how many of you guys go to cruise nights or car shows and have to overhear people making comments about your car like thats not an original SS or thats not the original motor or those strips arent the right ones? especially if there wrong!!! how do you handle this without gettin up and kickin there buts. it infuriates me when people make comments like that and have no clue.
:mad: :( graemlins/angry.gif
just wondering what you guys think
bob

just walk up and start complaining about it right alongside them- you know, like you don't own the car- and then, after a while, just get in and start it up and watch their faces turn various shades of red from embarassment.
then, kindly tell them that unless they own a nicer/more original/more valuable car, to shut the hell up until they get themselves educated on the subject. i would think this would work best if there was a large group of people in the vicinity.

Well living in the united states you cant just get up and kick some ones A$$ for talking smack. i found out the hard way graemlins/clonk.gif

what i do is politely ask them what car do they drive. if they respond "Oh i dont dont have a car." chances are they are just jelous that u have somethink nice and they wish they had it. If they respond "thats my car over there." u go check it out and well chances are his car is not perfect so u could start pointing stuff out :D ,,,,if it is mint and everthing is perfect well the guy is another idiot and has no respect for anything

Unless you were trying to fool people it shouldn't be a problem to hear someone point out what's different about your car. After all what do you expect folks to do when they walk around looking at the cars. IIt's actually nice to see there are folks out there that know a bit about these old cars. Don't get me wrong there are a few that will make down right mean comments but since '97 when I got back into cars and shows I think I've only heard one really bad comment about any of the cars at all the shows I've been too.

I know a guy that is always saying how he meets the rudest folks at car shows and my comment to him is to stop parking in the middle of the area where all the cars have big systems and the owners seem intent on making sure everyone hears theirs over the next guy. He tells me he feels more comfortable there because the guys are playing the music he likes and more cute (read less cloths) chicks hang out there... Go figure?

I there right, there right.

If there wrong I just get a chuckle out of it.

Everyone's entitled to there opinion.
I like the muscle cars and don't really like the street rod scene. Don't get me wrong there are some SWEET street rods out there and those guys put a LOT of work into fabricating there own parts to make it work.
I'm just not into them as much as muscle cars.

My pop has two street rods now and MANY in the past.

I have caught myself saying to a buddy at shows, I don't like the way that looks or I love how that looks.

Like others above have said, your at a show or showing your car at a cruise, get used to it and don't take the comments personal.

Now if the guy says something about you or your old lady, then we got problems..... :D

I used to follow DjD around at car shows, He would have his High Tech camera and take lots of Pic's and I would carry a note pad like I knew what I was doing wrighting something down. We would get to talk to all the cute chicks that way, Then his wife found out. I don't hang around my own car because I don't like to hear people make fun of it. But I have to go and move it every few hours so it want be towed as abandon.

We carry photocopies of the build sheet and P-O-P. Someone says it aint a real SS cause it has a bench seat and column shift, they get called out and educated.

I just suffered through "Car Craft" at the MN fairgrounds. Sooo many gorgeous cars of all types, and I'm pulling in with my ratty '64.

As I was idling through the streets to our club's parking spot (choking on 102 fumes and loving it) I overheard a dude and his skanky chick "WTF is this POS doing in here...geeezzz.."

My reply was "Where's your ride?? YOU ARE WALKING!! I'm driving with an entrance pass and a sticker for my windshield (thanks Paul BTW)!!"

He shut up and walked away :D

(by now she was pretty loaded up from all the idling, so I "cleared" the plugs just as they were at the exhaust... graemlins/thumbsup.gif

Yeah people dont remember what mom always said "If ya dont have anything nice to say dont say anything at all" It ticks me off even if its not my car when I overhear people talk smack about someones ride, I actually got in a brawl over someone calling my friends car a POS (and calling him a scrawny geek) Unfortunately you cant get away with that these days, even if I dont like someones car or believe what they say I usually keep it to myself, but as long as there are nice cars there will always be some jealous a-hole talking trash

I tend to agree with the last post. if you don't have something nice to say-------/.,
I have been to a few shows and have had someone look at the cowl Tag and say my car is not an original SS. DUH! I had a friend make me a sign board that leans against the front wheel. It says SS CLONE. Does it bother me when they have an unpleasant comment? NO. I think the reason it does not is because when I go home my old girl goes home with me, and the next morning when i go into my garage there she sits..MY CAR!

how many of you guys go to cruise nights or car shows and have to overhear people making comments about your car All the time, everywhere I go... ;)

Hey Bob - If you hadn't written down all those bad comments we made about the cute chicks being clones and not having factory headlights my wife might still let me hang out with you... ;)

I don't think talking about a car, what you like and dislike about it or even identifying it for what it is or isn't and pointing out differences in factory stripes and close copies is a bad thing. The only guy that has to like the car is it's owner. As a car owner I hope you guys are not throwing hard work and money at your cars to please me or Bob when we see it at a show.

If others comments truly bother you I'd suggest not hanging in your chair right next to your car all day. Go for a walk and check out the other cars and talk about what you like and don't like about them... tongue.gif

Believe it or not I even hear comments on Team Chevelle about the originality of some cars for sale on ebay ;) . Granted , some arguements are legit but , some people just like to flap thier jaw sometimes graemlins/boring.gif .

The things people say without thinking them through...I remind people making directed digs at any particular car that even at museums less than 100% of the patrons are happy with what they see.

The real fun can be had if you are an automotive braniac: lure the unknowing in, then lower the boom on their automotive misinformation. Its best done within hearing range of their kids or wife/girlfriend (seems that only a few guys are possesed with the need to throw out automotive put downs). Then as they walk away listen in as their wife reminds them what an idiot they are, or their kids ask questions.

I go to a lot of car shows, mostly as a spectator, sometimes as a participant, and mostly I enjoy all the cars - and when it happens the butthead entertainment factor can be fun too.

The favorite overheard comment that I get about my '65 El Camino is: "how those things are so light in the rear and they can't get traction". There are all sorts of replies I have for that comment, but the one that always stumps them is when I request them to name any muscle car that DIDN'T have more weight over the front wheels. Now maybe a 1.57 second 60' time at the drags is not pro material - but it is hardly a poor showing for a "light" in the rear El Camino :D

Thomas

The only thing that really bothers me is when some know-nuthin calls my elky a Ranchero!

My blood pressure goes sky high when I hear that!!! graemlins/angry.gif

I remember when I was about 18 or 19 years old, I was checking out this really nice looking 70 Elky with either a 396 or 454, I wasn't sure, with my dad. Anyways, the sales man came out and we got to talking. It was pretty much bone stock, and it idled quit nicely, and quiet. The sales man said it was pretty loud, then I had to make a "sly" remark to my dad, and said, "It'd sure be nice to finally have a car this quiet." Well to make a long story short, I didn't know much about car, or numbers matching or anything....and I ended up telling the guy that the Elky weighed more then a Chevelle graemlins/clonk.gif ...and I think the guy believed me...LOL :D graemlins/clonk.gif :D

On my car, they're probably going to be correct, so i'm not sure how I would handle it?????? graemlins/sad.gif

Originally posted by novaderrik:
just walk up and start complaining about it right alongside them- you know, like you don't own the car- and then, after a while, just get in and start it up and watch their faces turn various shades of red from embarassment.
then, kindly tell them that unless they own a nicer/more original/more valuable car, to shut the hell up until they get themselves educated on the subject. i would think this would work best if there was a large group of people in the vicinity. EXACTLY what I do. Funny thing, a fellow TC'er did this at a show and I overheard it. I played along with the remaining guys who were flat out stating that my and another TC'ers cars (being that they are the same color sheme and that was impossible to them)were clones BECAUSE they were the same red / black. Also because they "looked at the VIN" and could tell from the numbers on our 70 SS's that they were not SS's....but as we know - you cannot tell a 70SS from the VIN. I did not feel like explaining the VINs on 70's so I just giggled and joined in with them.


I just play along and walk around my own car talking it down and making stuff up to see who says what.

Originally posted by 66 MYSTERY CHEVELLE:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />
how many of you guys go to cruise nights or car shows and have to overhear people making comments about your car All the time, everywhere I go... ;) </font>[/QUOTE]Stop that Mike!!!!!!!!!!! tongue.gif

Just wondering, why would anyone give a crap about something stupid someone said about your car, who didn't have a clue about what they were talking about anyway?

Myself I care about what people have to say only if they know what they are talking about, because the people who talk crap, your not going to influence there thinking anyway. I found that trying to convince the guy who had a bone stock 66 Camaro SS with the 454 in it is sort of a waste of time!!! You both walk away thinking dumba$$


Rocky

yeah i met that guy with the 66 Camaro, his dad had a 63 Chevelle with a factory 409 :D

I find it quite amusing to make point out the incorrect details in what someone thinks they know to make them look like an uneducated dolt in front of their little buddies.

Originally posted by Bob Johnson:
But I have to go and move it every few hours so it want be towed as abandon. I used to have a '58 two-door wagon. I'd go out on trash day and make sure it was in the driveway... :confused:

This happens all the time to me. Last year at a show while I was "manually" steering my car into a spot, a bunch of guys were pointing out the flaws of my car. I heard one guy say;

"Look at the paint on the frame rails, thats a S'y job.

To my friend with the VW it happens to his face. One time we were standing by it, and it was getting dark so the street lights were on at the cruise. As you know under flour lights you can see more imperfections in the paint. Some guys walked up and started going over his car telling him how unever his paint/body was, even though you cant see the problems in the sunlight. They acted like they were informing him of all the problems with his car, like he didn't know it.

Sad to read that this BS has moved over to the Chevelle side of the car hobby. I have a midyear Corvette and if you think this nonsense is bad over on the Chevelle side go to a Vette only show.

I just don't take my car to the Vette show....not gonna listen to the mechanically challenged nit pickers. Most cannot change a spark plug and a great many are the bucks down "my mechanic" types who don't have a freakin clue "whats inside them there correct for the car, cause it was built in late July, 7 finned with the casting crack thru the "O" because the GM casting mold cracked in mid 1967 aluminum valve cover thingies". It has gotten so freakin anal.

I enjoy both of my old cars thru workin on them and driving them not at the shows. At the shows (especially the FEW Vette shows I do attend) I just look for original concept cars that are DIFFERENT from the boring, seen a million of 'em already, cookie cutter, concourse, NCRS or whatever by the numbers restos. I look those special cars that really represent the hot rodding hobby over and talk to the ceative skilled guys who built them and then I get outta Dodge.

This hyper resto stuff ruined the Corvette shows for me and I was gravitating back to the Chevelle shows as a result. Hopefully owners of the "less than hyper original cars" will jump in the face of these wanna be judges and stop this nonsense. Otherwise the Chevelle shows are going to be (if they are not already) just like the Vette shows.

I enjoy hearing "that's not a real SS" at shows when I take my malibu. My reply, "Of course it's not, it doesn't say it anywhere on it"

I think some people think an SS should literally have "SS" somewhere in the VIN. Otherwise why would they check the VIN???

I hear what you are saying about the Corvette shows, my wife and I have a 66 roadster and have done the Corvette shows, ours has vintage American mags on it and everyone used to say it should have repo knockoffs on it just like everybody elses C2.
Anyway my favorite thing was when we used to show a 65 Chevelle 2 door wagon we had and listened to people explain to their buddys how it was made from of a 4 door or an ElCamino that we put a wagon roof on

Gene

If I lived up where you are I would let people say I was made out of a 4 door car if that made them happy or made them feel smart.

Same thing on my Vette...took off the darn KO's and sold them. Too much huffin and puffing gettin them on and off...silly hammer and what not. Now I have Rally Wheels...."Those are not correct till 67" Yeah so what? Tell me something I don't know or shut your mouth is what I wanna say. Also I have 67 rocker panel moldings on the car...my 66 original ones were shot and I did not like em anyway...Same crap "You know those are for a 67.......... Do I give a S----T?

It is not so bad coming form wanna bes who don't have a car themselves it is WORSE from the morons who have a car and somehow want you to know that their car is more correct or know that they have read and memorized their Adams book. Dopes they just can't see that some people just plain don't care about hyper correctness.

Oman - please don't take this wrong. If you put parts on your car that are not correct because you wanted to and don't care about the correctness of it, why does it bother you when someone points it out? The fact that it bother you gives the impression that you do care and maybe feel guilty for not having things correct. Why not counter the "do you know you have 67 rocker molding on your 66?" with "Ya, I put them on there, beinf 100% correct isn't a priority to me. That's sharp of you to notice a little thing like that though". You might end up making a friend and enjoying the car show experience more. graemlins/beers.gif

graemlins/thumbsup.gif

"Oman - please don't take this wrong. If you put parts on your car that are not correct because you wanted to and don't care about the correctness of it, why does it bother you when someone points it out?"

I don't like it because the act of kindly "informing" me assumes 1. I don't know what is "wrong", 2. I would want to "correct" the deficiency if someone would just enlighten me and 3. that the "expert" is even correct in the first place.

This hyper correct resto is fine for those who want to do it and those who want to spend the money. Some people (me included) just want to tinker and try to build something a little different. Please don't take this worong....if you build a bucks down super correct whatever because you wanted to and you care about the correctness of that stuff would this bother you?

Suppose I walk up to your project car eyeball it over and announce "Why did you spent all that money and time collecting dated and / or NOS parts it just seems sorta silly to me". You would be PO ed right? You bet you would! You did what you wanted with your money and your time and that is fine with me. The annoyance comes when someone who marches to a different drum decides that they need to run their mouths about how my car should be or what I should have done.

I don't do that and I don't like it when someone does it to me. Go to a Street Rod meet some time. People go around admiring the creative work others have done on their cars...sure there are cookie cutter "bought over the internet in pieces" kit cars at those shows but most of the guys enjoy looking at all the cars, swapping info and sharing ideas on how to accomplish something. They dont rag on other cars because theirs is "better" or more creative or more I dunno more anything.

I think enjoyment of the hobby comes from the above described kind of experience. I like the original restos don't get me wrong but the creative cross breeding of old and new technologies is far more interesting and technically challenging than chasing around for dated radiator caps and just screwing them on. That does not mean that I tell the owners what I think...I just look the car over and moe on to hopefully see something new and creative that I have not seen a million times already.

I do think this numbers junk is really stupid. REALLY I do but that is my personal opinion. Original unmolested RARE cars ZL1 Vettes or Cross Ram Camaros or whatever are excluded from this little explanation. They really are rare and should be preserved. I think 396 or 454 or whatever L79 327 Chevelles that are rebuilt with correct dates parts are just collections of components that COULD HAVE / Might have been factory assembeled out of the pile of parts from which they are created. Dumb dumb dumb.

At shows I keep my personal opinion personal I don't feel compelled to tell the guys who do this stuff what I think. I wish they would respirocate and just KEEP THEIR BIG MOUTHS SHUT then move on to the next hyper correct resto at the show. Once there they can OH AH WOW the different color seats or the automatic in that car versus the stick in the previous car they scoped out. Stop running their mouths about what they think I should have done with my time and my money. I would rather talk to guys who appreciate what I have done as opposed to wasting my time saying "Well gee I am sorry you think I need a different carb or that you think my throttle cable is for a 71 not for a 72".

Does that help you understand? No I am not PO'ed and I did not "take this worong" I am just tired of having my Vette ragged on by people who have much more mouth power than brain power or mechanical ability

I'm glad someone brought this topic up. I've been going to car shows for a few years and I am certainly guilty of critiqing a few cars myself, and this post has opened my eyes. Of course, my points come from seeing certain things that may be overlooked during the resto process.

I'm no pro, just a rookie at best, and I always take time to compliment the car with the owner if they are available, even if it is a POS, because without ALL those guys, my repro fenders are going to cost twice as much and be impossible to find...

HOWEVER - If you have a (God forbid!) FOR SALE sign on your ride, expect me to lint-pick it for hours within earshot and then low-ball you in hopes of getting your sweet ride for a steal! :D

I fully intend to recreate factory chalk marks, paint dabs, etc on my wagon when I finish it... tongue.gif

HOWEVER - If you have a (God forbid!) FOR SALE sign on your ride, expect me to lint-pick it for hours within earshot and then low-ball you in hopes of getting your sweet ride for a steal! :D [/QB]No flame but, I can't stand someone nit-picking a car I am selling. I know what is wrong with it. If you see what is wrong with it -- GOOD FOR YOU, but I don't need to hear it from you. I tend to tell people to get lost if they start picking the car apart. What you see is what you get for the price I am asking. If you want to make an offer go ahead, but I don't need to hear why. Don't justify your offer to me. My .02

Originally posted by Big James 4XL:
The only thing that really bothers me is when some know-nuthin calls my elky a Ranchero!

My blood pressure goes sky high when I hear that!!! graemlins/angry.gif You mean its not just a ranchero :rolleyes:

I've been taking my cars to shows for 15 yrs. and I've never heard any of these comments. My experience has been very good with all the shows I've been to. Maybe I'm not listening as closely as some guys, to what people are saying. I have people asking me questions from the min. I get to the show field till I leave, and for the most part their just interested in the car and want to know more about the restoration. Maybe the type of shows you attend has something to do with it. The local shows tend to have spectators that know a lot less about cars than the spectators at the national shows like A.C.E.S. AACA etc. My advise would be to stick to the larger shows if the stupid comments bother you, or else sit there in the chair, shake your head, and forget about it...

Originally posted by Carguy00:
No flame but, I can't stand someone nit-picking a car I am selling. I know what is wrong with it. If you see what is wrong with it -- GOOD FOR YOU, but I don't need to hear it from you. I tend to tell people to get lost if they start picking the car apart. What you see is what you get for the price I am asking. If you want to make an offer go ahead, but I don't need to hear why. Don't justify your offer to me. My .02 Why does it bother you so? To a buyer you are just another seller and typically sellers hi-ball their prices. I can't believe if someone came up and said "nice car but this and that would have to be fixed before I paid your asking price. I know it will cost me $xxx.00 to fix this and that so how about you take that much off the asking price." you would get upset and tell the potential buyer where to go!

[/qb][/QUOTE]Why does it bother you so? To a buyer you are just another seller and typically sellers hi-ball their prices. I can't believe if someone came up and said "nice car but this and that would have to be fixed before I paid your asking price. I know it will cost me $xxx.00 to fix this and that so how about you take that much off the asking price." you would get upset and tell the potential buyer where to go! [/QB][/QUOTE]

Because Thge asking price - is the asking price. If you don't think it is fair make your offer and see what happens. I don't need the buyer to justify their offer. Does the buyer feel that "if I tell the seller enough bad things about his car he will decide to give it away". When I go to buy a car I make a mental note of how much I need to put into a car + the price I am willing to pay and figure if it is worth buying. I don't think if I tell the seller what is wrong i can get it cheaper.

Carguy00 - it's just that people are people and it seems you are taking offense to something that a lot of people do not meaning to offend. Not all sellers disclose problems and not all sellers know exactly what is wrong with their cars. How is a buyer to know where you are coming from if he doesn't speak up?

You said something like "I know what's wrong, if the buyers sees it he doesn't need to point it out" Do you point out anything to the buyer?

I find my buddies and me doing the same things at car shows, and I often feel guilty about it...

Moreso, because my car is not finished, and what is done (for now at least) is far from perfect... Why should I pass judgement on someone else's car when mine is a poor example...

Some people KNOW whats wrong with their car, and don't have the time/money to repair those deficiencies at this time... Some people might not have the same "eye" for workmanship and aesthetics...

Others want to do everything themselves, yet the might be a "jack-of-all-trades, master-of-none", so the overall build quality suffers...

Some people are just starting out in this hobby, and might not know whats correct or not...


Does it really matter if its a small local cruise-in or a national indoor show...


Every year I see some cars that have "orange-peel" so bad, it looks like they were painted with a roller... But before commenting, I think back to my car, and my flawed body and paint...

My windows aren't adjusted (side-glass), some chrome is missing. Some portions are ultra-detailed, while others are getting a little worn/greasy/chipped...

Now some things are hard to over-look (try as I might), such as cars that appear to be fully restored (correct paint colors and finishes), yet have incorrect components...

I see tons of 66-67 Chevelles (both real SS cars and clones) that the owners, for whatever reason, use 69+ engine brackets/Long Water Pumps...

But thats what the owners wanted...

Its their choice.

This is usually considered a hobby, but there are so many different facets...

This thread doesn't belong in Chevelle Tech forum since it is not a Chevelle Tech subject. smile.gif