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.

Bought my formula with my inheritance money from my grandparents

It reminds me of them every time I drive it .

It’s not going anywhere

The memories mean more than the car, but the car is part of the memories. Fun that it's crossing generations now. It probably wouldn't be the same with any other car, so I guess that makes it a keeper. BTW, one day I'd love to find a '68 SS396 to match my buddy's old car from back in the day.

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...1&d=1611625172

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...1&d=1611625805

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...1&d=1611625153

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...1&d=1611625381

The day I cant push in a clutch,my 3 "keepers"will be gone!Paddle shifter Corvette will be in the garage.Tom

I fell in love with Firebirds when I was a kid. I was able to buy a new 75. Still have it. When (and if) I get it done it would take at least 3 or 4 times it's worth for me to let it go.
Side note: A guy was interested in my 68. I told him I had 15 in it, I would let it go for 10 FIRM. He then offered 8, I told him goodbye and left before I might say something he would thump me over.

I'm 53 and my dad bought my Formula new in '72. I grew up with it, it was my dad's favorite car, and it is the first car I owned. Took my first girlfriend on our first date in it, bought it from my dad the summer between my junior and senior years. Lots of history with this big conglomeration of steel, glass, and rubber, lots of great memories, and with my dad passing last year it helps me remember him and all the good times we had.

I love the stories!

Agree- the stories are really what this is about.

I think any car that is a family heirloom is a keeper especially if a family member bought it new.
Also any car you love that you have a lot of blood, sweat and tears into it. My 65 GTO is that car. I am the sixth owner and already have owned it longer than anyone.

Dave

Pontiacs got into my blood because that's all my stepdad would buy. Except for a 67 Ford 150 and then a 68 GMC pickup. Those two never were a favorite of mine so I stuck with Pontiacs too.

The very first Pontiac I owned was a 66 GTO I bought in May of 1970. That one only lasted 11 months and I rolled it over a snow bank and totaled it. Then I had the 63 GP and 66 Tempest Custom. Went off brand to a '66 912E Porsche for a vey short time, and then on to a 71 Camaro to replace it. The only bran spankin' new Pontiac I had was the 79 Formula Firebird. I planned on keeping that one for a long time but when the whole interior was stolen that changed the plan, but I'd love to have another one.

After the Formula it was used cars and my 2000 4.7 Jeep GC 4x4 we bought in 2004... which was totaled this past Dec 27th of 2020 by a woman that was pulling out of BK stuffing a Whopper in her fat mouth and wiping out the whole driver's side And also broke the box on the unibody frame that held the left rear control arm. Now I have a 2003 4.0 Grand Cherokee 4x4.

The 66 GTO I have now was a 35 year wait. I used some of my inheritance money mom left me in '07 to buy it. It will probably stay with me until Hell freezes over.

And like everyone else I wish I still had those Pontiacs from the past. Some of you guys do have them which is a great thing. I envy all of you.

If owning the same car since 1973 makes it a keeper, my '67 GTO qualifies.

Great question. So many reasons why, and each car seems to be different. I'd have to say the main reason is because when I have sold one, I later regret it. No more regrets, please. Sold my 70 455 4 speed GTO back in the 90's. Although I still know where it is, and it has been restored (which I likely never would have done), I still regret selling it. So...

#1. (67 GTO) Because the Lord picked this one for me, and I couldn't have bought it at the time without His help. It was all I dreamed of as a young 20-something after regretting selling my High School 67. Been with me 29 years now. Been thru all the mechanicals a few times, and now sports a 455 cast the day I was born. It won't leave the garage until I do.

Not for sale.

#2. (67 Tempest Wagon) Saw it going down the road one day 20 years ago. Flipped a U and introduced myself to the owner. Told him he could only sell it to me. It's a twin to my 67 GTO. When he saw my GTO, he understood. He sold it to me 18 years ago. He and I are still great friends.

Not for sale.

#3. (71 GTO Conv) Built the week I was born. My retirement resto project.

Not for sale.

#4. (71 GTO Hardtop) Also built the week I was born. Left Pontiac factory the same day as my Convertible. Can't separate the twins! I drive it every day. Had someone yell to me @ the gas station last week, "Wanna sell? I have 25k!" Though I have less in it, sorry.

Not for sale.

#5. (72 LeMans GT) Tried selling it, but kept it in the family. My brother had it, but needed to let it go after only a year. I couldn't bear to see it go to the wind. I had 6 years of "me" in the car at the time (total drivetrain and interior overhaul). Just bodywork & paint left. Another year in my garage now, and probably the most fun daily driver in it's configuration. Can't let it go after 40k miles behind the wheel.

Not for sale.

#6. (74 Bonneville) In my brother's possession right now. Bought it for nothing but the 455 under the hood. Or so I thought. After a little TLC, and a few road trips, I realized I was 4 years old all over again (I grew up in Mom and Dad's 74 Catalina).

Not for sale.

Anyone have a 75 TA or 70 Granada Gold Catalina they want to part with? :eek:

So yes. A myriad of reasons, and none exactly the same.

I dont have anything with any particular sentimental value. Im thinking of selling my 64 Galaxie in the spring for a C3. The Firebird was my first restoration, so it would be harder to let go of, but not impossible. I would actually probably prefer a 70-73. Ive considered a few times finding a decent running 400, yanking my motor and selling the 67 with just a basic 400 in it. With my eyes on an early 2nd gen or 65 GTO maybe.

One of the reasons I prefer the later cars if that they had better seatbelts.

For me, for it to be unsellable, I would have had to inherit it or something. Or it have been my first car. I had an 86 IROC in high school, if I still had that I wouldnt sell it. That was stolen from me though.

Wanted a 69 GTO when I was in high school. Bought my 69 in the fall of 89 after I graduated. Still have it. The only other vehicle I have kept is my 81 Chevy C20, that I bought for $800 in 2005. I converted it to 4wd using the original 2wd frame last year.

Just curious, I thought they had the same frame - am I wrong?
I had understood that more often than not 4wd trucks received a skid plate, but sometimes even that was a separate cost option.

Not too long ago I bought the only "cool" truck my grandfather had (he used to buy a new truck with heavy rotation, and this one was bought after he decided to "retire" to haul his boat to Lake Waterton and back). I bought it off my cousin, who received it from his dad, who received it from my grandfather. I'd wager that since my grandfather bought it, I'm the only one to have actually paid money for the privilege of owning it - lol!

It's a 1992 Chevrolet 'sport' truck;
This one is a 4wd/automatic that is pretty much fully loaded.
If I would have got around to buying another truck on my own whims, it would have been a 2wd/manual transmission regular cab fleetside. Because this truck was my grandfathers, it's staying bone stock. I'd wager a guess that after he passes, this is all I will have to remember him by.

Mounting holes for the leaf spring pockets need to be drilled out and some need to be welded shut.

I've had most other years 2nd Generation Bird, but always knew a 70-73 was my dream. I had two rusty ones prior, but wanted a clean one. So my 72, in spite of non Formy or TA, is a keeper for that, AND that it has never been apart, is lower miles (49k), very solid, and I've set up to my likes. That is worth a keeper to me. As a footnote, I am priced out of the good Formula and TA 70-73's, so I operate in an oddball window.

I just gotta ask. Could your GTO take that Chevelle?

[QUOTE=Verdoro 68;6219203] BTW, one day I'd love to find a '68 SS396 to match my buddy's old car from back in the day.

I just gotta ask, could your GTO take that Chevelle?

Nope. My car was a pig at the time. 6x heads, 2.73-ish peg leg rear, Edelbrock 600cfm carb and teenager shadetree tuning. I did take a '69 Malibu 307 one time back then though LOL.

He ended up turning that Chevelle into an 1/8 mile car with, I think, a 502 in it until he launched rod after getting greedy with the nitrous.

Have had first-gen GTO's since the '70's. Bought my current '65 in 1982, 39 years ago. It's a keeper because it is the color combo I like (Blue Charcoal/blue interior), it's a real tripower car, and has the 4 speed, console, gauges, and posi. If I were of car buying age in '65, I would have ordered this car. None of my other GTO's were factory tripower cars. My '67 GTO is a keeper (have had it 38 years) because it was the best one I could find back then and even then, good first gen ragtops were hard to find. Both of these cars have been part of the family since I was a kid (I'll be 60 next month) so I have had them most of my life and have built many, many great memories with them and continue to do so. I enjoy them more now than ever. Get rid of them? Not in the near future. No way.

Perfectly said! :)

Will never sell my 1966 Tempest Custom wagon. My stepdad bought it from the original owner in 1970. I bought it from him in 1982. So it has sentimental value. And then, there are all the memories I have making trips when I was younger in it, and driving it all over the Eastern Seaboard when I was younger. And then turning it into a hot rod, while restoring it. Won't sell me '74 Cutlass Supreme either, as I have driven it all over half the country, after purchasing it from an Aunt in 1988. That car now has over 500000 miles on it. Too many memories over life in these two cars.

I bought my 67 Tempest(current resto project) in high school, not running, in 1980. Did everything to that car. Made it a 4bbl, 4 speed, disc brakes, buckets, console, GTO steering box, front large sway bar and rear bar. Basically learned to be a mechanic because of that car. Fast forward to 2003, car has been sitting since about 88. I get the car running, (my dad actually heard it fire and couldn't believe it ran) and decide I should restore it. In 2005 I started with a frame and built that up to a roller. I took another look at the body and realized that it was beyond my ability. I ended up buying a 67 GTO and restoring that. Fast forward again to 2018. I decided I couldn't get rid of the Tempest even though most would have said it was too far gone. No real argument there. So at this point it has new inner and outer rockers, floor, trunk, full quarters, tail panel(GTO, no Tempest tail panels to be found)all done by me....So, no I don't think this one will ever leave. Too many memories and it's still teaching me how to work on these old cars