Heck yes! My wife is always on me about spending on my car. I told her I was a car junkie before we were married I guess she believes me now. She leaves me alone for the most part. I think she realizes Ill never change. And to be truthful If she ever gave me an ultimatum her or the hobby. Im fairly certain I would be divorced!
Have you ever taken her to a car event like a show or a drag race etc... That may give her some options, she may not like working on them, but she might like looking. Thats how I got mine to let up a little she likes the cruise in shows. She sees all the people and cars and kinda understands where im coming from.

 

Just ask yourself;

Is she...

• Attractive
  
• Feminine
  
• Cleans up nicely
  
• Can take her in public
  
  (Be careful here as there are those that you can dress up but cannot take out in public)
  
  
• Can cook
  
• Keep house
  
• Do you love her

If yes to the majority of questions...get rid of the car.

If no to the majority of questions...get rid of her...buy your car a new 671 and find a biker girl for company... :thumbup:

 

A little advise from someone that has been married for almost 30 years.

Keep it a hobby, not your life! My wife is not into cars, like I am. She knew I was into them when we met. She wanted "quality time", so I spent time with her doing things, and time with my cars. I included her in some of my projects when I could. I even had her going to junk yards looking for parts for me. I would tell her that I needed a "Left side mirror", and she would go get me one. It probably wasn't exactly what I would have gotten, but made it work. I have learned to ask her opinion on some things, like colors. On one weekend a couple of years ago, we went to all of the car dealers looking for the "Right Color of Blue" for one of my projects. We have gone to Carlisle a couple of times over the years for one of their shows. We make a big weekend out of it. It isn't just the cars, it's "our time", away from everything at home. At one point in our marriage, I even got into her hobby with her at the time, doing hook rugs. Not very "manly", but she thought alot of our time together, and I found that I enjoyed it too.

Now, after almost 30 years together, I can do most anything that I want to with my cars, with very few arguements from her. The kids are grown, and moved out, so it's just the two of us. Over the years, there were several times that the cars had to sit while the kids took priority. Now I work on my cars when I can, but still spend time with her. I make it a rule to not spend all of my nights in the garage. We sit and watch TV together in the evenings, while I play on this 'puter. My weekends are basically mine during the days, as long as I get the stuff done that she wants done.

Keep in mind. That '69 Camaro, or what ever you have, will be with you until you get tired of it. Then you will find something else to interest you. Marriage is supposed to be a life long commitment. It does take some work, and time to make it work. On those cold nights between the projects, it sure is nice to have something warm and soft to cuddle with.

Aaron

 

Every one need's a hobby...

I tried to involve my wife in my hobby..she didn't really take to it. You know the rust in your teeth and grime under the nails wasn't her thing. So we bought bikes and go on road trips together. Summer time is split by car cruisin's and road trips on the bikes. I sold my chopper and bought a 49 Ford 2dr sedan...that's when is all began. Now my wife and I have cruisers and enjoy a few hundred miles of riding each weekend, don't leave much time for my projects in the summer but then there is always the winter down time!! Do yourself a favor and DON'T become a collector!!!


Tazz

 

My wife is not a car person, but does support my habit. She knew what she was getting into, although she probably didn't realize that I wouldn't grow out of it. She has stuck with me for 30 years now, so I guess she is happy enough with what I do. We like to travel in our motorhome for vacations, so wherever we go, I try and throw in a car related side trip. she understands this....we have been to the Indy Nationals a couple of times. She enjoys that. She is not much on the car shows and swap meets, though.

Hey, it keeps you at home, you could be out at the bars, or carousing with wild women..........................Hmmmm, new hobby.

 

:thumbup:
hi my dear,

in fact i am from the middle east and not facing any problem with my
wife, actually i am a banker, on the other hand i've got a special
workshop and doing many hobbies
i am professional fiber glass boats builder, cars boats painter, custom painter mechanic, boats drag racer, water skier, diver and photographer..
my wife is so proud of me..i am so busy person.. but when i do any job
or paint any car or boat i buy a nice gift for my wife.. go out with her take care of my kids, but some times i feel that i am guilty as she some times wait
for me..and prepare the dinner for me and once i reached home late in the
night..i find her sleeping while the food is still next to her...as she cannot
eat unless i come home..that is really bad..???

while i am typing you this msg..
the general manger knocked my door to give me a closed envelope
wow its the bonus.. :thumbup: i promised my doughter to buy her
a new mobile... let me call her now...

i must invite my wife for a party..

wish u mery x mas and happy new year in advance

ga

 

I've always tried to perform the "house stuff" and maybe a couple "honey do's" before the "car stuff". That way I feel I've earned my hobby time. With the kids on their own, my wife has her hobbies and I have mine, but we try to have together time.

Like Poncho said, I'm not out in bars or chasing wild women. She knows I'm in the garage mumbling four letter words over the latest skinned knuckle or broken bolt.

 

My wife is great. She is NOT a car person either BUT, she realizes there are a great many other things out there that I could be spending my time and money on... Having a hobby (or 2) that keeps me grounded at home and in the shop keeps her off my back. I do not go to the titty bars or spend money on wine and song or golf. When I am out in the shop she knows where I'm at, what I'm doing and "mostly" what I'm spending my money on. She calls the shop her "invisible fence" :thumbup:
You could be doing much worse and all you need to do is get your wife to look at it from that viewpoint and things should get better...
Mark

 

My wife is not a car person either, but over the years she has come around, she has been to a few car shows with me, even went to the St. Ignace car show a few times. I own and work at a auto repair shop, so I spend 10+ hours a day here and then if time permits I spend some time working on my projects. Same thing as everybody else has said, its better to have my hands all over a car than a stripper at a topless bar. Don't forget the car will be there tomorrow, the wife may not. So do what is needed to make the marriage a classic and the rest will fall in line. When the kids come, spend the time with them, they grow up so fast.
How long have you been married?

Steve :welcome:

 

Hey, it keeps you at home, you could be out at the bars, or carousing with wild women..........................Hmmmm, new hobby.

I've always tried to perform the "house stuff" and maybe a couple "honey do's" before the "car stuff". That way I feel I've earned my hobby time. With the kids on their own, my wife has her hobbies and I have mine, but we try to have together time.

After 20 yrs+ SHe prefers that I'm in the garage or on the computer than in the bars. I too make sure those "do's and stuff" are done. I try to get her involved but she has no interest. She does have input as too paint scheme, as adtkart said, we've go to look at colors, I've showed her pictures that I found on the net of various colors to see what peaks her intersts. Only recently has she shown some interst in going to "Show'N'Shines".

poncho62, I'm trying to convince her to go with me to Barrie next year to the Canadian Nationals. :mwink:

 

Make time..

I've been through about 11 cars and still on the same wife after 17 years. I have found that Friday night is the time we set aside for "our time" we call it date night. No matter what comes up ....friday night we spend together. And try to never put a car or project in a situtation of you making a desicion of whats more important. Just my .02

 

I guess I struck gold. We have been together 7 years and she likes the hobby almost as much as I do. Our second date was a cruise in. She has been involved with my business and every year we go the the PRI show and while she isn't big on the business talk and deal making, she is always on the lookout for new business/hobby related parts and cool car related items. When we go to a cruise in, it's usually due to her suggesting and prompting. I consider myself very fortunate that we share a common hobby and she has opened me up to new hobbies as well.
I can honestly say that I have had 2 wonderful women in my life that shared my love of the hobby, one I let get away, this one I didn't!

 

I bought my 36 Ford Coupe in 1960, started dating my wife in 61 (Ford Coupe), married in 62 (Ford Coupe) and Honeymooned a few times, again taking the 36 Coupe. We celebrated our 40th anniversary by cruising in the 36 Coupe to Cherokee, NC for dinner and an evening of gambling. She has never been a car show person, but she has always been comfortable listening to the beating and banging from the garage/workshop as long as I quit at a reasonable bedtime hour for the neighbors. There were times I thought we needed to sell the coupe, but she has always been the one to say "Let's find the money some where else". Now that I am retired, she thanks my resto/building Bud for keeping me out of her hair!!

Yep, you gotta love a wife like mine. I know what ADTKART said and I'm sure he knows what I mean!!

Trees

 

Guess I'm lucky.
My wife would rather go to a cruse-in or a car show than out to eat or a movie.
Some weeks when out of town its not unusual for me to spend as much as 30 hours in the garage on the weekend and she never complains and encourages it.

Her idea of a car for herself is it must be a convertible and at least 300 hp.

Only time she really got pissed at me is when I said it was time to restore the judge ram Air1V. It was a convert and talk about a car that would run she would have driven that car all the time if I would have let her.
I had told her once I restored it, it would not be driven again and when I did sell it she didn't talk to me for a couple of days.

Kept her around for 33 years, so not ready to trade her in yet on a couple of 20 year olds.

 

Hey there everyone. Thanks for the replies. It's good to see others have had the ability to pursue their hobby even if their spouse isn't exactly into it. To answer the question from 1931 steve, we've only been married a short time...about 6 months. So, we haven't exactly acclimated to the point where we don't get into arguments over the stupid things yet. I really like the idea of taking a weekend trip. One day can be a car thing, the rest be something she wants. She doesn't have to want to work on the cars, but I'd just like for her to appreciate that it is important to me. What I also may try is to see if there are some local clubs that meet and whatnot. She may be interested in doing things with other folks and seeing that others actually work on cars as a hobby would be a good thing too.

 

wife doesn't get it

many people will give advice, but few of us will ever profit from it. (very old Greek saying ) and it can be taken both ways. Best thing to do is talk to someone like a counciler or mediator. Somewhere along the line you will both have to compromise. good luck , lew

 

Heres what I said just after a car show like hot rod tv or what ever.
In a sad voice I spoke of how working with my hands to create the car of my dreams envokes a certain passion in me I have never felt and to fulfill that dream means so very much to me .Then go on about how complete you feel and the satisfaction you recieve when doing it. That if unable to do so the emptieness. ok ok I will stop there. I think if you really show to her what it means to you she would let it go a lot more . In fact mine has even suggested that I marry the damn thing. Oh Oh here she comes gota go

 

To answer the question from 1931 steve, we've only been married a short time...about 6 months. So, we haven't exactly acclimated to the point where we don't get into arguments over the stupid things yet.

Give her time, if you have only been married for 6 months, the newness has not worn off yet. I say within 3 years she will be asking you to go to the garage and leave her alone,so she can do HER stuff. Good luck and keep building hot rods.

Steve :welcome:

 

hange in there

:thumbup: Well I guess I have one of the greatest wife ever , she never has said any thing about me going to car shows , swap meets , working on my cars or spending money on my projects,talking cars or watching car shows on TV. We have been married 46 years and are looking for many more . She tell her lady friends I sure could of been doing a lot worse on other things and being busy with cars she always knew where to find me .

 

ops.. i forgot to tell you something..

my wife support me in everything, she apply with me the fibre glass
material, and some time go to the fibre glass company to buy me
the material.

one day she been to fibre glass company and ask for 50 kg resin
20 matt no. 450, 20 white gel-cot and harden...then the secretary
said to my wife.. how do u know all these materials..my wife said
but i know how to apply all the materials :thumbup: ..

on 1998 i won the boat drag race championship..and suddenly
i say my wife waving for me with her hand and said congratulation
so i decided to buy a new bed room to remember this sweet memory

ga

 

my wife loves old cars,been going to drags for years, knows all engine parts, got it from me, but she want say that

 

I made sure the girls I dated knew how important it was to me. I had one girl that was a knock-out. I showed her a photo album from some car shows telling her about how much I loved old cars. She said she hated old cars. She couldn't understand why anyone would want one. Kicked her to the curb a week later.

My wife is cool with it. It helps that she's low maintenance. I remind her that my interest in cars keeps me out of the bars and away from loose women. I have no desire to drink or sit for hours watching ball games. She calls the garage my "playpen" because she knows where she can find me.

 

Pencil Holder

Hi,

I'm not exactly sure how I ended up marrying a girl that described a distributor cap as a "pencil-holder", but I'm sure glad I did.

We used to fight a little over cars in our "newlywed" years, and she was resentful a few times over the money I spent on hi-perf "improvements".

The fact of it all is that if ONE of us (her) didn't have a little common sense when it came to spending/saving money we'd still be living in a four-plex and working at a dead-end job for minimum wage.

My cars (68 Torino 351C, 75 Dart "tweaked" 318) got sold when we decided to go back to school ... and desperately needed the money. Yeah, I *****ed and moaned about it for a while ... but I knew it was the right thing to do.

Her grandpa had lost his license due to failing eyesight, etc and wanted to give all of the grandkids a little money to help them get started out in life. Knowing that I was a 'car nut', he offered her the choice of $1,000.00 OR his 1966 GMC 1/2 ton with 32,000 miles on the clock. I KNOW she wanted the cash, but she looked at me with my puppy-dog eyes and asked me if I'd like the truck ... Uh YES! ... and we became the proud owners in 1981.

We spent a little (~= $3500.00 or so) on paint and chrome in 1983, and constantly got complemented on how nice it looked. I always said that "some day" it was going to get a v8, A/T, PS and make it "go like hell" ... but she kept holding me off, saying that the old 250 6-banger and 3 on the tree were "just fine".

We drove that old truck for many years as a 2nd vehicle. We bought a brand new 1986 Ford Tempo when our oldest was just a couple of years old ... and we still have it.

The Tempo became our "2nd vehicle" , and the old truck got parked in 2002, when we finally bought something a "little newer / lot nicer". It's our 1998 Grand Prix GTP.

The old truck was getting REALLY rusty, and we even toyed with the idea of getting rid of it ... but just couldn't bring ourselves to do that. It was like one of the family. I had it parked at work, and theives were beginning to "part it out".

We became "empty-nesters" about this time last year, so my wife suggested that perhaps it was finally time to spend some time and money to fix it up. She asked me if I still wanted to "hot-rod" it.

"WOULD I ???!!! ... You mean you're OK with that?" I babbled excitedly!

"Yes, although I STILL think that 6-cylinder is just fine ... I know that you have always wanted to 'soup it up' <roll - eyes> , so I guess you've waited long enough."

God, I love this woman!

So yeah ... my advice is similar to what others have said. Give her (and your kids if/when you are blessed with them) what they need now ... and wait patiently for "your turn". Chances are that when that happens, you'll be in a better position financially ... and can afford to build it "your way". The bonus is that you'll have learned patience and won't be prone to making impulse decisions.

That's my $0.02 worth.

 

HAhahahahahahah! I drive a diesel VW Jetta now!

What that tell ya? :welcome:

 

My Wife finally gets it

I have been married to the same wonderful Lady for 21 years now and the kids (5) are all grown now. I have worked on cars since way before her and I said "I Do" Two years ago in Reno I decided to build a street rod to do the Tule instead of the Druel. When we got home I bought a 1947 Dodge 3 window coupe and let her pick the colors for the interior and exterior. Right now the Wood shop takes priority in finishing Christmas Presents but the day after Christmas starts my time with the Dodge. She is fine with that as long as I do my chores and help take care of the Grandkids now and then.