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I agree that we strive to have something
unique. Back in 1984 I decided to buy a project car, My only prerequisites to
purchasing one was it had to be 1972 or older, a big block and a
convertible. A friend at work said he saw a car on his neighbors lawn that I
might be interested in. When I first laid my eyes on that 1959 Imperial Labaron
4 Door Sedan, I though I had found the batmoble. It was not a convertible but I
had to buy it anyhow. The car seemed to be saying to me "save me, restore me,
don't let me rust away or be chopped up and lost". Over the years many many
people have tried to talk me into giving up on restoring that car. 21 years
later I am enjoying seeing her return to the elegant piece of mechanical art
that she is, from an era when most people had values, and designed and built by
people that thought cars were more then means of transportation but works
of art. I look at that car and take joy that I know that my passion for this car
is why it still survives. I also take joy in knowing I am not alone. There are
many of us, everytime I see a beautiful old car go down the highway, I know
their are car owners, mechanics, salvage yard owners, restorers, etc, that do
their part to keep these cars existing for all others to appreciate and I'm
proud to be one of them.
Marty Trendler
Red Bluff, Ca.
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Saturday, July 02, 2005 8:20
PM
Subject: IML: Why We Collect
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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