Hotrodders...there comes a time when you need to hang it up....

Had lunch with a friend of mine today. He talked a lot about his elderly dad who has always had a small car collection. Some old early 50 fords with flathead engines and at least one early 30's ford with hot rod engine of some kind. Spread around the garage are a variety of other car parts, engines, tools, etc, etc, that haven't been used in years. Outside there are the rusted remains of what once were decent vehicles.

The old man's wife died not long ago and the elderly gentleman is in bed these days most of the time. When asked why he doesn't sell off his stuff he comments how one guy made him an offer on one of the vehicles once and "tried to lowball me". So he's proud he didn't sell.

Spending money on all of this drove his family crazy for years and took away from funds for the basic costs of raising a family.

I think car guys like us are all one small step removed from being hoarders up until the day we die.

At some point, just owning stuff doesn't make sense, especially if your crap is going to be a pain in the a$$ for your family to sell when you croak.

In reply to plance1:

sell yours first

Emotional attachment to stuff is a problem for a lot of people. For some it's trinkets, for some clothes, for some houses, for us it's cars. Not downplaying the issue, but we're not terribly unique.

Only do what you have the time and money for without negatively impacting your family. I'm not saying it is easy....just that it is a goal that we should aim for.

mazdeuce wrote: Emotional attachment to stuff is a problem for a lot of people. For some it's trinkets, for some clothes, for some houses, for us it's cars. Not downplaying the issue, but we're not terribly unique.

You're right...this is why the estate sale section of our local newspapers is always full. As much as I love cars I think the idea of hanging on to everything until you die, especially when your family doesn't want any of it, is just a big mistake.

The only thing worse is family members fighting and crying over it because they perceive some value in it. My wife's grandfather passed away this summer. It was a pretty eye opening event.

and it still beats the hell out of a gambling, alcohol or drug addiction

plance1 wrote: ...When asked why he doesn't sell off his stuff he comments how one guy made him an offer on one of the vehicles once and "tried to lowball me". So he's proud he didn't sell.

Is he becoming delusional? Serious question, as thinking that people are trying to cheat you is a very common delusion in the elderly (and unfortunately not always a delusion.) However, how much he thinks it's worth is probably way out of reality. I'm going through this now with my elderly father :( and they often turn really mean...

And yeah, money can strain even the closest family, no matter how well you got along before...

plance1 wrote:

mazdeuce wrote: Emotional attachment to stuff is a problem for a lot of people. For some it's trinkets, for some clothes, for some houses, for us it's cars. Not downplaying the issue, but we're not terribly unique.

You're right...this is why the estate sale section of our local newspapers is always full. As much as I love cars I think the idea of hanging on to everything until you die, especially when your family doesn't want any of it, is just a big mistake.

This is why I purge stuff so often. Unless it's something really expensive, if I don't see a need for it anytime in the near future. It's gone.

I'll buy it again when I need it. I find many times I never end up needing it again.

I helped a family friend do clean up a family car collection after the dad died 2 years ago. The sad thing is the cars were really cool at one point but time and not running got to them. Immediately after that I kind of got on my dad for the same thing when I went to his place and there were 3 boats with blown motors sitting out back and enough parts to build 3 early A body Mopars.

I saw myself getting there. Years ago I could afford to have 6 cars at a time, all plated, insured, and in fine shape. Fast forward a decade, add three kids, minus 35% income and I can't do that anymore. I sold off some. I know have a DD, my wife's DD, and my project. It was VERY hard to do that, but it had to be done.

counterpoint:

If you were in your later years and all you had was pictures and/ or memories of your prized possessions would you really be content with that?

I'd wanna keep a few good pieces hangin' around anyway.

You're right at some point you just have to let go. I had an extreme emotional attachment to my Trans Am. I had built it exactly how I conjured it in my head, couldn't have been happier, my father and I built it together, etc.

A time came where I could have kept it for it's sentimental value and struggled to put food on the table or sold it to provide for my family. I chose the latter because I can always build another, buy another, etc. It's harder to replace family.

Nothing new...

Water is wet, the sky is blue, a bunch of us are hoarders.

I have an elderly friend of the family who is 89 years of age. She is completely bed ridden and will never get out of it again. She has a paid off house and car in Arizona and another paid off house in Michigan with two cars. Her brother recently passed away and willed his house and car to her bringing the grand total to 3 houses and 4 cars that she owns. Every month she pays insurance, utilities, upkeep etc. on all of them and will never see any of them again. The worst part is she has no will and refuses to discuss getting one with her family so when she passes away the whole mess will go to probate. She is constantly getting offers from people to purchase the homes and cars but will not sell as she is either not ready or she feels that the price is too low.

People do what they do for what ever reason. It doesn't always make sense.

My wife's uncle died a few years ago with no children and no wife. As his health got worse he had many nieces, nephews, friends, & neighbors who told him they really loved this clock, this piece of furniture, this car, this truck etc. But Uncle Jimmy saw right through them.

When his will was opened Uncle Jimmy mentioned each person and what he owned that they cherished. Then the next paragraph said all items including the house were to be sold at public auction. At that time each "heir" could purchase the item (s) they cherished then. And their purchase price would go to a common fund of heirs. After the auction, all proceeds in the common fund would be divided among certain people and organizations in a percentage set by Uncle Jimmy.

The real clinker? No one was allowed to see the division percentages of the will or even who was listed as a recipient till after the auction was held!!!

screw that, if i die with more cars than you i win.

the point at which certain vehicles will leave my possession is death. i hope at that point my son will become the caretaker of them, or maybe a grandchild.

I like the sound of uncle Jimmy. If you can afford it, and you want to keep a bunch of crappy cars, I don't see a problem just because you're old and will likely never use them. I'm 31 and I've got some stuff I'll likely never use, but I keep because it has a special meaning to me. I've got hood ornaments from various cars I've owned, a really cool two spoke boyds wheel and other random stuff. I can live with storing them, sowhy not?