88IROCvertZ

iTrader: (1)

People talk about “built not bought”... I find a lot of the guys that have the newer Camaros do their own tuning, take apart stuff in their engine bays and paint things to try and stand out and not just have plastic engine covers.. A lot of those guys go to the track and are into improving their times.. A guy that had an 11sec 4cyl Turbo 2019 Camaro did all the work himself.. They take pride in the detailing too..

I find most of the award winning classic 50s-70s cars are bought not built. The concourse restored classic muscle cars around here are pretty much all bought by wealthy old collector types who don’t even do their own maintenance. Some of them bought an original numbers matching car and then had it sent to the best engine guy, the best interior place, the best paint guy, etc and now after $175k restoration they have a car that 5 other shops built that wins multiple trophies at every show around. The old muscle cars that show up detailed perfectly as well are usually professionally detailed.. Those “Grey Beards” don’t even do their own detailing.

The hot rod and rat rod scene all seem to do their own work.. but a lot of the “Grey Beards” I also hear talking about their “mechanics”.. I’d say a lot of the 80s car owners do their own maintenance and work just trying to keep the cars looking nice and on the road.

I find a lot of the people with newer cars are interested in doing any cosmetic or mechanical improvements that they can.. but need a good mechanic as well for the wonderful technology and all the computers and sensors that control their cars.. There’s a lot of “How do I tune this thing to get better times and not void the warranty?” They also have to pass more strict inspection in Massachusetts than classic cars do..

It is also strange how some of the “Grey Beards” around here get rid of their old muscle cars and buy brand new Hellcats or Corvette Z06s... Then they talk about how much better their brand new car is than their muscle car that they used to bring out and how their wives like the new car much better.. Then the “Grey Beards” that just bought a classic Mopar for $100k talk crap about those other “Grey Beards” that bought a new car with 700+ hp.. Hypocrites. But they all agree 80s cars are garbage.. ha ha

88IROCvertZ

iTrader: (1)

I do see a lot of newer Lambo’s... but man, I’d love to see a Countach still..

A guy showed up with a Diablo and that was pretty cool..

There’s also a TON of Ferrari’s.. I don’t think I’m into Ferrari’s at all except for the F40..

I am looking forward to the first guy that shows up in a C8... that will draw a crowd..

Grey Beards and exotics don’t seem to mix..

thtanner

iTrader: (1)

If a C8 draws a crowd then anyone gathering around it should immediately leave the car show/stop labeling themselves a car person. If you want to oogle a stock car, go down to the dealer.

New stock cars are probably the last thing I'd ever want to see any any show/event/gathering.

I have to say the RADwood events have it going on, though. At one last year there was a F40 2 rows over from my Formula. If you have a chance and see one of their events in your area, it is worth the visit.

88IROCvertZ

iTrader: (1)

I’m interested to see the C8 in person driving and not in a showroom setting.. But yeah, by 2021 there will probably be 5 parked in a row at every Car event and it’ll be as common as the rows of C7 Z06 Vettes...

Mind you, I’d love a Z06 C7, but I’d still bring the IROC to the events..

okfoz

Is this the Frankenmuth Autofest? I am going this weekend... Taking my Geezer 1967 Buick Riv, and my 87 Formula... Dad is going to drive the Riv... only live 10 miles from the show.

okfoz

I have seen a couple C8s already, a White one twice, and a Blue (non metallic) one that was a hideous color.

mikeceli

iTrader: (2)

Open the hood for the judges, keep em closed to show off the cars beautiful lines, as the designers intended!

88IROCvertZ

iTrader: (1)

I agree... I like the shows where the DJ announces its time to open the hoods... That’s how it should be done..

mikeceli

iTrader: (2)

I have never been to a show so well run, but often wondered why they did not announce "open / close" hood times!

"Common sense is uncommon"!

KMK454

I've always been a fan of just putting my Camaro in the mix even when it doesn't fit in. I'll bring it to high end cars and coffees or predominantly European-car cruise-ins and park it right next to Lambos, Porsches, etc. At one event, it was next to a custom Ferrari Sergio Pininfarina (1 of 6). To do this right, your car better be clean.

As for built-not-bought, my personal experience is those who make a big deal out of that typically have cars that were very obviously built... in a backyard... by an amateur.

topduarte

iTrader: (8)

I used to stand by my car and when I left for round 1 of exploring the other cars, I keep hood up. Round 2 I close it.

okfoz

Personally the car I built, and did is way better than a car that I would have paid a local place to do for me. I do not trust anyone anymore to touch my cars, Took my "new" car to a dealership to have the oil changed, and they chipped the paint on the back side of the door where they obviously opened it into something... I am tired of crappy workmanship and paying top dollar to have someone do crap...

dmccain

iTrader: (2)

I'm like Okfoz. Very few people get to work on my car luckily I have plenty of family that does and some close friends for the projects I'm not comfortable with myself. Lots of people do their own work and are not "AMEUTEURS" just because they don't want to pay $100 an hr labor costs or have someone chip their paint. Most people driving Thirdgens don't have multiple low mi creampuffs that are museum quality and they work on their own cars.

KMK454

My comments weren't directed at either of you; you guys do your own quality work and respect how others go about caring for their cars, be it going solo or paying for outside help from time to time. I was referring to "that guy" who makes a point of rubbing it in everyone's face that his car was built, not bought, and is therefore better than everyone else, but he doesn't need to tell us his car was built because we can tell after one glance at the state of his project.

Given infinite time and money, I'd be tearing my stuff apart and rebuilding all the time. But that's not the world we live in; I do what I can myself and pay for what makes sense beyond that. Sometimes this means deferring work (and thus driving time) to the future until time, money, and knowledge allow me to address a car's need.

okfoz

I didn't take offense... Honestly most things take time, I have the opportunity to take that time on occasion. There are some things I could do, but chose not to because of time... My Daily drivers I will change struts, shocks, Brakes, change oil, and do normal maintenance things. But for some of the big jobs, I still pay to have them done, like Exhaust manifolds, I don't have a tire changer, otherwise I would probably do that too... I do whatever I can, to keep other people's hands off of it... When I am over my head, I let someone else do it...

88IROCvertZ

iTrader: (1)

I hear you, sometimes it’s just not worth the time for certain jobs...

I did change out my steering position sensor in my daily Tahoe when the dealer gave me a quote of $590. Part was $60 and took two hours.. Not sure how they got that price..

I’m not rebuilding engines or doing paintwork... I give all the credit in the world to the guys who are swapping motors and doing professional level paint jobs in their garage...

Any job that’s over 4-hours labor and involves buying tools I don’t have or wouldn’t be useful for much in the future and I’ll try to find a shop that is cool with “watching the paint” on a classic car and being gentle on interior parts that are scarce.. I’ll put a giant plastic bag over the seat and put in some rubber floormats..

I would also worry if you’re getting engine work done that they’d want to test drive it after and it might be rainy, etc... I’d want the car to stay inside which is a hard ask for a busy shop that’s always shuffling cars around..

Ive had to buff scratches out of my Tahoe driver door multiple times after just and oil change and tire rotation from a dealer.. I had free oil changes for a year and tire rotation from the dealer when I first got it... They also “washed” it for me one time and the swirl marks they put in the paint made me sick... I told them to please never wash it again..

dmccain

iTrader: (2)

No offense taken. Just a lot of people work on their own cars and take pride in it is all I'm saying. Most Thirdgens by now are worn out and require lots of work. Ive bought a hackjob or two before and it was frustrating though fixing half *** jobs.

1986BANDIT

Ive bought 1 third gen that was un-dicked with and not a hodge podge of **** poor
"upgrades" and hillbilly "fixes and wiring" . i daily drove that car for 10 years.
(and Ive owned 6 or 7 of them,so 1 out of 7-10 cars wasnt a collection of "shortcuts")

that was a 1984 berlinneta with 45,000 km when i bought it,visibly and mechanically
perfect.when i was done with it ,it had close to 200,000 km and honestly if i kept it
it would still be going strong.the only reason i got rid of it was 2 small kids and a
medium/large dog so that necessitated a mini-vanit happened to be one of
those horrid "space shuttle with no wings" lumina apv and it was a rolling turd mountain.

Abubaca

iTrader: (3)

....I've owned my car for 20 years. ....I've definitely spent time fixing my OWN **** poor fixes and upgrades! Half kidding....but half serious. I've learned how to do a LOT on this car over the years, and my early attempts and certain things weren't always pretty. My OCD compels me to go back and fix 'em though.

1986BANDIT

agreed,the one i really hate is the guys who insist on putting an aftermarket stereo
but think that necessitated CUTTING EVERY CONNECTOR OFF AND USING
EVERY MANNER OF WAL-MART,DOLLAR STORE INAPPROPRIATE CONNECTOR.

or the guys who think saving 5 horsepower justifies GUTTING THE DAMNED AIR CONDITIONING.

don't get me started on old,craptacular AFTERMARKET ALARM DEBACLES

i love my third gen,i love my third gen,i love my third gen....ohmmm ohhhmm

Drew

iTrader: (58)

In all fairness, the rules that limit events to a certain time period (ex. 1975 & earlier) were mostly put in place by people with this attitude. I understand it completely. There's a difference between a car that's been lovingly preserved, or rebuilt, or restored, and the barely second hand car that Johnny Douchebaggins just bought off some guy that had to get a minivan because he got his girl pregnant. If they don't have those kinds of rules, you get the guy that just bought a brand new FeRRRRD F-350 and bolted on the entire Lund/GTS truck-cessory catalog and pulled it in next to the 69 Z28 in Daytona Yellow, with original hounds tooth interior...

Abubaca

iTrader: (3)

I did that. SOOOOOO regret that move.

mikeceli

iTrader: (2)

ESPECIALLY when they cut the fittings off the AC Evaporator, because they don't have the correct size open end wrench, to unscrew the hoses ! I ran into this on an old Ford pickup, I bought to restore.

tavert91

iTrader: (1)

Cruisin' the Coast along the Mississippi gulf coast has a 1989 cut off for display vehicles. The show is phenominal - spread out along the beach highway for the entire coast, 6-8 display areas, and about 8,000 registered vehicles. A "must attend" in this part of the world. Unfortunately, I cannot display my '91 TA Convertible. When I contacted the organization that runs the event, they told me the restriction was more a factor of space. They were running out of sufficient display areas for the volume of cars that wanted to participate. Prior to this restriction imposed in about 2016, any vehicle that was 25 years old or older could participate. I like that sliding rule and wish they would bring it back. They are missing many really great rides the way they are running it now.

DynoDave43

iTrader: (11)

Thanks for posting this. This event is on my brother and I's bucket lists.

dmccain

iTrader: (2)

Its a great event but its getting to be so packed its definitely not as fun as it was in the early 2000s. Still something I recommend anyone to go to. Last year was the first I missed only because of hip surgery.

tavert91

iTrader: (1)

I would like to see them continue to add display areas along the tour route and go back to the "more than 25 years old" rule for registration. If they did that, I would be inclined to stay longer each year. As it is now, my wife and I make the rip a one day adventure on the Friday or Saturday before the show closes. Ocean Springs is our favorite venue.

okfoz

Is it me, or is the majority of Classic car owners getting kind of old... Seriously, the past few shows I have been to, my dad has more in common with these guys than me, and I am in the mid 40's. Almost everyone except a very few, had 10+ years on me.

topduarte

iTrader: (8)

Its true.

I could not back up at a car show Sunday due to the guys near there said it was for a guy in a wheelchair. One guy said I could park there and 2 said no. The 2 "no" guys said I can go to end and find parking there.

I obliged but did notice the owners today are different than 10 years ago and 20 years go.

It was a neat show but it sure got hot down here in Central Texas

dmccain

iTrader: (2)

I agree. Id love to see more cars in my era. I've been going Tue-Fri morning because traffic gets so bad Friday. Ocean springs is nice and the swap meet at the coloseum Thur is a must go to for me.