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976

General Discussion / Re: Stolen Z Found

« on: August 18, 2015, 10:48:09 PM »

Just another example, my father had one of his stolen.  Parked right in front of the main entrance to a busy shopping mall on a Friday afternoon, literally 10 steps away.  People constantly going in and coming out.  He's in there for 20 minutes tops.  Comes out and car is gone.  Someone was bold enough to break into the car and steal it in broad daylight with people walking around everywhere.   Oddly, no one saw anything out of the ordinary, people are just oblivious to what's going on around them.

Car was never recovered.

977

General Discussion / Re: Stolen Z Found

« on: August 18, 2015, 10:40:46 PM »

Most of that stuff is politically motivated, so I take it with a grain of salt.  Actually living in the areas in question is the only way to form an honest opinion.

Bottom line, as this entire thread shows, classic cars aren't really safe anywhere.  The story above with the entire car hauler taken in broad daylight shows how bold people can be.  More disturbing might be the fact that as crowded as the Charlotte Auto fair is, no one noticed??

978

General Discussion / Re: Stolen Z Found

« on: August 18, 2015, 10:13:52 PM »

Yes I drive my cars, to the store, to run errands and such. Shoot When I am in Indiana I have driven and parked my Z at Walmart. Mind you I parked on the more of the empty end of the parking lot, kinda by where the amish park their buggies. But that was just to avoid other cars and door dings, I have been searching for the perfect parking spot since I was a kid.
If I have a passenger, like when I take my wife out to dinner in one of the cars, I drop her off out front, to put her name in or get the table, while I find the spot where the car has plenty of room around it, and I can see it from where we will be sitting. It might seem like work or to scary to take there cars out like I do, but I just love driving them. Now I am only able to take her out a handful of times a year, but it makes for a great date night.
Of course she drives a 65 mustang to work most of the time, and parks in a carport. (no security, alarm, kill switch) Car has been fine, its in an ok area. it has been a daily driver since 89 so I haven't treated any different than any other daily driver.

I am not as brave as you Larry, I couldn't give her the Z as a daily driver. 

I do the same, park away from people yet visible from where I am.  I've even gotten up from the dinner table to move it to a more visible location if I'm not seated where I hoped to be.
  Like you, been doing that since I had a license, it's just second nature anymore.  So much so that I find myself doing it even if I'm not in a classic car.
   No worries Austin, wife takes care of it.  She parks right outside her office window, business at a dead end street so no traffic gets in without noticing.  It's pretty safe.  Plus I'd feel sorry for the person that crossed my wife if someone tried to take it, lol.
   If there is ever a cool get together or weekend meet in your neck of the woods, we wouldn't hesitate to jump in it and buzz down to southern cal.

979

General Discussion / Re: Stolen Z Found

« on: August 18, 2015, 10:07:38 PM »

According to forbes  no cities near the Mexican border even rank near the top 10 in stolen cars,  and never have.
   VT

I don't think anything internet or TV paints an honest picture.

980

General Discussion / Re: Stolen Z Found

« on: August 18, 2015, 06:03:58 PM »

thats crazy. Sounds like anycar show is a main target of the thieves now. I didn't realize it was so prevalent these days. I guess I don't attend enough shows now a days to see this trend.

Austin, you are much like us, we like to drive ours daily too.  So you gain a certain sense of awareness and being cautious just comes with the territory.  We rarely ever leave mine where I can't see it at all times. We've done some weekend trips with the cars but haven't done a major car event like Charlotte, Pigeon Forge, in several years.   Theft was going on then but it wouldn't surprise me if the numbers have risen since.  As these cars get more expensive and harder to replace, theft usually follows that trend unfortunately.  Just can't be too careful with these things anymore. 
   Especially out here where we are, living within a few hours of the Mexico border.

981

General Discussion / Re: Stolen Z Found

« on: August 18, 2015, 05:58:04 PM »

I would hard disable the tow vehicle some way before going to bed and have a alarm pager to tell you if the dome light comes on from the door opening or if the hitch was separated.  There needs to be ways of at least slowing them down.  News of a few of those guys being "stopped" would also help.

I take a lot of those steps.  Used to go through the trouble to pull the battery out, coil wire, a couple of hidden kill switches for good measure, then chain the hood shut, take everything in the motel with me.   They literally would have to hook it and tow it away, which also isn't out of the question nowadays.   
 Then realized it was easier and less stressful to just sleep in the car. lol.

982

General Discussion / Re: '68 Z28 - rear pass side drum brakes are sticking...don't know why

« on: August 18, 2015, 05:53:29 PM »

Probably not what you want to here, and I know you guys like to save this or save that because it's original, but when it comes to mechanicals and dependability, and you want to enjoy the car,  it's just not worth it in my opinion.

If that car has been sitting and parts are that old, I'd be revamping that entire brake system if it were mine.  Hoses are a must as you've found out, they collapse over time and is the most common brake sticking issue.  I'd replace all 3 and be done with that.
   I'd also pull all the steel lines and blow/clean them out thoroughly, if corrosion exists I'd replace.  Then replace all the disposable parts...ie: master cyl, wheel cyl, calipers, hoses, or at the very least rebuild your originals.   Brakes aren't anything to be cutting corners on. 

   I have a few cars here been sitting 30+ years and recently started reviving them all.  Went through everything thoroughly as explained above on all but one.  I only replaced what was needed to make brakes work.  Sure enough, 2 weeks in and lost a wheel cylinder.  Month later the PB booster bites the dust, likely from the master leaking fluid which I had replaced in the beginning.  I should have replaced it all front to back and been done with it.  Of course I was trying to save OEM 46 year old parts on that particular car.  Bit me in the butt.  Luckily I wasn't 100 miles from home, and even more lucky I didn't wreck it.

Anyway, hope you get it figured out.

983

General Discussion / Re: Stolen Z Found

« on: August 17, 2015, 07:03:32 PM »

I'm working on a national event for 2016 (not Autofair) and we're hiring two security crews, one for the cars and one for trucks/trailers.

Now that's the way to do it.  I attended Norwalk for several years for the Tri-Power Nats or now called Pontiac Nationals.  It was safer to leave truck trailer and car inside on the grounds over night as they had security everywhere.  May not be a "cure all" but it sure did give me some piece of mind.

Many other weekend events I did, if it was within a couple hours drive from home, I would just drive back and forth all weekend.  Otherwise I spent the weekend sleeping in the car.  Which as uncomfortable as that may sound, it's really not all that bad.  I never get much sleep in motels anyway, lol

984

General Discussion / Re: Stolen Z Found

« on: August 17, 2015, 06:21:10 PM »

They are never safe, even in an enclosed trailer.  I've seen this happen several times at the Pigeon Forge rod run as well.  They just steal the whole damn trailer, sometimes even the truck it's attached to, it's crazy.

That's why after I get the family tucked in at the motel, I go out and sleep in the car, with my side arm at the ready.
  Too bad you go out to have a good time at these things and you simply just can't let your guard down.
   He's lucky he got the car back unscathed, some of my friends weren't so lucky.

985

General Discussion / Re: KING Chevrolet Cincinnati Oh COPO info

« on: July 30, 2015, 06:20:03 PM »

I believe we are talking about a different car.  The one I speak of was a lemans blue COPO that was detailed and restored to a high level.  Some friends of mine were their at the show with their COPO's as well that day so of course we all came together and approached the car and owner.  Not much more information other than that because the owner was a snob and didn't want to talk to any of us because most of the COPO group I was around were into "day 2" mods like headers, wheels, traction bars, just simple stuff, and the fella just had nothing to say to us.  We were frowned upon  .
     

986

General Discussion / Re: Interesting Z on ebay

« on: July 29, 2015, 09:48:33 PM »

I agree Paceme, 
   My all time favorite are unrestored survivor cars that still show well enough to be certified to some degree.  I've owned a handful of them.  I have one left that fits this description.  My only issue with them anymore is that I hate to put any miles on it.   More miles hurts value, and the more "patina" you add hurts value.  So unfortunately it does a lot (too much) of sitting.   

Still enjoy those cars though if nothing else but to look at and learn from.

987

General Discussion / Re: KING Chevrolet Cincinnati Oh COPO info

« on: July 29, 2015, 09:42:25 PM »

I remember that car, nicely done, showed a few times, Sharonville was one show I remember it being at, then up and disappeared.

988

General Discussion / Re: Interesting Z on ebay

« on: July 29, 2015, 04:18:37 PM »

I agree, there is definitely something to be said about matching numbers and I don't mean to discard that in any way.    I have a few classics here with matching numbers, and a few more that aren't.  I'm okay with either one.   What I won't usually do is pay a hefty $25k+ price increase just for matching numbers on what are otherwise 2 identical cars.   I'll take the cheaper one with a correct engine replacement (not necessarily date code correct either) and enjoy the heck out of it. 

I'm not implying that's what is going on here but it's just one persons perspective on things.

Once you start paying big dollars for matching everything and correct this or that, you suddenly have a car you are afraid to take out and enjoy, especially a low mile one you don't want to rack miles up on.  I have a car like that, it's the most boring car in the stable (for me).

989

General Discussion / Re: Hot August Nights 2015; Reno, NV 3-9 Aug

« on: July 29, 2015, 01:56:58 PM »

Used to do Hot August Nights when I had relatives living in the area.  Haven't been for a few years, and too busy right now to get away that long.  Usually too booked up anyway for the out-of-towners if you don't have a place to stay.

Always a good time though, hope you guys enjoy.

990

General Discussion / Re: Interesting Z on ebay

« on: July 29, 2015, 01:33:49 PM »

I've even seen a few matching number Z's in the $60k range that are decently restored, but nothing concours correct, so yeah I agree this car is a lot of money, and I don't mean to come across as justifying the car.  Just giving a different perspective as to how a potential buyer may view the car if they have gone down the restoration route themselves and knowing what's involved.

I don't put a ton of emphasis on matching number drivetrain.  It's nice, but not a killjoy for me.