Need help with categories

[Tom Kochtanek]

I thought it might be fun and somewhat informative if we were to set up an online poll asking members about their persepctives on "W"s and X frames. The objective would be to establish a set of categories, ranging from "Hot Rodder" to "Numbers Freak" and all those in between. The problem is that I am having trouble articulating what those categories might in fact be. I thought it would be best to first contact you folks and ask what you consider yourselves to be.

I suspect we have fabricators, hobbyists, collectors, amateur restorers, and many others among us. If you would take the time to think about this, post a response about your own perspectives, then perhaps we could build those categories and then run a poll seeing how the membership stacks up.

I realize that these categories may not be mutually exclusive (you may feel part of more than a single category), but let's see where this leads us.

I'll start out. I'm not a hot rodder, not a numbers matching guy, rather more of an "amateur restorer" with an eye for making "period correct" vehicles from "builders". That might be an example of more than one category, I am not sure. I have lots of respect for both ends of the scale, and by no means is this an attempt to rate these categories, just to identify them and then take a poll to see what we are collectively.

Does this make sense?

If you have the time, drop a note suggesting what you represent, and how you would label that category. Then we'll see how it goes!

Cheers!

TomK

[bobs409]

Hmmm, lets see. For me, it depends upon the vehicle. First off, in all cases, I'm an amatuer. :D Well, maybe an experienced amatuer. :p

I don't have what it takes to do an all out numbers type car both financially and motivation wise. They are very expensive to do and then when your done you have to be afraid to drive the car. :eek: I'm also not the type to do an all out show car for the same reason. I like to drive my cars.

For some of my cars such as the 3 Chevelles I have, I would say I'm a resto-mod type of guy. I like stock interiors, stock body's but do like custom exhaust and some add on's like a CD player. In most cases, the original engine is just fine by me but of course, my 66 Chevelle has the 409. With these cars, I will add factory options if I like them such as rally wheels, bucket seats, etc.

For my Impala's, I prefer to go as stock as possible. These cars don't need anything IMO. (with only the least amount of mods from original such as mufflers/pipes, things that do not show) NO extra factory add on's for these cars. (no power brakes if the car didn't have it, etc)

My truck is a whole different animal. (69 C-10 stepside) It's got a whole lot of custom items and I feel since it's a truck, it really doesn't hurt the value but makes it more interesting.

I have another truck (71 C-20) that I haven't decided which way to go. That one so far is more stock but we'll have to wait and see...


Bob

[fatride]

I would say I'm a hot rodder. I'm more about performance but I like to look good doing that! I do have a sense of knowing when a car is in too good of shape to cut up and the 60 reflects that credo. I will make upgrades too the car for safety and performance but will not alter the frame or body in a way that it could not be changed back again. My 60 Impala looks pretty much stock to the eye, if I put the stock wheels and hub caps back on you could not tell the car was modified at all. The ultimate sleeper :brow

[bjburnout]

Hey Tom

Fatride pretty well sums up my category....hot rodder.....:D

I always preferred performance over appearance (form follow function) ...:rolleyes:

I try to keep my rides close to factory appearance ( maybe some mags) but like to have a lot of muscle under the hood..........sleeper..........:cool:

As for putting this group .........:hug in a category......well even this site isn't big
enough for that...............:clap

bj:cheers :cheers

[Ronnie Russell]

I will be included with the guys who have already posted. I re-build cars--I do not restore. I respect and admire restorations, but personally I could never afford to restore a car correctly , so I do the best I can with what I have to work with. I like era correct modifications for cosmetic purposes. And of course it has to be W-head motor, with the intention of a trip to the drag strip every once in a while.

[Tom Kochtanek]

Thanks for your comments to date. Keep 'em coming!

After reading the first several responses, and thinking a bit (that hurt!) it appears as if we hae several independent variables going here. One is PERFROMANCE, one is RESTORATION EXPERIENCE, another possibly MECHANICAL ABILITY. I suspect there may be others that pop up. As the discussion continues, I will monitor and then initiate what might be a series of polls later this week.

It's fun reading all your stories to date, puts a persepctive on the membership. One more variable is the fact that while many of us are considered "hobbyists", that there are some that are in business with a focus on "W" engines and "X" framed cars :).

Let's find out some more about ourselves!

Best,
TomK

[raymar58454]

This is a tuff one. Never having the money to pay someone else to do what I wanted I had to learn to do it all myself. Engine building, including machine work(my favorite) welding, body and paint etc.Although if I had to chose one area it would be PERFORMANCE.My biggest thing seems to have been to fill the engine compartment, Started at age 15 with a 40 chevy businees coupe with a 392 hemi.Anybody runs across this car I want it back(last known to be in Streator,Il. area about 1964). Then came the "w" engine phase which I have never outgrown my passion for. The first a 58 impala convert w/modified 348, then 58 impala HT 348 switched to a 409/425.In between the BB454's. My 66 impala SS in the photo section which I recently sold. Always wanted another 58 but cant decide how I want to do it( in the photo albums just the way I bought it).
AND THEN, I stumbled across you guys. Old age had me satisfied with just driving it the way it is (350/350) or putting together a BB454 I have sitting here. Maybe repainting it. Then came the resurgance. Not having gone junkyarding in 20 years, someone talked of junkyarding ( I think it was TOMO to blame) and Off I went, hence the 409 in the garage now.
The 409 is definitely going in it. As much as I would like to modify a lot of the chassis I can't find in my heart to do it to this car, it is just to solid an original car to hack it up. Probably going to take it back to original white color, try to come up with my own injection setup, maybe even an original interior ( if I could sell the new custom interior that is in it).
I was even an apprentice baiter on a fishing vessel before being promoted to master.

[real61ss]

What a great thread that TomK has started. It's really interesting to read about the others and their likes and dislikes. As for me, I'm probably not the "numbers freak" that a lot of people think I am. I like cars restored to look original. Yes, I'm a numbers freak about my 61SS's but that's because I got really lucky and purchased my first SS from the original owner, he had not changed or modified one thing in all those years and he sold it to me on the condition that it would be restored back to original. My second 61SS which I'm in the process of restoring now, will also be restored back to original except that the motor will not be the original one that came in it. Back when 348Nut sold me the 61 409 motor, Verne Frantz reminded me of a 61SS that he and I had known of for several years but had no motor or transmission. Bingo!! this is the perfect car for this motor.

My 61 Ford is supposed to be a numbers matching car but I don't know enough about Fords to know if it is or not. Those cars are non-drivers, call'm what you like, trailer queens, whatever, the white SS is not licensed and the one I'm working on won't be either so that I'm not tempted. The Ford is licensed but it's never been farther than around the block. Once at a show, someone told me, "that 61SS might as well be a flower pot, all you can do is look at it"!!!!:rofl

My 63 409 is not a numbers matching car, it has a 64 motor but it looks correct and that's the big thing for me. I'd much rather have a non-matching number car that looks correct than a matching number car that has been modified. But, please don't misunderstand, to each his own, I'm not putting guys down that like modified cars, some of my best freinds own modified show cars, it's just not "my thing". I'm not big into driving my cars but we have a cruise-in on Saturday night here in town so I drive the '63 or the Covette to that now and then. We take the 63 '09 or the 62 Corvette to Daytona and Myrtle Beach each year but I trailer them to and from, just drive'm around while we're there. Again, I'm very particular about appearance, for example, the exhausts, I want them to exit the body as they did from the factory and sound like they did from the factory. I love solid lifters and hate loud mufflers!!!! Not only do my cars have factory mufflers, they also have resonators!!!!

And, I'm not a racer, used to race "round tracks" but that was many years ago, never was into drag racing although I like watching the 60's cars drag race now. So, I guess I'm in the amateur restoration, sometime numbers freak but always make'm look correct catagory.

Sorry this was so long, I got carried away!!! I love this site!!!

[CDNpontiac409guy]

HHHMMM...
For me, I seem to be in a strange place:dunno ....
Deep at heart, I probably am a "numbers freak". However, in my opinion, this is even MORE important in an unrestored car. It does NOT have to be perfect.... IT'S REAL ! and it's only original once. Guess this is why that black 62 BelAir on eBay has me so messed up:eek: :p . THAT to me, is the real deal :deal

Then again... power. I am a driver... always.
In a nut shell... build it "state of the art" modern technology, carefully concealed within a COMPLETELY period-correct restoration.
hhhmmmm... that just came to me:brow
Pretty much sums up my view on it.

[models916]

I like the mid to late 60s Chevy hot rods. I try to do mods to my car that would be done in that time period. I do like to look at everything from low riders to Pro Mod.

[JIMS409]

For me it's always been the same, "Nostalgiafied" meaning: What the car would have looked/sounded like on the streets/strips of the period.:cool:

My '63 for example, Casler cheater slicks, American Torque-Thrusts w/ spinners, 3-1/2" "Dumps," Hurst shifter, Motorola "Vibrasonic" Reverb, SW gauges (six) in panel, Tuned Exhaust, Custom air cleaner and "Super Stock Stance."

All of this on a 34K all-there, #'s matching car that we DRIVE to the local events and cruising. For us, 2/3 the fun of owning the car is the driving, sounds and sights if the 1960's. The whine, the carb's suckin' purple, and the exhaust pukin', oh it's.....Am-freaking-brosia! :brow

Just try and stop at the mini-mart for snacks if you don't like crowds...

Always thought that they should have a "Nostalgia Street" class at the shows.:dunno

[dq409]

I don't have what it takes to do an all out numbers type car both financially and motivation wise. They are very expensive to do and then when your done you have to be afraid to drive the car. :eek: I'm also not the type to do an all out show car for the same reason. I like to drive my cars.

Bob

I`m with Bob and Ray and Aubrey and,,,,,,,and ,,,,,

Take one look at my car and i think that sums it up !!

Sixties style simi-stock appearing Performace racer !!! "Nostalgiafied" I like the sound of that !!!!

I too like a car that is a driver that you don`t have to lose sleep over because it is flawless. Of course that doesn`t mean I wouldn`t like to have a fresh coat of paint on the ol` girl !! but I prefer to put my money, what I can afford on the parts that will make her go faster first,,,
dq

[rwagon57]

Modernized mechanicals, near stock to '60s era street car exterior and interior appearance, driver over show car cosmetics. It depends on the car also. The above is a very accurate description of my '57 RanchWagon. I would never modify a rare or significant car if it was unmolested, say a documented L-88 Corvette or a COPO Camaro, yet I'd chop and channel a '32 Ford Tudor in a heartbeat.

Of course I seriously doubt that I will ever own a perfect numbers matching restoration because if I own it I want to drive it.

[threeimpalas]

I'm a "Modifier" that can range from "Period Hot Rod" to "Kustom" to "Pro-Touring" (or whatever you wish to call the current air-suspension, big wheels, high-tech engine trend).

I'm the guy who'd take a 100 point (or whatever is the "best") restored car and have no qualms about "un-restoring" it. The only X-frame car I probably wouldn't do this to would be a Z11, seeing as they all have at least some "hot rod" type history (being former drag cars, and whatnot). I'm especially not fond of restored "stockers" that are nicer than they ever came from the factory (as seems to be quite common with the Corvette and Tri-5 crowds). There is such a thing as being too restored.