Thread: Show Car or Driver?

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The difference between a show car and a driver is an enclosed trailer. Drivers are not found on or in a trailer, unless they are broke. Show cars are not found on the road, unless a trailer is not allowed in an event they are attending. (I have seen a number of show cars parked on side of the road broken down because someone didn't put it together real good ).

You can have a $15k paint job, plenty of digital stuff and billet and still be a driver. I know several who do, even on trips of hundreds of miles. They arrive dirty, but with soap, water, a bunch of towels and some TLC, they clean up real nice. If you are afraid of a paint chip or if you can't afford to fix the chips, then trailer it (or leave it in the garage). If you are physically incapable of driving it to long distance shows, trailer it. But if you are not physically handicapped and you long for the true pleasure of driving and ownership, get in, turn the key, and head out on that hiway.

A car can become too nice to drive. I've seen it happen so many times where someone builds a car and when it is done they are afraid to take it out because it might get dirty or scratched. My Nephew falls into that category.......he has a '67 Shelby that was once his daily driver, but is now a very high point car. He trailers it in a matching trailer to a show, always wins his class, and takes it back to his garage where it sits covered until the next show. Last time I talked to him he said he hates the car now because it is too valuable to use!

Guess it depends on what you want it to be. If the competition at a show is your turnon, then you have to make the decision to try to keep the car in show winning condition at all times, and not risk any damage to it. But I like to actually get in mine and drive to the store or just to get some fresh air, so I get stone chips and lots of bugs on my radiator. I have to admit I don't drive my '23 nearly as much as I did my '27 because the shiny black paint takes more upkeep. My '27 was in primer it's whole life and I used it literally daily.

Personally, I walk right by the high dollar trailer queens at a show and spend my time studying the ones that the owners actually use.

Don

Craig,
A show car doesn't have any road rash, the tires still have the molding tits, the brake rotors don't show much in the way of wear, the interior appears to have never been sat on and as Bob said, there is an enclosed trailer somewhere nearby.

If I have had a chance to talk to the owner of a 'show car', he seldom has a clue as to what it is or not more then the fact that it is a ___ ___ with a ___ ___ engine and has ___Hp and that he paid __ and ___ to build and paint it (fill in the blanks with your own imagination run wild). I've had this discussion with a couple of the 'big parts suppliers' and without exception, they feel that many of these 'show car' folks are doing their current 'in thing' and that they have already drifted from big houses, boats, trips to faraway places (not Eire ) and this is just another stop on their way of life. I talked to some 'show car' folks at York 3-4 years ago, before they banned on grounds camping. Half to in excess of a million dollar campers pulling their show car trailers. I got offered an almost new Freightliner toy hauler for "only $285K.

Now with the above said, is it wrong? No, it isn't. While it isn't my way, it does serve one purpose in my mind - the quality of some of those cars makes me want to do a better job. Also, these cars have also fostered the development of pieces that were never considered for a street rod a few years ago. One down side - auctions like Barrett-Jackson, IMHO, have driven some prices beyond the scope of reality for some very mundane cars. Sorry but to me a '67 Plymouth Hemi 'cuda just is not worth a half million dollars nor is a flat head Lincoln powered Zephyr.

OK - the soap box has been folded and stored for another day

Originally Posted by IC2

Craig,
A show car doesn't have any road rash, the tires still have the molding tits, the brake rotors don't show much in the way of wear, the interior appears to have never been sat on and as Bob said, there is an enclosed trailer somewhere nearby.

OK - the soap box has been folded and stored for another day

Well then,

I guess I'm building a Driver then (guess I lost my "compass" there for a while )-I think most of us here are Drivers, I'm trying to build it reasonably nice but I think I was trying to figure out the differences bewteen build qualities-I think I'll be careful with it the first Season or so, then drive it-a lot-

Originally Posted by IC2

One down side - auctions like Barrett-Jackson, IMHO, have driven some prices beyond the scope of reality for some very mundane cars. Sorry but to me a '67 Plymouth Hemi 'cuda just is not worth a half million dollars nor is a flat head Lincoln powered Zephyr.

OK - the soap box has been folded and stored for another day

And it seems, at least in this area, that any well preserved or not so well preserved car or truck from the '50's, '60's or '70's is trying to be sold for $15,000+.