MC News Desk

You finally found your dream car. It took a long time because it was a low production performance vehicle, and extremely hard to come by. Quite rare in fact!
It's as clean as a whistle, all original, including every factory option available for that model, and has very low miles on it. You just know over time, this car could be worth many, many times, what you paid for it. The seller really didn't know what they had, so you got a smoking deal on it.

Within a few days after transporting it home, you have the engine running, and it sounds strong. The tranny shifts smoothly, all the electrics are in good shape, (even the sun visor mirror light still works!) An interior detailing and a fresh coat of wax, and it looks like it just rolled off the showroom floor!
You throw a Temporary plate on it, and take it out for a test cruise. Even with the old tires, it handles great, and has ton's of power. What a beauty, what a find..you couldn't be happier.

So now what?
You know that with the price's on this model rapidly increasing every year, that kept as is, and with this low a miles, you stand to make a kings fortune on it down the road. Do put it up on blocks in the garage, throw a car cover over it? You can still show it off to your buddies, and sit drinking a cold one while admiring your prize.
On the other hand, you could put some miles on it, and risk smacking it up, (God forbid), perhaps breaking something on it, but actually get the joy of driving it. Is it really worth the risk though?

What would you do?

The inspiration for this Blog entry, came about after watching this You Tube video. This car has been stored since 1976 by the original owners, (who are not getting any younger). 36 years it's been sitting, not unlike an old trophy, that you can tell stories about. Many enthusiasts have encouraged them to take it out in the sunlight again, but so far, they have steadfastly refused to do so. Seems kind of a shame to me..

Ever had the fantasy of one day, by a total fluke, finally finding the car of your dreams?

Your out peacefully walking the dog along some country road, when he picks up the scent of a rabbit. Heedless of your calls, it runs after the rabbit, and chases it halfway across a farmers field, until the poor bunny finds refuge in an old barn. Cursing yourself for not keeping him on a leash, you finally catch up to the dog, who is pawing away at a broken board where the rabbit made his escape. Naturally curious, you take a peak in the through the dirty window, and there, back in the shadows, you spot the outline of a 67 Shelby GT350.

It's not always a barn, perhaps it's the neighbors garage down the lane. The one that you have never, ever, seen, with the door open. Maybe it's sitting in someones yard, up on blocks, and the tarp that's always over it has finally blown off.
I also may not always be a Shelby Mustang, perhaps it's an old Edsel, 55 T-Bird, 65 Falcon, or maybe newer Mustang Cobra R..

Several years ago I had a find. It wasn't really the car of my dreams, but still a pretty cool "find".
A long retired school teacher, needed a ride home after dropping her car off at the dealership where I worked, for some service work. On the way back to her condo, she was telling me about how much she loved her newer Honda. She said, "My other car wakes up the neighbors whenever I start it" Curious, I asked her what her other car was. She said, "I've had it since new, Do you want to see it?"
When she peeled off the dusty plastic sheet, there sat a 1964 MGB painted in British Racing Green, with wire wheels, soft top, leather interior..Cool!
I expressed an interest in buying it, but she wasn't ready to part with it.
A few months passed by, when I rec'd a call from her, telling me she decided to sell the old car. I asked her how much she wanted for it, and she said, "One Loonie"! She said, she had calculated how much it had cost her over the last several years, paying for the additional parking space, and realized the folly of keeping it any longer.
Done deal! I had it towed home the next day.

I just finished reading author Tom Cotter's book, "The Cobra in the Barn". He has a series of these Barn Find books, including a couple about unique motorcycle barn finds. Each book cover a wide range of unique "finds",
that make for some really interesting reading. They also contain some great hints and suggestions, on how you might be able to finally track down, your dream car.

So it's been a rough week at work, and you have been really looking forward to this weekend off. The weather couldn't be better! Blue sky's, warm temperatures, and dry roads.
Thanks to last weekends non-stop rain, (and all the time you spent in the garage because of it), your car is freshly waxed and polished, and the interior is vacuumed spotlessly. Even the tires and wheels are looking sharp, after trying out that new cleaner you bought.

Decision time.
Do you enter the car in the local Car Show, (since it's looking so sweet), or hit the highway for a nice relaxing cruise?
It is the first show of the season, and several of your buddy's will be there. Maybe this time you'll finally win a trophy. Do you throw a lawn chair in the trunk, along with some sunscreen, and perhaps your mini cooler, stocked with ice and bottled water?
OR, do you grab the camera, top up the tank with fuel, and go for a long drive. Maybe this time you will find the perfect location, for that " Car Calender" photo op, that you have been looking for?

I know what I would do. Do you?

It's that time of year again for the Show and Shines to begin.
In the past, I have always gone to the shows merely as a spectator, to simply drool over the many automotive works of art on display.

Strangely, I am also attracted to those few cars,( that always seem to show up), that have no modifications, custom paint jobs, or any other visible worthy attributes, They are also not restored classic car, or even a rare model. Often they have missing parts, rusted out panels, rotting interiors and, faded original paint You wonder what the heck are they doing here, alongside all this chrome and glitter? Most spectators wander past them with nary a glance.

I have found the owners of these "show sleepers", often have the most interesting stories to tell about the car. It can be about some weird place that they found it, sometimes it has a family history, perhaps a special memory, (lost virginity in back seat), or maybe about some life changing trip they made in it (drove it to the 1969 Woodstock Music Festival).
Sure, there are also the guy's with their underfunded dreams of restoring, or perhaps "hot rod-ing" the car. Maybe just being at the show gives them a badly needed confidence boost? The "I can do it!" sort of thing.
Of course there is also the odd ball, who simply doesn't realize he's driving a piece of junk.
Regardless, I find them all very gregarious talkers..

So if your at a Show and Shine this spring, and see one of these sleepers, wander over for a look. You might be surprised at what you learn about it...