<VV> "Improved" over stock

[Tony Underwood]

At 01:35 PM 9/17/2010, kaczmarek at charter.net wrote:

>Now I go back to a car that Gary S. and I know about.  Corvair 2dr 
>HT, 1969.  Low mileage original. Enclosed  Trailer Queen.   YOU 
>CANNOT DRIVE IT.  The owner said that if you start it up, oil would 
>puke everywhere, because it still has the original neoprene seals in 
>it.   It SITS IN THE TRAILER IN THE DRIVEWAY when not taken to a 
>show.  They roll it out, and push it back in.
>
>This car is BONE STOCK in every detail. Original paint still looks 
>showroom new. Samey Same upholstery and trim.  All sorts of original 
>detail and history
>
>BUT YOU CAN'T DRIVE IT.  IT ISN'T ROADWORTHY because the 
>improvements needed to make it driveable have not been done.
>
>So, If I might be permitted my full range of expression,  WTF GOOD 
>IS THIS CAR?
>
>To me, It isn't worth anything.



One of the big California custom hotrod designers had a prize-winning 
ultra street rod that got its photos in car mags everywhere, even was 
on TV in a documentary about the west coast car scene.



Turned out that the car didn't run.   The engine block (which was 
detailed to the N'th degree) had no pistons in it.   In fact, the 
engine had nothing in it but a crankshaft to hold the pulley that 
kept the blower belt in place.   No valves, cam, oil pump, not even 
oil.  Empty.   Likewise the gearbox so as to insure that nothing ever 
had a dribble of anything anywhere.


Obviously it was the ultimate trailer queen and thus worthless as an 
automobile and IMHO not all that valuable as a showpiece since a car 
is expected to be able to RUN in order to qualify as a car.   Hey... 
spend that kind of money on a show car, it's expected to be functional.

Then take it to Pebble Creak... where the cars MUST run in order to 
be driven past the reviewing stand.    And, it better not leak or 
smoke (much).




tony..