car show questions

[crazycarmen]

My car is mostly stock, and not perfect in any way. Would it be stupid for me to enter it in a car show? My father in law says that people like to see cars before they've been restored. Is he just feeding me a line? He says they're called oe cars, for original equipment. I don't want to be laughed at, but I do think it would be a fun thing to do on the weekends!

 

[Princess Valiant]

My car is mostly stock, and not perfect in any way. Would it be stupid for me to enter it in a car show? My father in law says that people like to see cars before they've been restored. Is he just feeding me a line? He says they're called oe cars, for original equipment. I don't want to be laughed at, but I do think it would be a fun thing to do on the weekends!

if you are talking about the 4 door dart in the little pic under your screen name.....then I would say to enter it in a show without hesitating.

especially the fact that its an original condition vintage 4 door car ......that is something that is a relatively rare sight these days. If I was at the show that car was in ....I would stop and look.

Most show goers are sick of the same old row of high impact colored E-bodies and the resident superbird at every show (for being rare cars, they sure do pop up EVERYWHERE)

Shows are for having fun with an old car that as stood the test of time ......so DO IT DO IT ....get your car in a show if possible.

 

[Alaskan_TA]

I prefer to see the cars with age earned patina at shows. It does not have to be a 'show car' to take it to a car show.

 

[Dusteriffic]

I've seen many cars in shows that have alot of underhood dirt/rust, holes in the sheet metal, ratty interiors, no windows, etc. I don't laugh. If its a car that interests me, I check it out just as much as I would a fully restored one. That's my two cents.

 

[Abodybomber]

I have done flamed yellow big block Chevelles, ultra detailed 90's mini trucks & army green with red scalloped 72 /6 Darts. Just show up,show it & enjoy the show as a enthusiast. I would,absolutely.

 

[GEO]

Go for it , don't expect any awards as only butt-buddies of the judges get those

 

[autoxcuda]

Show it. Participate.

Be open minded and keep you ears open. People often give recommendations and past experiances on services that will need on your project also. Best way to network.

You might get jackass comments from spectators walking by. But they don't have a car or one to show usually. Those types will make jackass comment on nice restored cars too. They want to act like they are part of something they are not or just ego minded idiots.

Learn to have a little thick skin ignoring negative things and pay attention to positive things. Not a bad thing to do in life in general either.

 

[WildCat]

Original cars are a different breed and different people appreciate them

I have taken the 74 cadillac coupe deVille with 30,000 miles now and people look at it. Not really a show car, but a nice old vehicle that is unrestored.

If it is a rusted out hunk, no probably not one to spend your money entering it. But if the show is benefiting a good cause (THE REASON YOU SHOULD GO TO A CAR SHOW, not for a plastic trophy.) go ahead and let others see an unrestored piece of history.

Use to take my unrestored 1967 coronet convertible to shows and people always said, why don't you paint it, well, it is only original ONCE! 30 year old original paint and interior car. Looked good, but had some chips, small dent and rust the size of a 1/2 dollar

 

[clhyer]

I agree, go and have fun. Meet some other car guys and network. Around here, it would be in the "survivor" category.
C

 

[85glht]

Most show goers are sick of the same old row of high impact colored E-bodies and the resident superbird at every show (for being rare cars, they sure do pop up EVERYWHERE)

You got that right.


For the OP..... Enter the show, have fun and thick skin. Some people just have no class and will make negative comments. Good luck!

 

[kazooom]

I show mine and people like it alot. A four door with a quick body and paint I did myself. The interior still need too be done. I have some that like the car because they had one. Most shows have very few 4 doors. Last one I went to had a four door 57 chev in great original condition and a four door 70 t-bird. I have never seen one of those before. It had a vinyl top with the vinyl extending to the tops of the doors... Show your car and have fun

 

[ramenth]

Be open minded and keep you ears open. People often give recommendations and past experiances on services that will need on your project also. Best way to network.

Beat me to it.

 

[zkx14]

Do it. If your car was at a show, I would definitely be looking. Would love to see more old, original stuff at shows. I was at Carlisle last year, and could not find a single good reference of a mid 70's slant.
I went to a small show yesterday that had at least 4 new model Challengers. Not that I wouldn't want to drive one, but I can check them out at the a Dodge dealer. Not saying they shouldn't be there either, they may have been the highlight of the show for someone else. Just that one would have been enough for me (preferably parked next to a 70s model). I like to see variety, old/new, restored/original/custom, but you can't build a survivor.

 

[toolmanmike]

Show it and have fun! You will get a lot of attention and a lot of "remember when" conversations. tmm

 

[doogievlg]

Taking a average non monoxide car is like taking a slow car to a drag strip. A lot of times it's the guy with the slow stuff at the track who is having the most fun and the same can be said with car shows. Who cares what everyone else thinks. If you think it will be fun then do it.

 

[krazykuda]

Put it in the show, just don't be disappointed if you don't win a prize/trophy. It's nice to see a good condition car, but some people are in the game to try to win prizes/trophies.

I once heard of a guy that would go to a show and check out the "competition" before entering his car in the show. If he felt that another car was better than his and he wouldn't get a prize/trophy, he wouldn't enter his car....


Just go to the show to have a good time and enjoy yourself. Don't worry about trying to win a trophy, it's much less to worry about then....

 

[crazycarmen]

Thanks guys! I don't expect to win, but would love to learn from other classic car lovers! I guess, I'll try to clean her up a little and see if I can find any nearby shows! I bet my girls would have fun looking at other neat old cars, too!

 

[Princess Valiant]

Thanks guys! I don't expect to win, but would love to learn from other classic car lovers! I guess, I'll try to clean her up a little and see if I can find any nearby shows! I bet my girls would have fun looking at other neat old cars, too!

YES!!! take your girls to shows with you ......and tell them that they can be car builders too if they choose.

More girls need to be in the industry because right now the few that are here have to put up with too much from guys who were not raised right and society's mis-conception of gender roles.

At most community colleges they have automotive departments and there are scholarships available for women interested in automotive careers.

I am not promoting it just for girls eithers .....even any young men you know should look at automotive technology too. Its never a waste of time to work on a car, which is really a rolling science lab.

http://www.forabodiesonly.com/mopar/showthread.php?t=261609

 

[crazycarmen]

I agree RaniDart70! I just helped my husband change out the starter on this car the other day! I did all the disconnecting and reconnecting, because his hands are too big! It was a greasy bloody fun time! I like to sew and crochet, but I felt so proud of myself that I could work on my car, too! I want my girls to know that they can do whatever they want! I'm not a feminist, but I appreciate doing whatever I want!

 

[barbee6043]

yes all. car shows should be about meetin interesting people, learning, weedin out the b s, great to give the girls a chance to see the auto world. give yourself a chance to see what others do, enjoy,
funny thing about cars shows sometimes: Joe spends $30,000 to make his $5000 worthy of winnin a trophy, oonly to find JIm spent $50,000 to make his $6000 JUST a little better!!??? LOL

 

[ramenth]

I bet my girls would have fun looking at other neat old cars, too!

Ding! Ding! Ding! We have a winner!

 

[moe7404]

i love seeing cars that are being worked on. that tells me a LOT about the owner. a car / truck does NOT need to be perfect to be liked. its part of real life.

 

[crazycarmen]

That's funny about the money! I guess it all depends on how much you're willing to put in your car! We don't have a lot, but we're not in a hurry! If we waited to drive it until it was perfect we'd wait forever! We like driving it around, and I get to hear everyone's stories about their past darts! It's fun!

 

[ramenth]

i love seeing cars that are being worked on. that tells me a LOT about the owner. a car / truck does NOT need to be perfect to be liked. its part of real life.

One of my plans for the old man's '54 Ford. Not fun to look at, but gets thumbs up everywhere I go. Brings back a lot of memories for the over 70 crowd (and I love talking to the old guys, a lot of stories there) and a lot of questions from the younger crowd.

My plan is to do as much work on it over the winters as I can, then show it as a work in progress. Guys who attend the local cruises and shows can watch it be built (figuratively) from year to year.

It's a good way to get Cyrus involved, too, once he's old enough to help.

 

[75slant6]

Show it! Absolutely!! You can see in my avatar that my duster looks pretty bad, mostly surface rust, but once I get it running/driving I'll definitely take it to the local cruise in!!