In 1977, I called on a low-mileage '67 427/435 convertible for sale. The husband wanted to keep the car; the wife was pushing hard to sell it (for $5000). (I bought another car.) If he sold it, I'll bet it is a sore point to this day!

 

We have had our 58 for 36 years, needing a lot of work.I lost interest and said I should sell,my wife said we should keep it and someday we would start on it again.She was right, 20 years ago I started work on it again. Just kept picking at it and now its looking very good.So what I'm saying is keep it. Now that we are retired we go lots of places with it. Bill58.

 

I'm there. My '65 has been a source of stress for the last couple of years, not a source of happiness. All I see are the little things that need to be fixed, and I've already spent $24K and three years of my life on a body-off mechanical restoration, and it wants more.

The next step would be a paint job, and after that, I won't want to take it out for fear of getting a scratch on it...my car is up for sale right now, along with all of my other toys. I could use the money for a few other things, and I'm ready to simplify right now.

The first 5 years were the best. I guess the honeymoon's over for me.

 

you guys need to lighten up and do this:



I got rock chips from towing, I got marks in the quarters from rubbering up the quarterpanels, I have the wrong hose clamps....

It's liberating, I tell you.

I race with a real Yenko Camaro... is you car really worth more than that ? I race with a real hemi Cuda..... what are you saving your car for ?

look, I am not saying using your car is for everyone, if you are not happy not using the car, then use it and see how that feels.

the first rock chip hurts, but the tenth is a source of pride.

 

Look - when I reached my mid-life crisis I told my wife that I either needed a young blonde girlfriend or a souped-up muscle car. I don't remember her exact response but it was something like, "....you would be better off dying in a fiery crash then if I catch you with another women!" Soooo....we both agreed I'd get the muscle car.

 

I should think by now, you have received an overwhelming opinion. So, I can't add much more.
I bought the 56 in 73. Still have it. Don't get it out as much as I used to.
I'm on my 4th wife (but this one's a keeper over 25yrs now), and I STILL have the 56. These cars are few and far between----------but there's plenty of fish in the sea!
Oh ya, I've mentioned to her about selling it ------------she says KEEP IT! And keep the 51, and the Cutlass and the 70 Chevelle conv! I'm good with that!

Tom Parsons

 

In 1979 I sold my first real car a '62 FI Corvette so I could make a down payment on a house. That was a good thing, to buy and not waste money on rent BUT now in 2009, 30 years later I find myself looking for another '62....................................

 

It's YOUR enjoyment. Explain that quietly. Issue should go away. Al W.

 

Donny,

Think you are burning oil again.......

 

We have all had ideas of what we want to do with our toys. Frame off stock, full blown race, daily driver, Show trailer Queen, Point winners. etc... It sounds like you need to take it out and drive it every day and re-discover why you bought it in the first place.
My 64 was paid for by company car allowance. It was stuffed with Medical equipment repair parts and My service area was N.Calif. to Mexico, Nevada and Arizona. It was greatest fun with a car you could imagine. Well after many years I saved and had it painted and got a new car for work. Big mistake!! vette sat in garage, few shows, and drive it on nice days , but not the same. Now it goes in spurts, daily driver sometimes,
then sits at times. I learned to paint it myself, so it goes to the track, road coarse and
winding roads and stopped worrying about paint and breaking anything

 

Buy your wife a horse and stable it a least 45 min drive from home.
A wife must have an outlet for her attention and, like laser beam, can only fire in one direction at a time.

 

If you can figure out how to enjoy the car without stressing out about it, and money/parking is not part of the issue, then keep it. But if it causes you more grief than pleasure - perhaps it's time to let it go.

But whatever you do, make it your decision - it's your car, you paid for it. If you sell it, don't pin it on your Wife later on if you have regrets. If you keep it, try to get her to understand why, so that it is not a source of contention. I like the glass of wine and read the thread/romantic weekend in the car idea. That sounds like it has legs.

 

I"m in agreement with Dave on this one, but I have more to add (and I'll probably get into trouble with everyone else here). When I was shopping for a Corvette I had a pile of cash laying around just for that purpose. I sold a vintage car and a couple of motorcycles to come up with the money. My wife was insistent that I invest that money in a long term CD or some sort of an investment instead of just having it sit there. There were a few times (like when we moved) that large chunk of cash would have been pretty handy for bills, home improvement, etc.

Well, I finally did get a car and as I have posted on this Forum several times, I really use the car a lot. I don't let the car consume me, I don't attend every car show and function that comes along and I haven't succumbed to the "Corvette Lifestyle" (which is a good thing). Aside from driving during the week, I make it a point to take the '66 out every Saturday or Sunday morning for a long drive alone. When I return I make it a point to tell my wife how much fun I had using this investment and I usually add a "Pretty good investment, filling the tank for $30.00 and getting $500.00 worth of fun out of the car this morning.". My wife really enjoys hearing me say that and usually asks if we can take the Sting Ray when we go out. Now that's approval !

You say that you have a huge investment in your '67 and over 5 years you've only put 200 miles on the car. Unless you start using the benefits of your hard work, hard earned money, constant hours of research and pride, I'm actually gonna side with your wife on this one.

There you go, I've either inspired you to drive your car or come over to my house and kick my ***. If you decide on the latter, be sure to drive your '67 over to do it !

I hope that you keep it, Ray

 

Make her happy, and make yourself happy. Put the car in long term storage, this reduces the insurance considerably, thus saving money! You keep the car there until the kids graduate from college. You will be the Saviour and decrease your chances considerably of having your ear bent again. Its a win, win situation!!!

rustylugnuts

 

wow--this is like therapy. I have also talked to a few friends and with some people that work in my office and most have the same reaction...you are crazy to sell your mistress and you will regret it. i think they are also correct. I think I will have to purchase her a mini or Z4 or something so that she will leave me alone.

I guess when I started working on the vette I never realized that it was going to take several years to get it to where it is currently. it took about 1 year to paint it (pain in the A** painter)...I don't really want to go through that ordeal again but I did re-do everything when I did it a few years ago so if I need to do it again I will not have to do the stainless, top, glass, lights etc... that is one of the reasons i fret over driving a car that I put more cash into than my first house cost in 1991.

 

You only get one ride on the merry-go-round (life). Better try to get as much enjoyment as possible. Drive it. It is only a car, a damn fine car, but still a car. Unless your passion is car shows and awards, your apprehension gets less and less with every rock chip. If you drive it enough, you might end up like me; no worries. I put my tools anywhere I want, park anywhere I want and don't even car about rocks flying off of semi's. But my grin factor never leaves me.

Also, I even get alot of enjoyment staring at it in my garage, 50' paint job and all.

As for your wife, I'll only get you divorced.

 

Hello Tim
I think its funny you are considering selling your Corvette. Because, I have thought about selling my 63 Vette. Why? I am never home (Sarasota, Florida) I wont be home until November 14 (four months I have been away!) I could use the money from the Vette to pay some bills and maybe get my overpriced condo down on mortgage payments. My fiancee who has no interest in cars sees it as extra money I could have for myself. However, she is knows I love the car and has been coming around in recent months.
So, why do I keep it? Because since I was a little boy. I have always wanted a midyear Corvette. I bought mine in 2004 after breakup with my g/f. This was good threapy for me and kept my mine off of her..There is something special about owning a car like this.. I believe that most people didnt buy it for and investiment purpose..You buy a car like this because you LOVE to tinker and drive them around..I have to admit I never get tired of looking at the lines on my 63 vette...I can think of no car that gets me more excited than my own 63 vette..(Well maybe a 1971 Hemi cuda but its SECOND on my list!) I had a "Phantasm" moement driving my friends black Hemi Cuda shifting into fourth gear with the pistol grip shifter..

Keep it and give it to your son someday!

 

Sounds like good advice.

 

I haven't seen yet that it's a good time to buy either, prices don't seem to be coming down all that much!

 

I had the reverse over 30 years ago. My '62 was sitting for a couple of years in the garage. I needed about $5k and had a few people over to look at the car. My wife said to borrow the money from her sister. I did (I only needed it for a few weeks). I still have the car and I'm more than thankful that I kept the car. I'm now retired and have lots of time to drive and have fun with the car. KEEP IT !