Public admiration for your vehicles - can it get all too much? lol

XBCoupeGuy · 30-01-2011, 12:45 PM

Hi all,

I've been a driver of Aussie Muscle cars for over 20 years and it has never failed to amaze me the publics reaction to these cars.

I'm a fairly quiet guy and I am finding it increasingly embarassing that even just going to the servo ends up with people taking photo's of the car and wanting to talk.

Just this morning I was filling up with fuel and this guy was snapping away on his mobile phone. Now, my car is nothing special which makes it all the more embarassing, but this is a never ending thing.

I ended up with the guy sitting in the drivers seat at the servo, giving the thumbs up out the window while I snapped a pic for him on his mobile phone lol. It's getting ridiculous.

I've even had a guy jump out his work ute at the lights and give me a double overhead fist pump in appreciation of the car. I was absolutely dumb founded, but this was in Davoren Park so I shouldn't have been surprised ;-)

On Australia Day, I was doing evening lap down Semaphore and going through a round-about I had a bunch of lads in an EL Falcon give me a blast on the horn and a big thumbs up. I absolutely was not expecting it and I though they were about to t-bone my passenger door. All I heard was a blast on the horn, and I sh-at myself and ended up running up the medium strip with one wheel lol.

I'm a huge muscle car fan but at times I find the attention very embarassing. Has anyone else got any stories about "over the top" public responses to their cars?

Mr Hardware · 30-01-2011, 12:48 PM

It's a fact of life for anyone with a car with chrome bumpers - people love to nostalgia about them. I get people trying to buy my mint commodore.

So i think i'll stay with my AU, the only person that ever photographs AUs are their owners.

Jim Goose · 30-01-2011, 12:58 PM

yes ive had some attension with my XB lol...

XBCoupeGuy · 30-01-2011, 12:59 PM

I can honestly say that no one has ever tried to photograph my daily driver AU wagon, well except for that speed camera that one time!!!!

Rodp · 30-01-2011, 01:02 PM

The feeling of pride does wear off pretty quickly. When I had my XW, it got tiring having people run up to the car at traffic lights asking if I want to sell it. More than a handful of guys got very narky when I told them it wasn't for sale.

Driving a modern car, most recently an R32 and an R8, I received a lot of 'nice car - how does she go' at sets of lights which I never minded. Completely different attention to driving old muscle.

HenryFordJr · 30-01-2011, 01:02 PM

It's part of our culture, embrace it..

I must say it does feel good when a group of turbo lovers start admiring your V8

XCwillo · 30-01-2011, 01:18 PM

I get it everynow and then Driving my XC. I dont mind it at all (Im quiet the exact opposite of shy) and I love when people toot and give me waves, makes me feel all the more proud of owning my car.

BUT
Sometimes when I'm stopped at servo's or around shops, I do get the random guys coming up who just happen to have panels for my car laying around and trying to push sales onto me.
I appreciate the words and that they like fords, but a quick "Hey mate, nice ute!" Is much more appreciated then a life story!

Streets · 30-01-2011, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XCwillo

I do get the random guys coming up who just happen to have panels for my car laying around and trying to push sales onto me.

Haha yeah what's with that. I always get people trying to sell me parts for my car like they'd be doing me a favour. It's an XD Falcon guys, I can't fart without hitting spare parts for it; I think I'll be right.

rocketscientist · 30-01-2011, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rodp

The feeling of pride does wear off pretty quickly. When I had my XW, it got tiring having people run up to the car at traffic lights asking if I want to sell it. More than a handful of guys got very narky when I told them it wasn't for sale.

Driving a modern car, most recently an R32 and an R8, I received a lot of 'nice car - how does she go' at sets of lights which I never minded. Completely different attention to driving old muscle.

Yeah...I get that a lot and its nearly always at at servos, "hey, bud you wanna sell it?" I always answer the same way, yes(even though I don't)...make me an offer, they never do. I think they're just fishing to see what its actually worth.

On the other hand I've never had kids hang out the side of there parents car as we drive down the freeway taking pictures of me in my XR6, but I have on a number of occasions in my Mustang. Its all part of the fun when driving something a little out of the norm.

T3man · 30-01-2011, 01:35 PM

That's Adelaide for ya!

Over here in the educated and enlighted part of the continent no-one gives a rat's.

Nah seriously I do know what you mean. I get it all the time whenever I take the RS200 out or the Capri GT3000. My daughter took the Escort to a Ford GT meet up in Windsor last year and when she drove into the parking area about 6 guys who were admiring under the hood of an XY turned away from it and came straight over to perv at the Escort. (or my daughter dunno which!). Anyhow there were seriously interested in it because they hung all over it and asked her every question under the sun. She had trouble getting away from them to go look over the GTs.

Bunyip04 · 30-01-2011, 01:37 PM

My car isn't an old one, it's pretty plain 07 BF XR8 in ego, don't have ppl comment about my car, but had quite a few everywhere i've been say the love the wheels on it :-)

GB1186 · 30-01-2011, 01:38 PM

get it all the time people tellin me about their one they had or want to buy it. I just got the car why would i want sell it ??

**Kingsley** · 30-01-2011, 01:39 PM

On the other side of the coin, it makes you wonder why people who own them bother to drive them. Give them the thumbs up as you drive past and they look at you as though you shat in their cereal. Charger owners are the funniest. Give any one of the the old 'Hey Charger' sign (yes, the right way around) and they look utterly confused or ****ed off!!!

Yes it maybe annoying, but it's now part of the classic car culture. People are happy to see your car. You built it for attention, attention your getting.

XBCoupeGuy · 30-01-2011, 02:47 PM

I actually had two coppers pull up next to me on Salisbury Highway a few weeks back and I'm trying to drive along and the copper in the passenger seat is trying to talk to me and ask me if it is genuine etc.
The missus couldn't believe they did that.

pottery beige · 30-01-2011, 02:49 PM

no problems with the admirers... just the tossers that think every old car is for sale.....

XCwillo · 30-01-2011, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XBCoupeGuy

the copper in the passenger seat is trying to talk to me and ask me if it is genuine etc.
The missus couldn't believe they did that.

Oh no a copper who's Human?! :O

Werd. · 30-01-2011, 03:21 PM

Saw an XY falcon in Wyoming (bit beaten up but no rust etc) with a "NOT FOR SALE" sign hanging in the window, the guy looked to be around 60ish.

Iggypoppin' · 30-01-2011, 03:26 PM

My 21st I had 4 ford muscle cars drive people to the party, two xb falcon coupes(one a mad max) and the other powered by a 460. They got more looks than any other car I've been in before. The other cars where an Xy 351 and a 68 Fairlane, they got their fair share of admirers too. When you have an oldschool muscle car you've got to expect people to come up and talk about it, whether it's for sale, or offering parts to you, or just to reminisc(sp) about their own old muscle car from back in the day. It's part and parcel with owning one but I'm sure it does get a bit tiring after a while. Oh well, the price you pay to look good I guess!

Saraco · 30-01-2011, 03:28 PM

Yeah.... can be a problem. Last night on the way to the GT/Monaro club cruise in my mates radical XRGT (a real one), we stopped at a pub to pickup a couple of mates, who were having a counter meal.....anyway as we pulled up outside, a few lads gave us the thumbs up, one of them comes over,stands in front of the car, (who we didn't know from a bar of soap!) raps his knuckle on the bonnet and starts gesturing to my mate, to pop the hood! To say that I got a bit peeved off at this guy, would've been an understatement and I told him in NO uncertain terms, if he ever raps his knuckle on that car, EVER again, I would personally break his hand!

TheZHLANE · 30-01-2011, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XCwillo

I get it everynow and then Driving my XC. I dont mind it at all (Im quiet the exact opposite of shy) and I love when people toot and give me waves, makes me feel all the more proud of owning my car.
!

This!

XCwillo · 30-01-2011, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saraco

Yeah.... can be a problem. Last night on the way to the GT/Monaro club cruise in my mates radical XRGT (a real one), we stopped at a pub to pickup a couple of mates, who were having a counter meal.....anyway as we pulled up outside, a few lads gave us the thumbs up, one of them comes over,stands in front of the car, (who we didn't know from a bar of soap!) raps his knuckle on the bonnet and starts gesturing to my mate, to pop the hood! To say that I got a bit peeved off at this guy, would've been an understatement and I told him in NO uncertain terms, if he ever raps his knuckle on that car, EVER again, I would personally break his hand!

Reminds me of the time i was dropping a mate off at the club, as I idled past the smokers pen, about 6 or 8 guys ran over leaning over the fence all yelling something out about the ute haha
So as i left the parking lot i tromped it in first and 3 minutes later had some random texting me asking how much i wanted for it

HLC · 30-01-2011, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr Hardware

So i think i'll stay with my AU, the only person that ever photographs AUs are their owners.

Wrong.

Last night i was down at the local carwash giving my car a good clean/detail. And a carload of dudes, of the demographic that usually buy ex-taxis, started hanging around doing laps.

I was like ok, no problem, til one got out and the car drove off... ok no problems, he walks over to me, then the first car and another car turns up.

i was like here we go.

Anyway they asked if my car was an ex-taxi and how i got it so low and if i painted it etc etc and THEN TOOK A PHOTO OF MY AU HA HA HA HA couldnt believe it. They said it looked great then took off lol

Hindsight says i should have offered to sell it to them, but it certainly was bizarre.

HLC · 30-01-2011, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rodp

The feeling of pride does wear off pretty quickly. When I had my XW, it got tiring having people run up to the car at traffic lights asking if I want to sell it. More than a handful of guys got very narky when I told them it wasn't for sale.

Driving a modern car, most recently an R32 and an R8, I received a lot of 'nice car - how does she go' at sets of lights which I never minded. Completely different attention to driving old muscle.

Are we talking Skyline and Clubsport, or VW Golf and Audi??? lol

sanchoXB · 30-01-2011, 03:53 PM

I find that most people where I live wouldnt notice a classic car even if you ran them over in it. I can drive through town in my XB GT, Capri GT or any of the other cars un-noticed but my daily driver 1979 Cherokee (360 V8) stops people in their tracks. The ones who do notice the classic cars are either over 50 or under 15, anyone in-between isnt interested (maybe because I dont drive a rice burner)

opto · 30-01-2011, 03:56 PM

Just enjoy the admiration you get, these cars dont seem practical in this day, drive it with pride, accept the acknowledgements with honour, as these people cant afford or cant see themselves owning XB coupes. Enjoy it mate.

TheInterceptor · 30-01-2011, 04:12 PM

Haha, funnily enough ive had a couple of people in their cars smile and wave at me in the soob for some reason, wouldent have a clue who they were or why? Its been called a "poo"box before (unappreciative basterds!)...beats me..
Also had the driver in a newer version of my car point me out to his passenger as they drove past.

Ive also been told id look exactly like a detective in the BF if i hadent had P plates on.

Danny · 30-01-2011, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rodp

Driving a modern car, most recently an R32 and an R8, I received a lot of 'nice car - how does she go' at sets of lights which I never minded. Completely different attention to driving old muscle.

Agreed, I get that in the F6 and only once in the XR6T from some pubescent 7-11 dweller.

The Renaults garner the most attention from people, wanting to know how they go, or commenting on its looks or how impressive it is. I don't mind that at all..

Rod you don't shop at Warrandyte IGA ever do you? I remember once I commented to a guy with a magnificent VW R32 who told me he also owned a V10 Audi R8.

Unless I've totally taken you the wrong way and you live in Bunbury and own an R32 Skyline and a HSV R8. In which case ignore me...

XBCoupeGuy · 30-01-2011, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XCwillo

Oh no a copper who's Human?! :O

There was a little more to the story. I was actually trying to get across to the left lane so I could turn into the servo (corner of Salisbury Hwy and Kings Rd for the Adelaide folks) and was concentrating on doing just that, (looking over my left shoulder), and they had pulled up next to me (we were both moving) and he was yelling out - hey mate, hey mate.

If we were both just cruising along it would have been no problem, but it was just really bad timing.

I wonder what he though when I answered his question and then veered off through a break in the traffic into the servo. He probably though I was avoiding him lol

ynot57 · 30-01-2011, 05:28 PM

two things people.i have a ex taxi and it does get looks and people want to talk to me all the time about it.

jlef5 · 30-01-2011, 05:32 PM

I have had a bit in the Eh, normally older people, anyone in another old car waves, had a bloke in an xp coupe red honk and wave while I was at the lights, few truckies wave as I drive past. That's all good I don't mind it, or people taking photos of it that's all good. What annoys me is when people slow down to look at it while you're waiting for them at intersections etc, and the one that really annoys me is everyone telling me what motor I should do with it, and pointing out faults with it. I know what I'm going to do to it, and I know it's missing the d from Holden on the back it's my car.