How many feel the same

[Paul J.]

Re: How many feel the same

Tim:

I worry about this. Not so much the damage to the car but the hassle of dealing with the insurance companies. My youngest daughter's 01 Breeze was destoyed in front on my house two months ago by a "South of the Boarder" driver with no license. Luckily, the owner of the car he was driving had insurance. The Breeze was one of my "dealer" cars and was perfect, especially the interior. Nationwide was good about the injuries but were slow to settle on the car and would only give me ACV, despite my arguments. I would have lost money if this had not been one my cars for resale. Nationwide sucks.

However, I still drive my classic cars.

Paul

[Lynn H.]

Re: How many feel the same

Tim:

I worry about this. Not so much the damage to the car but the hassle of dealing with the insurance companies. My youngest daughter's 01 Breeze was destoyed in front on my house two months ago by a "South of the Boarder" driver with no license. Luckily, the owner of the car he was driving had insurance. The Breeze was one of my "dealer" cars and was perfect, especially the interior. Nationwide was good about the injuries but were slow to settle on the car and would only give me ACV, despite my arguments. I would have lost money if this had not been one my cars for resale. Nationwide sucks.

However, I still drive my classic cars.

Paul

I believe this is a GREAT reason for NOT insuring your classic with the "standard" insurance companies such as Nationwide, AAA, etc. I have only had experience with Haggerty when it come to classics, and it was a painless process and they paid right up. I have also personally found insurance premium rates to be much better with the "classic" insurers.
Lynn

[Clem Z.]

Re: How many feel the same

Tim:

I worry about this. Not so much the damage to the car but the hassle of dealing with the insurance companies. My youngest daughter's 01 Breeze was destoyed in front on my house two months ago by a "South of the Boarder" driver with no license. Luckily, the owner of the car he was driving had insurance. The Breeze was one of my "dealer" cars and was perfect, especially the interior. Nationwide was good about the injuries but were slow to settle on the car and would only give me ACV, despite my arguments. I would have lost money if this had not been one my cars for resale. Nationwide sucks.

However, I still drive my classic cars.

Paul

i had a nice CHEVY II hit in front of my house by a drunk driver on the wrong side of the road. i had the car towed to the dealership where mrs clem worked and after the adjuster came and looked at the car the body shop foreman called me and said "i think they are going to total the car" i did not want the car totaled so i told the shop start fixing it i would pay. about 2 weeks later the insurance adjuster showed up at my house and told me they were going to total the car and i told him he was a little late as the car was already repaired. he said who gave you permission to repair the car and i told him i did not need permission as it was my car and his client was at fault. he closed his book and said "what am i going to tell my boss" and i replied "you look like a smart young fellow i am sure you will think of something". i got the check in the mail the next week. do not let insurance co screw with you.

[John D.]

Re: How many feel the same

[quote=Martin Novak (47651);461053]ROY-

I AGREE. I look at it like, a car is a car, is a car, right? A mode of transportation, right? Wether it's a Rolls Royce, Corvette, Reatta, GMC or a VW, they were built to drive, to move people and goods from one place to another. You know transportation! I do believe the ORIGINAL car / automobile makers wanted these machines of their's to be used not collect so they would wear out in time and hopefully (if you had a good experience) you'd buy another one just like it. BUT now, it's like people and lifestyles have changed this "mode of transportation" into a "collectible" frensy. WE, the automotive public / enthusists / hobbists / investors have created this world of collect, restore, preserve, museum them and don't use. I guess what I'm trying to say, if ya got one "use it before you loose it". I drive my 74 convertible whenever I can.


Interesting that you mentioned a Reatta Marty. Last week or so I saw an old lady driving one in my town. Pretty red coupe in cherry condition. Meanwhile I used to drive my 84 Corvette around town once in a while. Was a horrible ride with the Z51 coal truck suspension.
Before 2010 is over I hope to have nice C5 driver.
But as far as my 63, the LWC goes it will be nice trailer queen forever and a day as it's a toy to me and not a car to drive. Hasn't had a legal license plated on it since 1970. Yeah guys make fun of me but who cares.
I admire guys who drive their old Corvettes though. But me personally I would rather take the blond out in nice roomy newer car with the AC on listening to XM.
To each his own. We have to respect whatever the other guy or girl likes. Some like to chase the points, some like to drive, and some like to stack them up in the corner so the ethanol goes bad. Every spring I go nuts as guys let their old fuel cars sit in the corner untouched for 6 months and then expect they should start up and whistle dixie.
I personally can't wait to drive a late model Corvette again. But I never plan on driving the LWC as one chip and I would be sick.
I have a car with a nice 55 Corvette engine in it though. hmmm. Course it hasn't started for 25 years or so.
Give Roy a ton of credit guys as he has fun and most of us don't.
Norm Neffield is responsible for old JD here joining NCRS 30 years ago or more. Norm was driving the crap out of his 64 then and is still driving it regularly now. He certainly has got his share of enjoyment out of his red coupe. Amen. JD

[Jeff C.]

Re: How many feel the same

Mark
It's sad thing that people say things on computers that they would never say to someone in person. Your comments are just plain rude.
Jeff

[Roger W.]

Re: How many feel the same

I think most owners would like to drive their restored car, but they are probably afraid to park it anywhere. Ther are jealous mean people out there who will carve up a nice paint job.

[Mark D.]

Re: How many feel the same

Mark
It's sad thing that people say things on computers that they would never say to someone in person. Your comments are just plain rude.
Jeff

Jeff,

To my knowledge, we have never met so I'm not sure how you arrived at the opinion that I have said something with my keyboard that I wouldn't say during a converstion in person....but, you have.

If we find ourselves at a meet together in the future, I hope I can buy you a beer and we can get to know each other. Hopefully, you will then have a better opinion of me. I will be at the winter meet in FL and there are several places that have cold beer (and I know them all ). I emailed you my personal contact info if you want to use it.

Take care,

Mark

[Roy B.]

Re: How many feel the same

I think most owners would like to drive their restored car, but they are probably afraid to park it anywhere. Ther are jealous mean people out there who will carve up a nice paint job.

Many years ago I never thought of that and I've driven all over the country in my 55 ,but in 05 after the national NCRS in Utah we stopped in Nevada for lunch and when we came out some one keyed the left fender . So I know how many worry about driving their Corvette , but I'll still drive it , the only bad experience in over 30 years .

[Jay G.]

Re: How many feel the same

I think most owners would like to drive their restored car, but they are probably afraid to park it anywhere. Ther are jealous mean people out there who will carve up a nice paint job.

I too had my 67 Lyndale 977 car keyed. In Walmart left it alone 15 min. Saw the weenie boy who did. 50 plus yrs old. Go figure. But I still drive all my cars just little more leery leavin em alone. But only bad experience in 40 yrs. of different ownership. Not a bad trade off.

[Michael H.]

Re: How many feel the same

I think most owners would like to drive their restored car, but they are probably afraid to park it anywhere. Ther are jealous mean people out there who will carve up a nice paint job.

I agree. And another issue would be mechanical problems on the road. Not everyone here knows how to patch up these old cars enough to get to somewhere that can fix it.
I think the horror of a failed spindle bearing in the middle of nowhere has to be a scary thought for everyone with a 63 or newer.

[Clem Z.]

Re: How many feel the same

I agree. And another issue would be mechanical problems on the road. Not everyone here knows how to patch up these old cars enough to get to somewhere that can fix it.
I think the horror of a failed spindle bearing in the middle of nowhere has to be a scary thought for everyone with a 63 or newer.

are not those parts replaced in a "frame off restoration" ?

[Stuart F.]

Re: How many feel the same

Not always if the car is original like mine. I did replace a strut rod that was cracked due to an off road excursion, but most other suspension parts are original - of course I check them often.

Stu Fox

[Fenwick B.]

Re: How many feel the same

I am on both sides of the fence on this one. I drive my 55 whenever I get a chance. The chance of someone damaging the car while it's parked, and the abundant rainfall in La. keep me from driving it more. I drive it with the top down all the time, because it doesn't do much good keeping the rain out anyway. I keep a cover in the trunk, in case it does rain.
After working on restoring the 55 for about 3 years, I decided that it would be a lot easier to maintain an excellent original car than it would be to restore one. I then bought an original 1990 ZR1 in perfect condition with 700 miles on it. The only times that I have driven it was for a NCRS Performance Verification Award, and a little ever once in a while to keep it operable. I feel kind of like my son said, "It's too good to drive".

[Steve B.]

Re: How many feel the same

I have known Mark for several years and I challenge anyone to find a more knowledgeable, polite person. I'm sure some of his comments were tonque in cheek. BTW, I also enjoy reading Roys posts.
On the issue of to drive or not, it really should be left up to the owner. I believe that there is room for the drivers, resto mods, trailer queens etc. to coexist and appreciate all facets of our hobby even though we may not agree with someone elses decision. I have way too much stress in my life to worry about what someone else is doing. I do not drive my cars, however the fun for me is to make my cars as correct as I can, the endless pursuit of perfection.
Regards,

[Steven S.]

Re: How many feel the same

A long thread to follow!! I am in the group of drive them. I have a 63 coupe that gets on the road when ever possible. It is not a top flight car and I bought it with the intention of driving it. My choice just as it is the choice of the owner that has a top flight, Duntov car that wants to just show it or keep it for postarity. But we all need to remember, if someone had not driven them in the past, there would be no corvette today. I desire a corvette because I remember seeing them on the road blowing the doors off all comer's. That memory drove me, and I suspect several others to buy a corvette when we could afford it. That desire drove the pricing up and drove the aftermarket to product the parts we needed to keep them running. If we are to keep them desirable, someone needs to be driving them. I am in that crowd. Nothing is better than going down the freeway and pass a family car with the little kid in the back seat with his nose glued to the glass and pointing at the neat car going by. We were all that kid at one time and that is why we are here in this hobby today. We need that kid to grow up and become one of us, otherwise the corvette will disappear like so many other great cars.

Steve