When I first purchased my '48 Chevy convertible project I joined a national club for the bow tie mark as a possible source for some missing hard-to-find parts. I got their monthly magazine and signed on their forum site. Well earlier today I was browsing the forum and a member wrote in stating he was at a show recently and was questioned whether the two bolts holding down the voltage regulator were the correct ones. The car owner was using hex head sheet metal screws but some thought he needed to use clutch head screws and I thought, "what the fudge" really? It made me think how happy I was I never got caught up in the restoration crap where I had to worry about making sure I had the correct date code on my air cleaner wing nut or all the mohair fibers were brushed in the same direction. Nope give me street/hot rodders every time. No worries about matching numbers, no siree, just build what ya want with what ya want. Chevy in Ford? No problem. Hemi in a Chevy? Why but no problem.
Back in the mid '80's I owned a driver '65 Olds Starfire convertible. I was in the process of starting some repair so I pulled out the carpet to have some rust holes in the floor repaired and the body though rust free had some scratches that the previous owner tried to touch up with almost matching red nail polish and a crease the same owner put in the passenger door and tried to fill by hand smoothing the bondo and using an almost matching red spray paint. I mention this because a national Oldsmobile club was holding their national show about 5 miles from my house so I decided to drive the car over there. Keep in mind there was no carpeting and all the body issues. Nice summer day so I put the top down and headed out. As I drove onto the "show field" (restorer type shows have "fields" hot rodders have fairgrounds or parking lots) people were looking at the Olds cruising to its assigned class parking area and all the time I'm thinking "they must like my rare Olds".
After parking in the designated area I started walking around looking at cars. When I returned to the car there were 4 or 5 older (I was in my early 30's then and these guys were in the 60's or 70's) checking out the ride. As I approached I greeted the gentlemen only to be met with scowls. One asked why I brought an unfinished car to a national meet, "because it's an Olds and this is an Olds show" was my response. Another asked, "why is the top down?" My response was to look up to the cloudless July sky and respond "because it's summer time and it's a convertible?" So far neither answer made these guys smile. "But you're going to wrinkle the top!" was the response. So I replied, "Wow, I never thought of that!" That response brought know-it-all smirks to the faces of the group of men. As they watched in their satisfaction of showing up this young punk, who by the way chose to wear jean shorts and a street rod nationals T-shirt instead of the obvious uniform of white slacks and a golf shirt and Olds cap, I got into my Olds and put the power top up as they smiled widely.
As the top reached it's full upright position and I latched it down I exited the car thanking them for reminding me about wrinkles to the top. I watched, with great pleasure I may add, as their smiles turned back into scowls when they saw the silver duct tape covering the tears on the top. It was great!
For some having fun with cars is a perfect factory restoration which is fine, I enjoy looking at restored cars but owning one isn't for me. But all I ask of restorers is to chill out a little and don't worry about the small stuff like a couple of screws. Enjoy driving, that's what it's all about.
