What makes a car a keeper?
 

Curious for those of you that have had a number of cars over the years, what makes some of them keepers? Is there a family connection? Was it always a dream car? Is it the rarity?

I’ve had my GTO for 30 years. It’s the only one I ever had (outside of my ‘04). It’s nothing special, but it was my first car and it feels like I have to hold on to it now because of the history I have with it. Especially now that my kids are interested in it.

On the flip side, how many of you don’t get attached to your cars and let them move on if the price is right?

I suspect that my '70 Catalina 2dr hardtop will be a keeper. I'm planning a full restoration right now and I already pretty much know that I'll never get what I will have in it back out if I sell. Might as well hold on to my first classic instead of losing money on a sale. I don't doubt that someday I'll own others, but the wife and I want to have some land the next time we move anyway so that may not be a huge issue. The car isn't anything special beyond the fact that there aren't a ton of '70 Catalinas of any variety still out there, at least compared to the more popular Firebirds, GTOs and GPs, and she's a nice numbers-matching example with only a small amount of very manageable rust as far as I can tell. I guess we'll see how I feel after I've completely pulled her apart and put her back together, though!

We have 4 collector vehicles.

#1 is my '64 GTO convertible. The GTO was my dream car back when it was 1st introduced. My dad was selling them back in 1963 when they were rolled out in September of 1963. I purchased it in 1992 for $600.00 and did a 2.5 year frame off. I've been driving the car since 1994. It's a keeper.

#2 is our '49 Cadillac Limo. This car was purchased by my father in 1958. It's the car that our family of 10 would use instead of dad's company demonstrator when we went on longer trips and when we went to the beach. The Cadillac got parked in 1965 when my dad couldn't afford to repair it (two kids in college with 6 more at home). 30 years later, I acquired it after I convinced my dad that he needed to move into handicapped accessible housing after he suffered a heart attack in 1995. After a 2 year restoration (frame on), on Father's Day, 1997, dad drove his Cadillac for the first time in 32 years. It's a keeper.

#3 is my wife's '72 Camaro. This was my wife's birthday present back in 2000. Her older brother was racing a Camaro while we were dating back in 1972. This car was built within 2 weeks of our first date. The block was cast on Valentine's Day. It underwent a 2 year restification. We've been driving the car for over 20 years. It's a keeper.

#4 is our '81 Chevy C10. I acquired it mostly done and acquired it relatively cheaply. No family or sentimental ties to this truck. I have enjoyed it, but it's not a keeper.

My 1970 Chevy Blazer was special ordered and purchased new by my father, so that one is staying forever.

My 1976 LeMans Enforcer was rescued from a local salvage yard 26 years ago, and totally rebuilt by me over the course of a few years. Due to the rarity and all of my efforts, this car will be also staying forever.

My 1977 T/A is a low mileage, unmolested, never rusted or wrecked car, which is rare for an F body. Being that it is a 4 speed makes it even more desirable. I will keep this one for many more years.

My 1972 Chevy Cheyenne Super has been around for 14 years. It has been uber-reliable, and just a great truck to do work or just cruise in. I have no intentions of letting it go because I love it!

The design; For the ability to maintain the car, enjoy the car, and the performance;commute, travel, errands, fun.

Oh and that water stays out.

I like it.
Other people like it.
This far in, upkeep is minimal.

Yes.

I've only sold one or two cars in my life (and my vintage tractor) and I've always regretted it.

K

Every car has a story, every owner has a story and every owner's reason will be different. I am down to 13 cars and no 2 have the same reason.

You touched on a few.

I got my first car 52 years ago. That is the '68 400HO Firebird convert in my garage today.

Only new car I ever bought was a 1969 GTO, still sitting in my garage today.

My story of the 1931 Packard in my garage.

A little History

I own a 1931 Packard Std 8 833 Coupe 468. It has been in the family since 1958. My Great Uncle owned it before my father purchased it from him in 1988. Dad did some work on old Bessie (that is the name my friend gave her) when he own it until he passed away in 1996 and left it in my hands. Well fast forward to roughly 2005 I had some engine problems and you know what happens once you start tearing things apart one thing lead to another now I am at a full down to the frame restoration.

If you care to read up on my restoration journey
https://forums.aaca.org/topic/81286-...3-restoration/
https://forums.aaca.org/topic/138536...omment-1964462

I've had 2 keepers. The first is a 1955 Chieftain I owned for 20 years that I DID sell in a weak moment. It took almost 15 years but it is finally back in the family. The second is my 1967 GTO that I've had 32 years. I watched my kids grow up riding in that car. My youngest learned how to wrench on cars with that car. He started by handing me tools at the races and by the time he was older he was changing head gaskets. (He will be the next owner someday.) That car is a part of the family now and no one would let me sell it if I did want to.

A keeper car has many reasons for remaining with the owner as listed above and more. For me, it's simply the feeling I get when I am out driving it on a warm spring/summer day. If I am smiling from the time the garage door goes up to the time I return, why would I want to get rid of it?

That’s why I asked. Which of those 13 are absolutely not for sale and why, and which of those will find a new home for the right price?

For myself, I’d really love something more exotic - like a Judge or a Ram Air car. Heck, even a convert would be cool. To do that, I’d have to unload my car and I worry that I’d regret it. I tend to take my history with my car for granted a lot of the time, but the car has become a part of the family to some degree.

My Firebird didn't start off as a keeper. I bought it for $500 around 1988 and built it myself, including the paint. It isn't my favorite Pontiac, but no plans on selling it, sorry @ramair_bryan.

My Coronet is a keeper too. The car is just a plain 318, 2bbl, but it's a convertible and my uncle bought it new.

Knowing that if you sell it.. You might not be able to replace it..

That comment brought back memories....

My grandson was riding in my GTO before his first birthday. He "helped" detail the car before he started school.

https://forums.maxperformanceinc.com...1&d=1611602623

He's now a 25 year old Marine...

The '49 Caddy Limo my dad bought when I was 4 in 1958. The photo below is from about 1960 and that's my younger brother to my right and my older sister behind me picking apples out of my dad's mom's apple tree.

https://forums.maxperformanceinc.com...1&d=1611602838

But then again, you get lucky. I bought my GTO back 20 years after I sold it to my uncle.

As seen in the above posts, emotion plays a huge part in our decisions to keep a certain car. Other reasons are purely financial. In my case, it would cost $60,000 to replace my wife's Caddy. She likes it, it runs and looks great, it's a keeper.

I have said it many times..... You could say your super rare car is worth a million dollars, but until someone puts money in your hand its only worth what someone is willing to pay. Then, whatever that amount is, is all its worth.

With that said, everything of mine is for sale. I broke that seal back in 2006 when I sold my oldest '65 GTO that I owned since 1971. That is why I'm down to 13 and in the next few years hope to be down to about 5.

the family history bit is cool, and I get that.

For me, what defines it as a keeper (aside from familial factors) is the model, and combination of factory options.