Photography by David S. Wallens
Keep the car in the garage, and just you get to enjoy it.
Take the car to an event, and others can enjoy it, too.
The highlight from taking our E46 M3 to a recent cars and coffee?
Seeing a friend’s reaction: “Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, you bought the M3!! Please take my photo with it!!”
Click.
The event was again hosted by Not Another Film Lab, an Orlando shop that, yes, processes film.
The location was Orlando’s Ivanhoe Village, so kind of in the middle of things.
And the foot traffic that evening? Constant. Lots of questions, lots of comments, lots of people pausing to aim their camera at it.
We tend to focus on the driving aspect here at GRM, but maybe just take your car somewhere so you can let others take it in?
Bonus points for your friend being pretty. 
I drive a 1986 M535i, and it seems like every couple weeks or so someone will come up to me in a parking lot and ask if they can take pictures. They're almost always young (age 30 down to teenage) and interestingly it seems that more females are interested than males.
I’m happy to photograph someone with the cars–or even just watch a friend take the photos. If it helps make someone’s day, than why not?
I had an old car that became a "pop up" car show just by driving it around. Filmed on the highway, filmed stuck in traffic. Thumbs-up from scruffy Harley riders, pictures, questions and answers at gas stations, etc. I wasn't nearly extroverted enough to be comfortable with all that, but I always smiled and talked to the best of my ability.
I was told by an owner of a Janus motorcycle that his experience is largely the same when he rides. Too bad...I really like those neo-retro bikes.
In reply to Coniglio Rampante :
Yeah, know that drill. Know what car attracted more attention than expected? Our ’75 Pontiac wagon.
If nothing else, this thread proves that I should pick up some more Tri-X.
In reply to David S. Wallens :
I don't doubt that at all. Years ago, I saw a crowd of people, myself included, form around an Olds Vista Cruiser station wagon. And the Boomer/Gen X stories were flowing. It was funny that the car was next to a twin-turbo Lambo Gallardo that suddenly received little attention. One car was just more relatable to the masses than the other, I suppose.
In reply to Colin Wood :
Totally.
Although, and I mean to mention earlier, these black and white photos were shot with Kodak T-Max 3200. The color photos were taken with CineStill 800T.
Oh, and I love how her fingers are curled around the door handle.
She was behind the wheel a few seconds later.
This is a good reminder that a car can certainly make someone's day.
My Bugeye Sprite is part of 100's of people's vacation pictures. The three seasons I drive the car are the three that the county is full of tourists. I can drive from St Pete Bch up to Clearwater Beach and have people hanging out a car window to get the shot, little kids tugging on their dad's arm and pointing, or people taking a picture when its parked at a restaurant.
I tell my wife the car is a smile donor. I've doomed many a 10 year old kid to the life of being a car enthusiast by letting them sit in it so mom or dad can get a pic.
My other car that gets attention is my E39 528iT. Its a lot smaller group of people but they go out of their way to get my attention so I see the thumbs up. I had a guy in a newer Benz wagon pull up next to me and honk. We had our own little German Long Roof Car Club meeting right there at the light.
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