How are you enjoying the Muscle Car hobby these days?

[Zedder]

Just curious as I contemplate retirement...how are you enjoying the hobby these days? Do you have a car(s), go to cruise nights, car shows, how many miles a year do you drive your muscle cars, do you spend most of you hobby time on-line checking out the forums?

My boss retired recently and got me thinking about what I plan on doing during my retirement. He commented that retirement was boring as everyone is just waiting around to play the next game (golf, cards, board games) etc.

I suspect that most of my time will be spent doing car-related things, since I hate games and don't do gardening!

To answer my own questions above...I don't have a muscle car currently, so most of my hobby time is spent on-line when it comes to muscle cars. I still have my 993 and 2 old harleys that I spend more hands on time with.

[hacksaw71]

love it... but its getting costly. trying to find stuff for a S/C 360 hornet ain't that easy. but its the hunt that is fun. never know what ya will find.

[Too Many Projects]

Retirement is only boring, if a person lets it be. I have enough projects to last until I'm 120. I have a couple that are drivers, but most are in pieces, waiting for the funding and time to build them. The cost to accomplish those have steadily risen over the years and have become prohibitive for me, so it takes longer.
Just have 1 nice driver and go to shows and cruises and you can keep boredom at bay. Get a basket case project and work 12 hrs a day, if you want.
I live on almost 3 acres, so there is a considerable amount of time spent on improving and maintaining that too. Yard was a mess when we moved here 3 yrs ago, so I have plenty of improving in the coming years.

I don't spend much time on forums over the summer, but winter can get more difficult to find the motivation to go out in the shop, turn up the heat and work on a car. Too easy to just sit at a desk and screw around on a computer.

[Too Many Projects]

Originally Posted by hacksaw71

love it... but its getting costly. trying to find stuff for a S/C 360 hornet ain't that easy. but its the hunt that is fun. never know what ya will find.

Welcome, hacksaw...

[Zedder]

I hear you regarding staying out of the garage in the winter - I do the same

Most weekends I am in the garage most of the day - tinkering, cleaning and just messing around in general. I take the 993 out Saturday and Sunday evenings for a drive with my wife or daughter down by the lake. Usually 1 - 1.5 hours and then it's back in the garage. I keep promising myself that I will hit a few weeknight cruises this summer, but haven't made it out to one yet.

Both of my Harleys are low mile garage queens that I am just bringing up to my spec. Then, I might ride them for an hour or two a month in the summertime. I keep them around more for the nostalgia than anything else.

Next year I might venture back into another old muscle car or Corvette.

[Too Many Projects]

I guess you could call my Harley a garage Queen too.

June 6th, I brought it home, 23 years ago and it has less than 13k on it.

[tom406]

I’m struggling a little-the costs to restore and maintain vs my enjoyment is getting tougher to make work. I’ve actually enjoyed finding and fixing up 10-20 year old drivers for my kids more than my vintage stuff over the last couple of years. A lot of my older friends and mentors in the muscle car space are just not as physically active as they used to be.

[Zedder]

Very cool that you still have your bike all these years later! I bought my first new harley in 1993 and just bought the identical bike with 2,300 original miles. My other 93 just turned 5,200 miles

I have similar struggles Tom406. My 993 is 27 years old, but operates like a modern car and I can find mechanics to work on it. I had to flat bed my Camaro to a buddy's shop in Toronto as there was no one local to take it to and it was costing me $350 each way. There is a local Corvette shop about 15 minutes from my place, so that is one reason that I may go that route next year.

[Canuck]

I have been retired 4 years and it’s fantastic. My doctor asked me if I was retiring out of something or into something. I definitely retired into something. My wife and I travel a lot and I do get to spend time enjoying cars. I don’t do local car shows anymore but enjoy being a Concours D’Elegance judge as well as Vintage Certification at MCACN. I hardly drive my vintage cars anymore and prefer my AMG Mercedes,my wife’s Porsche or my 2019 Bullitt Mustang.
I am restoring a 1971 442 convert that is taking longer than expected and when it’s done it will be my last full restoration. 45 years and 12 plus restorations are enough.
My shop time is between 12-16 hours a week and I lose focus about mid afternoon.
Love the hobby and the people. Internet time is about 30 minutes a day,that’s enough.

P.S.
My 4.6 year old grandson loves coming to the shop. He picks out a couple of 1.18 Diecast cars and plays with them.

[1967 4K]

I retired September 2022. After 47 years of being in the electrical construction trade as an electrician- contractor- estimator-project manager- consultant and more retirement is a total different ball game to me.
Lost interest in the car show scene many years ago and only go to a few cruise ins local to me.Today I got the 4K car for the first time this year and cruised in to town and back home, about 15 miles. I enjoy driving the 02 Camaro more than the 4K car.
I have a nice 30x50 shop that I spend a lot of time in piddling on stuff. My neighbor stopped by yesterday questioning me about a welder outlet circuit and I jumped at the chance to help him install it LOL!! So yes I’m bored!
I got sad news past Saturday about an old friend that owns an Automatic Transmission shop, he has had a stroke and hasn’t been to his shop for 3 weeks. If a guy has his health and can get out n go each day you’re in fine shape.

ICL