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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First car show I took my car to and being told I probably have the rarest car there. 69 GTX convertible.
Thank you, Kyle Smith, for posting this article. A very enjoyable read and thanks for all the comments from those reading this. I’ll second many of these! Isn’t it wonderful to be involved in the automotive hobby: obtaining, working on, taking care of vehicles, etc.? Thank you, Hagerty, for being along for the ride!!
I fell in love with the Newport Antique Auto Hill Climb the first time I ever saw it. I sold a custom VW bug I built and bought an old car to take on the hill with. It was a 1938 Plymouth, and for 15 amazing years, I would drive the 340-mile round trip just to race it up the hill. Over the years I garnered many trophies and made numerous friends along the way. Sadly the years have taken a toll on my health and I can no longer run the hill, so I decided to sell my car. The Lions club that runs the event saw my advertisement and decided to buy my Plymouth for the 2023 raffle car. I am sorry I had to sell it, but could not be any happier with where it went. Perhaps it will again run up Newport’s hill and earn even more trophies.
I’m sure you have so many
wonderful memories!
Take care.
My first “hot rod” was one I built about 50 years ago and I accomplished most of what was said in the article in a matter of a few days. Fired it up on a Friday. Made the first repair the same day after it’s maiden voyage around the block. Took the first trip in it the next day. Avoided a breakdown by bringing an extra carburetor with me which I used to rebuild the one on the car the next day. Some time during that weekend gave a ride to my cousin who was cruising with me, but the trip was also with my wife. So all went well. A memorable three days.
How about Pebble Beach invite?
For me it’s the drive. For 25+ years I take my ’68 C10 on an annual 2500 mile round trip from Denver to Central Illinois, all or most of it on the old blue highways. It always sparks conversations at the gas pump, or in small town cafes over pie and coffee. The pickup reminds folks of one their grandfather, uncle or dad had on the farm. With the windows down and running 60 mph through the countryside, smelling the fresh cut hay and listening to the song of the red wing blackbird, the truck for me becomes a time machine that takes me back to a more peaceful time and place.
One day the awesome first start of that rebuilt hemi could be no longer….with the advent of EV,s.
My most rewarding experience?……every time one of my Oldtimers (German word for classic cars) starts, without me having to lift the hood.
When I put my grandson in the passenger seat, and backed out of the garage (we couldn’t go further as I didn’t have a car seat for him) and he said: “This is so exciting!” Priceless.
I first fell in love with my small block Healey in the fall of ’84: some friends pulled it out of a barn that summer while I was OTR and it was sitting in their driveway when I got home–beautiful–love at first sight.
I worked on it for twenty years, never showing desire or jealousy, only driving it once. Then my friend the owner sold his house and had no place to keep the Healey: he sold it to me.
It’s been in my barn now since January, ’05, usually running–right now it needs a little work.
It depends where you live but a great milestone is when you finally get the old girl to pass a safety check so so you can get plates–that won’t mean it’s perfect by any stretch but you can drive it on the street-
My milestones have been finding that elusive part. Sometimes you get lucky, sometimes not. Been looking for years for two NOS or aftermarket muffler hangers for one of my cars. They’re made of unobtainium.
Priceless joys of burbling about and enjoying huge approval from most everyone. Great to share and old car journeys rock. Missing mine till her resto is done. Promised a good long drive when she’s reassembled
Early AM, Christmas eve, 1978. Finishing “cut and rub” touches to my garage painted, tangerine, ’70 914-6. It was my personal culmination of acquiring the lowered orange streak I had watched with awe as it traversed an autocross course set up at the local City College in 1972.
Backed out of the garage into the morning mist for a trip from Santa Barbara to Solvang , via San Marcos Pass, to deliver the 26″ portable color TV stuffed onto the passenger seat for my Mom. Priceless!
One that I like is in the purchase…Bidding on car and finding out someone else really wants this car too…Damn…So you go a few thou more than you expected…That feeling, “Damn, I got it…It’s Mine…Not his”…and considering how much money you will eventually, and continually put into that car, a couple extra, no big deal…