Re: IML: Why We Collect

[RandalPark@xxxxxxx]

I am a hopeless addict. 

They haven't yet created a 28 day spin dry, or 12 step program for this type of addiction. If and when they do, I suppose I will participate. I collect many things. I love Imperial's because I grew up with them. I still have my mother's first Imperial, along with every other one I ever bought. I stopped looking for them in 1975. After that, it was as if they were out looking for me. Every one of them came to me through a friend, or quite by accident. 

I also have four Lincoln's, a Buick, and a Ford. I am an Horologist, Audiophile, collector of old English antique furniture, have a bunch of model cars, and several HO train sets. Very early on I came to the realization that I am paying for the privilidge to be the caretaker of all of this stuff for another future owner. With that, comes the responsibility to preserve each item as originally and well as I can afford.

Collecting must be in my blood. I only regret that I was never smart enough to collect houses. If I had, I would have filled them all with collections of everything, and in each garage would be another Imperial, preferably all LeBarons!

Guess that's it for me in a nut shell!

Paul W.

In an email dated 3/7/2005 4:20:31 am GMT Daylight time, Mark McDonald <tomswift@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> writes:

>Over the past few years I've had to sell off my collection of 
>Imperials, but now I'm starting to rebuild it and the whole process has 
>got me to thinking about why we collect cars, and how we go about it.
>
>First of all, there is the issue of HOW. ?And by how I mean, what is 
>the system you use? ?Is there a pattern to your collecting, conscious 
>or unconscious? ?Or is it strictly random, a result of happenstance and 
>luck?
>
>For example, I once read about a man who bought only cars from 1957, 
>because that is the year he graduated from high school. ?He didn't care 
>what it was as long as it was from 1957. ?Then there are those who only 
>go after particular models, such as Corvettes or Imperials. ?Some only 
>collect muscle cars, some only sedans, some only British cars, some 
>only Italian, some like perfectly restored cars, some only like cars 
>that aren't in good condition and present a challenge to restore, etc., 
>etc. ?I'm just wondering what are the criteria are that some of us use 
>to collect cars?
>
>For me personally it seems to be that cars from about 1960 to 1971 
>interest me the most, with the year 1968 being my favorite. ?At one 
>time it was my goal to collect one of everything Chrysler made in 1968. 
> ?I wanted (and still want) a Dodge Charger with a 426 hemi, an Imperial 
>LeBaron, a New Yorker coupe, an avocado green Fury III, a Satellite, a 
>300, etc. ?I doubt I will ever own all these, but that's my "organizing 
>principle," if you will.
>
>The second big question is WHY.
>
>Do we collect to impress people? ?To show how much money we have? ?Or 
>how much taste and intelligence? ?Do we collect Imperials in order to 
>make the statement that we're "different"-- or do we do it in order to 
>fit into a particular group whose approval we need?
>
>I know one person who buys old Imperials because his grandmother owned 
>an Imperial and he was very close to his grandmother. ?I probably like 
>Imperials because my favorite uncle sold them when I was a child, and 
>because I was the "rebel"-- a Chrysler lover-- in a "GM family." ?
>Others buy cars because they owned a similar car when they first met 
>their wife, etc.
>
>I never really gave any of this much thought until now, because I am 
>faced with a choice of getting a really flashy "high dollar" Imperial 
>in great shape-- or buying a somewhat rough, somewhat undesirable, and 
>very cheap Chrysler station wagon. ?Part of me says "Go for the wagon! ?
>It'll be fun!" ?And part of me says "Go for the nice Imperial, it's a 
>smart investment!" ?And so on. ?(And yes, I know, you don't buy old 
>cars as investments. ?I just mean I'm far more likely to get my money 
>back from the Imperial if I have to sell it later.) ?And part of me 
>says "Nah, get a VW!"
>
>So I guess I'm just wondering which voice to listen to and how others 
>decide what they'll buy when they buy.
>
>Mark M
>


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