History Driving unfinished cars long term - Are you guilty?

Yes Danny, it was at Columbus in 87. The old coupe hasn't changed much. But it is on it's second 389 since then. Ron.....

 

When someone asks what color I'm going to paint it... I say, what do you call the gray primer, feathers? Just because you own an old car, it does not automatically make you a car guy.

These hooples just do not get what old cars are all about. Maybe I could suggest that his old lady could use a boob job or have her wrinkly ass tightened up a notch or two....

 

Not guilty of really long term driving an unfinished car. My cabriolet build took six years and I was driving it in shakedown mode for a couple years. I was reluctant to take it apart for paint. My 51 is close to that same status now, needing new body and paint. I want to get the new, 53 Buick, steering column and wheel in first. It will go to a shop and be out of commission for a number of months. I am not looking forward to losing use of it, but do not drive it much from November to March anyway.

 

The last "finished" car I had was one I traded an unfinished sedan delivery for. Someone else finished my 55 Pontiac wagon with new chrome all around, new paint and interior and engine/trans. It was weird driving MY car all done.

 

My wife asked if it was gonna get painted...nope not me...brought it to old truck show and sold it in 1 1/2 hours after I parked it...it looked just like this when it left...

 

Guilty,one car closed to being finished and then I sold it!

 

I told my wife that's the beauty of a Hot Rod it's never done because you can always find something to change.

 

Neat ole truck but cant help but be reminded of the slinky wiener dog that was on the Toy story cartoon.

 

do it everyday

 

That's not your car finished in your Avatar?

 

My car is unfinishable. Too rough without major work so it is what it is. When I'm dead the next guy can deal with it. Boy will he be in for a surprise haha

 

Ive always thought of Hot Rods and Customs as never finished. Unfinished is a term of opinion.

 

I'm guilty! Hope to get a chopped full fendered A sedan from my buddy so I get 'er going and drive that. Then I can park the 41 and start 'finishing' it. The A needs a trans and a more nostalgic engine/wiring in it.

 

I'm about to go take no outer wheel house on the driver's side, passenger seat out, tail in primer, ride around The Island!

 

Guilty.
Drove a '64 Dodge Polara 500 and before that a '55 Chevy and both were not finished.
Drove the saps at cruise nights crazy. Always asking when I was going to finish them.

 

Guilty as charged. Our old '39 sedan was on the road for close to ten years, the hood and deck lid were still in primer when I sold it. Got tired of people asking the same question so pulled out my brushes and lettered up the deck lid....

 

Well, the term "bucket seats" had to come from somewhere!

 

No. Get an inspiration. Get 'er done , night and day.. Drive it or race it..Get tired of it..Send it down the road.
On to the next one.
I don't collect coins, stamps, or butterflies either

 

Been driving my 32 sedan for a couple years now not finished. Been working on it but keep it road worthy at the same time.

 

Nothing is ever done.

 

Hello,
If long term meaning 5 years, then yes. The thing was, as teenagers with a limited budget and a wanderlust, one had to make choices. Buy a Chevy 283 or save for those three separate weeks in the Baja secret surf spots. It was a choice of time management and disbursement of funds. But, as high school, then,college freshmen, any vacation trumps installing a needed improvement in our 40 Ford Sedan Delivery.


Yes, the 283 would have made the Sedan Delivery much faster with no worries about making the steep highway grade at El Morro in Laguna Beach, the Torrey Pines Grade down south and the definite killer of grades, the 7% Conejo Grade just South of Camarillo in Ventura County coming home from Rincon. The Flathead needed much more power to make those steep grades. Getting a running start was always exciting, but daunting, with those CHP patrols on 101 or Coast Highway 1.


So, the upgrade in the motor department was on permanent hold. The old saying, “money talks”…played an important part of keeping the flathead. The interior had two so-so bucket seats that were comfortable. But, the rest of the interior was strictly bare bones to the metal bracings. Hollow, uninsulated, and bare was an accurate description. Besides, if we slept back there, we were usually in warm sleeping bags.


Jnaki

Just before my sophomore year of college, plans for a 283 were on the table, with some cash flow coming in to the picture. But, the more I drove the Flathead Ford to various places up and down the coast, the more I liked the journey in the sedan delivery and everything came to a halt, again. Then some guy offered me more than I paid for it, so I sold it to fund further college classes. (The last time I saw it was in front of some surf shop in Huntington Beach.)


The question remains, on any hot rod, cruiser, daily driver, are they ever finished?