I'm in tears... I am selling my Chevelle

[R67Chevelle]

Well, after owning my Chevelle for the last 22 years, I am in a financial mess and selling the Chevelle. Actually my brother and my father are kind of arguing over who's going to get it... This was my 1st Hot Rod as well as my first car. I have so many memories and experiences in that car...

I don't drink (just choose not too)or smoke anymore and I feel like someone I truly loved just died... I am so upset about the economy. I was a Mortgage Banker for the past 18 years. I could have made alot more money in the past, but when you have morals and a consience and really want to help people instead just doing insane loans that someone will probably shoot you later for..

I am not trying to make excuses but last year I spent close to $50K on my oldest son's rehab and moved (dropped everything packed and left) from Las Vegas to save my kids from the Meth, gang and gambling problems last year in all cost me over $150K

It really saddens me that politicians, banks, hedge funds, speculators ect. just don't give a damn about no one but them flipping selves and feed the pig of greed and now we all are paying the price...

Believe me I am no saint. Now I am starting almost all over again (at almost 40) in the work force and I have never felt such rejection like I have the last 6 months. I have seen it all in the Mortgage business and I am glad to be getting out but I have never in my life time interview with such incompitent bozos in my entire life, I am in shock....

I don't know why I am trying to explain this...Tears are flowing.... I swore to myself I would never do this... The chevelle has been sitting for the past 11 years. I just am having a problem selling this to my brother or my father (eventhough I love them both dearly) and having see the car belonging to them and in their garage and not mine.....

I really want all you guys know that I have been reading and posting on Lateral-g since almost almost the beginning and I can honestly say this is the best dang web site and forum out there (I am not BSing either) This board reekes humility and just a great bunch of guys here....

Well I guess for now my hot rod dreams are shattered and broken for I don't know how long.... I am having a hard time coming to terms with the car and finances... At least my kids are alive and doing well now, eventhough my wife and I have had a real hard time over the past 18 months with all the emotions and drama...

I am sorry guys to be spilling my guts here... Some of my past posts were optimistic but reality is now here.... My wife won't read this post (I hope not).... shes a little upset I am doing this... She knew when we got married in 1989 that my marriage to my chevelle was one she could not compete with but accepted this mistress in our marriage....:thumbsup: I guess the marriage outlasted the chevelle....:rolleyes:

Well thanks guys... I will still read and be a part of the board here and there... it won't be quite the same but at least I can see all your guyses cars evolving and be glad to see all you guys having a blast and enjoying the hobby... that really does give me joy and hope for the future....:hail:

Blessings,:lateral:
Alan


I don't have the heart right now for spell check (its hard enough to write this once, and not have to re-read again, so if there are some errors, cut me a little slack..:thumbsup:

[Streetking]

Alan, family comes first no matter what and it seems you know what you need to do. You don't need to have a car to be here, just the passion we all have..

good luck man,

SW

[camcojb]

I'm sorry Alan, that sucks. But, take care of family and business, and you will likely be able to do the car thing again in the future.

Is there a chance since it appears that it's going to a family member, for you to buy it back when you get back on your feet?

Jody

[R67Chevelle]

OOOOHHHH boy... I was really wrong... wife saw the post somehow and now she's pissed... Never thought I would see the day that my wife would tell me that I have to keepthe car or else...She says sell her car first... yea right... Sell the Odyssey and put 6 into the chevelle at 11 MPG's.... aint solving the problem, but wow I under estimated my wife, thats for sure...:_paranoid

I think I am going to push to sell it anyway... CAMCOJB.... yea I maybe able... My condition for my dad or my brother would be they can't sell it unless I get it first....

Gosh I am having a roller coaster night to night....

Thanks guys...

Blessings,
ALAN

[Vegas69]

I'm sorry Alan, that sucks. But, take care of family and business, and you will likely be able to do the car thing again in the future.

Is there a chance since it appears that it's going to a family member, for you to buy it back when you get back on your feet?

Jody

My first thoughts as well. Good luck to you. Vegas will beat up the best of them.

[mazspeed]

Hey Alan, I hear you. I may have to sell my car for the same sort of reasons, but it sounds like you have a really cool wife who values your hard work and happiness above all else. That is very rare. But here is the thing. It's just a piece of metal. I will be sad if I sell my car, but I have my wife, my family and our health, above all else comes first. That's the important part. My wife doesn't want me to sell mine either, and I love her even more for it. Sounds like you can't be too bad off with a supportive family like that. We should all be so lucky. You will get another car in time. 40 is not old. :thumbsup:

[XcYZ]

Sorry to hear that, Alan. Taking care of family is the right thing to do.

The Chevelle will be back once you get all the kinks worked out.

[Mecom Racer]

In the end, nothing matters but your family. Especially your kids. You did the right thing to reach out to your children. A car is a piece of metal, rubber and glass. You can't take it with you when you die...

I sold my car a year and a half ago and I still come into this forum because I share a bond with the people here, not their cars.

Take a deep breath, relax, review your accomplishments and love you have for your family and their love for you, not your possessions. Maybe you'll find a way to keep your car but know that if you do have to sell it, you can get something else another day. That's what keeps me going.

[Buick Motorsports]

Alan, the truest measure of a man or human being for that matter, is that they will put their loved ones ahead of all else. Whether it be physically, financially or emotionally.

Be it the the hardest choice, the selling of any property that is not a "need" is the right choice. I believe in karma..the choices you make now, will either reward or haunt you. You are making the choice that will bring future rewards. It is fantastic that you have a spouse that understands what your car means to you. She will be right beside you when you reacquire your Chevelle or another vehicle when you get back on your feet.

Hold your head high, take pride in your ethical appraoch to business and your moral approach to life. There are too few people in the world like you.

As others have said, we are a community...we support you.

Regards, Jason

[whytry]

Alan,

Like others have said, the only thing that truly matter at the end of the day is your family. I have almost a 2 yr old and anothe baby boy coming in July and I would do anything for them and my wife. I think it shows how much your family means to you by just up and moving and now selling "your baby" for the good of the family. You mentioned the condition to your dad and brother of if they were going to sell it you get 1st shot, that's the way to do it. Once you get everything settled with your family and son, you will be more focused than ever to get that Chevelle or start a new project..

Good luck and keep your head up!

[AM.MSCL]

Fully understand your position and the best of luck and choices for you family is what matters most.

May I suggest in case you have not thought of this already. Sell the car to your dad or brother with a couple of clauses attached.
1. Once you get back on your family back on stable ground financially you have the right to buy the car back at the same price they paid you for it.
2. In the case that some they run in to an issue that they need to sell it you and/or the other that did not buy have 1st right of refusal to buy it.
3. In case their time comes to an end the car must goes back to you.

I would be willing to live with seeing it in their garage knowing that someday I have the ability to get the car back. Instead of seeing it go away and never knowing that I dont.

[68MaroSam]

You know when I was down on money. I told myself I could just park the car in my garage. It isn't costing me anything there, only a parking spot. My truck wouldn't fit in it then anyway. Then after I was able to get money for the car. I started working on it again. Maybe that is an option for you. Sell the wifes car. Get something cheaper, gas efficient and then when the money catches up. Start working on the Chevelle again. Just an option. Now my money is way better situation and I have been working on my car for the past 2 years like never before. Whatever you do. I wish you the best of luck. I think you are doing a great thing taking care of family first. Good luck.

[byndbad914]

http://www.break.com/index/how-we-got-into-the-subprime-mess.html

hope you can find humor in that somehow... a friend that is a mortgage banker here in CO posted that on a different forum. I agree - I cannot believe that not only were large banks allowed to make loans that were known (common sense) to be highly volatile loans, but then the gov't will step in with our tax dollars and secure those loans up to $29 Billion to bail THEM out. Unreal. And the fact that they wrapped those notes up into tidy investment portfolios, gave them slick names and then both of the major "ratings" houses rated that junk debt A grade (!!!!BULL****!!!!) and somebody isn't going to jail is beyond me.

Most of the world blames the U.S. for the economy due to these loans. Not too long ago I even saw an official of New Zealand directly blaming the US for their slowing economy and specifically the sub-prime farce. Look at our dollar for instance. We really F'd up here.

That said... stick with it. I damn near destroyed myself financially just a few years ago trying my own business. IF it had worked, well, it would have been great and a liberating environment, but it didn't and now I am back workin' for the man hahaha. It sucked and I was VERY delusional at one point and really was considering if it was really worth the fight on a day to day basis, but it is and everything works out. I am King of one step up and two steps back... my friends even refer to the "Anderson Luck Factor" which = 10, since about 1989 like your marriage (I was a senior in High School and my friend made that up then. It stuck) That means if there is a 10% chance of failure, I somehow have a 10% * 10 = 100% guaranteed chance of failure. I have just sorta learned to live with it :faint:

I even went to biz school, analyzed the biz plan etc etc and it was "certain" to work out and was such a hit. Well, it lasted about a year and liked to have killed me is the short answer.

[ProTouring442]

I don't know you, but I understand where you are coming from. As for starting over at 40, that can be a blessing instead of a curse. After all, you are much more mature and possess a greater amount of wisdom than you did the last time you started out. Here's a little tale for you:

A man who was over 60 was once offered $200K for his gas station/restaurant/hotel business, but he turned it down. He just wasn't ready to retire yet. Only a few years later though he found himself broke as the state had bypassed his establishment with a new interstate highway. Now, at 65 years old, he found he had to start over again.

Many men would have sat and cried, and this one might have done so as well, but he decided he wasn't going to give up. He knew where his strength lay, and so he set out to change his fortunes. He packed what he knew into his car, and set out to try and sell his idea. Many times he even slept in the car, as he didn't have enough money to get a hotel. Still, he pushed on.

In inly a few years, this man had built the largest franchise organization of its type in the world. On TV we saw him over and over, plugging his new organization, and we loved his product.

The man? Col. Sanders, and the product was Kentucky Fried Chicken. It's never too late to start over, and many times it can be the best thing that ever happened to us.

Shiny Side Up!
Bill

[tones2SS]

Alan, like the others on this forum have said, at least you have family and health. I know it is tough, but you can ALWAYS buy another car down the line sometime. BEST OF LUCK!!!

[67velle]

Alan, keep your head up...........family first.:yes: As you work through this keep the interest up by hanging out on lat G. This is a great way to stand back and see what you want to build with more knowledge than ever!!!! You have already learned so much about your wife. I have had to sell things before, for the best of the family, when we got back on our feet and did another car it was extra special. Now we go for ice cream, being sure not to take this time for granted.:thumbsup: TODD 67velle:lateral:

[ZMAN1969]

Alan - Kudos to you and your sacrifices. your wifes offer was super. you made a good choice as the kids need your help! after being married for 27 years and my wife raised our 3 kids and did a great job - I am so thankful for her super strength. if your car goes to your dad or brother you know it aint far. One of my best friends went through a divorce and lost all his cars and ultimatly his life. It was horrible watching the down hill slide - I always thougt he'd bounce back. His family and I are still trying to hold it together, he made some bad choices and we all miss him. be thankful for what you have as its just a car, and being in the family you know its not gone. hang in there :cheers:

[R67Chevelle]

Sorry I have not given the latest... All of the posts have been such an encouragement and I never anticipated any of this. My wife has been insistent on me waiting and giving things about another month or so before doing anything. I have mostly worked for myself for the past 17 years and its hard to think about working for someone else. I am so suprised in the job market of the stupid games played by people. I got to stop complaining now and get on the bull and ride the dang thing...

All the encouragement and advice have been taken and will be used. :thumbsup:

Blessings,
ALAN
:lateral:

[pavell]

cars can always be replaced, family members cannot.

family comes first. you sir have your priorities straight.

sometimes you have to do what you have to do, and in the end you and i we are all gearhead and love our cars. but in the end its still just a piece of sheetmetal..