joe T Creep]

Goddamn thats funny nads.....now my girlfriend wants to meet you also.....
The good ones always leave....hehe


Joe

[mr57]

There are all kinds in this world. I have met 'chainers' from both ends of the spectrum. Some look down on you because you drive something different from what they do. There was one arse floating around here like that. Had a 38 Deluxe tudor, and came across as a real dick because he had a pisspotfull of credit card slips in his car, and made sure everyone knew it. Others just love to sit and BS aboout cars. Not necessarily theirs, either.

I think the secret to it is CAR SHOW TROPHIES! The ones who go to win trophies and are disappointed they didn't tend to be the arses. The one who win and seem genuinely surprised they won tend to be the nicer guys.