Temporary trading idea - old car trade for a day

[Buick35]

Like driving old cars and going to car shows but tired of taking the same car? I was wondering if an old car trade for a day or weekend event club might be fesible,certain rules must be adhered to such as distance traveled and speed etc. Person must be responsible for any damage that might occure.Thoughts?

[The 55er]

What about insurance? 

[Matt Harwood]

Already being done: https://driveshare.com/

[TAKerry]

There was some kind of outfit that was doing this with modern cars. They contacted me a few years ago when my wife bought her mustang convertible. Said it was a desirable car to offer on daily lease. I understand the original intent but unless its someone I know Im not letting them take my car out for the day/weekend. Its not gold or anything but........

Having said this, anyone that wants to stop by and chat cars or bbq or whatever, you are welcome to take the old bird out for a spin or two.

 

Matt, I think you posted as I was typing. I believe this is the outfit I was referring to.

Edited April 8, 2022 by TAKerry (see edit history)

[1937hd45]

I don't enjoy fixing my own stuff if things brake, you some how want to drive someone else's car until it brakes? Strange mindset. 

[Bhigdog]

Rent (gasp) one of my collector cars to a perfect (gasp) stranger for a whole day!  (Here clutching chest and falling into a chair). ............Bob

[JamesR]

I don't think insurance would be a big problem...at least in the context of friendly trade as Buick 35 said. I don't know about a business endeavor like the drive share thing.

 

My concern is that my old cars are too idiosyncratic. If they were in restored condition, that might be alright, but we all learn to live with little inconveniences in our old driver cars, and it's hard to relate all the nuances of how we start, drive and care for our vehicles to relative strangers. And if my old cars were muscle cars, pony cars or Corvettes, there's no way I'd do that kind of trade with anyone, restored condition or not...for obvious reasons.

[prewar]

Renting, loaning, trading your car with a stranger seems as bad an idea as giving your car to a movie production crew for a few weeks.

No one will love and cherish your car like you do.

[Paul Dobbin]

4 hours ago, Buick35 said:

Like driving old cars and going to car shows but tired of taking the same car? 

     That's why many of us have several cars of our own to choose from.   We can't own every car, but I've owned 115 in my life

      without ever going over 9 at a time.   If one has a dead battery, put it on a charger and take another car.  It's a Wonderful Life!

[The 55er]

"You have driven a stick before, right?"

[Guest]

While I would not consider renting my car to a stranger, I don't think I'd have any problem trading for a day or even a weekend with a responsible friend.

[60FlatTop]

With very few exceptions I wouldn't let anyone over 35 take my car.

 

I tired of getting up early to go to a show and then sit by my car avoiding the sun all day. I never tire of getting into one of my cars and taking a 3 or 4 hour drive through the hills or along the lake.

 

The last official car show I went to the man and wife who parked next to me squatted and took over the space. I left thinking about The Grapes of Wrath.

[avgwarhawk]

I'll return the dancing pony to ya Sunday!  

 

 

Edited April 8, 2022 by avgwarhawk (see edit history)

[9F94M567042]

Absolutely not! You are just asking for trouble 

[JamesR]

1 hour ago, 60FlatTop said:

I tired of getting up early to go to a show and then sit by my car avoiding the sun all day. I never tire of getting into one of my cars and taking a 3 or 4 hour drive through the hills or along the lake.

 

That sums up my old car ownership and enjoyment perfectly. Well said.

[NewOldWood]

I don't like to borrow things because every time I do they break and I have to fix them before I return them. I don't like to loan things out because every time I do they come back broken and I have to fix them. Maybe it's just me?

[f.f.jones]

8 hours ago, Buick35 said:

Like driving old cars and going to car shows but tired of taking the same car? I was wondering if an old car trade for a day or weekend event club might be fesible,certain rules must be adhered to such as distance traveled and speed etc. Person must be responsible for any damage that might occure.Thoughts?

[wayne sheldon]

5 minutes ago, NewOldWood said:

I don't like to borrow things because every time I do they break and I have to fix them before I return them. I don't like to loan things out because every time I do they come back broken and I have to fix them. Maybe it's just me?

 

Kind of the way I  feel about it. Although I really have not had that much trouble either direction. I have loaned a couple of my cars out to friends a few times, but I am always uncomfortable doing so (its a control, or lack thereof, thing?). And I have driven friend's cars a number of times (but I always fear something will go wrong, even though it rarely does). 

I really don't like driving other people's cars much. a lot of people would be shocked to hear some of the cars I have had offers to drive, and turned down. A Stanley steamer. A Stutz Bearcat (a real brass era one!). And if there is a car better than a Stutz Bearcat? It would be a real Pope Portola roadster! Yes, I was told I could drive it if I wanted to. I said a simple short ride would be enough for me, and what a ride it was!

I sometimes drive other people's cars if they are having problems, and want a second or third opinion. Done that quite a few times.

Not sure about now, so many things have changed. But most antique automobile insurance used to be good about vehicles being driven by non-owners. I have known of several situations where something DID go wrong! And insurance covered it without a hassle.

But to borrow a car for a day or two? I know a lot of collectors and hobbyists that do so, both lend and borrow. And almost always, good people on all sides, no troubles from doing so. But I would prefer to just drive my model T, or whatever non-Ford I may have.

 

But that is silly me.

[John_S_in_Penna]

9 hours ago, Buick35 said:

I was wondering if an old car trade for a day or weekend event club might be feasible...  

 

I see a couple of possible ways the idea would work--

the idea of trying out a different car for some variety:

 

(1)  Organize a club event where you may drive someone

else's car for a short time, say 15 minutes, with the owner

riding alongside you.  Then switch, and he drives your car.

 

(2)  Alternatively, do the same thing, but just between friends.

Rather than a club event, simply get together with someone

whom you know. 

 

These may also be good ways to try a model you always

admired, to see if it suits you before pursuing it further.

Maybe it's too slow for your taste;  maybe some aspect

of the car doesn't fit your size.

 

[Bhigdog]

My wife has NEVER driven one of my collector cars. I've asked her to any number of times. I'm guessing it's  just as well.

The only exception is the 427 Vette. Sometimes she puts the top down and takes it out for a drive all by herself. She says she laughs at the looks she gets when someone pulls aside her and sees a little grey haired 79 year old woman driving. She gets a lot of grins and thumbs up. I say good on her.........Bob

[Peter J.Heizmann]

1 hour ago, John_S_in_Penna said:

 

I see a couple of possible ways the idea would work--

the idea of trying out a different car for some variety:

 

(1)  Organize a club event where you may drive someone

else's car for a short time, say 15 minutes, with the owner

riding alongside you.  Then switch, and he drives your car.

 

(2)  Alternatively, do the same thing, but just between friends.

Rather than a club event, simply get together with someone

whom you know. 

 

These may also be good ways to try a model you always

admired, to see if it suits you before pursuing it further.

Maybe it's too slow for your taste;  maybe some aspect

of the car doesn't fit your size.

 

John...please make a project of your suggestions then get back to us, say, at the end of 2022.  

[John_S_in_Penna]

Just now, Peter J.Heizmann said:

John...please make a project of your suggestions then get back to us, say, at the end of 2022.  

No, Peter.  You'd better stop haranguing me.

[Ozstatman]

2 hours ago, John_S_in_Penna said:

 

I see a couple of possible ways the idea would work--

the idea of trying out a different car for some variety:

 

(1)  Organize a club event where you may drive someone

else's car for a short time, say 15 minutes, with the owner

riding alongside you.  Then switch, and he drives your car.

 

(2)  Alternatively, do the same thing, but just between friends.

Rather than a club event, simply get together with someone

whom you know. 

 

These may also be good ways to try a model you always

admired, to see if it suits you before pursuing it further.

Maybe it's too slow for your taste;  maybe some aspect

of the car doesn't fit your size.

John,

 

About 10 years ago, a guy in the Rolls Royce Club here in Australia told me that they do this as a specific club run called a "Drive and be driven Day". Apparently quite succesful and usually in a rural location with little traffic to worry either the drivers or the owners.

[Gary_Ash]

Some years ago, Hemmings magazine invited the Ocean Bay chapter (Mass. & RI) of the Studebaker Drivers Club to bring a bunch of cars to their Bennington, Vermont headquarters for a day of driving and photo shoots.  Five of us came from Mass. and NY.  We took turns driving each car for 15-30 minutes through the Vermont countryside, then stopped to write our impressions of the car, exchanged keys, and drove the next car.  It was a fabulous day and Hemmings did a nice article!  I got to drive a 1950 Studebaker Champion, an Avanti R2, a Lark convertible, and a 1957 Golden Hawk in addition to my 1965 Studebaker Wagonaire.  All the cars and drivers behaved well.  I thought it was a great opportunity to experience some other cars.

 

I've been on a number of Studebaker club meets where some attendees flew in without cars and were loaned a car for the tours.  It has always seemed to work out OK.

 

[Buick35]

12 hours ago, Bhigdog said:

My wife has NEVER driven one of my collector cars. I've asked her to any number of times. I'm guessing it's  just as well.

The only exception is the 427 Vette. Sometimes she puts the top down and takes it out for a drive all by herself. She says she laughs at the looks she gets when someone pulls aside her and sees a little grey haired 79 year old woman driving. She gets a lot of grins and thumbs up. I say good on her.........Bob

I let my wife drive my 35 Buick and she was amazed at how easy the clutch was.She's really not a stick shift person.

[Bhigdog]

My vette is a four speed. She loves it.... bob

[TTR]

I have “loaned” many of my vintage cars & have received many such “loaners” from others (can we call this “trading” ? ), but each instances have been between lifelong friends, whom also are lifelong DYI car guys and have each personally rebuilt/restored one or more of their own cars. 
Many of the occasions have included multi-day (or weeks* long) excursions/experiences starting by just handing over the keys and wishes for enjoyment.
I don’t think anyone of us has ever thought of, let alone worried about, how many miles was accumulated during these “loans”. I suspect I have thousands (or more ?) of combined miles behind the wheels of many of my friends vintage cars and many of my friends have enjoyed some of my cars similarly.

 

* Actually, my best friend & his wife are flying from Europe next week for two week vacation here and I was hoping to give my ‘57 Chrysler convertible for their use, but unfortunately, while their visit is a very pleasant “surprise” , they gave me a too short of a notice and I’ve just been way too busy with client cars/parts/work to get it properly prepped, tested and ready for them, so they have to settle for whatever "appliance" the rental car agency has for them. ☹️

Only way one of my cars could be extensively driven or operated by a “stranger”, especially without presence, is same as I’ve often replied when someone has requested a use of one in advertisement, commercial or movie filming or photo shoot: 

“If you really want MY car, offer enough $$$s for me to sell it and you can do anything or use it anyway you want and when you’re done, I’ll be happy to buy it back by deducting what I deem appropriate for the costs/efforts to repair any unexpected (minor) damages and/or wear & tear”.

Edited April 9, 2022 by TTR (see edit history)

[60FlatTop]

14 hours ago, Bhigdog said:

My wife has NEVER driven one of my collector cars.

 

Patiently standing next to HER door.

[Ed Luddy]

Touchy subject for me! I never, ever want to drive anyone's classic car but my own. Years ago I was driving a friend's 66 Corvette when a drunk dude missed his turn and did a hard left right into me. It was hard and expensive lesson, but the car got fixed and sold, my ankle sprain healed up and that changed my outlook on life a lot. I've been offered the keys to some very nice and expensive cars since then, but no thanks.

 On the flip side of the coin I have been hired many times by car dealers to deliver some high end cars. They know me and my position on driving many years now.

 I have pleaded many times for them to have the big $$$ cars shipped by flatbed.  That's the better choice!

[SC38dls]

When I was on leave while stationed in Germany 4 of us went to Monte Carlo for the Grand Prix race. We came out of the casino and parked on the street was a beautiful late 40’s early 50’s Bentley. I joked around and said ok who has the keys because I’m driving. An older gentleman and his wife spoke up and said “I do” and he threw me the keys!  I was more than surprised but still asked if he was serious. My buddies got into the back with his wife and he got in the front with me. We took a tour of the F1 circuit and had a ball talking to these two very nice people. I will never forget how nice they were trusting 4 GI’s with their car and their lives. 
dave s 

Edited April 13, 2022 by SC38dls (see edit history)

[Steve_Mack_CT]

Back in the day I used to trade off with a buddy regularly, his immaculate 79 Z28 and my fancy 76 Chevy shortbed stepside, also immaculate.  Never had a problem, but we were both known to baby our stuff.  In thinking about this I wouldn't do that with most pals and certainly not strangers. 

 

I would let a fellow hobbyist drive one of my cars if they want to.  A Mercedes SL friend is considering adding an A to his garage so I expect to be showing him how to drive mine soon.

[West Peterson]

I have no problem loaning a car to a good friend. In fact, I loaned my 1940 Packard to a friend who wanted a car to drive on the CCCA CARavan in Iowa a few years ago. I did not participate. He trailered the car there and back, drove it about a thousand miles during the week.

 

As far as renting or loaning to a perfect stranger.... That would never cross my mind.

[Brass is Best]

What could possibly go wrong with this...

[Bill Stoneberg]

On 4/8/2022 at 2:13 PM, The 55er said:

"You have driven a stick before, right?"

You have driven a 3 on the tree before, right  "

[Brass is Best]

You know how to retard timing and tickle the carb before cranking right?

[Larry Schramm]

2 hours ago, Brass is Best said:

You know how to retard timing and tickle the carb before cranking right?

 

I do and almost all of my close car friends.

[Brass is Best]

1 hour ago, Larry Schramm said:

 

I do and almost all of my close car friends.

You are a good man Larry!

[Larry Schramm]

1 minute ago, Brass is Best said:

You are a good man Larry!

Depends on who you talk to.

[Swear57]

Good fences make good neighbors. No way in hell would I loan or rent one of my cars or trucks to a friend let a loan a stranger.

[Brass is Best]

17 hours ago, Larry Schramm said:

Depends on who you talk to.

That makes two of us.