the awe factor

[Treken]

Re: the awe factor

I had another great awe factor day today...

Went for a drive downtown and probably because it was a beautifull day and the weekend, alot of the classics in town seemed to be driving around...

I had a least a half dozen cars in the 50's and 60's driving by and give the cool wave like bikers do...

Also had another 02 Blue Tbird pull up beside me at a red light and I looked over and he said NICE CAR. I said THANKS I LIKE YOURS TOO...

[PaulD]

Re: the awe factor

Some years back a friend of mine tried to protect his new 240Z at work by parking it at the end of dead end street a hefty walk from the office. It worked for about one year until he noticed problems with his paint. His treasured parking spot was downwind from a chemical treatment area and over time, the fumes & mist had distroyed his paint. There is no perfect solution.

[JAB02LHS]

Re: the awe factor

On the way home from work yesterday a young lady in a SUV pulled up next to me at a traffic light. She said "You won't believe the great pictures I just took of your car" as she waved her IPhone at me.
Then she told me how she and her girlfriend were nuts about the new Birds. She said she just loves the way they look but her friend knows everything about them. The light changed and I drove the rest of the way home chuckling about the encounter.

[jerrym3]

Re: the awe factor

In 1965, I parked my new Stingray at least 400' away from the entrance of a National Family outlet store. But, I hadn't paid any attention to the fact that the car was parked downhill from the store.

When I left the store, I found two kids sending shopping carts down the incline using the blue Corvette as their target.

Fortunately, their aim was as bad as their common sense.

But, as kids, we did stupid things also.

If we found a parked Packard with the auto leveling suspension, we'd all sit on the trunk and chrome bumper, watch the car sag, and then bring itself back to normal height.

Then we'd jump off, the car would rise, and then lower itself.

Wonder how many scratches our jeans left?

At old car shows today, I dread the little kids that stand up against my Galaxie and tiptoe to see inside.

[MerlotBlue]

Re: the awe factor

Probably a good way for the "public spirited" guy to take a bullet if he crosses the wrong individual. [smilie=2,4,36]

I agree. But in all honesty. "keying" a car is a crime. Plain and simple.

There would be no good outcome for this guy if caught. Unless he's awfully big and scary a VERY SERIOUS BEAT-DOWN is in his future.

On the other hand? Assuming he can back up that nasty attitude of his I see criminal charges in his future. It's a video camera world now. Not hard to imagine that his rather warped idea of "public service" will be captured on camera at some point leading to his arrest.

For me I can think of few lower on the evolutionary scale than those knuckle dragging losers who vandalize cars.

On the GUT-LESS scale the guy ranks among the lowest and weakest. Right in there with wife beaters and child abusers. Only the simple fact that any car is but an inanimate object does the guy rank that 1/4 step above 'em.

[MerlotBlue]

Re: the awe factor

In 1965, I parked my new Stingray at least 400' away from the entrance of a National Family outlet store. But, I hadn't paid any attention to the fact that the car was parked downhill from the store.

When I left the store, I found two kids sending shopping carts down the incline using the blue Corvette as their target.

Fortunately, their aim was as bad as their common sense.

But, as kids, we did stupid things also.

If we found a parked Packard with the auto leveling suspension, we'd all sit on the trunk and chrome bumper, watch the car sag, and then bring itself back to normal height.

Then we'd jump off, the car would rise, and then lower itself.

Wonder how many scratches our jeans left?

At old car shows today, I dread the little kids that stand up against my Galaxie and tiptoe to see inside.

It's always tough trying to keep a car "ding free" but there is a practical side to this too.

While I will risk the T-Birds, at a store parking lot, I'm always careful about where I park 'em. I expect to own 'em for longer than I would a daily driver and if I can avoid touch ups and paint it saves money while keeping the car in good shape and pretty for as long as possible.

Corvettes are whole other ball game.

Anyone hoping to keep a Corvette, of any vintage, for a long time really has to consider the extra expense of body repair. They just cost so much to paint properly that making paint last as long as possible takes on a whole other level of vigilance.

[Gobird]

Re: the awe factor

Back in 1982 I was parked in front of our house along the street. A side street without much traffic. I had my 78 Ford Super Van back then that I bought new and no extras, not even a spar tire. After I took delivery I started making the changes into one of those custom vans everyone was driving at the time. I bought a lot of things from a place that sold everything needed to customize your van. They sold these custom bay windows and they had a local guy that would sandblast a design into the glass. Mine had a parrot sitting on a branch that was about 12" high. After I got the nerve to cut a big hole in the side of my new van I installed the bay window. Well, I went out one Sat. morning and my bay window was laying on the floor of my van all in pieces. Kids were riding around that night and shooting windows out of cars. I went back to where I bought the window and the guy that did this work had disappeared and they had no way of getting a hold of him. I had to replace it with plain tinted glass. I was p*&ed to say the least!! Don't know what I would have done if I would have gotten my hands on them.