Nor a restoration, not a Rat Rod. Just Fun. : Off-topic discussion forum: Grassroots Motorsports Magazine

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Dec. 17, 2011 8:00 p.m. wearymicrobe HalfDork

OK today I had a Epiphany. Not a rant but need to type this out for my own sanity.

After restoring a good number of cars, I have just not really had fun doing it lately. Tracking down what color what bolt should be and doing things to stock because that's the way its done. Its always been with max return in mind, and my little engineer mind liked having plans to draw from. Or building "period correct" god I hate that term.

I am for now given up on profit and just doing a car for fun. Safe, kind of correct and made for pure driveabilty and fun. No idea what I should call it, don't really care.

I started in on the Cadillac on Thursday in three days from non running, frame dragging car. Now running right, stopping, turning car. I have cuts all over my body, I have more grease under my nails and I just have not stopped enjoying working on the car. Off the shelf parts, nothing from a specialist. 95% less then I ever but into a car built 10x the fun. Maybe 30 hours in since then just feel good.

Took it for a drive this morning to fill the tank up, tons of thumbs up. Not a single that color is not right, or why did you add dual power brakes. Never even thought about building a car like this until now.

Ok feel good that's off my chest
Dec. 17, 2011 8:11 p.m. CGLockRacer HalfDork

Great job! What year?
Dec. 17, 2011 9:01 p.m. Keith SuperDork

I think you call that kind of car "a driver". Or just "a car". It's what I like - screw restorations, make it fun to drive and easy to live with, and it'll get used.

By the way, here's the Caddy in question. I like it a LOT. http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/grm/another-whats-this-worth0-61-caddy/4230...
Dec. 17, 2011 9:21 p.m. wearymicrobe HalfDork

"Driver" is a good one, the original plan was actually to do a pretty good 90% restoration on the car, factory interior, factory wheels, bring motor and all to stock. Now who knows. I have the 80% of the red interior back in the car already. Made some door handles, got the door cards fixed. Top is going in tomorrow if I can.

I will take some photos tomorrow.

Got to tell you guys it feels good to be back in the garage. I have had the flu/cold for two weeks at least. Before that I pulled my back and was stoned for a week or two on painkillers and the office has been out of control for a month before that.
Dec. 17, 2011 9:30 p.m. fast_eddie_72 SuperDork

Wow, that's an awesome car. And I'm really glad to hear it's a driver. That's what it should be.

Maybe its just because I wouldn't have a chance in hell of doing a full on restoration, but I just like cars people bolt together to drive and have fun with. But that Caddy is really, really nice. Way cooler than cars I mess with.
Dec. 17, 2011 9:39 p.m. ThePhranc Reader

Is that what "resto-mod" refers to? Where you restore and modify a car/
Dec. 18, 2011 3:50 a.m. Appleseed SuperDork

Take a restored car and put bolt on modifications that can be removed later if wanted. Chops, channels, nosing, decking, etc.. are not resto-mods.
Dec. 18, 2011 5:59 a.m. ddavidv SuperDork

This same philosophy has made the car hobby so much more pleasurable for me. I stopped worrying about accuracy and perfection. The vast majority of folks who look at your car won't have a clue about what's right and what's not, so why cater to the handful that may? Unless the thing is a Shelby Mustang or a Duesenberg, it really doesn't matter. Anything I change is fully reversible so the next owner doesn't curse my existence (like I curse the guy who cut the metal dash in my truck for a Audivox radio). But I make them mine, the way I want them, for looks/comfort/reliability/safety.
Dec. 18, 2011 12:19 p.m. novaderrik Dork

that's been my philosophy for every car i've ever owned- make it work good enough to not be able to just jump in it and turn the key and not be afraid to drive it 300 miles away from home on a moment's notice. fix it with the right parts, and upgrade when it makes more sense while trying to keep downtime to a minimum. these things are supposed to be fun and not money pits that are nothing more than garage art...
Dec. 18, 2011 12:29 p.m. CGLockRacer HalfDork

i remember you posting that orginally. Sweet!
Dec. 18, 2011 2:02 p.m. DILYSI Dave SuperDork

That car is uber rad.

+1 for doing things that make you happy.