A lot of this came to me as I was just finishing up a recent project of mine, and coincidentally entering it in my first ever indoor car show. Up until that point, I couldn't relate to people who did that-built or had built finished cars/trucks and participated in large-scale events-on an annual basis. Now that I'd experienced it all firsthand, from the last-minute details to worrying about all the possible horrific things that could happen to my car while being displayed, I never want to do it again! Hey, my hat's off to those who are able to do it, but for me, I'm better off as a spectator-or worse, behind the camera-at any indoor event. Beyond that, though, is the manner in which I now drive this particular vehicle. Unlike any of my trucks, I'm paranoid when I'm behind the wheel of my Bel Air, especially when sharing the freeways with fellow SoCal drivers/commuters. Trailering starts to make sense during these moments, that's for sure, but deep down inside, I could never allow that without probable cause!
So, while the Bel Air is simply gorgeous to look at, and my family loves it, I'm afraid that by the simple act of finally completing it, I may have reduced its amount of time on the road. Back when it was in a nice coat of primer and had no interior, I'd drive it to Frisco and back in a heartbeat, and actually did on numerous occasions. Now, just taking it out of the garage seems to cause new gray hairs to sprout. It may just be me, but I wouldn't bet on it. Truly, I think a major contributor to this situation is purely financial. For instance, the people I see with big-buck cars and trucks also have big-buck wallets, so for them, it's not the same as someone who scrapes together every penny put into their projects. The "appreciation" factor is on a completely different level, know what I mean? I'm the penny-pincher guy; the one who washes and, when absolutely necessary, details his own vehicles; the one who does his own maintenance.
My paranoia may not be shared by that many others, but it has definitely shown me the difference between us and them-or is it me and them? It has also made me realize that I'm not so sure I want to put shiny paint on my '53-and definitely not on the '56 big-window I'm putting together for the little missus. I want these trucks to be driven without restraint, the type only a thin layer of clearcoat could offer.