Online Newsletter

 

Vol. 1                            November 2003                         No. 2

 

Hello fellow car enthusiasts!

 

Early November has arrived, and with the falling of the leaves and cooler temperatures, the end of the car season is upon us.

 

The rainy weather that has plagued us all year long did not let up for October. There were many shows and events that were rained out or held in less than ideal weather conditions. But the weekend of November 1st and 2nd had two glorious, sunny, and perfectly warm days that saw car owners flocking to shows and enjoying one of the best weather weekends since last spring!  I attended the Long Island Cars Belmont Park Car Show and Swap Meet, a two day event, and man was it packed!

It seemed that everybody came to that show! Sunday had thousands of people and cars. The line of cars and people to get into the show was still heavy into the early afternoon! What a great turnout!

 

Coming the weekend of the 28th-30th will be the big custom car show at the Nassau Veteran’s Coliseum in Uniondale. Look for us at the show! Stop by and say hi. That may be the last of the shows until Spring of ’04.

Also, two weeks before that on Sunday the 16th is the Riverhead Raceway Show & Swap. We will be there as well.

If anyone has information about any other shows, meets, or gatherings, please send them along and we will get them listed on the site. Also send information regarding all the Connecticut, New Jersey, and Downstate New York events! We would love to have them listed too, as many of them are terrific!

 

(On a related car show note; check out the e-mail letter several sections below.)

 

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We would like to welcome aboard our new advertisers!

 

I have met these folks in person and can assure you that they are the utmost in professionals who care about you and your car. They all have decades of experience in the automotive industry. And they are good guys to deal with too!

 

Cap-A-Radiator - owned and run by Bill Carberry.

There is also a division of his business called Classic Heaters which specializes in antique and hard to find heater cores and parts. You can find them in our RESTORATION and PARTS sections respectively.

Bill is a long time patron of the classic car hobby and has tremendous experience in radiator and heater core repair and modification. His shop is professional and turns out high quality work. He also has a huge selection of parts! Call or visit him for all your repair and restoration needs!

 

Banner Rod & Custom - owned and operated by Dave Banner.

Dave is the guy you wish you had met years ago! Not only does he do just about everything from complete repairs to restoration, he also is the kind of fanatic who treats your car better than his own!! Dave will not let any of his guys into your car without plastic protection and they all wear rubber belt guards when they work! He performs true craftwork and is dedicated to his art. Look him up, you'll be glad you did!

 

All of you GM guys & gals also look in our PARTS-GM section for Dave's GM Parts. Dave has a storehouse with a multitude of parts for your vehicle from 1929 up to 1972.

 

Herbee Dodge - Rich Governanti - manager, Ronnie and Bob in the Parts Department. Herbee Dodge is the area's leading performance parts dealer. They are car collectors themselves and have many years in the Mopar hobby. Bob is the original owner of a sweet GTX among other cars. They have the "Direct Connection" to get you what you need! (PS-check out their parts ad for a rockin' Hemi engine!) Tell them Long Island Classic Cars.Com sent you for a 5% discount on parts! Rich is the guy who can steer you into that hot new or used Viper, RT Truck, or SRT Neon! From what I hear their sales are quite brisk! Catch 'em if you can!!

 

Classic Car Connection Inc. - Tom Bloom. Tom has an interesting and diverse collection of vehicles for sale. An eclectic mix that is sure to contain something for everyone's tastes. His prices are pretty nice too! He is one of the first dealers to advertise on the site and promises to give great care to all customers. In fact, many of his customers are repeat buyers! That says something for the way he operates and the quality of cars that he sells. Check him out in our gallery of cars for sale, or visit him at  www.classiccarcollectioninc.com\

 

And remember to check out Don's East Coast Restorations in the PARTS - GM section as well as his Resto-Trim business in the RESTORATION/CUSTOMIZING section. You read about Don in our last Newsletter. Literally from start to finish he can take care of your car!

 

We encourage you to call upon and visit these businesses. Tell them Long Island Classic Cars sent you!

 

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GUEST WRITER COLUMN

 

In this newsletter we are pleased to present our first guest columnist. His name is Tom Sebastian. Tom is one of those James Bond kind of guys who travels the world for the (well, that part is secret). He has a decidedly different view of the collector car hobby that you will no doubt find interesting. His experience and his wit make for interesting and entertaining reading. When he has time in between his jaunts to save the civilized world, he will occasionally grace our Newsletter with his stories and thoughts.

 

We welcome Tom's insights and look forward to further contributions from him in the future!

 

Here is Tom's first column...enjoy!

 

MÉNAGE A TROIS

 

Greetings!
 
By way of introduction, I have been asked to, occasionally, wax poetically on the world of classic cars as I know it.
(Yes, I use foreign words for no reason... One of those...)
 
Anyway, aside from other things, I have been buying and selling, owning and collecting, driving and racing these things for some 20 years.  Read a lot, too.
Have been told I am the thing that comes after the CarNut category - One Step Beyond.  Have never even owned a new car and rent when it snows. (Yep, he's gone.)  But being on this side of sanity has its rewards, like only paying cheap, collector car insurance.
Over time, I will write of cars I've had, should've had, have, will have, and might have - $$ and time permitting.
 
Classic guys are a little odd, each with their own definitions (one guy in England collects Pintos!), perspectives, likes and dislikes.  From the start I should tell you that after years of excruciating self-analysis I have come up with my own profile:  Avis rather that Hertz, Bentley over Rolls, Corvair over Mustang, Avanti over Corvette, Maserati over Ferrari.  You may know the type.
 
Over the course of my columns - as rare as they may be (I still have to work, you know...) you may come to recognize a distinct philosophy regarding our 4-wheeled brethren and the folks who drive them.  For a hint, I think it goes something like this:  There are those who look at a car to get from A to B with as little inconvenience as possible.  Then there are those who never really cared about B in the first place...  For you folks I dedicate this column.
We commence.
 
Well, wait a minute.
 
Perhaps I should say something a bit more about the 'buying  & selling' for those interested in doing this on the side.
 
My gig is what is on my Biz-Card: "Investments for the Fun of It!"
Meaning:  OK, the stock market is played out; your kids are paid through school; the wife and your anniversary trips are paid forever; and the $$ in the bank is practically useless...
 
So, Let's Party!! (or, "Potty" as Arnold would have it.) 
 
No matter what your situation is like at any given time, there are many people out there in the above, positive financial position.
 
To tackle this crowd find, define and 'brand' a niche.  Be creative.
The more unique an angle you come up with the better off you will be. (AND, of course, DON'T QUIT YOUR DAY JOB.  You will never be that good.)  Do it for fun and (some) profit.  It will not replace real estate as your number one investment in life but it does have advantages:  -- Like no bank points, lawyers, closing fees and, unlike the house, if you do not like the market, drive it to another one!
 
My niche:  I try to buy cars just before they become classics and sell them when they do.
How do I know?
That, my friend, is the art -- and the fun -- of my gig.
 
Storage space?  Better have some (especially in the Northeast).
Technical know-how?  Obviously, the more the better.  But I have practically none and it still works for me because I have sought out and found cheaper mechanics who further discount me for the volume I provide in the long run -- and just to see what strange things I will be showing up with.. Also, not being in a hurry is a big hit with mechanics; and that also should be reflected in their prices.
 
I lean heavily, due to this lack of technical/artisan skills on the 'art' of the thing.  I buy the car relatively cheap -- where the seller is viewing it somewhere between Used and Collectible -- in perhaps condition 8 or 8.5 -- and just hope it becomes more desirable in my lifetime or even over the winter, reselling it in the same condition as I purchased it. No sweat involved. 
 
Now for those with real skills and the time to ply them, you can obviously go for the sure bets, buying known collectibles in condition 4, 5 or 6, doing the work yourself and making profit a sure bet.
 
While I do not promise anything outright, I do let prospective collectors know that myself and everyone else who has ever bought one of my cars has watched them increase in value, made money on the resale or, at a minimum, has not lost anything.  (For exceptions, see below)  In effect, free Sunday transportation for life. 
 
OK.  Who lost $$ and why.
 
I did. Twice.
Why?  Tried to sell too quickly.  Like a house, test the market and pull it out if the fish ain't biting.  Always be able to do that.  This is called the strong negotiating position.  If you are running out of space, as I was at the time, it becomes a buyers', low-ball market.  (And the sharks can sense it.)
One of my buyers, in a similar space crunch, ended up trying to sell in the middle of winter, in the middle of a recession, in the middle of a war.  The sharks didn't even bother to chew.
Time and space are great allies and terrible enemies.  If you have both, you're in.
 
Look at this!  My time and space are used up and I haven't discussed even one classic car!
OK.  Next time I promise to talk about this Ménage a Whatever...
As well as these extras:
 
When to Bring Your Wife; When to Leave her Home
 
Fitting into Your Lotus: A Collectors Guide to Nutrition
(Since I am also a gerontologist with a specialty in the effects of food on aging, I am dedicated to preserving both classics:  the vehicle and the guy in it.)
 
Also, if you are interested in the next hot car and have the $$ to get it, I probably have it!  Contact me:  tmoore3us@yahoo.com
 
OK.  I'm outta' here.

 

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Regarding car shows;

 

Recently I received an e-mail question from a guy who had some concern regarding car shows, what judges are looking for, and where to find out what he needs to do to his car in order to satisfy judging criteria. I responded with the e-mail letter below.

Your thoughts and responses are welcome and can be e-mailed to me and I will forward them to “Ted”. Some of your letters may be chosen to be included in the December Newsletter. Please identify yourself as either a car show participant, spectator, judge, promoter, or someone involved in organizing shows. Or any combination of the above! Please include your  name when corresponding.

 

-----Original Message-----

Sent: Wednesday, November 05, 2003 10:43 AM
To:
questions@liclassiccars.com
Subject: show rules

 

is there a set of rules on what kind of catagories there are at the shows i've been going to i'm confused on what is considered all  original i have a 70 chevelle and i want to make some changes on it such as i want bucket seats (from another 70 chevelle) i want to change the intake manifold and make it a 4 barrell and i want headers and a few other changes please let me know where i can get this info even if theres a charge for lets say a "rule book" thanks again, “Ted”

 

-----My Response-----

 

“Ted”,

 

Figuring out what each show judge wants to see and what their “rules” are is quite a task.

Many of them do not know what they are looking at let alone what is “correct” and “original”.

Or if they are judging a modified or custom car what standards to apply to it.

 

There should be a universal standard by which cars are judged, but in the “local” shows that is usually not the case.

 

The larger “National” event shows have set standards that are widely accepted by the collector car community. These are usually based on original equipment that the car came with, the fit and finish, detail, and correctness of options and colors. If it is a custom car show they judge based on detail, quality, level of craftsmanship, and sometimes innovation in customizing.

 

What shows have you been going to?

Usually each of them (unfortunately) has different criteria for judging.

A car that might win at one show, might lose against the same exact competition at another show. That has happened to me by a judge who asked me if the louvers on the hood of my 1971 Charger R/T came with the car! He didn’t know his a*s from his elbow but was judging cars at this show. Meanwhile my Charger won a best of show the week before at the prestigious show held every year at Westbury Gardens by the AACA. (Antique Automobile Club of America)

 

Another time my car was being judged against a Chevelle for first place at a local show. The two judges kept going back and forth between the two cars. At one point one of them said to me “You know, your car would have won already if it didn’t have white paint in the engine compartment.” I asked him why he said that and he replied that the Chevelle had the correct black but that my engine compartment was painted in white. I told him that Mopars always have the engine compartment painted body color! He was very surprised, he didn’t even know that common knowledge! C’mon!!

 

Another problem is that most local shows do not have the various makes and models separated into their own classes. For example, they will have a class that is 1970-1974 Muscle Cars. All makes and models will be in that class together. And if the show is run by a Chevy Club, good luck winning with your Ford, Chrysler, or AMC product even if your car is superior!

 

You see, they may know Chevys inside and out, but be at a total loss as to what is correct for other makes. Even other GM makes. So they may give first place to a car they feel secure about instead of one that they are not sure of.

 

(Before Chevy Club people send me nasty letters, this is just an example. It can happen at AMC, Mopar, Ford, or other makes Club run shows as well. And I’m sure it has!)

 

Some people judge solely based on eye appeal which is one of the worst ways to judge cars.

 

Others judge based on certain overall qualities such as fit, finish, detail level, and quality of work. That is the most common way and a pretty good method as long as personal feelings and likes/dislikes are left out of the equation.

 

In many cases at shows you hear about displeased car owners who feel slighted when another car is judged better than theirs while their car is obviously superior.

Sometimes this occurs because the judge likes the GTO better than the Cutlass, or the Packard better than the Auburn for example. Those people should not be judging car shows either.

 

In an ideal world, a 1970 Slant 6 engine Plymouth Satellite 4 Door should beat out a 1970 Hemi Road Runner in judging if the Satellite is superior in correctness, quality, and detail. However, we all know the odds of that ever happening are slim and none, and Slim just rode out of town on his horse.

 

Again, most shows will judge based on quality of detail and what appears to be original equipment if you are in a stock class. If your car has other than stock items on it or in it, then a certain amount of points will be deducted, or not awarded.

 

The well judged local shows have a maximum number of points you can score in various categories. Such as “Interior”, “Paint”, “Wheels”, “Chrome”, etc. You can be awarded those points on an impartial basis. A local show here on Long Island that was very good at that was the Tappan Beach Show in Sea Cliff. They ran for many years by a local Chevy club, but unfortunately stopped about two years ago. At that show the judges worked in teams and if they were unsure of something they conferred with others and if necessary asked the owner of the car certain questions pertaining to the item(s) at hand.

 

With the changes you want to make such as four barrel carb, manifold, etc. That should not hurt you or take away points at a local show as long as the changes you make were available on your car from the factory. If you use aftermarket equipment such as air cleaners and headers then you might want to enter your car in the “Modified” or “Semi-modified” class if the show has them. In those classes you are usually allowed a certain amount of mild modifications.

 

Then there are the “Pro Street” and “Custom” classes for the heavily modified or customized vehicles.

 

I hope all this answers your questions.

 

Good luck with your car.

 

Pete

Long Island Classic Cars

www.liclassiccars.com

 

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            The

Archive    Here is where you can access previous editions of the Long Island Classic Cars Online Newsletter.

 

October 2003 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/Oct03.html

 

 

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We plan on starting another column called "My Car Story" in the next issue. If you have an interesting or off-beat tale

to tell let's hear it. Photos are welcome of you and your car. Just keep it small in size and e-mail it in with your story.

 

That about wraps it up for this issue. We will see you again next month!

 

Happy Thanksgiving, and get out there to enjoy the last few weeks of cruising before the snow comes!

 

Pete