What grinds your gears when you look at a ride....

[bcbassfishing]

I think most people still love cars that don't have the pedigree. What was once a clone got softened to replica, and now They are called tributes which sounds quite a bit nicer. And when they cross auction blocks, the clones get fair money and the tv commentary is generally positive.

If you want a measure of just how acceptable modifications have become, take this test...do google image searches for flat hood BH Barracudas and JH Challengers. It will take you a VERY long time to find one. Even though the factory produced far more of them, I'd gamble that 95% of the remaining cars out there have been modified to look like RTs and Cudas. Look at cars for sale, many of them are base model cars dressed up with performance hoods, exhaust and stripes. Try finding an unmodified base model for sale. Hard to do. If you do, it will be an unrestored car in all likelihood and a future owner will modify it for sure! Hell, look at all the genuine RTs and Cudas that have been modified into hemi or six pack or pro touring cars.

I hear ya...  I was curious where people are setting the bar before mods become too much or deal breakers for purchases.  Your sweet gold ride is a one in not many left that hasn't seen some gilled fenders and at least a sport hood.   Pretty cool.

I've looked at some cloned "Cuda's" and they just seem to miss the mark almost every time and yes it's pricey putting all that trim on.  Pet peeve is no chrome on the tail panel when they black it out..   Dang man the repro that stuff now not like 20yrs ago when we paid big bucks if we could find it, yeah it costs a bit but it sure helps sell the "Clone, tribute, transvestite" whatever you wanna call it lol.   Great read crew...

[bcbassfishing]

I was think'n about this and a friend of mine who was a challenger freak, used to twist about 440's being put in 383 cars.  Oddly enough he never had a problem wacking in a 4spd...   

[70 Challenger Lover]

The tribute thing used to bug me a little but eventually I came to realize there just aren't that many authentic ones left anymore and those that are around are in extreme demand, are in the hands of collector/investors and they command a premium. I'm not poor but I'm not rich either. As much as I'd love to own a hemi Cuda someday, it would have to be a clone just to have a chance of me affording it. And even then it's a massive chunk of dough. I stopped looking down on the tribute guys a long time ago because they just want to enjoy the hobby like the rest of us and what's wrong with that? It would be a pretty small car show if only concours correct cars were on scene.

[torredcuda]

Just talking stock restored cars or at least close to stock the main thing that will bug me is having a nice, correct engine bay but an aftermarket battery, either put a resto one in or at minimum a new Mopar one instead of a Walmart brand, having radial tires or added discs etc. are fine. Talking modified cars it`s pretty much what anything the owner wants but like others have said don`t cheap ass/ hack it with butt connectors, rat`s nest/ messy of wiring, overspray etc. My personal opinion  - no cowl scoops, 20+" wheels, cleared "patina" (RUST!) and more.

[Racer57]

Well crew... kinda bored today and thought I'd throw out a little rant and maybe get some feedback from other people.   So in saying I've been looking around online at many cars and its frusterating how many cars I won't even spend 2 seconds looking at due to IMO stupid add-on's and a stiff price tag.  Ok now that I've got some hackles raised let me elaborate.  I'm a fan of stock appearing and it drives me nuts when I see a good cannidate to tidy a few things but knowing full well it's going to turn into a full blown resto.  Everyone puts there own spin on things but I look to see how long it would take to change out what was done.  Simple stuff like valve covers, headers, aluminum intakes, wheels ect that's easy stuff to deal with, trunk and under hood not painted? ok got some work to do but price it accordingly, not something you can't do at home during the winter or over a weekend... Shoddy workmanship aside these are some examples off the top of my head. 
-incorrect side mirrors non mopar types (first thought is can I put stock ones on without body and paint work?)
-Non Mopar spoilers (again looks like instant paint work $$$$)
-Body color painted bumpers ($$$ just took a cheep way out)
-Custom seat skins  (instant $$$$ to fix that)
-Custom body colors  (unless it has some patina on it from back in the day.   then????)
-goofy side stripes painted on  (instant pass)
-Speaker holes in the door panels (not a deal breaker but...)
-Murdered out look ( leave some bright work on the poor thing)
I'm sure there's more I can say but I'll let others maybe chime in on what gripes them when they go look'n at a new ride for the stable.

(Comment made in general, not personal). Easy to answer... Its my car and my $$$. Odds are there is things about your car that I don't like.

[6pack]

The over restored with crappy aftermarket ill fitting parts is not my cup of tea.  I like stock and original or close to it.  Engine changes are ok and disc brakes but for example a Daytona wing on a Cuda is not too cool.  The 21's are for the younger crowd but at least there into cars but they bastardize them.  To each their own but they get a good education when it comes time to sell it.

[B5fourspeed]

I had one guy at a car show tell me my car was not a Cuda because it said" Barracuda" on the dash pad.Sometimes you can't fix or talk to stupid.

[Mopsquad]

Hang on aftermarket gauges (usually a trio) in an otherwise immaculate original looking car.

[RUNCHARGER]

Yup: Especially in a rally dash E-body. It just shows you're too lazy or unskilled to repair the beautiful gauges that are there.

[shadango]

A little rant of my own.... 

IF we are being honest, what grinds MY gears when it comes to mods etc is when someone feels it is their imperative to bring to my attention, or anyone else's how "not correct" my car is.

My car is a 1972 barracuda.

Its painted sublime green 2007. It does have the "Correct" stripe.

For the first few years it had a spray can black painted front bumper until I could get a chromed one.

Its jacked up in the rear....out of necessity and no budget when I first got it, I installed add a leafs....turns out I LOVE IT THAT WAY.   

Its big tires in back, smaller in front.

Its got chrome aftermarket torque thrust style rims.  Pretty but yeah...not correct.

I have blacked out the hood and put on a bolt on 6-pack scoop. Cause I like the look. It does let air into the engine bay too.

The engine has an open element air filter in chrome, mopar valve covers, some other stuff that I like.

The interior had been redone in a crushed velour blue in the 80s (it used to be a blue on blue car)...when I got it, it was faded and moldy...to save costs at the time and get her on the road fast I steamed and dyed it black.

When I got it, it had aftermarket black mirrors on it, and they did NOT use the "correct" mounting hardware for stock mirrors, so I had no way to mount stock ones without a costly paint job on the doors at least. The pain twas brand new when I got the car.

I have an AAR style spolier on the back.

Going by your first post, all of that makes you cringe.

Well, thats ok IMHO....we all have opinions.

I very much appreciate a "stock, correct" car.

I also very much appreciate a "second day" look.

I also appreciate a modified look.

Personally the only thing I hate on these cars is seeing huge rims and rubber bands for tires. It just doesnt fit IMHO.

But again, its just my opinion.

In the end, if I like it , I like it.

i once was at a car cruise and sitting away from my car but close enough to hear stuff.

Two old codgers were standing at the hood of my car...and for a good 10 minutes they picked apart everything from the old school chain I have to reinforce my drivers motor mount to my aftermarket puke-bottle to the fuel pressure regulator to the BOLTS I used......nothing but negativity.

I wanted to get up and say "If you don't like it, why you standing near it? Go ......."......never mind I will stop there....but you get my drift on what was next.  LOL

My God....life is too short to worry if a bolt is correct or if a battery says "duralast" on it.

If you are going to buy a car that is advertised as a 100% correct car and it has stuff like that or stuff like I have on it, ok, then gripe....the seller wasted your time.....

But sometimes it has nothing to do with "taking the time to do it right"....and everything with "its what I like" or "its what I needed to do so I could DRIVE the car".

I know many guys who have cars they will probably never drive because they are trying to get it "perfect".

The cars they turn on on Graveyard cars are, indeed, gorgeous works of Mopar art.  it takes skill and knowledge to do what they do.  I wish I worked there, even as a broom pusher.

That said, that sort of detail and perfection costs $$$$$$......they never really talk about what their cars cost on the show because the price tags are well outside of most average person's realm, at least all upfront. And it takes YEARS to get a car done that way.

I wanted to get my car on the road and ENJOY. SO we did what we needed to get the freshly painted roller rolling....

It has metamorphized over the 10 years I have had it....started out with drums on all fours.... "correct" for the car....

Swapped the front end to disks.....then a few years later swapped disks in for the rear....I would never go back.

My old Barracuda is far from "correct".

But its perfect to me!

So really, what really "grinds MY gears"?

When a car is left to rot in a garage in the hopes of one day being a full and "correct" resto when it could have been driven and loved much sooner.

Lest you think this rant is aimed at anyone, its not.

But since the concept of "correctness" came up, figured I would rant a bit. 

[WCC]

Reminds me of the guy with a '71 Barracuda 383 auto rag top that told me his car is more rare than mine, his being a 1/9. I just told him sure but mine has fish gills and the chicks love my vibrating hood better and left it at that.

[oldmoparbuff]

I like classic looks and solid safety upgrades.

I understand that mopars cost more to keep on the road.

I cannot stand large rims (dub city?) and huge aftermarket spoilers on classic muscular lines.

I try to remember to each his own, but within limits.

[70Barracuda]

A little rant of my own.... 

IF we are being honest, what grinds MY gears when it comes to mods etc is when someone feels it is their imperative to bring to my attention, or anyone else's how "not correct" my car is.

My car is a 1972 barracuda.

Its painted sublime green 2007. It does have the "Correct" stripe.

For the first few years it had a spray can black painted front bumper until I could get a chromed one.

Its jacked up in the rear....out of necessity and no budget when I first got it, I installed add a leafs....turns out I LOVE IT THAT WAY.   

Its big tires in back, smaller in front.

Its got chrome aftermarket torque thrust style rims.  Pretty but yeah...not correct.

I have blacked out the hood and put on a bolt on 6-pack scoop. Cause I like the look. It does let air into the engine bay too.

The engine has an open element air filter in chrome, mopar valve covers, some other stuff that I like.

The interior had been redone in a crushed velour blue in the 80s (it used to be a blue on blue car)...when I got it, it was faded and moldy...to save costs at the time and get her on the road fast I steamed and dyed it black.

When I got it, it had aftermarket black mirrors on it, and they did NOT use the "correct" mounting hardware for stock mirrors, so I had no way to mount stock ones without a costly paint job on the doors at least. The pain twas brand new when I got the car.

I have an AAR style spolier on the back.

Going by your first post, all of that makes you cringe.

Well, thats ok IMHO....we all have opinions.

I very much appreciate a "stock, correct" car.

I also very much appreciate a "second day" look.

I also appreciate a modified look.

Personally the only thing I hate on these cars is seeing hugerims and rubber bands for tires. It just doesnt fit IMHO.

But again, its just my opinion.

In the end, if I like it , I like it.

i once was at a car cruise and sitting away from my car but close enough to hear stuff.

Two old codgers were standing at the hood of my car...and for a good 10 minutes they picked apart everything from the old school chain I have to reinforce my drivers motor mount to my aftermarket puke-bottle to the fuel pressure regulator to the BOLTS I used......nothing my negativity.

I wanted to get up and say "If you dont like it, why you standing near it? Go ......."......never mind I will stop there....but you get my drift on what was next.  LOL

My God....life is too short to worry if a bolt is correct or if a battery says "duralast" on it.

If you are going to buy a car that is advertised as a 100% correct car and it has stuff like that or stuff like I have on it, ok, then gripe....the seller wasted your time.....

But sometimes it has nothing to do with "taking the time to do it right"....and everything with "its what I like" or "its what I needed to do so I could DRIVE the car".

I know many guys who have cars they will probably never drive because they are trying to get it "perfect".

The cars they turn on on Graveyard cars are, indeed, gorgeous works of Mopar art.  it takes skill and knowledge to do what they do.  I wish I worked there, even as a broom pusher.

That said, that sort of detail and perfection costs $$$$$$......they never really talk about what their cars cost on the show because the price tags are well outside of most average person's realm, at least all upfront. And it takes YEARS to get a car done that way.

I wanted to get my car on the road and ENJOY. SO we did what we needed to get the freshly painted roller rolling....

It has metamorphized over the 10 years I have had it....started out with drums on all fours.... "correct" for the car....

Swapped the front end to disks.....then a few years later swapped disks in for the rear....I would never go back.

My old Barracuda is far from "correct".

But its perfect to me!

So really, what really "grinds MY gears"?

When a car is left to rot in a garage in the hopes of one day being a full and "correct" resto when it could have been driven and loved much sooner.

Lest you think this rant is aimed at anyone, its not.

But since the concept of "correctness" came up, figured I would rant a bit. 

Well done