6 of the most rewarding moments in vintage car ownership
Owning and maintaining a hobby car is full of ups and downs. With any luck the highs appear more often than the lows, but there is no way to guarantee their appearance. What we can do is focus on the moments that make the thin wallets and late nights and headaches worth it.
To bring some light into what may be a dark tunnel, we pulled out six of the moments in car ownership that we’ve found most rewarding. Whether you own a classic now or are thinking about jumping in with both feet, here is what you have to look forward to.
First show/event
Getting your new purchase home is a big moment; taking it out for its first show or event is even bigger. A car can be an extension of your personality and going out to your first car show with this new form of expression is a powerful moment.
Sharing your car and its story can be as easy as joining a gathering of likeminded individuals in a parking lot—or, if you thrive on more challenging goals, as complicated as earning a spot on a concours lawn. You don’t have to walk away with an award, but we’ll bet you’ll carry a memory when you go.
First startup
We aren’t going to equate hearing the engine you built run for the first time to hearing your child cry for the first time, but we have to admit it can be powerful.
The mental and physical investment in doing a major repair to the heart of your car culminates in turning the key and hearing the noise through the tailpipes as it stumbles to life. The mechanical symphony of lifters pumping while the cooling fan whirrs and the fuel pump comes up to pressure is a delight in itself, but when the sound is the long-awaited result of your own labor? It’s truly worth savoring.
Catching a problem before it’s a problem
Classic vehicles require a certain understanding. Once you learn your car’s language, you will know when something is not right.
Whether you do your own diagnosis or call in the professionals, having your hunch justified is an awesome feeling. It’s more than just keeping up on maintenance. This is knowing your car well enough that, when you detect a disturbance in the force, you act on it with confidence.
First difficult DIY repair
Not everyone is cut out for DIY repair. We recognize that. However, there is something about breaking out the tools and successfully tackling a job yourself that is just so rewarding—and the first time is just that much more special.
The task could be anything from swapping out a headlight and properly adjusting it to overhauling an automatic transmission—or anything in between. Never feel bad about taking pride in knocking out even the smallest jobs yourself.
First time you chauffeur an (appreciative) friend
While a solo drive can be restorative, there is really nothing quite like sharing the experience of your beloved car with an appreciative friend.
Putting someone in the passenger seat—or, better yet, behind the wheel—can be a wonderful experience that will give them an inside look at your passion. Explaining the joys of driving a classic is tough; seeing the look on someone’s face as they experience it for the first time is will recharge the enthusiast batteries inside you rapidly. Who doesn’t want to be a disciple of the old-car hobby?
Road trip or cruise
A long trip with your vintage car can be just short of a spiritual. The sounds, smells, and feeling of taking your beloved car on an adventure is intoxicating—if all goes according to plan, that is.
It can be stressful, but with proper preparation, you’ll be out enjoying the open road in the closest thing to a time machine most of us can afford. One day on the blue highways in a vintage car can change your outlook on cars—and life. Don’t deny yourself.
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Waiting for the transporter to show up with “The One” was a pretty cool experience. I worked with a great guy who kept me informed all the way. When he opened the door on the trailer it was like unwrapping a giant Christmas gift without the cheesy red ribbon on it. I also remember thinking “Holy Crap, this car is too nice to drive!” I got over that pretty quickly.
I would like to add being recognized when you’re not driving it. I’ve had total strangers come up to me ask why I’m not driving THE Blazer, as it’s referred to around town, when I’m using one of our other vehicles.
For me it’s going through the restoration that I waited for so long to be completed. It was well worth the wait and the time it took. Now being able to enjoy the end result with my wife in the passenger seat who supported this project from start to finish is the cherry on top.
I’ll add taking that first drive. After doing all the work, whether relatively small like an engine or trans rebuild all the way up to full restoration project, and being able to take the first drive around the block is a great feeling and milestone. Kind of related to the first fire up, but here the vehicle is moving under its own power, all the mechanical and electrical systems functioning together.
Yes. I agree. My dream car arrived on a transporter with a dead battery. Pushing the MG V8 up my steep driveway into my garage with the help of some neighbors in the evening worked instead of keeping it out until I could charge the battery. But the next day, it was ready to roll, and with RHD, even most distracted drivers couldn’t help but give a big smile or thumbs up.
I have had many compliments. The one’s that stand out to me the most are ” I’m a Mopar guy or Chevy guy but I would not mind switching over for one of these”. True story.
I appreciate all cars and models when shown and taken care of.
I also just love riding around and running it as it should be run.
The best part of taking/driving my 71 Trans Am-4 speed to a show is when I tell an admirer that the car is unrestored, that it’s still original paint and interior with only 19,000 original miles on the odometer. That typically leads to a lot more questions and sharing the story of the car, and how I acquired it.
Rebuilding an engIne when I never did it before and starting it up and it ran great
For me, it’s remembering at the last second to pack a fire extinguisher as I was preparing to drive my freshly restored 1963 Avanti to its very first Studebaker Drivers Club International Meet in South Bend, Ind. Unfortunately, I experienced a major engine fire halfway there. But fortunately, I had my fire extinguisher next to me and was able to quickly smother the blaze. The wiring harness got fried and I had to skip driving the Avanti to that meet. But a little common sense precaution saved the car, which I still own some 39 years later. The incident taught me you simply can’t scrimp on safety when motoring in a classic.
The day I have an empty garage space to fill.
Going to a show with your two sons-each with their own car. The road trip is another great milestone. This summer I put 12,000 miles on my ’72 Scout. I’ll never forget it.
Sending the final check to the restoration shop feels good indeed.
Do I really own it?
WHAT AM I?
Am I just a Custodian, Executor, Guardian, Trustee, Stewart or its Care-taker?
As I get on in years and find myself more involved in the unwanted sale of a few choice automotive treasures, I have come to the realization that in reality I truly don’t “own” these treasures.
Am I just the custodian or care-taker of such things? I can see that the person, who “owned” my 1936 Ford before me, treasured it and kept it in a close to factory condition. For what you may ask? Why didn’t he chop it, section it, customize it, stick a blower thru the hood and giant tires on the back or change it in any major way?
To me the answer is truly a quandary of my feelings and automotive history. Who am I to take a perfectly fantastic stock piece of history and cut it up?
And that’s where I am today. I realize with my age now that sometime the history and enjoyment of a vintage piece or iron is just that. A way to be the Guardian or custodian if you’d rather, to simply enjoy it and hand it down and share that feeling of a true vintage lover of older engineering and history will experience what it was like way back when and imagine where it went and whom also shared this feeling.
A friend of mine once quoted “anyone can keep it stock, but it takes real balls to chop one up” Funny at the time I guess. If it were just a body and two doors all beat up, then yes I could do it.
Except when I’m long gone this classic 5 window will still be here, but will it be under new ownership or will there they still be the guardian, the care-taker to look over it, enjoy it, drive it and let it live on in history?
So I asked myself, what AM I? Well I have realized that I’m just the temporary keeper of a time machine, one packed with old memories, feeling and some odd smells from time to time. An I will pass this on to the next player in the game and just pray that it not be chopped and found in some scrapyard in ten years with it memories crushed like so many have before it.
So I continue to look for someone that is willing to carry this torch and not try to change its history, Just someone who feels and shares the pride of true history.
Be a true Guardian, don’t chop up history.
Paul
Letting little kids sit in it at car shows. It’s a restored red MGA roadster that seems to draw a lot of interest from children. Maybe because it’s kind of kid-sized. They smile broadly behind the wheel while beaming parents snap their pictures on their phones to send off to the grandparents.
👍
Driving through the cool pre-sunset air on a curvy mountain road in a ’66 GT350 is next to heaven!
For me it all starts with the hunt. The road trip to find it, making the deal, and getting it on the trailer. Dragging it to all my friends places to show them my big score. This feeling is what I image a big game hunter feels at the end of a successful hunt.