So tonight I decided to hit one of the Sat. cruise inns (close by) , I did not take my Olds it was more of a recon mission, You see at 6 pm it was still 108 in the shade here in PHX and quite honestly between Covid and the heat I didn't expect to see much but to my surprise I think there may have been 75 cars there !!! just walking around in the heat was getting to me so I'm kind of glad I left the old gal behind, Olds was represented by only 2 vehicles a very nice 55- 88 amd a 64 Starfire.
Well there was one vehicle that stood out to me a 66 Barracuda in maroon absolutely stunning this car was so beautiful it was unbelievable !! paint so perfect that he probably paid for paint what I paid for my Olds and the rest of the vehicle was just as beautiful, I looked around thinking surely this must have been trailered here you would not drive that !!! as I was about to leave I saw him exit on to Bell Road and I thought to my self I would be a nervous wreck that a stone or bird turd would hit it !!
Now to this point I'm very proud of my Olds and could see it parked proudly among these beauties later in the year when it cools down but I intentionally sought
something I could drive with out freaking out over a slight chip or what ever, and while I can appreciate all levels of restoration I just don't see myself driving a vehicle
of that caliber at least with out a bottle of Valium and belt of Scotch to calm me !! I just could not be comfortable driving a car like that !! p/s there were some real Beauties there !! when it cools down there are several cruise in locations around , 3 are actually close to me 1 on FRI night 2 on SAT. should keep me occupied
along with local errands .

 

I went to a nice cruise in last night. Didn't expect much either, but it was packed! I think people are tired of being cooped up.

i took my Olds, the AC works great so even with the 100+ heat index it was still comfortable, plus the show didn't start til 6, so it was cooling down.

I've also seen some big money, super nice cars out and about lately, and I think it's fantastic. I'm not saying go beat on the things, but damn, spending 50, 60, hell 100k plus, to have a lawn ornament just isn't my thing. Good for those guys that drive em.

 

So in conclusion, your saying some people have more ***** than you to drive a classic car that has nice paint.

 

It's not my stones/nards that are in question it's my nerves just stating that driving a car of that caliber would make ME nervous and don't know if I could be comfortable. that being said I sure he didn't put forth that effort for it to sit in a garage (although some people do)

 

I'd be nervous, thinking about what's happening to all the underside and engine compartment detailing more so than the paint. However here our roads are such a mess, my own with material from farmers moving their tractors and manure spreaders, in the city with pot holes and left over winter dirt. I imagine in AZ its not so much of an issue.

I'm surprised you guys have car events. Nothing like that allowed here currently.

 

A good friend of mine has a 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429. Black Jade with 30000 miles! Not a concours car but a real nice older restoration. We still manage to get the car out and drive it a few times a year. That is a little unnerving me driving a car worth more than my house! But after a few minutes that all goes away. I'm very fortunate to have a friend let me drive a piece of history like that. Bottom line for us is it's still a car that should be driven at least once in awhile. Life is short, you have to enjoy what you have!

 

Both of my cars have pretty nice paint and I drive them. I try not to get behind rock haulers, duallies, etc. But I own the fact that debris hits are gonna happen. I just try to minimize it best I can.

 

Thats why I built mine as a driver, I can drive it anywhere and in any kind of weather. I've had my share of fair weather cars where the underside is as nice as the rest of the car, but to me thats not fun anymore. For what I paid ($2500) for my scuff and spray paint job back in 2009, I can afford to repaint it 2 or 3 more times in the future the same way.

 

Where do you live? Even in Illinois we're having them, so I'm surprised anywhere isn't.

 

In the North Texas area most have been cancelled. Some of the monthly car shows, at restaurants and such, still motor forward with them. But, we may be looking at a return to strict group # reductions, again. Most of the big shows have cancelled for the year. Lot of BIG fundraisers are out. True in all things though.

I was going to pass on the July / August car shows this year anyway. Toooo damned hot for me these days.

 

UPDATE !! since My anatomy was called in to question I got up this morning and did a quick inventory south of the Mason Dixon line and am happy to report all is well nothing missing, although future restoration may be required !!!!!

 

Briane,
In AZ our roads are fair, the issue here in the PHX area is the heat , Ted Nugent (kill it and grill it) would do ok as June through August any road kill on the side of the road during the day automatically gets grilled !!! alot of big yearly events here have been cancelled but the small stuff appears to still be moving forward. for what it's worth I would say only about 1/4 of the people I saw were wearing mask and social distancing was average, a little surprising since AZ is a covid hot spot right now and the owners of many of the cars appeared to be in the 65 year old age group.

 

So true. I almost snapped a picture of my indoor/outdoor thermometer before I went to bed last night. At 10:30 it was still 100ºF.

 

In NY state, at least in this area, most every event since March/April of this year has been canceled. No shows, no festivals, no movies, no church.

 

Same here in Michigan, living under a communist dictator sucks.

 

"with out a bottle of Valium and belt of Scotch to calm me !!"

Maybe you shouldn't be driving anything. (:•》

 

Car is a car is a car.

What kind of preservation is a car you dont dare to drive and body panel fit and paint beats 100-0 what it was from factory? 100% tired of over-restored trailer queens.

 

While we're discussing the Phoenix summer heat, here's a FLIR 1 infrared camera picture of my back patio bricks that are in full sun. Way too hot to walk on barefoot, so getting from the pool to the patio shade is always interesting.

Can you imagine what the asphault blacktop road temperatures are? Gotta be brutal for car tires.

 

No issues w/ Mr. No Shoulders or other critters trying to get in your pool w/ those temperatures!

 

If ones life revolves around dragging your car around in a trailer so be it, different strokes for different folks . I myself get more enjoyment sharing my car with everyone as I drive it down the road on a trip or take it to the grocery store. I have learned not to sweat the small stuff and have become pretty good at fixing rock chips during this period. The car has generally placed well in most serious judged shows including a concourse but though fun the pleasure I get is far surpassed by letting little people (kids) get behind the wheel for pictures or taking big people(older generation) for a ride or even letting them drive. We all only have our memories after a time it's kinda fun to share others mine..... Tedd

 

[QUOTE=Tedd Thompson I have become pretty good at fixing rock chips during this period. . Tedd[/QUOTE] Tedd what is your technique ? I have a few minor chips I would like to repair and hesitate to proceed mostly because I don't know what finish shes wearing per previous owner says she was last painted 20 years ago which leads me to believe its probably Imron or some acrylic enamel I just don't know ? do you use a specific product ? and as for color It's supposed to be fac code color but you know how that goes
I also hesitate to take it to a body shop because I fear they will only want to paint a whole panel (ain't happening ) I can definitely live with it and consider it patina but if you have a system that works please share.

 

EXACTLY! i cant imagine getting any enjoyment out of owning a classic car if you can't drive it.to me getting behind the wheel can't be matched by looking at in your driveway

 

I went to a local cruise-in with my 71 on Saturday evening and it was quite hot. Probably not 106*, but it was definitely at least 95*. I actually wimped out and left early while my friend continued to check out the cars.

There was a 3rd generation convertible Camaro and it was the only car double parked. It was a nice car with fresh paint and a LS swap, but there were more expensive classics as well as numerous $45k+ Dodge Challengers and Ford Mustangs parked close by. What a jabroni...

 

Too pretty to drive ? BS !
That's what they make INSURANCE for .

 

A quick answer is it depends on how deep it is and how large around it is. Shallow small devits(the size or smaller than a pencil I paper punch a hole in a strip of masking tape apply it over the defect then fill with spot putty, sand lightly then apply my touch up paint with a paper match end or a very small artest brush.You may need several coats to fill the hole just a little above the level of the masking tape My car is clear coated but I always use a single stage urethane for touch up and it will sand and polish up where it isn't at all noticeable. I usually use 1500 W/D paper and hand polish with a product called Race Glaze (could be Speed Glaze). If you are careful it will blend in fine and will not be noticable. If your paint is 20 years old the code does't matter much it is most likely faded get your local automotive paint store to do a color match and ive them time for a complete dry before you except it.

Large imperfections are harder to hide. If I can I still use the masking tape method tape with a similar shaped hole in it and spot putty but the final coat I use a Badger air brush and fill till paint is above the tape level, sand and polish as above. Often I will cut and buff the whole panel to blend in the defect. Anything larger and I call the insurance man because it's over my head beyond that. There are many ways to do the same thing I'm sure.... Tedd

 

Thanks Tedd , That’s what I Wanted to know !!

 

Move down south.

 

I see both sides of the story. I built a 57 Chevy for a friend, and he spent almost as much time in my shop, as I did, working on his own car. He's the type who "gets carried away". He did most of the grunt work and I did the final fit and finish, paint, etc. Well, the car did turn out too nice for him to drive. He was always afraid of something happening to it, and it took days to get the car back up to his standards after driving it. God forbid it should rain! So after a couple years, he sold it. Sad for both him, and me. The nicest car I've ever built, and it disappears ( I don't advertise my shop, it's all word of mouth, and referrals). Years later a friend calls, seeing the car at a show about 90 miles away, with the new owner bragging HE built it!
On the other hand, I'm driving my chopped 55 Olds out to a show in Iowa, from NJ, and stop late at night for gas. A guy comes running up and goes crazy over the car. Wants to know where the car show is. So I tell him it's 2 days from now, a couple states away. He doesn't believe me! "You can't drive that! It's a show car, and it's SO low!" He finall started to believe me, when I pointed out the NJ plates, no trailer anywhere to be seen, and all the bugs on the front end!
The 57, was WAYYY better than the factory ever built one, the underside was as nice as the outside. No black paint, anywhere! All painted, polished, or plated.

 

MINT!

 

i just painted my 66.and when i get it all back together.the first road it will encounter is a gravel road about a mile and a quarter to be exact.so i am pretty much expecting rock chips. so be it.

 

I live a mile and a half off the pavement, every trip to town is a adventure (town is 27 miles away) I get rock chips but not as many as you would think on that road, I drive pretty slow and most people on that road know me and the car and don't go fast if they see me coming, always get a wave or stop to BS for a second.... Tedd

 

^^^^
I have an expensive paint job, I’ll take anywhere, 2 Power Tours, and ready for a GG tour in September..