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Journal: Rain or Snow: Drive It or Garage It?

Rain or Snow: Drive It or Garage It?

By Petrolicious Productions
January 15, 2013
20 comments

For most of us at Petrolicious, we rarely have to make the choice of whether to take our vintage cars out in inclement weather—the sunny Southern California skies make the choice for us.

Here’s how Josh Clason, our in-house filmmaker, answers the question:

“Drive it! I have no problem driving my BMW 2002 rain or shine. The only thing that stops me is when I’m driving in a location that puts salt on the road for snow and ice, otherwise it’s business as usual.”

– – –

Now we want to hear from the rest of you.

Rain or snow: drive it or garage it?

Photo Sources: 1, 2

Tags Drive it or Garage it/ Question/ Rain or Snow
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Joshua Seidenberg
Joshua Seidenberg
7 years ago

As long as there is no ice on the roads, I drive 365. RWD in CO with ice is a bad thing with UH performance tires.

0
Stephan O. Auer
Stephan O. Auer
11 years ago

first prepare it then drive it and you have really fun…

1
Craig Pike
Craig Pike
11 years ago

Don’t sell yourself short! You get some mildly crappy weather in SoCal! But don’t let that stop you. This beautiful 1950 GMC braved the rain at the Grand National Roadster Show, so I snagged a long exposure shot-in-the-dark. The raindrops on the wax made it shine-shine! The color is Pavo Purple from HOC.

2
moltimedia
moltimedia
11 years ago

Drive them!! They should enjoy the snow just as much as we do! Only thing is in the Netherlands the road authorities like to salt the roads. Intensive and in a heavy way. But back roads are free of that. So the ’77 Ford LTD Country Squire can hang out its tail 😉 And because of the automatic it is very easy to navigate. Problem is that the covers of the headlights sometimes freeze up… 🙁
My ’60 VW Buggy also gets a spin, a shorter one with no heating whatsoever…

0
Yuriy Manchik
Yuriy Manchik
11 years ago

I’m in Seattle, and I drive my 2002 almost everyday. Just wish my wipers worked a bit better!

0
David Di Veccana
David Di Veccana
11 years ago

Of course you drive it!

4 ice tyres and off you go!

0
Aaron Cleverley
Aaron Cleverley
11 years ago

I drive my datsun roadster as mush as possible but I avoid the snow if I can. Mostly because the heater doesn’t work, the wipers are almost useless and I don’t want someone hitting me but the car is too much fun to drive to leave it alone all winter. Plus my subaru loves the snow so it’s a trade off.

0
Michael Gross
Michael Gross
11 years ago

Definitely driving it !
[url=”https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151282271639994&set=vb.617309993&type=3&theater”]Oval beetle snowfun [/url]

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Afshin Behnia
Afshin Behnia
11 years ago
Reply to  Michael Gross

Lovely photo and video! Thanks for sharing.

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Roy Damesandhotrods
Roy Damesandhotrods
11 years ago

When I was in Portland it was the VW Type 3 or walk. I had great laugh when everyone that laughed at me for driving a 30+ year old VW got their 4wds stuck in the snow. They looked great in my rear view mirror.

0
Jim Bair
Jim Bair
11 years ago

I realize driving a vintage car as your only daily driver is different than having vintage cars as hobby/fun/extra cars. My older cars are hobby cars, but I still say “drive ’em year ’round” as much as possible. Here in Colorado we get our fair share of snow and gravel on the roads, but there are still plenty of clear and dry winter days to get out and keep the cars warmed up and exercised. It’s better for these cars to not “hibernate” for long periods of time, and better for the owner/driver’s, too. 🙂

Same idea in the summer – think of the rally events (Colorado Grande, etc.) where some very rare, very valuable cars are driven 1,000 miles in a week, ending up covered in mud and dirt and who knows what they run into. I bet those driver’s are smiling.

Jim

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Afshin Behnia
Afshin Behnia
11 years ago

I drove the Giulia SS through heavy rain and frost in the Targa California. Even woke up one morning to find it covered in ice from the night before (see photo attached).

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Paul Thompson
Paul Thompson
11 years ago

You got to drive it, I get the Volvo Amazon out in the snow. It’s what they were made for.

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Scott Kim
Scott Kim
11 years ago

drive it! unless it is snowing or zombies (drive a truck instead)

0
Adam Holter
Adam Holter
11 years ago

Drive it! My DD is a ’68 Dodge Dart 270, and it sees all manner of bad weather. I put a pair of 27×8.5×14 General Grabber AT2s on the back for winter use, and I couldn’t be happier. Handles snow better than the FWD econoboxes I used to drive, to boot. Road salt? Yeah, it’s a pain. But I wash the car once a week no matter how warm or cold it is, so I’m not too worried about it rusting out in the near future.

After all, isn’t the greatest honor you can bestow on a car to drive it like its meant to be driven? I contend that I respect my car more by using it and putting it through its paces in snow and sleet and whatnot than the guy who parks his classic driver all winter long.

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Rex
Rex
11 years ago
Reply to  Adam Holter

Well said! Would love to see some photos of your Dart.

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Adam Holter
Adam Holter
11 years ago
Reply to  Rex

Sure! Here’s my blog, there some pics of the ol’ girl throughout.

365daysofdart.blogspot.com/

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Josh Clason
Josh Clason
11 years ago
Reply to  Adam Holter

Nice ride.

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Rex
Rex
11 years ago

Well, if it makes it easier to get the car sideways, why not? 😉

0
Zippy Gordon
Zippy Gordon
11 years ago

Drive it, of course!

0

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