How do I regain my Corvette passion?

[Mike F.]

Re: How do I regain my Corvette passion?

Drive it or sell it, you can't take it with you. We all wish we had kept old cars that were sold, thats natural. Sometimes I wish I had my 1973 Chevy Impala back, but if I had owned it for 39 years it probably wouldn't be as "special".

I personally don't understand the garage/trailer queen mentality. It's like investing in a big fake pair of b(o)(o)bs and only looking at them. What's the point?
When I go to a local NCRS gathering or show I mostly just hear stories about what Corvettes the members have, rarely do I see a member bring his/her car.
I own a 70 Coupe and I intend on driving it into the ground (on nice days of course). At the end of my life I would rather have 100k miles in Corvettes opposed to just 1k.

Another opinion/observation that I have is based on age and generations. I'm 49 and have always been a Corvette nut. When I go to an NCRS gathering, I'm the youngest one there. I joke that in 10 years I'll be the only living member of my club and C2's will be a dime a dozen.
While I appreciate all years of Corvettes, I will most likely never own a C1 or C2. There just aren't any memories associated with them to me. Now there will always be timeless classics and some really nicely restored cars out there, but as the generations before me (65-85 age group) pass away so does the interest in those cars. If I keep my 70 coupe for 30 years, the interest in it in 2042 will most likely be minimal.

Not to sound like a broken record, drive it or sell it, you can't take it with you. Good luck with finding something you enjoy.

[George J.]

Re: How do I regain my Corvette passion?

Most members suggest that I drive my car. I can't stand it! Others have suggested taking an interest in another car. That car is a rotisserie restored 51 Packard buisness coupe with 370 cu. in.'s of straight 8 Packard with two Paxton superchargers, ported,Edmons head,electronic ignition, port fuel injection,3 speed W/overdrive and a 410 rear. I have been sorry that I've sold cars in the past. I sold a restored 50 Merc convertable so as not to argue with my wife. That annoyed me enough to get rid of her!

Stan,
I don't understand what you "can't stand". Driving the car? That people are suggesting you drive it? My suggestion would be two fold. One, find another challenge associated with the car. How about a road tour? You may think you've got a car that's like new, but until you drive it for a while, you don't really know what doesn't work. How about autocrossing it and really learning how to drive it? Two, how about involving someone younger that either doesn't have one of these, or helping out younger members that need guidance in fixing or restoring?
You asked for my $0.02.

George

[Jim D.]

Re: How do I regain my Corvette passion?

I do not like the car after doing a 14 year restoration, 9

Most members suggest that I drive my car. I can't stand it!

I think those two statements say it all. Get rid of the car and move on to something that interests you. Why keep something you don't use or even like?

[Michael J.]

Re: How do I regain my Corvette passion?

It is important to get that passion back for a car, any car, otherwise you could end up this way near the end:

[Paul J.]

Re: How do I regain my Corvette passion?

Most members suggest that I drive my car. I can't stand it! Others have suggested taking an interest in another car. That car is a rotisserie restored 51 Packard buisness coupe with 370 cu. in.'s of straight 8 Packard with two Paxton superchargers, ported,Edmons head,electronic ignition, port fuel injection,3 speed W/overdrive and a 410 rear. I have been sorry that I've sold cars in the past. I sold a restored 50 Merc convertable so as not to argue with my wife. That annoyed me enough to get rid of her!

Stan, as I said before, maybe it's just the challenge. You said the Packard restoration was complete, so what are you working on?

Many years ago in another state I went to church in a good working class neighborhood. The road I traveled went beside of several homes and in the back yard of one was a Model T Doctor's Coupe (I think that's what its's called). He did'nt have a garage and worked on it out in the open, so I watched each week as the car was slowly taken apart. Pieces would disappear and then reappear, only to be on the car the following week. After a couple of years the car was finished. It was painted and gleaming, but it still sat on blocks in the same spot. After several months parts started disappearing again. It took me a few weeks to realize that he was redoing the restoration! I followed this restoration and the beginnings of a third one before I moved away. Now that's what I call a hobby. He needed the challenge of restoring the car but liked it too much to sell it (and probably didn't have the means to keep it and start something else). To each his own.

Paul

[Clem Z.]

Re: How do I regain my Corvette passion?

don't know what cars you have but if you want to get back into the thrill of corvettes get a new Z0-6 or ZR1 and see what you have been missing. JMHO

[Ara G.]

Re: How do I regain my Corvette passion?

Stan,
Go to a Regional or National NCRS meet...you'd be surprised how much more into the car community you feel when you are surrounded by hundreds of guys and gals that STILL have the passion...To say it's contagious is an understatement...I haven't lost a bit of my passion for the Corvettes and cars in general - but when I am at a meet my desire and passion heightens tremendously...and it's great catching up with old friends, new friends and new cars you have never seen before...ARA

[Thomas H.]

Re: How do I regain my Corvette passion?

Most members suggest that I drive my car. I can't stand it!

I do not like the car after doing a 14 year restoration

Like Jim said, these are pretty strong statements and really sum it all up. Sell the car and move on to something else.

Tom

[Edward B.]

Re: How do I regain my Corvette passion?

Most members suggest that I drive my car. I can't stand it! Others have suggested taking an interest in another car. That car is a rotisserie restored 51 Packard buisness coupe with 370 cu. in.'s of straight 8 Packard with two Paxton superchargers, ported,Edmons head,electronic ignition, port fuel injection,3 speed W/overdrive and a 410 rear. I have been sorry that I've sold cars in the past. I sold a restored 50 Merc convertable so as not to argue with my wife. That annoyed me enough to get rid of her!

This sounds like a deeper problem than can be addressed on this forum - short term I would suggest selling the Corvette as it seems to be a major source of annoyance. It is always good to have at least two hobbies so that you can switch back and forth as your interests wane and wax.

[Dan S.]

Re: How do I regain my Corvette passion?

Just park it for a while. Put a cover over it and move on to other things. Ignoring the car for a few months may help you determine if it's time to sell.

[Jaime G.]

Re: How do I regain my Corvette passion?

Why did you get the car to begin with? If that purpose has been fulfilled move on. I have 6 vintage corvettes which
all serve different purposes for me in my hobby life. If one fails to serve its purpose, I will sell it and move on.
Its not my place to give advise but cars dont create passion, we create passion and cars become part of the fantasy.

[Patrick N.]

Re: How do I regain my Corvette passion?

[QUOTE=George Jerome (31887);616481]Stan,

I don't understand what you "can't stand".

Stan, This is great question that you should answer. Do you not like the quality of restoration, color, bitter memories? It seems like although you cant stand the car, you are looking to get the passion back. These cars are about shared memories- the journey, not the destination. Take some friends for a ride. Road trip the darn thing and see what happens.

Good Luck with your soul search
Pat

[Jerry G.]

Re: How do I regain my Corvette passion?

Go road racing with a Corvette. That will get the blood flowing

[Anthony P.]

Re: How do I regain my Corvette passion?

This sounds like a deeper problem than can be addressed on this forum - short term I would suggest selling the Corvette as it seems to be a major source of annoyance. It is always good to have at least two hobbies so that you can switch back and forth as your interests wane and wax.

Stan

Edward brings up a valid point maybe a hobby change (somthing with an Internal combustion motor) will help to get you going again, it worked for me, somewhat bored with cars I entered into the powerboat hobby and after a few years I got back into my 66 vette.

Best wishes

[Bruce B.]

Re: How do I regain my Corvette passion?

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After I finished my 57 Fuelie 2 years ago I told my wife I was tired and that was the last restoration.
Then I made the electronic Hilborn and put it on my 62 and the challange has been great and the driving has been a ball.

I still have the 57, 62 and my dogs 65 and drive them all. Each has a different personality which makes them interesting.

Now I am all cranked up again after finding a 57 fuelie thats been sitting since late 60's. See pictures attached.

Ya just got to keep moving and exploring how far you can push yourself.