Going against the grain? What do you think?

I’m thinking about bringing the 65E to a small car show this weekend. It is not a big-time Concours d’Arrogance. It is not a serious round of competitive car washing. I doubt any q-tips will be harmed. It is just a little show put on by my local NAPA store, Stilly Auto Parts. (“Stilly” is short for “Stillaguamish” the name of the river valley we sit in… say it three times fast and you’ll understand why everyone shortens it to “stilly” from “stil-la-gu-wa-mish”!) The staff there are true “car people” and are very helpful. Despite the fact that several discount chains inhabit the valley, I always go to the NAPA first. Great people, so I’m happy to support them by showing my car there, despite my normal aversion to car shows.

So, by “going against the grain” I was thinking of specifically NOT washing my car before I brought it there. Mind you, it is not looking as bug-splattered as it does in the photo above, it still wears it’s Monte Shelton rally tag decal, and a nice collection of road grime. The last time I washed it was the brief hose-down at the end of the rally.

There is a good chance that it will be the ONLY non-American car at this show. But I’m thinking that showing up looking a little saddleworn might lend it some gravitas… a bit of street-cred. On the flip side though, some folks might see this as “slumming” or just being disrespectful.

Do you have an opinion? I’m all ears.

15 thoughts on “Going against the grain? What do you think?”

  3. but you’d have a good story with the rally decals still on it… but probably upset more people I guess… as it is a car show… have fun

    Jerome

  4. I vote for the, rode hard and put away wet, aesthetic.

    We have no NAPA stores around here. But they were a staple in upstate NY. Always staffed by people who knew cars and usually had what you needed.

  5. Well… I got home pretty late last night after a stop at a pub … for a beer… which turned out to be two beers and a nice dinner… with John “Mad Dog” Morrow and his lovely S.O. This means I had no time to wash the car anyway!

    I did pull the wrapper off it and other than a couple of bugs, and dirty glass, It looked pretty good! A bit of road grime on the nose and lower rocker panels, which I left. Drove it over to the NAPA, and parked it, dusted it off, sprayed a bit of glass cleaner and left it there. Had to walk over to the hardware store and get some paint for the deck. Sue came and picked me up and now I’m out back playing amateur carpenter and paint crew supervisor. I’ll head back over there later this afternoon.

    Thanks for the help guys. I’ll post photos later. (BTW, I’m NOT the only English car there, but you’ll NEVER guess what the other one is!

  6. Riley Elf? Wolseley Hornet?

    we had a Riley Elf years ago when I was growing up …. bit of a laugh – Mini with a boot! (or trunk to you guys)

    Jerome

  9. and of course Hillman Hunter…. another not so great car … a Aunt of mine survived rolling one when I was younger and another person in the family did a cartoon of the upside down car with the words… ‘Hawker Hunters fly…. Hillman Hunters don’t!’ …

    Jerome

Comments are closed.