Re: [Chrysler300] chrysler 300 people:our shrinkingdemographic

["Richard Osborne" <richard@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Lee and All,

First of all, I am still in the "under 40 club" for a few more months. I agree with Lee that the Letter Cars are not treated with much recognition in our age group. I had a clear view of this fact last weekend at the Chrysler Classic in Columbus, OH. This is admittedly a drag race show, but I took the G coupe. I was really amazed at the ignorance that my Muscle Car buddies showed towards these cars. These are my freinds from around the country. Once they took the time to check out the car, they were, by their own words, very impressed with the engineering that went into the cars. These are guys who own Hemi Cuda's, Challengers, Road Runners... Also, I learned that a couple of them are still in the closet about these cars. They love them, but don't show it openly (turns out a freind from Indy bought the black G convert @ Barrett Jackson. NEVER would have guessed this). The reason for the open ignorance was varrying, but usually had to do with the fact that the cars are rarely seen because people rarely drive these cars to the shows. 

I disagree with the treatment towards me by older members in the club. My experience has been very welcoming. I have, however, heard that others have not felt welcomed, I guess I got lucky with a few select members initially who took me in, or maybe it's beacuse I always had a cooler full of beer in the back of the truck (before the G was finished). Also, I brought lawn chairs. Who goes to a car show without beer and lawn chairs?!?!?! I always thought these were required accessories.

Although I tried to do this G close to original appearance, I get upset that Mopar people are gaining a reputation for being purists for originality. I call this the Corvette syndrome. I got into Mopars because of the proven performance advantages. This means that the cars are to be driven, and driven hard. Grease pencil markings and date coded parts are nice for museums, but don't do anything to help go fast.

Finally Lee, when you come to Columbus this Fall for the Mopar Nats, look me up.

Best regards,

Richard Osborne


>>> "Lee Meyer" <js23rob@xxxxxxx> 06/15/05 8:44 PM >>>
Let me start out by letting everyone know I am all of 40 years old. I am
probably one of the youngest members of the club, or both clubs for that
matter. I am also very active in the mopar world. I attend many shows
around the country every year and I currently have no less than 5
restoration projects going on. 90% of all work is done here at my house
by me. I am mostly a musclecar guy but I do have a strong interest in
the fin cars as well. I am not a rich guy. This info is just to give you
a little info on my world only. I believe that I and others like me are
the future of the hobby, and I am disappointed. Here is why. 
All of these shows I attend, the musclecar thing is the main deal. Kinda
easy to understand really, probably the largest group of car enthusiasts
ever. Consisting of the baby boomers all the way to the gen-Xers, the
people in that group have dough and are willing to spend it, and there
are many more that have yet to approach the age of having enough
disposable income to buy cars and parts that will soon enough. 
It is very rare to see a 300 at a big show. One or two, here and there
and that is all. I have been to a few 300 club type events and I have
not exactly felt welcome. A few people talked to me but mostly I felt
like I was kinda not invited. Most of the folks were much older and kept
to themselves. It was like I walked into an old VFW hall. I am not
trying to be offensive, just being honest about how it was for me. Now
here is what I think would help. 
Many more of you people have to get to big events. The mopar nats in
Columbus for one. This is the mother of all mopar events. I know
Carlisle is nice but the mopar nats is where it's at. How are new and
younger people going to get interested in these cars if they don't see
them anywhere? Maybe some of you old timers could be a little friendlier
to the younger people. If some 26 year old comments that your 300F would
look sweet with custom rims and you give the guy a scowl you not only
turned him off to you personally but probably to that type of car as
well. You could invite him to come over and check the car out closer and
make a friend instead! If installing custom wheels on a 300 is all it
takes to get some new and younger people interested in these cars don't
you think its worth it?
I know some of you are saying that 300 letter cars are rare, that is why
you don't see them anywhere. Let me tell you that's crap. In the mopar
world letter cars are common. I restored a challenger convert a few
years ago, dodge made 31 of them with its option package. I drove it in
the rain to shows. This year in Vegas at the Mopars at the strip show
there were 4 Real 70 hemi challenger converts, 5 real 71 hemicuda
converts and a 70 hemicuda convert under one tent. Only 9 of the
challengers were produced and 11 cudas. This is the crummiest mopar show
in the country right now and the rarest cars you can imagine were being
driven around like minivans. So get out and drive these cars to some
shows! Go dragracing! Try to be a little friendlier to younger people.
Let's keep the stuck up attitudes in England where they belong!
I went to an edsel show once. 27 guys hanging around with their cars
they all bought brand new. Don't let it happen to you!
Enough for now,
Lee in San Diego




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