What is your collector car Pet Peeve?

[Ron Lachniet]

Wherever we go in our model a's we are ambassadors for our hobby so making snide remarks to dumb questions make people think we are like the parking lot show hot rodders that act like guard dogs for their precious jewels. We all say we want our hobby grow and thrive so we need to make it look as fun as it really is.

[QGolden]

Originally Posted by Ron Lachniet

Wherever we go in our model a's we are ambassadors for our hobby so making snide remarks to dumb questions make people think we are like the parking lot show hot rodders that act like guard dogs for their precious jewels. We all say we want our hobby grow and thrive so we need to make it look as fun as it really is.

That is very true. These are teaching moments. No one likes to be made fun of. Correct them, smile, thank them for their interest or compliment, and let them walk away thinking, what a nice guy you are. I have been turned off more times than I can remember on a potential hobby or interest, because my first introduction to it turned out to be an interaction with a "good ol' boys club". A legitimate question asked resulted in a smart ass reply, and winking between "members". While 20 feet away a membership sign up table sits. Ya, I want to be a part of that group.

[30ccpickup]

Winter

[Smurkey]

Am I the only one who kind of hangs back in the crowd and watches other people looking over the car? That's my favorite part...being an anonymous "show goer" and hearing the comments people make both positive and negative, the stories they tell the people they're with, the "facts" or facts they point out, etc. By the way, most people are very respectful of the car.

Not really a pet peeve, but hey, whatever.

Steve

[1wonton]

People who put "Please look, But don't touch" signs on their precious automobiles.

[Tiny]

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Originally Posted by 1wonton

People who put "Please look, But don't touch" signs on their precious automobiles.

This reminds me of a sign I saw at a show that said " Don't even think about touching this car unless your naked". The owner was sitting in his lawn chair next to the car keeping an eye on it. I kicked off my shoes and had my belt undone and pants unbuttoned before he offered to let me sit in it clothed. I guess 275lbs of greasy naked white boy wasn't what he had in mind!!!!!!!

[SeaSlugs]

Originally Posted by Tiny

This reminds me of a sign I saw at a show that said " Don't even think about touching this car unless your naked". The owner was sitting in his lawn chair next to the car keeping an eye on it. I kicked off my shoes and had my belt undone and pants unbuttoned before he offered to let me sit in it clothed. I guess 275lbs of greasy naked white boy wasn't what he had in mind!!!!!!!

hahaha i laughed out loud.

i saw a little sticker on a 60's studebaker that said: "To hell how they do it in california"

[1crosscut]

Originally Posted by 1wonton

People who put "Please look, But don't touch" signs on their precious automobiles.

I have an information sign that I put on my truck. At the end it says
"Go ahead and touch. Not much paint left to scratch" I see a lot of smiles when they read that last part and most reach out and give it a touch.

[BlueSunoco]

I have to disagree with Texas Tom. Being a Midwesterner , I have been raised up to NEVER ask such questions or answer them. It is incredibly rude. It just isn't done. It shows immaturity of the person asking you that.

Classic case was Johnny Carson, if you ever read about the guy (born and raised in Nebraska) that was his biggest pet peeve. Example of what I mean.

[Texas Tom]

I know that the "How much is that car worth?" question is annoying. But it's that question (sort of) that brought me into this hobby 17 years ago. My boss had bought himself a Model A coupe and could NOT stop talking about it. Yak! Yak! Yak! This went on for several weeks. Because he was the boss, I had to listen politely to all his stories. Even when he told the same ones five times.

One day I said, "Sounds like fun." He replied, "Why don't you go buy one for yourself?" I said I could never afford such an expensive toy. He asked how much I thought a restored Model A would cost. I had no clue and said, "I don't know...I guess $50 to $75 thousand or so...." I really had no clue whatsoever. He replied, "This may surprise you, but it's hard to spend more than $12,000 on a restored Model A." (Keep in mind, this was in the middle 1990s.)

I was truly shocked by what he told me. That discussion happened on a Thursday. The following Sunday my wife and I purchased our first Model A, a 1929 Town Sedan. Since then we've become 100% antique car people. We've owned nearly 20 Model A's and Flathead Fords. I've completely restored four of them. Our garage now holds five toy cars, all but one from the 1930s. All our vacations are given to touring in antique Fords. We belong to several car clubs.

Point here is that by providing a thoughtful answer to the question (What's that car worth?), you just might bring a newcomer into the hobby. It happened to me.

Final point: If asked that question today, I'd respond this way: "It all depends on mechanical and cosmetic condition. But with that said, there are lots of decent driveable Model A's around that can be bought for $12-$20 thousand. So go buy yourself some fun. You'll never regret it."

[CarlG]

I would agree with Texas Tom "mostly". Answering "What is it worth", or What are they selling for today" is one thing, and can be answered very truthfull as Tom points out.

The part that comes into play that I don't particularily like is "How much did you pay for it?" Well, my friend bought his 29 Tudor about 20 years ago for, let's say $2,500. Then he spent the next 8 years restoring it, not really keeping track of how much he spent on it over that period of time. So telling someone he paid $2,500 for it doesn't tell the whole story. I could tell pretty much the same story on my 31 PU. What I paid for it 4 years ago doesn't even come close to what it's worth now.

[Tom Wesenberg]

I also agree with Texas Tom. I never mind telling what I paid for something. Sometimes I get a real bargain and sometimes I find out I paid too much. It's all fun and I can't take it with me, so just try to enjoy what you can afford to buy. BTW, the other day I bought a nice older Delta/Rockwell jointer/planer with factory stand and motor and even a dust collector for $24. This was at a second hand store, and I just happened to be at the right place at the right time. It even has a RED V belt.

[Skeezixx]

Originally Posted by Tom Wesenberg

I also agree with Texas Tom. I never mind telling what I paid for something. Sometimes I get a real bargain and sometimes I find out I paid too much. It's all fun and I can't take it with me, so just try to enjoy what you can afford to buy. BTW, the other day I bought a nice older Delta/Rockwell jointer/planer with factory stand and motor and even a dust collector for $24. This was at a second hand store, and I just happened to be at the right place at the right time. It even has a RED V belt.

I invented a fun reply when asked "What did it cost you" while filling up at a gas station:

"Well, a little old lady hired me to clean out her garage, I found this in it under a pile of boxes. When I asked her about it she replied that goes too.
I charged her $200"

[jimalabam]

Purdy Swoft: On the two thousand offer, your answer: Ok which bumper, front or rears...

[Purdy Swoft]

Originally Posted by Jim/Alabam

Purdy Swoft: On the two thousand offer, your answer: Ok which bumper, front or rears...

Thats a good one, Jim!!!

[Brother Hesekiel]

I stole this from Jay Leno, but any question about value I usually finish of with the remark "two more payment's and it's mine!" accompanied by a smile. People always laugh at that.

[Tom Wesenberg]

I guess I just don't get it with the price bothering people. You can go to any used car lot and see car prices, so why not know the price of an antique car that was purchased. Most times the price is just the starting point anyway since the car will usually need many repairs and corrections to make it right.

It's not like they are asking the price of a gift they recieved.

[30ccpickup]

It depends on how it is asked. If they seem truly interested, I tell them. Otherwise, I inform them a Model A can be purchased for a pack of cigarettes a day for five years. ($5.00 a pack for 365 days =$9.125)

[BlueSunoco]

Tom, 1.- the used car lot has a car for sale the price needs to be known and 2.-I bet they never tell you what they paid for it

[Phil]

Originally Posted by BlueSunoco

Tom, 1.- the used car lot has a car for sale the price needs to be known and 2.-I bet they never tell you what they paid for it

Now that is a good point! Wish I had thought of it.