Classic Car Debate With Survey?

[Shack]

What are your guys & gals thoughts?

If a person was to to have a project car from the 20', 30's or 40's, what would you prefer to see the end result be?

Example of Survey Question #1:

Example of Survey Question #2:

Example of Survey Question #3:

Example of Survey Question #4:

[MNice]

I'd like the vette behind #1. Something about the mid 60's vettes that I just love.

[zamboni]

I have always wanted a 49 Merc. My first car was a 64 Galaxie, wouldn't mind another one of those- only with a V8

[deadeye]

LOL I guess I'm the only one so far who voted number one.

It really is a toss up for me between that and restoration to stock for truely old vehicles. If the car is sound and able to be driven in its original glory then I say let it be and fix only what you need to keep it running (brakes are the only real upgrade I like to see). If its rusted out then clean her up and let her Buck.

I have seen various stages of all of these options and its the rarest and most interesting to me to see a car working as it did when it was made. Its even more interesting and rare to see it still alive, unrestored, and in good working order.

Hot rods, rat rods ect are cool in their own right but its more challenging and rewarding to me to keep a piece of history working the way it was designed.

Oh yeah, please drive the car too. Henry Ford and the like did not make cars to be put on a trailer and driven around, they were made to be driven and used.

Rant over

Now if I wasn't driving a highly modified mid 90's import/domestic I could somehow make some sense of what I just said LOL . I guess I have seen so many things hacked up and pieced together (including my own car) I love to see something work as it was intended.

[SpecialK]

I chose #2 but I love real rat rods as well.

[Scott K]

I didnt vote, but I would restore the interior and exterior to close as possible to OE. Then the suspension, steering, drivetrain, and brakes would all be updated to new, power disk brakes, power steering, 350 built chevy engine and trans. This way you have the looks of the original car, with the safety and power of new age.

[Shack]

4WE that would still be classified as a Restomod. That is becoming more & more common with these older cars, with even using the original or era correct motor. Kind of stealth approach to get a car you can hop in and drive 1,000 miles with out any worry.

I am "in" with option number 5. It's just nice to see a person take a car that is from theses years and turn in into something for today.

What brought on this survey was a couple conversations I have had in the last month or so when approaching doing another project I have the option of trading something for. I find it funny (yet cool) that returning the vehicle back to its original state as best as possible is leading in votes. Most of the people who you talk to about a project bring this option forward more than others. IMO, and the current market, when it comes to the 20's, 30's & 40's, doing a restore is the most time time consuming, costly option with the slimmest in return if sold for your efforts. I am not talking about a rare Dusenberg restore or anything, but the common 2 door or 4 door regular vehicle restore. In most cases I know of, the money spent to make it look "showroom" is greater than if they did a Restomod to it. When it comes to selling it, the restore to original will will net you half of what you could get to do a Restomod. They just do not sell and if they do, adding in the persons personal time spent, you never recoup what you have into it, unless you start with a 7-10 grade car. You can get some really nice restored cars for under $20,000 (or less) if you look and about $20,000 is the starting point for low dollar spent Restomods.

The Rat Rod! I would say, besides the 50's & 60's guys who did this for genuine reasons, we have the like of Jesse James and others to thank for the resurgence. I think it will be a fad that is short lived with the way they are building these cars. Could be wrong though. From the couple buddies who went crazy on their Rat Rods, I equate these wild things as to chopping a 70's Harley and adding 5' stretched forks as part of the build. They may look cool, but when it comes to driving it, thats another story. I think the Rat Rod fad is peaking right now. Old car projects and parts are reflecting in value. I have been selling 30's parts the last month plus on-line and putting in Hot Rod or Street Rod add's almost nothing in attracting buyers. You change the tags words or headline of the ad to Rat Rod and it sells within days, if not hours. Just in the early 2000's you could get a rough, bare bones rolling chassis & body 30's 2 door Chevy, Chrysler or Ford (late 30's with Ford. Not a 31' or 33') for under a $1000 and most times under $500, and even free if you hauled it away. Today you are looking at $2500+ and everyone who is anyone is listing them as Rat Rod projects. Do not get me wrong though. There are still deals out their. I just looked at a 37' Chevy Coupe on Saturday for under $200. It was extremely rough though and I got cheap and missed out the guy who came next. You can still get into a car from these years though, if you look, for under a $1000 and have a good base for a project. Some Rat Rods, that are not much in my eyes other than ones art, are selling for $10,000-$20,000 turn key.

What I am glad to see is the value of 20's-40's cars and even the 50's cars in a 4 door version are going up. My claim to fame story of missing out comes with these 4 door cars. It always seemed if it had four doors, it ain't worth nothing. I have had the opportunity in the last 10 years to purchase some un-touched, great cars that actually could be driven for under a $1000. 3 of these were 57' Chevy's. Today, good luck finding one under $4000-$5000. even though I could/should have spent about $5000 on various cars from 00'-05', to get $20,000 profit now, I am still glad to see my predictions were right. People are turning to the 4 doors now to get that classic feel, yet spending a quarter of the 2 door price.

I have owned, restored and will always loved cars from the 50's, 60's, & 70's. I felt these years did not apply in this thread because everyone I know who does these cars has the restore in mind. You do see the Restomod factor in the 50's cars and even some in the 60's cars, but for the most part, the guys & gals try their best to keep numbers matching and O.E.M. stuff in mind. Value has a huge part in this. The Rat Rod guys are starting into the 50's though. IMO a true Rat Rod will never be anything from the 50's. The 50's is where all the above started and came from. I am sure the love of cars started with Vin#1, but to take something old and make it happen again all started in the 50's and that is where my respect shines at.

What will guys like myself be building or tinkering with in the 2020's? I am sure I will have the same stories I here from my father, uncles and grandfather to share with my grandkids about how I missed out on something I sold for nothing.

[Shack]

It really is a toss up for me between that and restoration to stock for truely old vehicles. If the car is sound and able to be driven in its original glory then I say let it be and fix only what you need to keep it running (brakes are the only real upgrade I like to see). If its rusted out then clean her up and let her Buck.

I do agree with you guys who side with this.

IMHO you give me a regularly used through out the years 4 door car from back then and even the 50's, put a new battery in it, brake related parts and tires, a couple air fresheners and I would still get the same classic feeling of cool as I would get in a custom built street machine from the same year. This is the ultimate in owning or driving a classic car. You can not spend tons of money in a shop or fab it up. It comes from a half century or more of keeping the car in a condition the best you can so it could be driven today. That is truly original and I why I respect it so much. I express this when I see it at the pump or in front of the post office.

[SpecialK]

To me a real rat rod is the way it was in the '50s when they first were being built. You find a frame thats not too rusted, slap a body, motor, tranny and safety items and run it. Maybe throw some primer on it to slow the rusting.

I was at the back to the fifties show 2 years ago and saw way too many of these cars that had big money dropped into them and then painted to look old and rusted. Just didn't sit well with me. My opinion.

[MarkAlm]

I rememeber telling my dad about 30 years ago that I wanted a 34 Ford. He then replies "why didnt you tell me I owned 3 of them ". Problem was that it was about 20-25 years before I was born. I still love the 34 Fords and 33 Plymouths.

[Eric Wettschreck]

I'm a #1 guy. Keep her as close to OE as possible. I like restored cars but I have a deeper appreciation for some road grime and dents from the 1930's.

Classic cars have personality. Taking them apart piece by piece and re-doing everything removes 99.9% of any personality the car once had.

Oh, and get them off the trailers and DRIVE THEM!!!!

[luckey]

My 68 Chevelle has been parked for quite a while. I just had a guy address any body issues and paint it. The rest is pretty much the way it came. (with the exception of a few go faster items) Now I plan to address the interior which is a little worn.