Idiot Magnet

Last weekend I was finally able to tow the Mav home from St. Louis to Jackson. I could hardly believe all of the people that had to look at it! They just kept slowing down and driving right next to us or behind us. It just drove me nuts. They wouldn't go away.

Then when we stopped to eat, a small group of people gathered around it in the parking lot. They would just walk around it, and look underneath it.

So anyway, today I was finally able to pull it out of the garage and start cleaning it out (since I pretty much had all of my tools loaded up in it for the ride down), and guess what. That's right-every moron in the neighborhood had to come on down to take a peek!

This one guy must have kept talking for about thirty minutes. He just walked down to see the "Cuda" and before he left I knew his lifes story. His wife had left him, he had tried to kill himself, was falling into debt, blah, blah, blah.:sorry: I had a hard time getting rid of him.

But, it wasn't just him. Neighbors came out to watch me. I had kids on bikes and skateboards passing back and forth in front of my house. I had to chase a couple out of my driveway (had the car on jackstands)!

Even after I had put the car away some teenager from down the street rang my doorbell and asked if he could see the "GT 500".

I don't get it. Do any of you have problems like this? Back in St. Louis I got a few looks or a thumbs, up but nothing this bad. Maybe I just moved into the Stupid Belt or something. Doesn't anyone know what a Maverick is? Sorry had to vent!!!

 

I just get the usual "nice 69 Camaro" ...guess cause its painted hugger orange. If I put it on the trailer all the neighbors come out and ask "are you selling it". Guess they wish the noise machine gone?

 

...thumbs up... and "what color you going to paint it"?!!! :sorry: ...thought i would use your "vent".

... ...

 

Try living in a neighbourhood where every retired guy once work at the St.Thomas assembly plant...they can smell the cars when they come out of the garage, then you have to entertain them while they tell you how heavy the bumpers were, and how if they cross treaded a bolt the impact gun would hit them in the face...I know how you feel

 

'Sounds like your pissed that people like your car. :confused:

If it sux that bad, maybe I can take it off your hands for a little of nothing so you wont' be bothered.

I dunno. I guess I just don't understand why you'd let it bother you so much.

 

Mine's been called everything from a Vega to a Viper. The Viper one was a little kid so that was understandable. I put my car in a lot of shows and I love to just sit there and watch all the know-it-alls walk by and tell their wife/kids/buddy all about my car. The more intelligent ones actually ask questions and I enjoy talking to them about it. Keep in mind there are no Maverick emblems on my car so if they don't know what a Maverick is, then the game is on. It's got Cobra emblems and Shelby stripes and tail lights...gets em everytime. This is so much fun. I took 1st place in a Mustang show last week in the Ford Special Interest class. The Mustang guys love my car. Heck, it gets better crowds than most of their cars get.

 

What?? It's NOT a Shelby Cobra??

I do love that car.

Have you done anything with the "Shelby" Maverick hood yet?

BTW, I don't know if I ever mentioned it, I never got around to trimming the cowl "lip". It should be trimmed to actually get the cowl affect. I was going to leave about an 1/8" lip for rigidity (which you probably already knew to do). Maybe you know someone in the body repair business who can do a neat job on it.

(Sorry for hi-jacking your thread for a moment, Green Monster)

 

Yep...been working on the hood. I got all the cracks repaired. Had to cut it down and put another layer of glass on it. I trial fitted it and found another problem. The passenger side in the middle sits down about 3/8" below the fender. I'm afraid I'm going to crack the glass trying to straighten it but if I do, I'll just have to fix it. I'll have it on soon. No regrets getting it...thanks.

 

Don't get me wrong. I don't mind some of it.

I like talking to kids who have never seen one. I just don't want them skating circles around me when I'm under my car. That's distracting to me and could be dangerous.

I don't want anyone getting too close, touching, gawking...drooling...

I don't want kids knocking on my door.

I don't want to waste my time talking to every toothless, mullet-headed idiot in the county that thinks I've got a HEMI.

Some people just over step their bounds. I would never act like that.

 

Well...you DO live in Misery.


I mean...Missouri.

 

The "Stupid Belt" (LOL!!!!!!!)

 

Wish my neighbors were so enthusiastic about my car.

 

...full "moon" maybe

......

 

Personally, and I know this is counterproductive to MOST car owners' rules and comfort, I ENCOURAGE people to touch my car (at least now, before it is painted).

In my opinion, if it can handle being put on a race track, or have chunks of rock and road debris hitting it at 60-70mph, a child's hand will do little damage, relatively.

When people walk near my car, in the parking lot, at the store, at a car show, and they are breaking their back to lean over it without touching, I just say "Hey! Most guys don't like it, but you can touch it...here (opening door) get in and have a seat! Wanna look under the hood?"

Especially if they have children.

One of the coolest moments I will remember is when this father/son combo walked up during Halloween (we keep the garage open with scary music coming out and all of our decorations partially blocking the entrance). The dad says "Nice Camaro, what year is it?" The kid, maybe 10-11, says, "DAD!!! It's a Maverick. 1974."

Now, I was shocked because he said '74, when it has small bumpers and looks more like a 71-72 model. I said "very good! how did you know it was a '74?"




Then he points at the license plate..... Way to go kid

 

Good one!