45 minutes away..looks like a shiny clean shell, and a marginal one at best.
Gotta love those young pups full of ideas and energy to tear down a Firebird in the early 80's, then get married, move into a nice house, move the Firebird from under the tarp at apartment complex to a nice heated garage with a $3000 race deck garage floor, lift, heater and compressor.
Then the wife gets pregnant, then comes child number 2.
First to go is the collection of matchbox cars and half of the rare pontiac Ram Air and Super Duty parts and heads you have been collecting over the past 20 years.
Then the other half gets sold, as well as the camoflague, hunting decoys and spare arrow shafts.
Then there goes the car..once the kids needs braces.
My point...Don't have kids if you own a rare musclecar. Better yet, teach those children values and have them get a job to pay for those braces. Once you sell your dream, what else is left? It can remain forever unmoved, but still in the garage.
Si Vis Pacem Parabellum
1967 Starlight black PMD Engineering 400 Auto 1968 Alpine Blue 400 4 speed 1968 Verdoro Green 400 HO 4 speed 2013 1LE 2SS/RS Inferno Orange Camaro.
Is equally as difficult without a second income with no kids. You can then afford 3 uncompleted projects instead of one.
Actually I have "Sometimers Disease". Sometimes I feel like working on them, sometimes I dont. Difficult to nibble at the dream piece by piece than to have 20k in the bank and just get two cars done at once, and within a year.
My mother had a 65 Tiger Gold convertable GTO, 3x2, my father had a 67 Firebird 400 4 speed and a 69 Charger. I came along in 70 and what happened to $150k in cars? Not saying kids are bad, but if you want it bad enough, budget and be wise.
Si Vis Pacem Parabellum
1967 Starlight black PMD Engineering 400 Auto 1968 Alpine Blue 400 4 speed 1968 Verdoro Green 400 HO 4 speed 2013 1LE 2SS/RS Inferno Orange Camaro.
I'm half way in between. Married without children. My parents didn't have a penny to spend on anything but keeping the Chevy running. Dad passed away when I was 8 leaving lots of loose ends. That's what I learned from him. My cars get done.... No loose ends when I'm gone...
You also need a supportive spouse or a willingness to sleep in the garage in order to keep the cars when money gets tight, which it invariably will. It's far easier for "just a car" to go away than to make changes that impact the entire family, at least for the person who is not interested in the car. Especially when it's an unfinished and "useless" car that is not allowed a fair share of the budget.
Vikki 1969 Goldenrod Yellow / black 400 convertible numbers matching
LOL I LOVE this post !...I too had the dream of keeping my first car forever (a 67 firebird 400) with hopes of my son driving it and enjoing it and passing it down to my grandson...Well now my son collects 5.0 mustangs and my grandson (age 3) could not care less about the Firebird!... He actually drives his electric Mustang convertible into the Firebird so now what? The Firebird sits side ways in my garage without being driven for the past 7-8 years and collects dust. And if I mention selling it, son sayes do what you want to with it. My hopes are he will take it But it looks like it will not remain in the family for long!!! Darn Son! Too bad I love him.....
My kids are out, or at least in 2 more yrs the last is out of college....got my Stude when they were in HS, then the Sebring MX, both sold now,to buy the bird... then the Bird 6 yrs ago....6 mo ago the Triumph, ...you CAN do it ,just takes a second job for the "snuff money"...lol
I'm doing the generational thing in both directions...my daughter is as car crazy as I am, loves convertible musclecars and some of the early classic designs too...and I am going to be helping my dad with his 'vette project, he never discouraged me from being a car crazy, speed demon kid, even though I didn't learn about cars from him he influenced me.
Vikki 1969 Goldenrod Yellow / black 400 convertible numbers matching
I first want to say hello as I am somewhat new to the site. I say somewhat as I have been a long time reader and only recently started to post. I find this particular topic very close to my heart as we purchased our 68 bird in 2000 for $5500 in Philly. We have since moved around the country due to my job and have taken the car from coast to coast and back (7 states). However, my wife at the young age of 38 has become disabled due to Juevinile Arthritis and other health issues. Over the last 6 years we have attempted a self restoration/re-creation of a 68 RamAir I. We are now at the point where we could use the money and are considering selling the ole girl as we do have three kids as well. I guess having a family and trying to build a dream car is often a fine line for many of us. I have the car for sale locally and have a few potential buyers, however, I just can not get myself to make the sale as my wife loves the car possibly more than I do. Bottom line is, I can certainly understand anyone who is facing or has ever had to face the reality of selling your "baby"...
And if I mention selling it, son sayes do what you want to with it. My hopes are he will take it But it looks like it will not remain in the family for long!!! Darn Son! Too bad I love him.....
I would rather sell the car LOL..
