Should they be driven or admired? Or both.

Trailers are for Boats and Snowmobiles. If you don't drive it, it's not a car.

I took my boys to the world of wheels show in Phoenix a couple weeks ago. There were a few show cars that I am sure didn't even run. The 68 chevelle with the blown big block and chromed brake rotors as an example. The trailer queen.

Makes ya wonder if the car would even run???
I've seen some cool "plastic" motors set on stands in stores that are hard to tell if they are real or fake. LOL
graemlins/clonk.gif

Originally posted by Mark C:
Trailers are for Boats and Snowmobiles. If you don't drive it, it's not a car. My new tag line, thanks Mark.

Hey Jim, what if it's a "matching numbers" drag car? Is it OK to tow a 10 sec orginal in case parts break at the track?

I assumed your question was refering to show cars.

I love that line Mark,

If it's a classic "muscle" car, then it's gotta be slammed through the gears, thrashed through the pipes, and peddled till there's nothing left! After all that, clean off the rubber, wipe down the motor, and put her away clean! Ain't no trailer in my back yard!

I met Phil Brewer of BRP HotRods in Cumming Ga. and he has an awesome 68 Nova with butt kickin 396 with aluminum heads, stock tires and he flogs the Dookie outa that car and it is as clean as a firetruck. Phil is an excellent Dude that is a true car lover. He showed me his Double COPO 69 Camaro Rust bucket, even let me put MY foot thru the rear quarter panel. 427 4 speed car that is as Rough as a night in Jail. Wanna be like him when I grow up. He is doing the LS-1 Rack and Pinion conversion on my 69 sub frame along with the coil over conversion from DSE. CFunk, maybe you can come over when I get the sub Frame and help me assemble the Suspension. Oh, and I'd drive the wheels off of a matching number drag car.

Ummgawa this will get things stired up for you!! There are cars out there that deserve to be preserved. If being responsible and wanting to preserve something means putting it on a trailer then do so... There's only one '68 Z/28 convertible, very few real pace cars (the ones that went around the track) and some small handfulls of cars in privite collections that would rate rare enough not to want them abused. But you know what?

It's nobodys business what a car owner does with his car... How can any of you blame a guy for putting his car on a trailer when a replacement rosewood wheel is going to cost $1800 unless you want a repro version? I actually have met guys that it's not the car on the trailer, it's the big 3500 deisel and the inclosed trailer they get to play with and wouldn't if they didn't have a car to put in it. Ya just have to do your own thing and not worry about what the other guy is doing... Think about what a Super Chevy Show or the BJ auctions would be like without trailers...

Originally posted by jackr:
I took my boys to the world of wheels show in Phoenix a couple weeks ago. There were a few show cars that I am sure didn't even run. The 68 chevelle with the blown big block and chromed brake rotors as an example. The trailer queen. They are spot checked every so often to make sure that they can run. I think that they have an hour to prep and then they have to drive it for a few hundred feet. :rolleyes:

If the car is so rare and precious take a picture of it and hand it on the wall and put the car in storage somewhere. Why would anyone want a car like that? I would sell/give it to a museum.

Cars have engines and tires they are meant to be driven.

The only cars that belong on trailers are fast race cars (10's or better)and broken cars. (IMO)

I have never broken at the track and if I do I will call a tow truck. There is nothing worse than seeing a car come off a trailer and run 12's or 13's what's the use? (my opinion again).

I would vote for the car with a few rock chips and was actually worked on by the owner, over a check book trailer queen.

If you are taking the car accross the country that is different, but if it is within a few hundred miles drive the darn thing.

I used to go to the big shows all the time and see cars with no sparkplug wires, fuel lines or brake lines. Those cars didn't run, they are basicall full size models for the "I've got more money than you" crowd.

I wouldn't have a problem driving my JL8 once it's done if there weren't so many @ssholes on the road nowadays. This restoration is taking a lot of money and time so I won't be driving it to any long distance shows. If anything gets messed up due to another idiot on the road, I don't have the time and patience to go through this again. It's easy to say a car should be driven, but if you've got all your money from the last 5-10 years tied up in a car, you'll look at it differently. That's why I got the 68, to drive and enjoy. My 69 will be hard to drive due to the money invested in it(I'll have at least $80K into it when it's done).

for $80,000, i would think you'd WANT to drive the bejesus out of it- i know i would.
as already stated- cars have wheels and engines for a reason.
as for "all the idoits out there"- i've been driving 13 years, and never been involved in my car getting physically "intimate" with any other cars on the road. just avoid rush hour, and you'll probably not have problems. if you live where it's a constant rush hour- move to where you can enjoy your investment of time and money. you just spent the price of a small house on an old car- surely buying a different house and moving to it wouldn't be that big of a deal.

but that's just my opinion, i could be wrong.

tongue.gif Christ.....this always brings out the "Purest" in Dennis. tongue.gif

But, I gotta agree. What ones does with his car should ultimately be up to the owner.......right up to the point where we beat him for going too far in screwing one up.

My bummer is, that I purchased a 'numbers' L30/M20 and didnt know it until about a year or so ago from the guys here......but many years ago I had strayed away from the 'restored' path. The good thing is I havent done any thing that can not be reversed.

In the end, I myself think that they should all be driven......at least sometime. Heck, I'll even volunteer to do it!

A lot of the trailer cars are trailered long distances too. I can understand that. I've talked to a couple guys at shows and asked how their car runs and they've said they don’t' know they've never driven it before. Frankly I always feel embarrassed for them when they say that. I mean I’m sorry but that just lame. Don’t you have time to take it around the block? I wouldn’t feel I really owned it if I’d never driven it.

I worry about something happening to mine but I got bored with taking it to a show and worrying if it was cleaner than the one next to me. Who cares? My ego doesn’t need a plastic trophy. I think a lot of cars get carried away in the restoration and then the owner looks at that immaculate paint and is afraid to scuff it. I understand this. Maybe if I had more money and could afford more cars I’d have a trailer queen too, but I only have one and I’m not going to live forever so I’m driving mine.

From what I’ve heard this an American thing. We are anal. In Europe they drive their collector cars and drive them hard. And gas is $4 a gallon over there. What’s our excuse? I will say though in the past few years I’m seeing more and more cars out driving. Baby Boomers you guys will be dead soon so get out there and enjoy yourselves.
graemlins/beers.gif :D

Well, to each his own. I just sold my 68 Mercedes 280 SL for ALL the money! And, to be quite honest, I am relieved. I'll probably never do another period-correct in every way resto, even though most of the car was "all there" when I bought it originally. It was a challenge, and some fun, and sometimes just a big hassle, but not as fun to drive after the work is done. Cool to show off, but "make sure you can park it right up front where you can keep an eye on it". The aluminum doors were my biggest concern.

BUT...I can see, and do know, guys who love to do the "every-nut-and-bolt-even-the-original-air-in-the-tires" type of resto. Like building a full-sized model without the glue fumes! And if you've got the money and time and space...what the hell, go for it....IF that floats your boat! When its your car, its your car. Other people may love to see a 10/10ths car. Some people think its a sin not to drive it. It will get driven someday...count on it! (Some of us might even own a car that was a previous resto and not driven til we got it.)
For me, I like my classic drivers. The Camaro will be done soon, replaced motor and trans and power discs and sfc's and rear end, and gauges, and tic toc tach, and all-in-all a much better driving vehicle than it was when I bought it. And I WILL drive it...anytime, anywhere.
Same for the 66 GTO. No pressure to keep them numbers matching or original colors or options or anything. And more fun to just DRIVE! And, guess what? I get just as many, if not more, thumbs up and smiles in these drivers as I did in the resto. And I'm going to keep the "20 footer- driver quality" paint jobs for as long as I can stand it, so I don't freak over every little nick, chip or swirl. JMHO.

A trailer is nessessary if you want to go race your 66 Nova with slicks. Have any of you ever tried to put a pair of them in the trunk and go drive to the track? Also, you have to have a trailer if your car has open headers. Therefore, trailers at the race track are nessessary if you have a drag car, even if it "only" runs 11's.

For sure everybody has their own idea here. I drive my car as much or even moore than a lot of people and I just bought a trailor last week. When you do a show like camaro's at Carlisle and at the end of the day your car is sitting out in the field alone how do you feel or lets say there comes up a thunder storm with hail damage. I bet all you tuff guys will be crying when your baby is all dented up. Trailors doo have there place

Originally posted by Mark C:
Trailers are for Boats and Snowmobiles. If you don't drive it, it's not a car. BINGO!! graemlins/thumbsup.gif
They might as well be in museums if all you can do is look at 'em. If the show is 3 states away, fine. But cars that only sit, or drive 3 miles a year will still need the expensive parts (engine seals, etc.) replaced due to no use and dry rot.

Paint washes real easy. Gotta get 'em out on the open road and keep the carbon buildup monster away! ;)

OK, this subject is getting me all fired up now. One thing that can always be said is a "Trailer Queen" is a "Trailer Queen", and I don't care how much money a has been poured into it. For example, I will surely be into my Z28 resto for 80K Plus Canadian before its completed this spring and stopped counting months ago.

My motto has always been and always will be "take the time to enjoy what you have" because you can't take it to the grave with you when you die. For some of us 30 / 40 / and 50 something crowd, count your blessings as any one of us could drop any day. I have had 2 guys I knew in mid life drop when people least expected them to go and there was no warning for either. If it's a car you must have, then do with it what it was designed for, and that means "DRIVE IT".

If it gets a damn paint chip, repaint it. If it breaks, then fix it, and if you wanna show it, show it....but drive the damn thing too! My car could easily become a trailer queen and is worthy some some elaborate trophy's, but the prime reason it is being restored is because....

I LOVE DRIVING MUSCLE CARS

I have had all kind of friends ask me if I am going to drive it and my reply is "hell yea" everyday. I might not be going out during rush hour where the stop and go would test my sanity but it will definitely get driven on a daily basis. Up here we only get the months of mid April to mid October to cruise these cars, and I for one plan to take as many of those days as possible.

One last thing too! I haven't made plans yet, but will be taking a trip to Hot August Nights in Nevada and some other Super Chevy shows in the US if time permits. In addition to that will be some Western Canadian events in the Rocky Mountains where this car will be packed with some jeans, t-shirts, beer and a couple of chairs and then driven to those shows. I don't care if it's 100 miles or 4500 miles through the mountains, if i'm going there, I am driving my toy. Thats what it's built for and if it's built right, it should go anywhere without any concerns. So there! (lmao now)

Cheers all....Graeme graemlins/beers.gif

if I owned a rare option original car I'd love to trailer it

if I owned an 8-second quarter mile monster I'd have to trailer it

since I don't own either, or a full-size truck for that matter, I drive 'em

but the TTA looks like it has potential for 700 @ the wheels so maybe I will need a trailer someday after all

I can see this thread is going to test a few people. I want to say I wasn't downing anyone for how fast or slow their car is. My point is this, unless you are racing for points or money (or both), a car running in the 12's on up you can do it with mufflers and treaded tires (even faster).

To each their own, Your car could burn up in the garage and how would that feel if you never drove it? This is what insurance is for, if someone smashes into your car just make sure you have enough coverage to replace or repair it. You should have seen the car at Hot August Nights a few years ago, they had an accident (and it was on a trailer), the car was all jacked up. Just because it's on/in a trailer doesn't mean it's safe.

If you have spent every dime you have on a car (I don't care what kind it is) that means you can't afford it. I have a LOT of time and money invested in my car just like everyone else (and it means just as much to me), I would be sick if something happened to it. I would be even more upset if I was told I couldn't drive it (why own it?). It is still a car and I can build another one if I need to.

Nobody is going to change their opinion on this issue and I am not trying to change anyones mind. I just don't get it.

The hail storm situation would suck, but if the weather/forcast is bad, just leave it in the garage.

To each their own.

To some people, a car is a vehicle to drive, to others it's a piece of art that they created and to others it's a hunk of bondo'd up junk that gets them from point A to point B. Insurance may cover the cost to rebuild a car, but at that point, the owner may be out of patience and no longer want to endure the rebuild. Some cars are a rare piece of automotive history that shouldn't be risked on the open road with soccer moms and cell phone talking SUV drivers. Other cars are too much fun to drive and should be driven every single day(like my supercharged 93 Indy Pace Car was). These are the situations of each individual owner and you can't change their frame of mind.

Originally posted by fast:
if I owned a rare option original car I'd love to trailer it

if I owned an 8-second quarter mile monster I'd have to trailer it

That's the way I feel too.

Other than that I'd DRIVE it! graemlins/thumbsup.gif

Originally posted by fast:
if I owned a rare option original car I'd love to trailer it

if I owned an 8-second quarter mile monster I'd have to trailer it

My sentiments exactly.
After all, isn't that why we build em in the first place? My 68 is by no means perfect and I wouldn't want it that way. Worrying about every nick, scratch and broken part. It's just fun to drive something that people have not been used to seeing in the last 20 or 30 yrs. Loping idle, gear driven cam whine, you'll get the looks and comments no matter how "unperfect" it is. Not to mention how fun it is to blow away the rice burner crowd off the light, and to satisfy that HP fix that is lost in the cars of today.
I say restore them for safety and as original as you can, then enjoy driving a fine piece of nostalgia. JMO

I love reading these thread. A year and half ago I was at the Dubuque, Iowa car show minding my business when I see a 427 Cobra drive. I think to myself it has to be a replica - I'll go look at it later. When I went to look at it the one of the judges was there and I asked offhandedly is this thing the real deal. He said yes this is an original 427 Cobra. I thought I would never see one in person in my whole life. The holy grail of muscle cars and I got to see it being driven (it sounded real nice with the dual quad 427)! The same owner also brought his 66 GT-350 Mustang. You have to admire a guy that is brave enough to bring a car worth twice as much as a Yenko to a local car show so poor slobs like me have a chance to see one. Unfortunately, he did not bring it this last year. He did bring his 65(?) 327 - 375 fuelie Vette. How often do you see one of those. The point is, this guy owns these cars (lucky and/or smart) and he is doing exactly what he wants with them. More power to him.

Last summer I got passed by a very old car on the highway in the pouring rain, I could not see what kind it was. I usually drive a little faster (a little too fast some times I admit) then most other cars so I was suprised that such an old classic passed me by. Then at the next gasstation I got to take a good look as the driver (in period correct clothing) was adjusting something under the hood. It turned out to be a blower bentley (http://www.classicdriver.de/upload/images/_de/1708/imgkl00.jpg)! I have no idea wat these are worth but probably more then my '69 and this one was covered in mud!! I thought it was pretty cool...

Great topic. I love to see perfectly preserved or restored cars on the road, and I think I wouldn't withstand the urge to enjoy it, if it "were" mine. But can't imagine one point, If I hate so much when I drive my Camaro and starts to rain, :mad: that I don't know what i'll do if the car were a 100 points car instead. Think I'd stop and wait 'til the road dries back. graemlins/clonk.gif I spent more than 5 hours, last saturday, cleaning what for everybody else is a clean underbody, just cause I drove it for 5 minutes under a light rain. There are a ton more reasons for sure, but for that sole reason, think I understand why some people don't drive their pristine 100 points cars.

Speaking as a person with not only a numbers matching car, but an unrestored one as well, My opinion is to drive them. What good is having something you don't get to enjoy. I always tell people that if I didn't drive it, I might as well have a picture on my wall. It would be the same thing, a piece of art that is seen and not touched or enjoyed. I also have drag raced my car (approx. 40 or so trips down the track) as well as driven it to out of town shows. Am I crazy for driving it? probably, as they are only original once, but it is soooooo much fun to drive and the looks I get when people ask and I tell them it is UNRESTORED is priceless! Maybe one daqy I will buy or build something no numbers matching that I can really flog, but in the meantime, I will settle for excersising the Camaro, as it WAS really meant to be driven, not sealed in a garage. Don't get me wrong, I don't constantly drive this car hard, but it is still DRIVEN.I have owned the car for 2.5 years now and both my wife and I have put 5000 miles on it so far.
Besides, I know a couple of original owner copo guys, and when they were new, they "drove them like they stole them". There is even an original owner UNRESTORED Yenko ( he even has EVERY piece of documentation from GM and the dealer on this car) in our club that is driven this way as well. He says he is on his 5th engine. I asked why he drives it like this, and his reply was, "To me it is a $4300 dollar car". You gotta love an attitude like that. This owner has turned down a six figure offer for the car. graemlins/beers.gif

Originally posted by chicane67:
tongue.gif Christ.....this always brings out the "Purest" in Dennis. tongue.gif LOL!! Not a purest but a rationalist...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Our nova buddy has stated he'd take a high dollar car and flog it and not care if he destroyed it. I think that's a crock. IMO if someone left him a $80,000 or $300,000 car he would do a burnout or two and sell it for profit. Don't take this wrong Derrik but I don't think you are dumb in any way, you have made the same statement several times about high dollar cars though. You have been around here for a long time and I get the impression money is a big part of your car not being back together and running. I may be wrong but be honest, if you had $80,000 in your hand and could rent Charlie's mule and return it in whatever condition it ends up in for one day for that $80,000 or put the cash in your pocket and walk away, what would you do? No you can't part it out and return a rolling chassis!!

All you guys are right that cars were built to be driven but there does come a time when the returns are diminished by driving them. If you invested $15-20K in paint and body work on your show quality BB pace car you might think about an inclosed trailer for that 900 mile one way trip to the big show? If you had a one off '68 ragtop Z or a ZL1 or a survivor Yenko you might make a pass at the track for the fun of it but would you make the long haul 1800 mile round trip knowing chips and dings are bound to happen?

There comes a point where the difference in driving a car and trailering it, is how foolish are you willing to be!! Cars are for driving but trailers have their place.

Here's a question for you, if you went to the dealer for that new pickup or family car and one truck was driven from the east coast and the other was trailered, the price was the same and both had the same options, which would you leave with? and why?

hey, my car is together and running- and has been since the first week of May last year- and if it had a decent heater and i could get traction in ice and snow, it wouldn't be sitting under a car cover in my garage right now. hell, i even broke a few parts this year for the first time ever- and admit it was my own damn fault. live nad learn. i drove the thing about 10,000 miles last summer- and the summer before that, and the summer before that- and was actually planning on painting it this winter- and still might if i can get together enough flat black Krylon to tackle the job. yes- money IS a problem for me, as i have a whole slew of bills that common sense says comes before the car- but i'd bet a lot of folks here can relate.
and, yes, if i could throw down the coin to get myself a rare, original musclecar, i'd thrash it hard enough to give every purist in the country a heart attack- at first. of course, after a while, the novelty of beating on a $100,000 car would wear off, and it would become "just a driver". it would be out at the track getting abused every weekend, and get driven to work every day. then again, if i had $100,000 to spend on a 35 year old car, i don't think getting to work would exactly be a priority for me anymore.
i just remembered the greatest thing i've EVER seen at a car show- at the CC Summer Nats a few years ago in St. Paul, i saw a actual, for real Plymouth Hemi Superbird with repro Redline rubber all over both the quarter panels. now THAT guy has the right idea...
as for which new truck i'd buy- i'd personally take the one that has a few miles on it and is broken in already. if it can make a 3000 mile journey in one piece, it has already pretty much proven that the factory didn't screw anything up too badly when screwing it together. the one that got trailered, however, must have been on that trailer for a reason...

You're a nut!! (that's not bad) and you need to update your site... Last I had heard you were working on the subframe and had just gotten the headers and exhaust together or something...

I never said you had all the money in the world though, but did say you had the hi-dollar car given to you and was intending that to be in your current finiancal state. One of the reasons I try to remain practical is I scrape for every penny that goes into the White Wonder. I do drive it though, 1900 miles in a week a few months ago. Why would you want someone like you putting the first thousand miles or so on your new truck? It's covered which ever way you go but you'll never know who and how that mileage was racked up. graemlins/beers.gif

There is even an original owner UNRESTORED Yenko ( he even has EVERY piece of documentation from GM and the dealer on this car) in our club that is driven this way as well. He says he is on his 5th engine. I asked why he drives it like this, and his reply was, "To me it is a $4300 dollar car". You gotta love an attitude like that. This owner has turned down a six figure offer for the car.
I frickin Love It!

Tell the guys in your club that they have my vote and don't ever stop lovin them!

There's a big difference between the original owner Yenko who only has $4-5000 invested in his car and the guy who pays $150K or pays for the $100K restoration. Nobody will insure a $100K classic car that will be driven to work every day. In fact, most insurance companies say that you can't let the car out of your site or it's not covered. I've spent the last 6 or 7 years accumulating the money and parts to do my JL8 restoration and if the car was totalled in an accident and not covered completely for the money I have in it, I would be in really big financial trouble. I'm not one of these big dollar collectors that can write off a $100K accident. It's pretty narrow minded to think that people who own these high dollar, rare cars are all rich. This is a long time dream I'm working on here and I've sacrificed a lot to make it happen. A $10K driver Camaro is no comparison to a $100-200K top restoration. These guys that are still racing real Yenko Camaros at the track probably don't realize their insurance won't cover an accident at the track. If they're millionaires that can write it off, good for them.

Hey guys. I think that some of you are taking this if it's got wheels and steering wheel then it's meant to be driven thing a little too seriously!!

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for driving the donkey out of a BB 4sp Camaro, but not one that is 1 of 69 made. That is just crazy!! graemlins/clonk.gif

Don't get me wrong, I would love to be able to drive one of those cars, but what happens if something goes wrong? I mean we have to admit there are some real idiots out there on the road, and we can't watch all of them. If something where to happen to that car while you were driving it that would be one less near priceless piece of automotive art in the world for everyone to enjoy!! :(

So, if you build a car that resembles one of those cars, then I say drive it like you stole it, but if it came from the factory that way, then I think that you should use your own discrection when it comes to tranporting it.

Think about it this way, would you rather carry $150,000 in an armoured car through the bad side of town, or would you rather carry that same $150,000 in a clear zip lock bag in your hands through the bad side of town?

Tony
(I mean no offense with the bad side of town analogy.) graemlins/beers.gif

There's a big difference between the original owner Yenko who only has $4-5000 invested in his car and the guy who pays $150K or pays for the $100K restoration.
I do not see the difference. If the car gets totalled, it is still gone. Just because a person gets into a car cheap, it still does not diminish it's current market value, does it? If the originaL owner were to total his Yenko, he would still "lose" six figures right? It does not matter if you paid a little or a lot, the car is still worth six figures. I guess I do not see the logic in paying a kings ransome for a car and never enjoying it, that is unless you get enjoyment out of washing and waxing and just looking at a car. To me, that is not why these cars were originally built. graemlins/thumbsup.gif
Also, why not drive your ZL1? if it is restored, it can be RE-restored and it will not affect the value one dollar. WHat about all these old race cars that needed to be UNtubbed to restore them? is this any different than a collision repair? Not in my book it isn't. A panel replacement is a panel replacement, no matter the reason. Just my $.02, for what it is worth.
also, don't get me wrong, I do not mean to drive them like it is the Winternationals every time out.
Bill

Jeff,

I can appreciate those points and I think we all understand where you are coming from. I am almost in the same boat as you restoration wise. I did start to type another 50 minute session here but just deleted it all before posting as it was way too passionate.

I agree with you here Jeff, but still think a classic muscle car should be enjoyed the way they were intended (DRIVEN). The best is when a guy your age, and a guy who can appreciate your ride gives you the thumbs up for it being a thing of beauty, but the all mighty awesome is when you see the mature grin is on his face after you light them sideways through 3 gears on a nice open street. I love my muscle cars clean and restored, but I think everyone will agree with this quote......

"Nothing looks better on a Classic Camaro than a full restoration car doing a three gear burnout! (Left - Right - Left) Smoke Included"

I can live with seeing a car trailered here and there for whatever reason, but I only gives out a full nod when it's still being driven! Especially whens it a fully restored high horsepower beauty!

Ya just have to do your own thing and not worry about what the other guy is doing...


That is the FIRST lesson my Dad tought me.

I personally would not own a car that I was afraid to drive. That is part of the reason I did not buy a numbers matching Z 28 or RS. I wanted to be able to drive it to work, the store or any where else I felt like. BUT I sure understand someone not wanting to risk there investment in trafic or a parking lot. Besides, somebody's got to preserve and protect origional cars. It's a big hobby...and there is room for everybody.

Bill, an original owner Yenko that never plans to sell the car only has the value of what was put into the car. He could say it's worht $150K, but it isn't if he never plans to sell it. If it is wrecked in an accident, he's out $4-5K, not $150K like the guy who bought one for $150K. And a lot of people don't have the motivation, resources or patience to re-restore a car. If my JL8 get wrecked by someone who runs a red light, I'm not waiting 4+ years to have it restored again. I don't want to dwell on the subject, but until you actually invest big money into a muscle car, people are just speculating that they'll drive the snot out of it. Most people wouldn't be able to drive a minivan safely in NJ let alone a 35 year old 400+hp muscle car and not be nervous.

There are times when I drive my 68 and then there are times I am going to put it on the trailer. It all depends on weather for me. If I leave for a week to a show, and its calling for snow the weekend I return I sure as heck wont be driving the car in a foot of snow. Trailer the car....Its no big deal to me. If its going to be sunny or even rain, Im driving.
Now, seeing a car at a show that never gets any seat time, does bother me. Sure, he probably has the cleanest car there. But what good is it if you cant drive it! I went to my first Super Chevy Show in Va. this year. One of the questions asked on the registration form is, Was the the vehicle "trailered" or "driven"? When they see you drove 1,000+ miles to get there, the judges give credit where credit is due. I personally like nothing more than a clean ride that gets driven.

Damn,

I liked that last quote so much that I have now added it to my profile signature. Whooo Yeaaaa
Master Chief!

I don't think we've heard from any ZL1 or copo owners, but I think I know what they would say if they did post. The ones I have met do limit the drive time of their cars but do get them to the track from time to time or make local shows with them without the trailer. They also tend to bring out 5 or 6 cars at a time to big shows and even just across town the trailer makes that possible.

The only other question I have with regard to trailers is why is it that those that are so opposed to trailers are so closed minded and defensive about it? This whole thread/debate isn't "against and for", it's "against and it's the owners choice"...

My whole thing is that these cars "should be driven". If a guy wants to trailer it, then fine but I would give the full vote to the guy who shows up at an event driving it. If it's a local show, leave the trailer at home.

Take a Vegas Show for instance, If a guy wants to trailer a car from another state to the show, at least drive the car from the trailer and through the gates, or better yet from your hotel. Wanna make it a step better, cruise it down the strip when the rest of the cars go out and make a night of it on the BS corner. Then when you're all done for the night, put her away in the trailer.

My car will not be trailered locally, but when I can afford a 10K trailer, one will be purchased. Then it allows me to do the long range show without a concern for hail damage or overnight storage concerns.

My only thing is when your up against a trailer queen at car shows...really sucks when you know you have a nice car with no real chance.......

OK,.....I'm wiping the tears away.....

I'm done crying.......

Originally posted by 69ss350:
My only thing is when your up against a trailer queen at car shows...really sucks when you know you have a nice car with no real chance.......

OK,.....I'm wiping the tears away.....

I'm done crying....... Now we're getting to the bottom of it!!! ;) Clean Envy!! Just Kidding!! Look for shows that don't judge trailered cars against cars driven to the show and that's solved...

I have been into the Vette hobby for several years before starting on our father - son Camaro project. I owned a survivor total numbers matching '70 Vette roadster in the rare bronze color. I enjoyed driving it right up to the time that I learnt enough about the hobby to understand what I had. Then it stayed in the garage cause you can only have an original car once..... After a few years I sold it to a purist and bought a C4 which I drive every chance I get. I am glad that we have people who are dedicated enough to keep their car original or restore it to exactly original. Im not one of those folks however I appreciate their dedication. Needless to say when we bought the '67 we didnt look for a high option original.....its gonna get driven.

Since I don't own a rare option car, or a Yenko, or even a show quality car,..I just want to say that it is nice to see the passion for these classics.... Trailer or not.

Maybe I read into this a little too much. I can understand putting a super rare car on a trailer. I personally wouldn't want to own anything I can't enjoy (to me driving/modifying is enjoying). The cars a lot of guys brought up are "investments" not cars, there is a difference. The post was to broad and I think everyone has their own opinion, but still understand the use of a trailer in some situations.

Dennis, If I was buying a "new" truck I would expect it to have less than 20 miles on it. Driving it from the east coast would be hard to do and only put 20 miles on it. ;) (I do get your point).

If the topic was more specific I think more of us would be on the same page.

Super rare = trailer it (most of the time)

Typical Collector (RS, SS, RS/SS, Z28, etc..) = drive'em (what made these cars so great and desireable is the way they run, sound, feel, not the special GM coded fan belts).

Super expensive checkbook show cars = have to trailer them to compete (plus most of them wouldn't make it to the show if you tried to drive them)

If you have a nice car, numbers matching, yenko, money pit plain jane, whatever, get it out on the road and let the youngster hear, see, and feel it (I bet that's why you have one, at some point in your childhood you felt, smelt, or heard some horsepower), it's only fair to return the favor.

It's no wonder kids are into imports these days.

I know I brought up street/strip cars (drag cars) and looking back that wasn't the topic, it is just a pet peeve of mine "It's a street car" If so why is it on a trailer? If you have a bracket car that runs 13's and trailer it, if you are happy to each their own.

To each their own. If I decided to trailer my daily driver (1997 Toyota Pick-up with 28,000 (that has plenty of scratches and dents) that would be my choice. Maybe some would question my motives ... but they would might understand that that Toyota belonged to my Dad and all thoses scratches and dents bring Father and Son bonding mmeories. Well... just for the record... I DO NOT trailer my 1997 Toyota or my 1969 Camaros.

BUT... If I had a rare or very low milage collector car... I would probable trailer it... or store it next to my "Never-Removed-From-Box" toy collection!

Runnin it back to the top to get DJD. :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

;)

Trailers are a great tool to own. smile.gif

Good thread ---

I think we are all in the hobby for different reasons. For some it is to preserve a piece of history, for some it is just to have fun, for some it is a way to socialize, and sadly some have something to prove.

I think where you are coming from (your reason for being in the hobby) determines your perspective on trailers.

For me, I love driving the bejesus out of my Camaro, racing it, showing it (chips and all) and most of all - I enjoy wrenching on it.

For those that do not enjoy wrenching I can understand why you would want to trailer your car. For me, wrenching is fun and anything that rides on a trailer is a trailer queen. ;)

PS. and super-rare, unreplaceable one-of-a-kind cars probably should be trailer queens

Eric I agree 100%, wrnching is one of the best parts of owning a "hot rod". Very well said.