VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1937-1945 This Month's G & D Cover Car

Maybe I'm just being too sensitive but does it bother anyone in this group that this month's '39 Chevy G & D cover car features a Ford color for the exterior?

What are your thoughts folks?

It doesn't particularly bother me. It's prominently noted in the magazine that the cars pictured aren't necessarily perfect restorations. I'm just happy that it's not been hotrodded.

Doesn't bother me. I wouldn't have known the difference without reading it. I'm glad to see that he is driving it and enjoying it. It will look original to most people.

Looks good to me!

Looks all American to me. Red car against a white building with the blue sky above...Joe

Many times I have seen a new member bring his car to an activity and right away people start judging it and telling them what is wrong with their vehicle. This does not do much to encourage them to join us and participate.

Even after fifty years I have taken a new purchase to an activity and am told it wouldn't take much to bring it up to snuff when I just purchased it to drive and have fun.

Let's leave the judging to the judging field.

Yes, I have experienced this myself, people telling me how I could improve the finish or whatever on my truck. Sometimes it is amusing to listen to the "experts" criticize it. Often, they haven't got a clue about what they are saying.

Owning a 1968 Z/28 Camaro is in that class. People look & make comment but know nothing about 68s. They think 68 & 69 are the same....Joe

For a cover car, it does seem that there could have been a equally worthy Chevrolet photograph with a Chevrolet color to put on the cover of the G&D.

The question is simple one about featuring a Chevrolet having a Ford color on the cover. It is not about judging another's car and making annoying suggestions on how to improve it. Its a shame the thread has molted into a matter of defending incorrect cars, severe to minor.

My answer to the question is a qualified: Yes. Although I'm not surprised. Merely astonished.

Charlie

BTW: Any time you deviate from original, you may expect to receive well meaning comments about originality. It just happens. Live with it.

Being a new member and all I`m going to have to side with Chalie and Floyd on this one ..my first G&D mag......good to FINALLY be a member tho, after all the great help over the last 2 yeas !

Good to have you. Now we just need to get you on some tours.

Welcome Martinomon,
Glad to have you on-board.


For reference, this kind of G&D discussion usually occurs once or twice a year. Let me repeat what's been said in the past:

1. The VCCA is a Club.
2. The G&D only prints what Members submit to it.
3. If you don't like something that you see in the G&D, then Look in the Mirror and ask yourself whether you've submitted anything recently.
4. Sometimes members forget that THEY are responsible for what appears on the cover, and on the pages.


Seriously, WELCOME and don't hesitate to be ACTIVE in the club and ACTIVE in supporting the G&D. Your efforts will help make the CLUB better than it is.


--Bill B

Still waiting for my G&D (Australia) I don't care what colour it is personally but it's a fair comment and everyone is entitled to an opinion without having to don the flame suit.. and yes..dig a little and most cars will have a list of "wrong" just to keep em rolling.. I love my car the way it is but am always looking to improve and refit the correct parts..not all of us have the where-with all..to do a body off 100% correct resto...maybe one day..

As the saying goes, "beauty is in the eyes of the beholder". It looks pretty good to me. Presently I am restoring a 51 belair that was painted an incorrect color when I got it. The "beholder" I live with likes the color so it will again be painted an "incorrect" color.

It is your car. Go for it.

Thanks Tiny and Bill for the warm welcome to the club!...There have been so many folks that have helped me get my `40 tuned in . Love the mag. and wouldn't have known the FORD color thing if it wasn't brought up .....and as Style has said, everyone is entitled to his -her opinion...( without the mirror)....I think Floyds observation has merit and would think the people in charge at the mag. would welcome such input .......so stimulating!

Thanks to everyone for your feedback. Sounds like a split decision - kinda what I expected. As a long time VCCA member and longer time '39 Chevy owner/restorer, I noticed right away that the color of the G&D cover car was not the cloisonné maroon that was offered in 1939 and confirmed it in the article. It looks to be a great car and a lot of work went into it I'm sure; I too am extremely glad that it wasn't rodded! I just wondered how folks felt about the color issue.

David, welcome to the club. I'm just down the road from you in Tryon, we ought to get together some time to compare notes on old Chevys. I'll try to send you a separate message with my contact information.

Thanks again to everyone!

There have been cover cars before that were not a "correct" color so what is the big difference. At least it had the original wheels, etc.
n other words it wasn't modified.

Well, Gene, I guess one difference is that no one ever polled us about the others.

Charlie

Well, the car is well preserved, taken care of, not a rod, and I still say it is a great car! I think it is a little nit picky to Knock it down because it is not quite the original color unless it is on the judging field. None of my cars are 100% correct but I have them to use and to drive. They are basically original but I wouldn't dare put them in the G&D because you guys would tear them apart! I have won best of show with 2 of them in informal, peoples choice shows but they are not good enough for a VCCA show. I say lighten up and save the criticism for the judging field.

Uncle Ed,

I think the notion that us folks were putting the car down may be well wide of the mark and the intent of the thread.

My take on the original post was merely polling our opinion about the choice of the G&D folks choosing a car with a Ford color to feature in the magazine. Therein lies the rub. Nothing more.

That is what prompted my post in that I agreed that surely there was something else to feature other a car with a Ford color. According to Bill B, maybe not. Being the wrong color is a small thing. And the polled comments were not negatively criticizing the owner of the car. They questioned the choice of the G&D only. The owner can paint it Betty Boop polka-dot for all we care.

I would like to see your cars in the G&D perfect or not. More interesting than the fit, finish and correctness is the story behind the cars that is brought out in a way the owner can only provide. Please send yours in. After all, that would be what Bill B encourages us to do.

I hope the corn is as "high as an elephants eye" out there.

Best,
Charlie

I kind of have to disagree Charlie. I think it's refreshing to see a car on the cover that doesn't belong to one of the club officers or long time members. The choice of color is minor to me considering it could easily have been turned into a hotrod. Most of the vehicles in the G&D aren't "original". Most have tried to be faithful to original during their respective restorations but most of us have had to make compromises along the way.

My '50 made the cover, and personally, I wouldn't even give it a Drivers Class award at a VCCA show, there is so much wrong with it! I think the G&D is meant to be a representative of our club's many functions, not just the judging program.

AND it's many members. There are a lot of good stories out there that need a chance to be heard.

More stories are needed on the project Chevrolets that our member are doing themselves or with the help of other members. Members helping members is an important part of this organization.

Finally got the mag... great story..great car... more of these stories please Mr editor

Next month focuses on 1964.
I don't own one, but I still liked the articles.

--Bill

I just read this thread while looking for an answer to another question I have. The cover car in the July 2014 G&D is mine......1939 Master Deluxe coupe. I appreciate the positive comments and those supportive of the color choice i made for the car. I purchased this car in 1963 when I was 15 years old. She and I have been together for 58 years! What a ride we have had and continue to have together! The G&D article in the July 2014 issue contains some of the stories and pictures from this time. This includes first dates with my high school sweetheart who became my wife, along with numerous other events. The '39 is 82 and I am 73. I guess that makes us both vintage models. I'll have to say she is better looking today than she was is '63 and that is not the case with me. :} These relationships that we establish with our cars and car buddies is what VCCA is all about. The color my '39 is not very significant compared to the wonderful times (and some not so wonderful] that the ole '39 and I have experienced together. Thanks to all my car buddies who have shared this with me.

Gary Lovell VCCA #35178 - Marion, Ohio

I got a message in my mail but no picture Gene Schneidet

When my Great Grandfather bought his 38 MD, he had almost every option available added, plus some dealer options. Originally Kashan Green, he had it repainted Robin’s Egg Blue before delivery. He drove it until 1967. Now I show it several times a year. Always somebody telling me certain parts aren’t original or correct. They have all been on the car since 1938.

Warning: You may wish you had skipped reading the following rant but read on at your own peril. Your call.

I'm sure that there are folks out there who point out errors in a car and by doing so, in a way that could irritate the owner.

Having said that, I also think that when we know that we have errors in our car that we may overreact to the above people and, also, to those who have your best interest at heart and are merely trying to help.

Folks pointing out errors of another's car need to be especially sensitive to the possibility that their advice and information may not be well received. Thus, it would always be a good thing to do so when the time is ripe or not at all.

On the other shoe, the owner who knows he has faults or errors in his car should not be so hasty in sensing insult where none is intended.

I was at the Hershey car a few years ago when the restorer of the 1941 Chevrolet convertible that was in the museum there at Hershey, and I were admiring a 1941 that had been restored by a man and his two sons from Lancaster. Pa. The restorer pointed out that there was a bolt in the fender where it was attached to the body up near the rear of the hood opening, i.e. near the cowl. The information was taken well by the owner. On the other hand, I asked about the lack of a reverse polarity switch on the starter. This was received in not as gracious manner and I was told that all 1941 didn't have the reverse polarity switch. l didn't argue and left it at that. Later, here on the Chat, I asked about by posing the question. Gene whose opinion I respect, replied that all 1941s had them. Now, I consider the owner a good friend and we have shared many a moment together at Hershey where they (he and one or two of his sons) generally stop by my vendor's booth. They are good people and their car won a Jr status and then Senior status. Over the years their car has been there and shown as a preservation item. I went to the car show last year but I never found the Chevrolets that were surely on display. Given to Hershey's love for Fords I wouldn't doubt that they were stuffed into a back corner of the woods or somewhere else of little prominence. Who knows?

The point with all this is that I believe some of the negative reaction(s( by an owner may be warranted, especially when not considering other listening ears that may be present and thus a source embarrassment to the owner but then some may be overreacting negatively on being informed of their oversight in their car and its restoration, etc, as if caught with their hand in the cookie jar. In other words there may be improvement in both sides of the dilemma of how to behave ourselves. I know that I can always use improvement and I seek such education in deportment. Do too!

I hope to get to the anniversary meet this year and bring my 41. I will hope that all who see me or my car will not withhold any advice or fail to point out errors or mistakes in the car. I will not be offended in any way but, rather,grateful in that knowing better i can fix the errors or mistakes.

Best,

Charlie

BTW: I hope I have not offended anyone for none was intended.

In short, be gracious in your constructive comments and forthright with your praise.

Be kind so that feelings are not hurt. All vintage vehicle owners are somewhat sensitive about their babies and rightly so. They are our children.

This is an old thread, but one that touches on ideas that are always relevant.

Then, there are us strange folks that thoroughly enjoy the derogatory comments made about our rust buckets.

;-) Dean

Well said Charlie!