Need input from members- please look inside.

[TitoJones]

Guys/Gals-

When you see an amazing car at a show, track, or magazine what key pieces of info do you want to know about the car?
I'm trying to see what key elements people want to know about upon looking at the car for the first time- ie Engine type, displacement, year of car, model, trans type, color of paint, suspension options, builder, etc.

If you took at look at Stielow's Camaro X what would you ask about first?

I will revel why I'm looking for this info after we get a few responses.

Tyler

[69Nova]

If I saw a car at a track I'd probly ask about the model and year(if I dont know what it is) then the chassis and drive train. And what type of events that cars was built for.

At a show I'd probly ask who built it, how long it took to build .

[ullose2]

The first things I always want to know are what kind of numbers did/can the car put down. Be it dragstrip, skidpad, slalom, etc. I mainly want to know if it can walk the walk. Then from that point questions about suspension and engine mods as well as who built it come to mind. Thats just me though.


Heath

[Steve Chryssos]

Manual or Automatic

[TitoJones]

Manual or Automatic

You selfish *******.

Tyler

[Tom Welch]

When I look at first Gen F-bodies in any situation, I am intersted in the following info. Performance numbers, any relevant performance info about the car. I also want to know what was done to the car to achieve said performance, and how it was done. I prefer the do it yourself type of build, since this is how I'm doing it. The suspension, tire and wheel combo, brake system, etc. I really look hard for the "nuts and bolts" about how and what the car has had done to it. The bodywork and paint, then interior. I am very critical of my own stuff so I am critical of everything out there, at least to myself. I want to know it all, I never will but thats what I seek.

[Steve1968LS2]

Engine, trans, suspension, chassis in that order unless I don't know the year/model then that would be first.

[TitoJones]

Hmm. This is getting some good responses that are making me re-think how I relay the info to the casual on-looker.

Imagine the owner not being present with the car, and you can still get key bits of info- but nothing too detailed. Example would be if you wanted to know the wheel combo, make, model, size, backspacing, and tire sizing, but I could only fit the bare minimum:


HRE C21 18x8.5F/18x11R

vs

HRE Performance C21 wheels, 18x8.5" with 5.645" of Backspacing, Grey centers, Michelin Pilot Cup 245/35/YR/18

Would this be acceptable at a first glance? Most of you know exactly what the above text means.

Another example would be engine size, type and displacement:

GM 427 LS7

vs

2006 General Motors 427 Cubic Inch LS7

Imagine a small postcard with bare essentail info on it, what is your main crietria? Try to keep it under 10 items if you can.

Here is my list:

1. Year, Make, and model.
2. Engine type and displacement
3. Trans type
4. Wheels/tires
5. Builder/Build date
6. Paint color
7. Chassis


Tyler

[Steve1968LS2]

If you don't know an LS7 is a GM engine then you have other issues.

Wheel brand if it's not on the wheel and people always want to know backspacing. The tire size is on the tire

Paint color and PAINT CODE if it's an OEM color..


Oh and the most important question....

Does it help you get chicks?


lol

[trapin]

Honestly....what attracts me at first are the wheels. If I see big wheels, then I know we might have a potential Pro-Touring candidate in our midst. I then check the motor, hoping for an LS engine. Next I look at the control arms, shocks, sway bar to see if there's any g-machine goodies in there. Next up is interior, I love custom interiors. I finally end my viewing session by investigating what design or parts ideas I can steal for my car. If the owners around I'll throw a shout out to him. Then I go merrily on my way.

[Bill Howell]

Usually it is the hot chick in the car that catches my attention first, but then, I may be on the wrong page here.....

Seriously, I look at paint, fit and finish first, then wheels are a close second.

[BA.]

As I try to put myself into the "wow!" frame of mind, I think of two particular cars in recent times. Penny and Ring Bro's Mustang.
I can still feel that feeling, the impact that each car has.

After I get over the wow factor.....

1. Who's car is that? (Builder/Owner)
2. Basic engine stats (size, Make, power...details later)
3. Paint (who made it - color name)
4. Wheels
5. Performance stats
6. Interior pieces (designer or aftermarket parts/seats)

Like Tony said above, at a track, the order changes a bit!

I like the shorter methods of data. Details can be found in other ways or at a later time.

[monza]

The basics, model, year and pedigree? (to confirm my guess)
Engine and other performance parts?
If its local.. Who owns that?
Who did the body work and paint? (if it is tight and right... but thats why I'm looking)

[HEMIDAYTONA]

1 paint/body fit/finish
2 stance/wheel/tire
3 fitment of wheels/tires
4 how detailed the car is

[hectore3]

1. Corner weights
2. Front/Rear weight distribution
3. braking systems OEM or aftermarket. And if aftermarket availability or replacement parts
4. Cost options for build
5. Unique features that set it apart from other builders. Like carbon fiber driveshafts,hoods or independent rear end conversion etc.
6. details like panel gaps and general workmanship and attention to detail.

Just a few things I would ask if I were spending the kind of money I see sunk into high end rides.

[MrQuick]

1) stance
2) suspension type/construction
3) under hood blending
4) wiring
5) fit and finish
6) overall styling (shoes match the dress)

When I first saw Bob's Cuda at SEMA I was under it most of the time.

[65protourgto]

Avg hp and tq, 1/4mile, skidpad( if its a pro touring caror a car thats meant to go around corners), engine size, whats been done to the motor, trans, rearend, chassis, body mods, fit and finish, etc

[David Sloan]

1.Stance= it brings me to the car
2.Paint/body fit/ finish= keeps me there long enough to see if its a player or a slayer
3.Suspension/Brakes= if its good then i'am crawing on the ground to see what has been done under the car.
4. wiring=you can tell alot about a build by the wiring.
5. how clean it is under the hood=Did they plan it or did they just put parts on it.

[BonzoHansen]

Man, for me, it is really hard to say. The car often leads me in a direction. Is it a restoration? Is it modified? Is it an uncommon car (a Corvair, a Cougar, etc.)? Does it have any cool details? Often I am looking for ideas and lessons learned. What I basically look at, in no particular order….

-Year/Make/Model
-How long have you owned it?
-Who painted it, what color is it, paint codes/details.
-Did you do the work – And I do not look down on ‘checkbook cars’ if the owner is cool & knows his car. I’m no elitist.
-How long did the process take? If applicable, what shop, how long. I never ask $$ unless it is brought up
-Engine - EFI – almost always peaks my curiosity. How? Pitfalls? I’m also more interested in cool details and oddball combos.
-Trans – Looking for upgrades. How? Pitfalls?
-Brakes/Suspension/Wheels/Tires
-Custom work – interior, AC, whatever. I see something cool & out of the norm, I gotta know.

Then there are the cars that lead me down the wrong path. They make me ask questions in my head like “What the hell is that? Is that a block of wood screwed to your inner fender? Who spray painted your v-belts?”. But I don’t ask, of course. Well, those are actual questions I have asked co-horst at cruises this year, but not the owners. LOL.

[69Nova]

I will revel why I'm looking for this info after we get a few responses.

Are you ready to revel anything yet????