Folks Of Interest Street Is Neater In A Beater. Let's See Yours.

Every so often my mind wanders - usually while doing some dull chore as I was today, scraping the age-hardened grease from the bottom side of my new-to-me F-1 project - and settles on some totally irrelevant memory from my long and checkered past.

Today for no apparent reason I couldn't get the phrase "street is neater in a beater" - a well-travelled Gray Baskerville-ism - out of my head. Yeah, my F-1 is gonna be a beater in the same way as Gray's roadster was: not an only car, but a favorite one to be driven as often as possible in all kinds of circumstances...even if it collects dirt and dings in the process.

Perhaps that was the connection, but whatever the link I got to wondering how many H.A.M.B. members consider their hot rods or customs "beaters" as Gray did of his deuce - a term of endearment, not ridicule.

So I thought I'd start a new thread here on the H.A.M.B. and ask the question: Do you consider your ride a "beater"...and if so, why?

 

This w/a 307+.60 over put=put (interstate) goes all over the midwest. Magazines are for information and then it's time to hit the pavement for real, or just post ho' all the day (no work?) & night bench wrench'n.

 

Beaters is all I ever owned. I am old and would like to have the creature comfort things but I don't but I just pick the things I want to do. If it's going to be TOO hot I don't go, simple as that.
Later,
Dick

 

I consider both my Deuces beaters HRP

 

Beater Bucket! When I first finished my T Bucket, plans were to drive it for a while and get a sweet, glossy black finish. I even had it Photo Shopped in black. That never happened. I was just having too much fun. Then, it got in an accident.

While waiting for the settlement, my thoughts were to get it painted, since it was all taken apart. Got the settlement, rebuilt and have not looked back. Now, I'm not even thinking about it. The gelcoat finish is still holding up. It's got a few scratches and I'm just too rough to own a fine, finished machine. Well, finished to my standards.

So, she'll keep the beater status. Until I start a new project. Maybe.....or not. Chicks LOVE beaters.

 

I drive my beater truck as often as I can, for whatever chore that needs to be done. It somehow puts me into a simpler and slower frame of mind. Most likely because it has no radio, no creature comforts, and requires total concentration, both hands and both feet to drive, unlike most vehicles today that basically drive themselves. I like the feeling it gives me.

 

H R P don't know you but have followed you through these pages and don't think either one of your rides qualify in beater classes.

 

My 49 is a beater and I love it. If I ever get my foot healed up, I'm going to finish the rear suspension, lower the front and drive the wheels off of it.

 

They all are. I don't want a car I can't drive whenever I feel like it. Even the new one <--- gets driven out of town in the rain

 

looking....

"T" 34 and "A" Roadster

The next two cars I wish I had left as "Beaters"

1931 Roadster

Two of my "High School" Beaters!

 

He drive 'em, so he can call them what he wants! Back when Basket Case coined the phrase, anything finished in primer (flat, 'cause nobody Painted flat back then) would have been called a beater automatically.

Now, as for me, My stuff has ALWAYS been beaters. I am guilty of the "We'll just put this on the road and drive it for a bit before blow apart and paint" syndrome that keeps going! My cars are daily drivers, too, so not getting too bent out of shape about fixing the forth major accident the Plymouth has been in has to be considered as well. If it was painted, there would have been a trail of dead bodies at this point!

 

Here s mine drive it all the time except winter when she takes a 4 month nap Put her together in 1990 and still going strong

 

...been drivin this just like this almost 12 years...

 

I have always owned beaters and proud of it...

 

Thank you,but my definition of a beater is a unfinshed car that gets driven on a regular basis and probably will never sport a interior or nice paint.

My pickup does have a coat of S.G. black but lacks a interior...

My sedan was originally green when new but I was told it was painted black in 1962,and the fenders were repaired and shot in flat black 15 years ago,this car also does not have a interior.

The top is still original and really showing its age as are the 82 year old vulcanized running boards that are cracked and crumbling. HRP

 

What some consider a beater astounds me.

 

Hey, I know a former AMBR winner that still owns his car 30 some odd years later, drives it hard and calls it his beater. It's getting a bit rough around the edges, but still is an astounding piece. If he says it's a beater, and he is the one racking the mileage, I'll bite, it's a beater!

 

Damn Scooterville, '41 Chevy coupes get me every time! Nice!

 

My DD (3 door suburban) misses the mark for "on topic" by a couple years here but she's a proud beater. My finished cars are probably what most would call beater though. Sure is nice to park where ever the hell I want to.

 

DRIVE IT EVERYDAY

 

Thanks Louvers!

 

I think beater simply means built to be driven, not built to be looked at although you do get some looks anyway

 

It's probably very simple. "All go. Some show."

 

I love beaters and will never own a completely finished vehicle ever again. Spending 4 hours on a creeper polishing the underside of your ride is stupid...been there, done that...never again.

 

Gets me down the road:

 

To my mind, what makes a beater isn't so much about what it is as to how it's used. The guy you refer to, Chip, obviously "gets it". Kudos ta' him! Let's see some more!

 

i've got 4 kids. they beat everything i own... does that count?

years ago i had a show car. "too nice" to actually drive it. never really enjoyed the thing, once the build was done.

 

My 59 just after I got it sprayed in primer. Rattlecan paintjob on wheels, frame, under hood, interior. Drove it a bunch until the original 3 speed transmission wore out. Things snowballed from there to Camaro clip, V8, Automatic, all done so I can enjoy driving it even more when I get it back on the road, but paint is still a long way off.

 

All mine are beaters