You mean the first time I realized I had too many project cars?
Yes, we can already hear you typing furiously away, explaining that “there’s no such thing as too many project cars.” While we’d love to agree with you, there’s a distinct difference between working on more than one project at a time and hoarding a bunch of cars that need too much work to run.
At any rate, what was the moment you realized that you bit off more than you could chew–that you had too many project cars–and it was time to thin the herd?
Haven't hit that point yet, but with three "fun" cars, one of which is out of commission right now, and another that tends to require constant attention to keep running, it feels like I am close. Being in the rust belt, and hating seeing cars disintegrate while sitting, I think I'd know I have too many if one needs to be parked in the grass for more than a day or so, or parked on the street during the winter.
Robbie (Forum Supporter) said:You mean the first time I realized I had too many project cars?
rcutclif
For me it would be the first time I realized it, and then actually DID SOMETHING about it.
Right now I have a challenge car project (XKR) A 'fun' project ('65 390 FS Ford), a long term project ('46 CJ2a), a U42T mini truck that will need a clutch soon, a 25' cabin boat in the middle of an outdrive overhaul, a '58 Healey 100/6 that runs and drives but is about to be needful in the brake and suspension department, a late model Wrangler that loves little projects, a 2500 Suburban 6.0 4x4 that is 100% neglected and LIKES to be left alone, and the wife's van (note the lack of description or care lol.)
This is after I downsized recently.....so i don't have a problem, thank you very much.
I was already starting to feel like my things were owning me when I had 2, now I'm up to 3...one runs, one ran when parked in the before-times, one mysteriously stopped running in February (probably gas went bad despite having stabilizer mixed in and needs new gas + fuel system cleaning) and is getting a body restoration.
In reply to Colin Wood :
The first or the final time? The first was 30 years ago.
I had 3 Morris Minor Travelers, 2 MG T series, the Black Jack special, the Jaguar XKE. V12 racecar. One Jaguar XJ12 sedan and customer cars. In for restoration or race preparation. ( a Lotus 11 LeMans waiting for space.
The most recent is when my late Mother-in-law's stuff started filling the garage.
My metric, and one I'd recommend to any car enthusiast, is when you exceed how much covered parking you have. If you have to park it on the street or in the yard, you have too many imo. Old cars and collectors degrade too much if left in the sun and rain. If you're that guy with a yard full of cars, then sell em so they can go to someone who can store them properly or they're just going to return to the earth before you get to them.
SupraFiend said:My metric, and one I'd recommend to any car enthusiast, is when you exceed how much covered parking you have. If you have to park it on the street or in the yard, you have too many imo. Old cars and collectors degrade too much if left in the sun and rain. If you're that guy with a yard full of cars, then sell em so they can go to someone who can store them properly or they're just going to return to the earth before you get to them.
Depending on how you look at it, my covered parking spots are somewhere between 0 and 1
I feel attacked.
I am definitely in the to many right now. If I just got one or two more perfect projects I could justify getting rid of at least one of the ones I have. In that way those 3 additional projects would really free up mental space.
In all honesty it's hard to give up on them because I struggle to see them for the reality of what they actually are today. I see them in my mind as what my plan for them is when finished. I'm emotionally invested in my plan and my dream, not the pile of parts to make it. Giving up on that potential that is much harder then giving up on the Rusty Useless shell they really are. Selling the cars would be easy, they are just cars, I could get more. But to sell them feels like giving up on the idea and that's painful.
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