History Driving unfinished cars long term - Are you guilty?

I drove my coupe around for almost 2 years before I finished it. It was a mad thrash to get it together after painting it and make the Hot Rod Hill Climb in 2016. The car was painted but no interior or top on it. It even got featured in Roy Boy's 48 Cars in 48 States book that came out this spring. My wife and I finally got the interior done in May this year right before the Dirt Drags. Then another short thrash to install a fresh motor before the Hill Climb again this year. Now I think I am happy with it and consider it finished now. However I would like to change heads on the car and make another piece of linoleum for the floor mat. If I find a 2 carb set up I will change that too. So I will say its mostly finished now. HAHA

 

I'm guilty X 3.

 

Guilty, as charged! I was just glad to get it running......

 

Yep! While restoring my o/t Z/28.... It got rear ended by a drunk driver while parked...

 

The car will never be "done"...it will be unfinished forever and it will be driven in whatever state it currently is in.

 

That’s all my cars, I’ve never owned a “finished” car.

 

Guilt times 2 although the Roadster is closer!

 

Hence my username....Unshined

 

Yes, is there a better way????

 

I think my car is done until I have to put so much damn money in to it!

 

Guilty for 37+ years. Even Rocky can attest to my car being in 'suede' since the early '80s. Need to get off my dead a** and get it finished (or not).

 

Does driving it with the original door panels, minus the material, no headliner, or carpet, just sound deadener, & just later model seats, for over 17 years count?

 

It does but your a novice, my old beater has been on the road for 30 years without a interior. HRP

 

Guilty as charged, cuz I sold the parts I needed to finish!

 

I've been driving my model a "as is" for eighteen years. It runs great, stops, & steers, so i didn't want to mess with it. I collected a lot of nicer parts in 18 years, I think this winter will hold a big change for it

 

Mine is still in primer going back to 1994.

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Yeah, I got everything to get it on the road and safe. I have new interior still in the boxes since 2004 and my hood off also to let the engine run cooler breaking it in. It's kinda funny going to a car show and come back to the car and find business cards for interior work.

 

Seeing, as how a true hot rod is never finished, don't we all?

 

Whale - I kinda got two cars from my dad...actually we all got Mustangs when we turned 30.... as he had a bunch and also his SWB Chevy - he did leave me after....which he never finished putting the grille back in also.

Here's a rare late 70's pic of me and my dad (he actually let me drive it) coming back from Kansas in his - at the time 2+2 - which pretty much stayed the same through two thief's of it in the 80's !

 

Yes, guilty as charged.
Drove this for 17 years before finishing it.
Looked a lot worse before the picture in primer and Indian blanket took place.
I’d save up money to do something major to it then blow the cash on another hot rod or muscle car.
Finally 2years ago my wife strongly urged me to finish the thing or else.

 

My old coupe has been on the road almost 40 years. It also has never had any intreior. Just a bare bones Hot Rod. Some think that it's not finished. But for me it is.

 

Put me in the guilty column.
Too many never get done and enjoyed.

 

Great thread idea. I have been driving my Merc since '95, it was finished but I wanted to go back to a traditional style. So I have been driving the wheels off of it and getting a few improvements along the way. I'm blessed to have some kool friends that have helped me along the way. If it wasn't for them I would have not have been able to transform my Merc to what it is today. I enjoy driving it so much it will probably never be painted or get the interior finished. I can love with that.

 

That's how I got my moniker - hotrodprimer.

Correct me if I am wrong but I honestly believe I saw you coupe for the first time in Columbus,Ohio at the NSRA nationals in '87. HRP

 

My only finished car is my 36 pickup, but over twenty years of use was beginning to look very worn, so much so, I was used to it and just considered it to be a good looking well worn driven hot rod. Truth is, it was looking like I never gave a crap about it and it showed.
So last winter I got busy and refurbished it to the point that it's beautiful now, but otherwise, I've never owned a finished car, they've all been rough and ready, driven hard and enjoyed.

 

I was guilty of it years ago, and some never got finished. I'm to the point now where I make it a point to finish them before they leave the garage because otherwise I know I'll never get them completely done. I must be using the patience and restraint I never had as a youth.

 

When I posted this, I was actually in the process of painting the car in question. Now it is painted and the interior is finished. Since I have made restitution for my crime, could I possibly get my charges dismissed or at least reduced?. (Don't tell the judge that they are never "finished".)

 

1985 / 2018....

 

Once they are finished, they no longer have potential . Not my quote, but i live buy it!!

 

Wait......you can finish a car project :0)

I’ve never heard of this strange word “finish”.....what does one do with a “finish”


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