Ditching Unrealistic project to focus on realistic project

Today marked the end of an era, namely the age of my single-car garage being taken up by the rally car rolling shell. It was a little bittersweet to see it go, but I certainly wasn't making any progress on the shell, so it was good to clear things out and send it on to someone who can use it. With all the space, I have one less excuse for not working on my hatchback. :p

The car was caged, logbooked, driveable, and mostly straightish when I bought it, but quite a few dimples and scratches here and there, and minus some glass from a slow rollover. It was a bit of scary rally car prospect with a built engine, cage, underbody protection, but stock brakes and stock springs. I figured a car built with the polar opposite philosophy to my own would allow me to sweat the details I consider critical, and not have to put effort into stuff I wasn't too worried about anyway.

Well, when I bought it a few years ago, I was younger and had the ambition, time, and singlemindedness (or lack of perspective, take your pick) to pull off rally competition. What I lacked was the money. Now I have a bit more money, but have lost the ambition, some of the time, and just can't ignore those little details like relationships, work, and responsibilities like I used to.

Don't worry, I still have two other AE86 Corolla projects, and now I have more time, more space, and less hanging over my head. I sold it to a local guy I've known for years; a fellow Corolla enthusiast, and fellow local rallycrosser. He knows the car and has the desire to get it ready for competition once again, which I think is awesome.

It looks so sad and lonely.

Seeing the light of day! A friend helped me push it out and sort through the piles of parts I have to see if we could give these guys most of complete car minus engine.

Loading up the trunk to make a Corolla pinata...crack it open and see what falls out!

On the trailer

Riding low in the rear with nothing up front and extra junk in the trunk.

It can be hard to let go, but since I literally hadn't touched it in three or four years and didn't have use of the bulk of the garage, I am really excited to have more space, a shorter to-do list, and a few extra bucks in my pocket. Plus, there is a good chance I will get to drive it in an upcoming rallycross! :D

Yep, it feels good to clear out the cobwebs. Most of the time my projects leave my garage like your Corolla did, but every once in a while they drive away under their own power. At 3-4 years, your derelict project lasted much longer than mine ever do. In fact, I haven't ever owned any car for that long. Ever. It's been a while since I counted last, but I think I've owned more cars than I am years old. Impressive (scary?) since the madness didn't start until I was of legal driving age...

Well, that project was the young 'un of my litter, seeing as I've had one for 8 years and other one for 12, but yeah, it feels really good to clear out the cobwebs.

It feels a bit funny to say this, but I am actually excited to see it go because now I can focus my efforts on the other cars.

If you have had a high turnover and managed to have a few drive away under their own power, I would say that counts as impressive. I get so caught up in trying to make every detail perfect or waiting until every star is aligned that I have trouble finishing one; I am envious of folks who can try a lot of projects. With lots of cars I would go crazy and never get anything done!

Well, since you must have tons of free time with that project unloaded...want to come help work on my $2009 project this weekend?

I've only ever thrown the towel in one two car projects. One was a Fiero that I was planning to make a track day car with (learned a few lessons about prioritizing, group projects, budgeting, etc.) that a buddy still has. That car is rusted horribly and was just a shell in the first place, it will probably go to the crusher soon. The other project I bailed on was a T-Bird (supercoupe) that I bought as a non-runner with the intent to fix it and flip it, since I noticed it had a blown ignition fuse when I inspected it. Long story short, it needed an engine and I didn't care to invest in a money pit. I sold it for what I had into it and washed my hands of the deal. As time goes on, I am getting better about getting project stuff that I start done. Still a long way from perfect, but better. Staying focused is hard work!

Bryce

Careful, this is a slippery slope.

I did much the same thing last week when I sold two projects- one of which was the former-GRM Sunset Orange '74 SAAB 99LE. I was extremely sad to see it go, but I'm very glad that someone is going to put it back on the road after it mostly sitting for a year and a half in my posession.

I did this recently with my 240sx challenge car build. I found a better car that I know for an awesome deal and realized it would be easier for me to get it done.

Sad to see the 240 go, would have been a fun car when done and I had just recently gotten 99% of the components together :p. Ah well... the new project should be even more fun and unique.

Having the space back sure feels good though.... damn good.

i am trying to get rid of some things that i do not need not having much luck... would like to get rif of thing to pout some money into one project i would love to play with...sigh...really want to drive my dirft car...sigh.at least it runs and moves sort of...

I seem to do the opposite. I get a project completed, or to the point where it's exactly what I thought I wanted, then decide that's not what I want and sell it.