Just can't get there

[azruss]

Wifey gets an e-mail from her friend Pam. She bought her hubby a plastic bucket-T and they just did their first show yesterday. Sounds like he had hopes of 1st place but looked at the car next door, a 60 points out of 60 T-bird. He got 2nd in the kit car category and will now work on how to get to first. She talked about all the nuances with the T-bird. old maps and other paraphernalia to enhance the display. Got me thinking about where I want to go with the spider now that it is put together and operational. Without any thought, I know I am not interested in a perfect car. It would require a garage queen, time and attention to detail I have neither the time, energy, or desire to attain. Perhaps if I was retired with time to burn, I might have a different mind set. At this point, I'm okay with the car looking clean and running like a champ. I'd rather spend my time behind the wheel on a perfect,slightly overcast, 80 degree day.....which i'm about to do.

[TX82FIAT]

I think you are on to something. Some of the spiders are world class restorations, others pristine examples with low miles. If you have a complete restore, where do you stop and do you really drive the car. Low miles = garage queen. For me, having a very nice, clean, presentable, properly running spider is the ultimate. You can drive it and still park it at the occasional show. If you win a trophy, cool. If not, cool. You have had a great day driving the car and hanging out with car guys.

[garion]

As much as I admire the show queen cars, and their attention to detail, I prefer to drive my car.. I'm of the opinion that its your car, do as you wish.. But I do cringe when someone ruins a previously decent classic, but I can't fault them.. I also think its partly because the market is now where you can almost build the entire car from brand new parts.. Things like Mustangs, Cameros, etc, you can get every part.. So you might as well do whatever exotic mod you want, we can always build another..

[sptcoupe]

I restore/preserve our cars to drive them - they are cars, after all. I also find that when routinely driven they just seem to break less. I swear I can hear them breaking in the garage in the middle of the night if they haven't been driven in a while.

[SoFlaFiat]

I too am building my car to drive. My goal is to have a spider I can jump in and drive 1500 miles without having a panic attack about what might break. Of course the other part is the fact that I always have a project or three going on and I really enjoy the construction part of it. In the end, if I take it to a show, I will not know what to say... "Ah, yep, I cleaned or replaced every bolt on it! Fun project!!"
And then, I'll drive it like I stole it!!!

[azruss]

Here is a followup to the opening thread. Wifey and I take the spider out for a little over an hour. Headed NW toward Lake Pleasant. In the mood for some relaxed cruising down quiet streets with desert scenery. Stopped at a light, the window of the SUV next to us rolls down with the soccer mom proclaiming over and over how beautiful the car is. Asks if it is a Ferrari or Porsche. She thought she had the brand nailed until i informed her otherwise. Next encounter was a guy twirling an open house sign on a corner with absolutely no traffic. He yelled, "nice car" as we cruised by. On the way back, a head shaven guy on a dressed out Harley and girl on the back with a Princess Di era do and every hair was in place pulls next to us at the light. Asked if I wanted to trade for an hour. After a pause, he said, "I mean vehicles, not women". From my point of view, this is a far superior day than listening to a judge deduct you points for having your lighter upside down in the socket. :sroll:

[4uall]

DRIVE THEM

http://royboyproductions.com/2013/05/16 ... be-driven/

[SoFlaFiat]

Here is a followup to the opening thread. Wifey and I take the spider out for a little over an hour. Headed NW toward Lake Pleasant. In the mood for some relaxed cruising down quiet streets with desert scenery. Stopped at a light, the window of the SUV next to us rolls down with the soccer mom proclaiming over and over how beautiful the car is. Asks if it is a Ferrari or Porsche. She thought she had the brand nailed until i informed her otherwise. Next encounter was a guy twirling an open house sign on a corner with absolutely no traffic. He yelled, "nice car" as we cruised by. On the way back, a head shaven guy on a dressed out Harley and girl on the back with a Princess Di era do and every hair was in place pulls next to us at the light. Asked if I wanted to trade for an hour. After a pause, he said, "I mean vehicles, not women". From my point of view, this is a far superior day than listening to a judge deduct you points for having your lighter upside down in the socket. :sroll:

ABSOLUTELY!!!

[toplessexpat]

As entertaining as appearing to consider the "wife swap" would be (albeit only until the glare took hold), my cars definitely break less when they're driven more. We took the 1800 to NM, and did 20-50 miles a day in it. Up and down canyons, higher altitudes than normal, bigger inclines than normal. Back home in Tx, I don't drive her for a week - and I get overheating and random electrical gremlins. Now fixed (despite much cursing), but lesson learned!

When the 2000 makes it back from the bodyshop - the decision will need to be made... Too nice to drive, or too nice not to!?

A