Hot Rods How do you Know When to call it Quits?

I love my cars but the last few years I've had zero miles driving them do to health issues and my wife very ill. Now that she has passed I've lost interest in my cars. Anybody been through this lately? I been thinking of selling it all and not looking back. I'm torn between keeping them or selling but just letting them sit doesn't seem right either. My 40 ford and my 63 dodge are what I have now and they sit there in my pole barn waiting for warm weather. At the age of 72 it is getting harder also to maintain them but my son does help with that.

 

Maybe your son wants them ?
I agree, don’t let them sit.


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I went through a similar situation (but not as tragic) when I went through a divorce. I got rid of my car and regretted it ever since because my interest came back later. I was lucky and bought my old car back but it took years to find it. My suggestion is to pick one, your favorite that you could never afford to buy later and keep it. Sell the rest. If your interest doesn't come back in the following years, then the car will have probably appreciated so that if you sell it, its worth more than before.

 

I've been "completely" done several times. I've found the trick to me maintaining interest through health and money problems is going to the very top of my "bucket list". Here's what I mean...
I've had a long list of hot rods and mild customs through the years and they've mostly been off brand [not ford] inexpensive cars but I've always wanted a 33-34 ford coupe the most.....the very most! When I felt my interest in hot rods flagging I made a decision to have a 33-34 coupe no matter what it took. In 2007 I found a real piece-a-shit 34 race car body that nobody else wanted and while it was pathetic, it was my foot in the door beginning.
My interest came back and I work on it almost every day with enthusiasm ...it's gonna get done and I can't wait to drive it.
My health is now precarious at best but my desire to play with my hot rod is greater...
If your cars are exactly what you want and you still feel like giving them up, do it. If they are just "stop gap" cars because you feel like you can't get the one you really, really want I say sell 'em off to get the $$$ to get that dream car you always lusted for. At 72, there's not a lot of time left. I know, I'm 70 and feelin the crunch.
My baby:

 

Help your son with the maintenance, Don't give up , the cars will help you with your recent loss. Summer will be here soon. Good Luck.

 

I also ran into health/age problems. Last year I realized that I had not run my car in a long time and would not run it again. So I sold it to a younger, more enthusiastic guy. I had it and ran it long enough. Loved that car and glad to see it in a good home. Sorry it's in another country.

 

I can only share my own experience and I was considerably younger than I am now.

Loosing a loved one can weigh heavily on you and the simple pleasures are no fun anymore,you will never get over loosing that important part of your life and it sounds tripe but time heals all wounds.

Being depressed is normal but making a hasty decision to sell what has been a passion for many years may be something you regret in the future ans that was what I did.

Like someone else suggested,unless you need the money let your son take care of them,you might feel entirely different a year from now.HRP

 

Rocky, that's very wise and motivational.

To the OP: There is nothing that says you need to have cool cars for the rest of your life. If you've lost interest, and you don't think you'll be back, sell. You can always buy another if the urge returns. BUT, it would be good to evaluate what you are going to do with your time and energy, and on what you will focus your passion. If you have a worthy replacement for you car hobby, go for it. But if, on the other hand, giving up on cars will just free you up to rot away in front of the tube, or sit in a casino, or some other waste of your life, keep the cars, or replace them with another. Resolve to pick yourself up by the bootstraps, set an automotive goal like Rocky did, and do everything in your power to achieve it. Good luck!

 

I'm 71 so you and I are about the same age. It sounds like you're going thru some tough times, but you can't give up. As HRP notes, you might be going thru depression issues and that can be addressed. Use this time to form a closer relation with your son and be grateful he is interested in your cars. Also sounds like the cold Michigan winters are giving you a little "cabin fever". Give it some time before you do anything you might regret.

 

At just a few months younger than you I have to begin to agree with what 56Don said and that is it may be time to think about culling the herd an pick the favorite that you an your son would rather put the time and energy in and maybe it being the one he would prefer to keep.
I know that I have probably spread myself thin with the number of projects and interests I have. Health is good except I move like a 71 year old rather than a 41 year old so things don't progress at a very fast rate.

 

I've got to imagine that your wife would be very upset to see you lose something you enjoy. Cars will never be as important as people, but if it's something you, your son, and your wife enjoy(ed) you should not let that go. Once the warm weather hits, get in it and go for a cruise, see how you feel. Sorry for your loss.

 

Thanks guys for the input. Only car people understand car relationships. I've always had cars in my life they bring me comfort in that they are a stress reliever for me. My buddy is going through worse than me and we been doing this together since early sixties kind of an end to an era I guess. I'll see when the weather warms up and I get out to the shop if the sound and smell of the first fireup of this year gets me going.

 

4tford, i know how you feel,
My wife died 2 and a half years ago,
Havnt got a car but motorcycles,
A lot of my bikes involve my wife and it hurts when i look at them and dont feel like working on them, some of these bikes i have had since i was 20 yrs old and in my life long before my wife came along, i even was making one for her...i should finish it and sell it cos she never got to ride it.
On the other hand my wife pushed me to have these bikes and there are 2 she even helped me to buy....so im keeping them because she really wanted me to get back on the track and have fun and she came with me to every track meeting....and thats the hard bit...doing it on your own, feels allways ..missing,
Its hard, ive lost a bit of interest aswell even though my freinds have helped me with parts to get back on track after my wife passed,
But, if youve allways done cars or whatever...continue, its what you are... and your wife wouldnt of wanted you to stop...
Its your car..use it. Let them horses inside work and let of a bit of steam, thats what they are for,
Im trying to get used to the idea.

 

You got it Rite there! This winter has Sucked Hard, April here an in the 20's sure it's same by You... Get that car out to the track with your son, Then at the end of the day.... Well You'll know. Awesome Rides I might ad! Cheer's

 

4tford, take it from a man that has been in your shoes. It gets better with time, believe me. It’s been Ten years for me. Please do not sell your cars quickly. If your loss was recent, you are not thinking right. The big question is, do you HAVE to sell them? If no, do they give you a measure of comfort? If so, keep them, you can always sell later. Good luck to you my friend. Feel free to PM me any time. Bones

 

72! You're just a Kid!
I go through the same thing every time I build a Ride. (Roughly 1-every 2 years).
For me the big concern is what if I die and my wife has to liquidate everything.
That's a burden she couldn't handle.
Besides, what would I do during the warm months? There's a Show somewhere every weekend, and the comradery can't be beat!
BTW, Love the Dodge!

 

4tFord I can't imagine what you are going thru but I think I would wait a while to sell your cars. I'm 73 and currently going thru a form of depression as I have been an active commercial hot rod chassis builder until one month ago when I had a total shoulder replacement. It has left me grounded and unable to do anything in the shop according to my surgeon for at least 6 months. I have 5 completed deuces in the garage and one in the works along with a Corvette. I find my self just able to look at the cars and not being able to keep them up and that bothers me. I'm sure things will get better for me as they will for you. Hang in there.

 

Gerry, sad to hear what you are considering. The so called spring we should be experiencing would drive anyone into despair. I would suggest you wait until these steel grey skies and silly temperatures give way to our real spring and try to enjoy the cars. My friend in my car club who lived around the corner from me recently passed and it reminds me that we are only here for relatively short stay and we had better enjoy the ride. If you get bored to tears give me a call and stop by and see my latest project. It is a bit different working on a wood car with a one cylinder (1903 Cadillac) but it is rewarding as well. I am trying to get out in the shop as much as I can and I can’t wait to get the hot rods out. Did you get the Dodge painted? Either way you have a couple of good old hot rods and driving them in a week or so will be great therapy. Take care.

 

From my viewpoint:

I retired from work in 2012 at 55 with some health issues. My racing partner is 7 years older than I am. We decided the time had also come to stop fielding race cars for others to drive (we were always owners, never the drivers, circle track stuff). We sold everything related to racing (2 cars, all the gear sets, engines, trannys, tires and wheels, enclosed trailer, etc.) and re-invested in a nice aluminum open trailer and split the remaining money. I started spending time and money on my street cars again, he got into Harleys. As we age, health definitely plays a huge part. I've fought AFIB and had cancer. Everything is good now and I'm back to feeling better and working on my '62 F100 unibody, '32 Ford 5 window, '78 Fairmont pro street and a '64 micro midget restoration. Also helping a friend restore a '64 sprint car. I personally have to have some projects going to feel complete.

My suggestion is to decide which car means less to you and sell one. IE: Maybe if you sell the race car your interests will be re-focused on your street car because life will be simpler. Race cars take a lot of time and energy plus more support tools, trailers, etc. Street cars can be a lot simpler.

Good luck with your decision. Let your heart speak to you, not your pockets.

SPark

 

If it makes you feel any better, I'm freshly 31 and worry about the same things... "What if I get hit by a truck and somebody has to deal with all my stuff?" I've got 10 cars in 3 states and 20+ engines in two... No family in Colorado, so it'd be a real pain in the ass... I really should liquidate 1/2 of it now so I can get a few finished. Then I can build my big old shop and enjoy the next day to 50 years...

 

Sell everything except your 40 ford and move to Hawaii. Sorry about you losing your wife.

 

I'm building my second T Bucket. A while back, on another thread, someone asked me why I sold my first T bucket. The reason was that I just got tired of it. I used to drive it just about every day. For about a year it was my only transportation. But as time went on, it became easy to make up excuses not to drive it. It was too hot or cold. Looked like rain. The price of gas was too high. Excuses.

So, I sold it. I remember the guy who bought it, asked my girl friend what I was going to do and she said, "Build another one." I stepped away from Hot Rods for a while. Stayed off the forums and went on with my life. Kinda cleared my head.

Then one day, the "bug" bit me again. I'm building another one now and so far it's better than my first one. Hopefully, it'll be finished by years end. Maybe. But taking a break was key. So, my thought would be for the OP to just take a break. Deal with what you're going through and take care of business. Then, when the time comes, step back in refreshed and renewed.

 

how do you know when to call it quits? when the Dr. pulls the sheets over your head and says you are dead.

 

Same here, all I'll say is this....if your cars are paid for, they cost nothing to keep. Decide which one or both give you pleasure and tuck them into bed for awhile, go deal with your head, clear the cobwebs and think of what your wife would want. My wife is not a car person, but would be the last person to want me to sell them if she passed away, she would want me to enjoy the time I have left.
On a lighter note, one of those cars may help you hook up with some lovely old doll that thinks you're the cats meow because all the other duds chasing her down don't got a car........she comes from that era, just like you do.....when cruising with her man was the coolest thing ever. Remember? Don't sell anything yet.

 

jim, looked into painting the dodge but I am still on the fence as far as leaving the car original as raced. I will wait to see what this year brings and hope it's better than the last two. Did you paint your vette I remember it as being black or is it a different vette?

 

I feel for you.
I worry about hitting the same wall soon. Although not in seriously bad health I have 3 health related issues battling inside of me currently.
Makes it very difficult to work on my cars. Even routine maintenance is very challenging.
I’ve got 6 rods and muscle cars and worry how much longer can I hold onto them.
It’s a very difficult quandary to sort out.


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You ain't old yet!. Seriously, I am 81. Wife has alzheimer's. My one car is my sanity. Get in that '40 and go someplace. With no destination. That is what I intend to do if I outlive M'Lady. Put the sadness behind me and find some gladness. Attempt to, anyway. I THINK she would want that. I understand we are each different, but that is what I would do.
Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

Ben

 

Gerry my avatar car is different from the black car. Hopefully this year will be better for you. Hope to see you around. When spring finally arrives things will look better for sure.

 

I'm also 72 and can understand the anguish of losing your wife. You are probably, and understandably so, in depression. The advice I received was to NOT make any major or life changing decisions until a year has passed. Give yourself some time to heal before doing anything you might regret later. The hurt will get less and less and although your life has changed, you'll cope and learn to live with the change.

 

4tford; Sorry for your loss. The pain will lessen with time. Don't compound your loss by also selling off your cars as that will be another loss. As the losses increase you may get more depressed. Not good. Unless you need the money, keep your cars as a diversion and the memory of good times. What will you do if you didn't have your cars to tinker with?