Folks Of Interest How do you know when it's time to let one go?

A few years back I liquidated. I remember my perception changing about all the stuff I had. At first it was clutter that was created from having a bunch of projects that all stole time and attention away from each other. I never liked the clutter and one day I started downsizing collections. Shop stuff, tools, signs... I remember going through toolboxes and saying, "If I haven't used this in ten years (or ever) - I don't need three!" The more I got rid of things, the more cathartic it was.

I love getting rid of stuff... that lead to cars and projects.

There was a time I was thinking about selling my A coupe project. I did some soul searching with that one. A big part of getting rid of the cars was I liked the idea of them but they weren't what I really wanted. The coupe was something I always wanted but honestly the way I was building it was influenced by the HAMB - NOT the car I dreamed about. Saying it sounds silly, foolish, immature even, but I was caught up.

Then, I faced a health wake-up call. It wasn't something immediate but it made me think about life and time and what's important and I got a lot more clarity - quickly.

As soon as I chose to go after it the way I'd dreamed about way back when, it all was fun and easy.

I took that same logic and applied it to my life, work, etc. For some dumb reasons, I was engrained to doing what other people wanted - my own consideration was like a murmur in the back of my head.

 

thats a really neat "T"

 

Hey Jim, I seen your Plan II driving down I-90 yesterday heading North. Were you driving, or a new owner?

 

going to get pics for the auction

 

Auction? One of those in PHX?

 

no, BaT

 

Plan II on BaT might break their server! Good thing I’ve already got a blown Chevy II!

 

Man Squirrel I've been wrestling with that since 2018 or so. I've lost interest, regained interest, changed the car up, will be changing it up again soon, and at times have just let it sit. Keeping the fire burning for anything over a long period of time can be problematic. But you gotta ask yourself if you move on to something else, is it going to make you happier? Or are you going to fall into the same cycle down the road? Maybe the issue here is having had so many cars over the years, you never really got that attached to any of them. I'm guilty of that. Something really special to most people becomes just another car you've owned.

There are a few things that have kept me in my 55. This is not to say I would NEVER part with it, but the circumstances would have to be dire or the offer would have to be too good to pass up. One is picturing someone else driving my car and ruining it. All your time and effort and memories usually mean nothing to the next guy. There's also so many guys out there today trying to make a buck off of someone else's work I'd be really careful who I sold to. Two, my 55 is part of who I am. It's taken other people telling me that they associate me with that car and vice versa to really make me appreciate it more. Lastly are all the memories I'm flooded with every time I look at it, work on it, drive it, etc. But memories can be a trap and keep you from moving on. You'll always make new memories, but through the rose-tinted glasses of the past, they're never as good as the ones you made before. Like I said, I've been wrestling with it as well.

Personally I'd never buy Plan II in a case like this because it's YOUR car. It's a hell of a lot more notable than anything I'll ever own, but I feel like that car is part of who you are. Damn sure anyone who buys it is going to run into "That's Jim's old car" all the time. You almost end up stuck with it until you no longer have the ability to do anything with it or die. Then it's passed on to the next guy, and not as much "Jim's old car" if that makes sense.

 

I get it....

I think BaT will let a lot of people see it, who don't know it's "Jim's Car".

I kept my 55 for 20 years, had lots of fun adventures in it, but it was time to move on. I still have my 59 truck that my dad bought when I was 15, and I've been working on ever since. So I'm not really fickle about them, I do know how to hang on to one for a long long time. But I also can accept that someone who buys it becomes the owner, and can do what they want with it.

 

I wanted a '50 Pontiac forever and when I found one locally at a price I could afford I bought it. Was a pretty nice car with all legal paperwork in place. I had to store my 34 coupe at my son's house to make garage room for the Poncho.
Got it running [straight 8- 4 speed hydro] and I finally realized my 34 wasn't yet done and there just wasn't enough room, time or money for both cars plus mama's Chrysler in the garage......I had to sell either the 34 or the Pontiac.
G'by Pontiac. Broke my heart.

 

I know very little about BAT, do you have to accept the highest offer? Do you set a reserve like eBay?

Thanks, I’m just stepping into 2024

 

they have both reserve and no reserve auctions.

 

GLWTA!

 

Interesting thread. I am agonizing over selling my off topic car but the emotions are the same. My health has caught up with me. Doing anything on it is no longer possible. It will be a heartache to see it head down the road. Good luck with your decision and potential sale.

 

Well, at 91 I have given my roadster to my son to enjoy as i did for 300,000 happy miles! He can take my great grand daughter for spins.

 

Another one came along and I was trying to decide which one to let go... and how... but then I switched to "where am I gonna put another one?" (I'll figure it out)

 

Kinda thinking there's something deeper here? What ever you do or don't do, sell or give away of material things, don't stop being who and what you are and have been most of your life. Getting rid of "stuff" only hurts until it's gone than another door opens........................

 

When is the car gonna be on auction, Jim?

 

don't know yet

 

For a minute, I thought this was a dropping a deuce thread!

 

Squirrel, you met my dad. The apple didn't fall very far from the tree. I don't hardly ever sell anything. Where I differ, is if it had to sit outside, I would probably sell just to keep it from rotting down. But somehow I usually find more space indoors.

 

Ive moved onto plan9....

 

...from outer space?

 

So, did Tom Bailey from drag week fame purchase the Chevy? If yes, did he hint at the future for Plan II?

 

Never let "good"stuff go because if i wanted it in the first place i wanted it for a reason. That reason still exists. Some things i have i have waited years, or even decades to own. When im gone they can do what they like with it but whilst i can enjoy what i have that works for me.

 

yes, he bought it, and yes he has plans. Stay tuned to his youtube channel...

 

I was thinking about this very same subject just the other day. I saw that blue 32 for sale with the Pontiac engine and I debated about selling my off topic car to get it.
I think that when cars or projects become a burden and they’re no longer fun is a good indicator of when to sell. Not that you should sell them at each point of frustration but you get the idea.
At some point we’re all going to leave this earth but it’s tough to let go of the interests that you’ve had all your life. There’s that old proverb, the heart stays young but the body grows old.

 

That car still looks FANTASTIC for the mileage. Well done.

 

Passing it on to someone in the immediate family so they can enjoy it is quite fraternal....Love that color....

 

I like let’n one go when it’s really quiet so you can hear the gag’n after the thunder.