I'm with you Greg, cars were designed to be driven. If they weren't
they would make them where they did not work because it would be
cheaper. Society also needs the pristine cars though. Those cars will
last longer than driven cars most likely and will be infalueble in
say 50 or 60 years when the driven cars are past the poin of return
or wrecked.
Ken has a 170 mile car? I didn't know that. Which Ken is it? Sounds
pretty cool. I for one could not do that, keep a car with only 170
miles on it. I don't have the self discipline to just look at it.
Josh
> I will agree with some of that, but a lot of people's cars are
works in
> process. I will add another perspective, ironically using the
Lamborghini
> as well.
>
> I pulled into the Luxor hotel parking lot in Las Vegas and saw
about ten
> Lamborghinis, a Maserati, and a couple of Vipers parked in this
roped-off
> section of the parking garage. At first I thought it was a little
car show
> to attract attention so went to check them out. Since this was near
> midnight, the security guard came over and checked us out as well.
>
> I noticed a Lamborghini Diablo that had near bald tires, faded
paint, and
> the front was peppered with rock chips like I have never seen on
any other
> car. I couldn't believe someone would be out in a car like this.
Then, I
> spotted a business card stuck on each car and picked one up.
>
> This was a group of people in a Lamborghini Driving Club out of
California
> that take road trips in their cars. The wear and tear on the car
was from
> use. That changed my opinion on how that car looked and actually
really
> impressed me. How many people spend that kind of money on a car
and really
> drive it? You would expect to see a pristine Lamborghini because
most, I
> would think, are in someone's garage and get driven around the
block every
> other year. What a waste. I would drive mine.
>
> Jay Leno once said something I thought was pretty cool. When asked
about
> his cars, he stated he likes to fix them up, drive them for a bit,
and then
> fix them up again. After all, they are cars that were designed to
be
> driven.
>
> I do really enjoy seeing De Loreans that are pristine as well and I
> appreciate those people keeping their cars that way. Ken's 170
mile car was
> stunning to me. I would be too tempted to drive it though.
>
> Greg
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Videobob Moseley [mailto:videobob@xxxx]
> Sent: Sunday, February 20, 2005 1:37 PM
> To: DMCForum@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: RE: [DMCForum] Re: DMCH open house...
>
>
>
> Robert, (vegas),
> this is not a direct reply to you but rather a statement to
everyone, so no
> offense.......
>
> I am not about to argue restoration vs. original paint and these
opinions.
> I agree, an early 1900's Harley or Indian with original paint
(cracked,
> faded) is worth more
> than one with a stripped restored paint job....
> but I don't think that this same thing applies.....not when there
are a
> thousand brand
> new painted fascias stacked up at DMCH.
> ....a few hundred years from now when there are none to be found,
and you
> have the
> the only real fascia on the planet and everyone else has replaced
theirs
> with a reproduction
> then your faded paint will have some value and respect.
> Until that time when someone looks at your car and sees the paint
falling
> off they will think...
> "Gee, the paint is falling right off the car! What a piece of shit".
> At least, that's what I think.
> There are plenty of 20+ year old cars with all the paint in tact.
> There is no reason the car should be looking bad when there are
simple and
> CHEAP
> solutions for all of these problems.
> If the fascias were hard to get, expensive and hard to put on I
could
> understand
> the reasoning for not replacing it, but you can order one from DMCH
or a
> refurbished
> one from Josh or others, get it in a few days, and put it on in
MINUTES.
> I think it only took me about 10 or 15 minutes to put it on.
>
> Considering what it would cost to replace the front bumper fascia
on my
> Taurus or any
> other new car, the price for replacing the fascia on the front of a
classic
> exotic sports car
> is more than reasonable.
> Ever priced the front bumper of a Lamborghini?
> You can't get one for $700.00 I tell you that.
>
> Speaking of Lamborghini's, I am going to tell my story of the first
time I
> saw one (again)
> so that maybe you would understand.
> ......as a kid, I worshiped the Lamborghini Countach.
> I had posters everywhere.
> I told my mom that when I was old enough I was going to get a
tattoo of a
> Lamborghini on
> my arm, and the Bull Logo on the other.... (thank God she would'nt
let me!)
> When I was 16, I saved up the money to buy one of the kit-cars, and
sent IFG
> a $1000 deposit.
> Once I realized I would never be able to complete it I had to
forfeit the
> money.
> ....so anyway, one day I am driving down the road and I see a white
> Lamborghini Countach
> parked outside a business. Until then I had never seen one in
person.
> I screeched to a stop and ran over to it, the owner came out to
show it to
> me.
> It looked like SHIT. I asked, "is this a replica?".
> "No" he says, "let me show you the engine". He opens the engine lid
and the
> engine
> was crusty looking, he fired it up and it sputtered and puffed
smoke and
> sounded like
> a Volkswagen bus.
> The interior was all ripped up, cracked, looked like hell.
> I couldn't believe it.
> I was so disappointed. It left a bad taste in my mouth that is
nothing less
> than bitter.
> I never forgot it.
>
> This is the equivalent to meeting your favorite star and asking for
an
> autograph
> and being told to "fuck off". Imagine how you would feel?
>
> For most people, when they see our cars it is the first and maybe
only time
> they
> will ever see a DeLorean.
> It is our responsibility as DeLorean owners to make sure they are
> presentable and
> reflect the "dream". JZD's "dream" was not to have the car known as
a
> "lemon".
> We have so many hurdles to overcome with the public awareness and
> misinformation
> about cocaine, and that the cars are lemons, and unreliable...etc.
> The last thing that I want is someone to see one of our cars
looking badly
> and
> and the person will forever say,...."yeah, I saw a DeLorean once,
it was a
> peice of shit."
>
> So, I know some of you out there can't afford to to spend money on
the car,
> but as long as you understand my point of view and at least make
plans to
> repair
> and upgrade then you are on the right track.
>
> Here are the most common things that look bad and can be repaired or
> replaced easily.
>
> * Dash & Binnacle:
> Can be purchased from DMCH or recovered by any upholstery shop.
> Josh sells recovered dashes, binnacles, knee pads, etc.
>
> * Headliner:
> You can recover these yourself very cheap, any auto headliner place
can do
> this.
>
> * Seat Covers: $599
> The new DMCH seat covers are one of the best investments you can
make.
> I have them and I always get compliments on them even from people
who have
> never seen a DeLorean, they can't believe how fluffy, soft and
supple they
> are.
> They are worth every penny. Most auto seat cover places can install
them for
> under $100.
>
> * Switches: $40 each, (less than $180 for all of them)
> You can replace your window and defroster switches real cheap, and
the dummy
> switches can be replaced with working rocker switches that you can
use for
> other uses.
> I have seen tons of cars with faded grey and even green moldy
switches.
> Many previous owners have drilled holes into the dummy switches and
> installed
> goofy little toggle switches.
> Replace them and wire those switches to the new rockers.
> These are only about $40 each - not a big price for an exotic
sports car.
> While you are replaceing them you can straighten out the metal part
that
> they
> mount to so they will all be even and straight.
>
> *Carpet:
> You can pull the seats out easy and replace the whole lower carpet
for about
> $300 or so.
>
> * Faded Black:
> You can tape off and paint all the little black parts on your car
real easy.
> If they are faded gray or white then give them a hit of flat black.
> They will have a nice texture and look new again.
> (I used the Kent Ureolastic Black Bumper paint that Don Stegar
sells.)
>
> *Fascias:
> Replace or repaint them. If they are badly warped, replace them and
> reinforce them to
> prevent it from happening again.
>
> * Lenses:
> If your taillights are faded and the color is missing, REPLACE them.
> If your headlights are yellow and foggy, replace them.
>
> * Rims:
> You can repaint your rims yourself, but it is best to have them
powder
> coated.
> I have Don Stegars chromed rims and I get lots of complements,
however if
> you want
> to keep everything original, you can buy new rims that look new
cheaper than
> you would think.
> Much cheaper than custom rims would cost you for your low rider.
>
> I could go on and on but I think you get the point.
> I have said this before and I always get shit about it, but it's
the way I
> feel.
> If you want to have a DeLorean it is your responsibility to keep it
up and
> make it
> look good, if you can't afford to drop a few grand into the car to
fix it up
> then sell it
> to someone who WILL appreciate it and fix it up and buy yourself a
Chevette.
> Then you can drive a piece of shit and no one will care.
>
> If you dissagree then get out of the "community", our togetherness
is fueled
> by our love for the cars, you don't neglect something you love.
>
> - Videobob
> VIN#5278
>
> PS: Robert, this was not an attack on you personally, just a general
> statement :>
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