Show Cars and Driver Cars

[55 Fargo]

Hi all, was doing a bit of bodywork a while ago in the shop. I was musing to myself, that my car has really come a long way, from the literal scrap heap she was 4 years ago.

I was working in the area of the rockers, I fabbed these rockers and installed them, I know now I would have done them completely different, as they aren't as nice and neat as they should be, when you open the doors, along the edge where the alumium stirp attaches, you can see the welds I did to attache the rockers to the square tube steel I used to create a structure for the rockers and outer floor support.

It is a little rough looking.

I may try and grind down the welds a bit, and maybe use metal filler and bury them right along the whole length not sure yet.

As I am a very amateur, most of the work is done by me, and most of the rest will be done by me, except for rechroming, and the actuall reupholstery of the seats.

I can't fool myself into thinking this will ever be a #1 or #2 show car, she is just too rough, and my skills and cash flow would not lend itself to creating a real stunning show car.

So I have to be content with driver, or fixed up status, and be done with it.

I know some might say, take to have the body, paint, interior, professionaly done, not gonna happen.

How many of you feel your rides are driver/fixer upper status?

[Niel Hoback]

My car will never be a show car as long as I own it. I have fixed it up so I can drive it. So, its a "fixer-upper" and a "driver".

[steveplym]

I don't really feel there are status's per say. I've got an old car. Two to be exact. They look nice. Will I ever have a trailer queen that is just as nice on top as it is on the bottom? No, and I would not want one. If the only fun I could have is loading it up on a trailer and the unloading it here and there it wouldn't be much fun to me. I build my cars to drive, and that is what I enjoy.

When I first got into this hobby I wanted to win a trophy at every show. That was my goal. I would spend countless hours cleaning, repainting, spending money on new parts, and trying to make things better to win. Then I realized I could spend that time driving my car to cruise nights, etc and have fun with friends. Not worry about what I was going to place in a show.

It is your car and you should be proud of it no matter what. Especially with how hard you have worked on it. What is rewarding is the people that will walk up to your car, at a cruise night, at a parking lot at a restaurant or where ever, and they tell you "Man, that is a nice car!" You get asked questions and hear stories. In my opinion that is what it is all about.

Make it look as nice as you want it, and can afford. Then drive it and have fun. Don't shortcut things you know will bug you if you don't do them, as it will be harder to do them later. Keep in mind though, if it looks great to you that is all you need to know.

[David Strieb]

Myself, I won't own a car that I don't drive. My '40 Plymouth (modified) is driven daily, my '38 Dodge PU (stock) was my daily driver while the Plymouth was being built, my '36 Chrysler (stock) is used as much as possible. The Chrysler has been driven to California twice for vacation, about 2500 miles round trip, with only one problem. Had to replace the generator brushes on the side of the road.

I stopped to have a beer the other day, someone I didn't know came up and told me it was raining. I had a puzzled look (I do live in the Seattle area), and he said "aren't you gonna get your car home?" I asked him "why, is it melting?" He couldn't believe it's a daily driver, and sits outside year round.

Why sink time and money into a garage queen. Dosen't make sense to me, may as well park it in the living room and use it for furniture.

No offense intended to anyone, we all enjoy our cars as we see fit.

[55 Fargo]

My car will never be a show car as long as I own it. I have fixed it up so I can drive it. So, its a "fixer-upper" and a "driver".

Nice color on the car Neil, did you do the body and paint yourself?

[55 Fargo]

I don't really feel there are status's per say. I've got an old car. Two to be exact. They look nice. Will I ever have a trailer queen that is just as nice on top as it is on the bottom? No, and I would not want one. If the only fun I could have is loading it up on a trailer and the unloading it here and there it wouldn't be much fun to me. I build my cars to drive, and that is what I enjoy.

When I first got into this hobby I wanted to win a trophy at every show. That was my goal. I would spend countless hours cleaning, repainting, spending money on new parts, and trying to make things better to win. Then I realized I could spend that time driving my car to cruise nights, etc and have fun with friends. Not worry about what I was going to place in a show.

It is your car and you should be proud of it no matter what. Especially with how hard you have worked on it. What is rewarding is the people that will walk up to your car, at a cruise night, at a parking lot at a restaurant or where ever, and they tell you "Man, that is a nice car!" You get asked questions and hear stories. In my opinion that is what it is all about.

Make it look as nice as you want it, and can afford. Then drive it and have fun. Don't shortcut things you know will bug you if you don't do them, as it will be harder to do them later. Keep in mind though, if it looks great to you that is all you need to know.

Steve you gotta real nice car, underhood tells me a lot about your hard work on the car, yours is high status driver.....Fred

[55 Fargo]

Glad to hear you drive your cars alot David, I would like to do this in the future, except for winter up here. Last summer I drove my car at every opportunity, and she is only in primer, with no interior juist the seats had cloth on them..

[steveplym]

Glad to hear you drive your cars alot David, I would like to do this in the future, except for winter up here. Last summer I drove my car at every opportunity, and she is only in primer, with no interior juist the seats had cloth on them..

That is when you'll have the most fun with the car. When a guy wants to give you a phone number for some other parts you need and you can write it on the fender.

Had a guy do that once. Actually he wrote all over the car.

[Oldguy48]

When I decided to purchase my P15, my goal was to build a car that had an upgraded power train, upgraded brakes, upgraded electrical system, seat belts, etc., but try to keep as much as the original look as I could. So besides replacing the original front seat with buckets seats, there won't be any major cosmetic modifications. The car definitely won't be a show car, but a car that will be fun to drive, and reliable. I'm doing as much of the work as I can, and if it won't win any awards, that's OK. At least I'll have the satisfaction of knowing that I've done most of the work myself, and I've enjoyed every minute of it. My first car was a P15 originally purchased by my grandfather, and the car had it's shortcomings to be sure. I'm trying to build a vehicle that corrects those shortcomings, but looks much like original. I've got a long way to go to get it on the road, but that's OK too. I've learned a tremendous amount from this forum, and a tremendous amount from actually tearing into the car. It's provided many hours of enjoyment working on it, and I haven't lost any enthusiasm for the work, even though it's been about 2 year or so since I began. My hope is that I can get the car on the road in the next year or so. It definitely won't be a "Trailer Queen". I'm more interested in enjoying driving the car, than displaying it at a car show. As long as I'm pleased with the car, I've met my goal.

[steveplym]

When I decided to purchase my P15, my goal was to build a car that had an upgraded power train, upgraded brakes, upgraded electrical system, seat belts, etc., but try to keep as much as the original look as I could. So besides replacing the original front seat with buckets seats, there won't be any major cosmetic modifications. The car definitely won't be a show car, but a car that will be fun to drive, and reliable. I'm doing as much of the work as I can, and if it won't win any awards, that's OK. At least I'll have the satisfaction of knowing that I've done most of the work myself, and I've enjoyed every minute of it. My first car was a P15 originally purchased by my grandfather, and the car had it's shortcomings to be sure. I'm trying to build a vehicle that corrects those shortcomings, but looks much like original. I've got a long way to go to get it on the road, but that's OK too. I've learned a tremendous amount from this forum, and a tremendous amount from actually tearing into the car. It's provided many hours of enjoyment working on it, and I haven't lost any enthusiasm for the work, even though it's been about 2 year or so since I began. My hope is that I can get the car on the road in the next year or so. It definitely won't be a "Trailer Queen". I'm more interested in enjoying driving the car, than displaying it at a car show. As long as I'm pleased with the car, I've met my goal.

Have you posted some pics of your car? Sounds like a nice project.

I pretty much did the same thing you did. I added seat belts, 12 volt, new wiring, rebuilt motor, rebuilt brakes and new brake lines. Fixed the fuel gauge and turn signals. Plus I repainted the car and redid some of the previous bodywork. What is important is that you have fun with the car, whether that is the local sonic cruise, downtown show, or going to a buddy's house. Like you said get 'em out and drive 'em. They don't need to sit in the driveway all the time...... Sorry Norm.

[Dennis Hemingway]

We drive the 48 to some shows and we trailer it to others, It depends on how I feel, how far away, and how long the show is. In April we plan on going to the show at the AVI Casino in Laughlin, Nv. We will trailer the car there as it is a 4 day show and I have to carry food & beer for me for the 4 days, but the main reason we trailer is that my wife is a trailer Queen. (she likes air conditioning)

Dennis:p

[Oldguy48]

I've tried to post some photos, but can't seem to do it. I'm not a computer whiz, and although I tried, I haven't been successful. My photo software is HP. Maybe I need to use some other approach. I can't seem to get the pictures down to a size that I can download. Frustrating, but maybe if I ask my 4 year old grandson, he can do it for me.

[55 Fargo]

Even my Coupe has had the following done, new clutch, machined flywheel, all new brakes and lines, new gas tank and lines, all new wiring, new shocks, diff swap to 3.73, engine and trans swap to 218 Canadian long block and regular 3 spd trans. I also own 2 other flattie engines, and have a 265 combine engine if I need it.

Rebuilt genny,starter motor,NOS reglator.

My engine still leaks a lot of oil, will replace pan gasket, not sure if I will try ther rear mains eal in car, or drive as is, still rebuild time, or engine swap again.

Fornt end is decent, steering box should be pulled rebuilt/resealed.

Did the ebrake all new, lots of little things besides, body repairs.....Fred

[55 Fargo]

Send a pic to yourself,via email, there will be prompt asking you if the pic should be resized, if you have Windows XP. Go to your pic files, select the pic, then email it to your self, then go to your main email and file save the pic to either pics or documents, then use the reduced size pic to upload onto P15 D24..clear as mud

[steveplym]

I've tried to post some photos, but can't seem to do it. I'm not a computer whiz, and although I tried, I haven't been successful. My photo software is HP. Maybe I need to use some other approach. I can't seem to get the pictures down to a size that I can download. Frustrating, but maybe if I ask my 4 year old grandson, he can do it for me.

Another option is to sign up for on a photo site such as photobucket or webshots. Then you can upload your photos to that site and link them directly to any forum thread. It is really easy to do.

You can also e-mail me the pics and I can post them for you if you want.

[RobertKB]

Way better to have a driver instead of a trailer queen. Where's the fun when all you do is worry about your car every time you show it, let alone drive it. All mine are drivers! The best part about owing an old car is driving it.

[BobT-47P15]

My P15 is a good 10-footer.

Still needs some body work on the passenger side and some places in the

floors fixed. Was a new paint job about 10 years ago, done by a friend.

Not long before the paint job, I took it to a cruise-in with no door panels,

no top and a coat of primer on it. People still came over and looked.

It's won a few trophies at shows, but that's just gravy. The real fun

is driving it there, then visiting with people who stop by to look. We

enjoy a leisurely drive on a warm, pleasant weekend afternoon.....now

that's what these cars are really for.

[Niel Hoback]

Bob, if your car is a 10 footer, mines a half-miler.

[TodFitch]

My P15 is a good 10-footer.

Still needs some body work on the passenger side and some places in the

floors fixed. Was a new paint job about 10 years ago, done by a friend.

Not long before the paint job, I took it to a cruise-in with no door panels,

no top and a coat of primer on it. People still came over and looked.

It's won a few trophies at shows, but that's just gravy. The real fun

is driving it there, then visiting with people who stop by to look. We

enjoy a leisurely drive on a warm, pleasant weekend afternoon.....now

that's what these cars are really for.

Ditto that.

I don't own and have never owned a car trailer. And I consider my 1933 to be something between a "10 footer" and a "20 footer". It is only a "hobby car" now and I am down to only a few thousand miles a year in it. But I have driven it over 50,000 miles in total.

But sometimes you can be surprised, the other year I got my arm twisted and ended up having the car judged at the Plymouth Owners Club's national meet in Santa Maria. I had planned for entering it as "do not judge". The car got a 3rd place based on points (there were some other 3rds in that class but no 1sts or 2nds). Surprised the heck out of me.

[steveplym]

It's okay to have your car judged Tod. I just don't have any interest in winning any trophies. I have enough sitting around the garage collecting dust. It's always nice to get recognized for the work you put into your car.

I judge car shows for the local car club I belong to. It can be fun at times, but people take it way to seriously. Sure I'm fair when I judge a car. I examine the paint, body, engine compartment, interior, and overall appearance. Some people though think they have to win every time or it is no fun for them. That is why I try to avoid the big day shows as much as possible. Just go to the local Saturday or Friday night cruise. I also try to go to events farther away that have large car cruises or rod runs. It's fun just to pull your car in there and sit with your friends. Plus if it is a large show you park for free and get to park in the show.

In my experience drivers, show cars, or whatever if you are going out to shows and worried about who wins and loses don't go, because it doesn't matter.

Okay, I'm off my soapbox now.

[jimainnj]

[/img]I have a 79 El Camino that is a #1 car I drive it to all show's and cruise's don't care about winning, the show's are for charities, the 47 Plymouth I got in Oct 08 I haven't had it on the road yet still working on it (as you know from all my questions) will try to send Pic. Jim

well can't upload Pic computor asked for the ULR don't know what they want.

[steveplym]

[/img]I have a 79 El Camino that is a #1 car I drive it to all show's and cruise's don't care about winning, the show's are for charities, the 47 Plymouth I got in Oct 08 I haven't had it on the road yet still working on it (as you know from all my questions) will try to send Pic. Jim

well can't upload Pic computor asked for the ULR don't know what they want.

Hey Jim, a URL is a webpage address. If you have a photo already somewhere on the net, such as photobucket or elsewhere you can enter that URL and it will show the photo on the forum.

If you have the file on your computer, when you go to post reply click the paper clip above the text box. Then you can browse your computer, find the photo in your files, and then attach it.

[BobT-47P15]

Judging at car shows can get to be an issue sometimes.

In my old hometown (population 5,000) , at the annual fall show, they used to have

participant judging. Well, of course, you vote for your best

friends, and they vote for you. A few years ago, they switched to a

system using scorecards and judged by members of other car clubs

in the state association of car clubs. Their grading, I think, is fair. You

can pick up your grade card after the show and see just how they

rated the various aspects of your vehicle. Mine always gets a lower

score for upholstry - since I use box seat covers and have home made,

non original looking door panels. That's OK.

A couple years ago, I won the "Judges' Choice" trophy (which was the

biggest one of them all) just because the judges liked the car. Had

nothing to do with the points system. The year before that they gave

it to a 54 or 55 Buick that probably didn't win any other thing either.

Yes, it's nice to be recognized for what work you've done to the car,

but to me a trophy is not the main reason for going to the show.

[Frank M.]

I have both a driver AND a show car. I enjoy both,and dont understand the feeling I get that people who drive always have comments about those who show. Its okay to have a "trailer queen" or a show car,or a no. 1- if thats what you like. I drive the heck outta my 47 Chrysler,and have gone on 700mi trips several times. I love the car,and it will probably be the last one around here. I greatly like to show my 46 New Yorker too. Put a lotta work in it to get it like it was new and its won a few trophys and theres nothing wrong with that. I certainly appreciate the work thats put into a car thats brought back to original,and always will. I also like the good modifications done by others. Theres plenty of room for both! Frank M.

[Plymouthy Adams]

Frank..it is generally the grouping of the trailer queen among judging with the daily driver car...trailer queens per say are reserved to concours events and should be judged the same...street driven cars are expected to have oxidation on the exhaust manifold...a bit od dust under the under carriage etc etc...I have participated in judging events and the so called judges meeting prior to the start of event went over a list of cars and owner that were just and deserving..last time I ever particpated in that biased event..show or judge..oh...and in local events where there is no concours class...the general group heading was.."any trailer car was parked in this group for independent judging amongst the group..."