Store It Or Drive It?

[miltvine]

Mike Santella's column in the March 2010 Legendary Lines newsletter is a must read. Nice job, Mike, capturing the essesence of the discussion. I like how you couch it in terms of your personal preferences as opposed to making sweeping statements that others may disagree with. I personally agree completely. Driving the classics, or in my case, watching other people drive the classics, is priceless. I also understand that a rock chip in that fresh restoration can be very expensive.

I do drive my 1973 VW Super Beetle to work every day so I do get that fun, but it doesn't have the value so it isn't really the same discussion. I see quite a few middle school kids punching each other when I drive by though.

I attended the car show at my church, First Presbyterian in Bellevue, the last few years and in the 2008 show one of the church members drove his 1931 (or 1932 or 1933, I forget) Dusenberg to the show. That car has to be worth north of a million bucks and I asked the owner how he had the nerve to drive that valuable car on public streets. He said he can't take it with him, and after all, his guys can fix it if they need to. Sweet.

Here is that car:

http://www.northwestlegends.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=2613&stc=1&d=1269872341
http://www.northwestlegends.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=2614&stc=1&d=1269872596

[Crisisman]

He said he can't take it with him, and after all, his guys can fix it if they need to.

My thoughts exactly! Nice ride to be sure.

[theJUDGE]

Let's see a picture of the 73 Superbeetle.

I had a Formula V in College.

[HOTROD64-STOCK69]

I say drive it. Its like the good china or flatware, it just sits around until Christmas. Chips do suck especially if you have some fancy flame or metal flake paint scheme,

[miltvine]

Let's see a picture of the 73 Superbeetle.

I had a Formula V in College.

This is my 5th Beetle. I had a '69 in college and a '59 in high school along with my '67 GTO. Tough decision which one to drive on a Friday night trip to Golden Gardens!


http://www.northwestlegends.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=2617&stc=1&d=1269962529
http://www.northwestlegends.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=2616&stc=1&d=1269962529

[theJUDGE]

Cool...

One thing I learned while owning at VW bug that a chattering clutch doesn't mix with no factory hose clamp on the carb fuel line.

Add an air cooled motor sitting in traffic & you have: POOF! - Now dat's a FI-YA...

[Mark B]

All the bugs I have seen didn't have a clamp from the factory. I've seen 3 bugs burn up because of it.

[MikeS]

Milt - thanks for the kind words. You may not think that Super Beetle qualifies, or compares to a GTO in this conversation, but in a way, I do. That Herbie is very much a classic. People love classic stuff. Cars, trucks, boats, trains, motor cycles. It's not an ego thing, but it does feel good when someone smiles at your ride. It's like that car they just saw took them somewhere in their mind that was for them, a great point in their life. Your guy with the Duesenberg gets it. Ever notice that when ever you go to a car show, pretty much everyone there is in a good mood? Old stuff tends to remind people of a simpler time. High school, your first car, your buddies car, your parent's car, a first date.... Dennis and Janis Babcock dated in Dennis' GTO and drove away on their honeymoon in it. That Silvermist '64 in the top right of this page is a testimate to that history. When classic stuff remains hidden under a car cover, or calls an enclosed trailer home, everyone gets cheated. It's just an opinion and I certainly understand the argument for stuffing these cars in museums, but to me they will always look better driving down the road on some sunny day.

I am off my soap box now!

[REED_RACING]

So I believe in driving my rides when I can. I do however also like the german side also Milt. So here's my other classic. I have known about this car since I was 19, finally able to buy it, 2 years ago. I drive it hard on the street and track. Cars are like therapy, great stress release!

[Pontiacshack]

Dang Kevin, you been holding out. I've always wanted a 911, what a great looking ride. I used to tool around in my 66 VW bug in the 80's dreaming about the 911 I would someday own,,,,,,,,,,,,never happened. I ended up owning 4 more beetles instead, oh well, can't have em all I guess.

Stef

[miltvine]

Dang Kevin, you been holding out. I've always wanted a 911, what a great looking ride. I used to tool around in my 66 VW bug in the 80's dreaming about the 911 I would someday own,,,,,,,,,,,,never happened. I ended up owning 4 more beetles instead, oh well, can't have em all I guess.

Stef

Ha! Another bug guy lurking among the horsepower!

[theJUDGE]

Dang Kevin, you been holding out. I've always wanted a 911, what a great looking ride. I used to tool around in my 66 VW bug in the 80's dreaming about the 911 I would someday own,,,,,,,,,,,,never happened. I ended up owning 4 more beetles instead, oh well, can't have em all I guess.

Stef

So it's been two years since you've owned this biz-atch...
Every man I know loves an old skool 911.
We need to go for a road burn Kevin, you owe me man...

As it relates to drive it or store it, I believe in driving the cars when possible but I have to get past the thoughts of uninsured freaks text messaging causing havoc.
Just ask one of our members what happened to his pristine 69 Rag on the way back from Muscle Car Meet...
It met up with a yard maintenance truck that decided to wipe off the passenger side of the GTO.
Anyone who is responsible with their classics recognizes that the Puget Sound traffic situation ain't what it used to be.
I drive my cars with the same offensive alertness as if I am on a motorcycle...

Happy Easter.