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Title: Re: [FWDLK] MAJOR CHANGES IN THE COLLECTOR CAR MARKET???
Hi Jim, I have to agree with you on many of the points that you have brought up, and at 31, I commend your efforts and your interest on cars that had long since seen the junkyard before you were even born. I’ve been thinking about the ‘dying out’ of the hobby for some time. I’ve watched the general age of the crowds at the Mopar Nationals gradually get grayer and grayer. Yes, some young people, but the majority aging. And I’ve attended every one since 1990. I remember reading collector car magazines in the early 80’s and buying books on restorations. Almost all of them spoke of the cars that were pre-war and post-war classics- meaning mainly 20’s,30’s,40’s and after 1978 when the whole 50’s craze began- with shows like Happy Days and Laverne and Shirley- plus movies like Grease...there began an interest in the 50’s cars. Now- All the mags feature either bone stock ‘survivors’- that is cars that have never had a wrench to them, 100 point meticulous restoration that can be beyond extreme, or finally the ‘resto-mod’ or what we used to call ‘day-two’ cars. All of these are muscle cars. Almost no mention at all of the 50’s cars- or very little, and forget about anything older- unless it is a VERY radical custom. Remember, this is in GENERAL- some mags do feature the 50’s cars- but most almost totally ignore them. I’m sure if you did a demographic survey of readers you’d find the average age creeping up as well. Most of the people I know who are in they’re 20’s have no interest or very little interest in cars at all. They are appliances to them. Some are trying to eliminate them entirely from their lives as they are seen as some great evil source of all things wrong with the planet. All of you know the type I am sure. Really- I blame all of this on us. The hobby. And I am as guilty as any one of you. I fell in love with these cars not because I was brought up in an automotive family- my father was a dentist. Not because I loved them as a kid- I loved airplanes and took flying lessons. But because I loved the designs and the history they represented and the feeling in the seat of the pants you get when you floor a big-block muscle car and it pins you in the seat. So to that point- What have YOU done to make the younger generation interested in these cars. You can tell a kid about a Model T, how it was built, about Henry Ford, etc. You can even take him to a car show or a museum and show him one. But what happens if you give a kid a RIDE in one? It’s an entirely different thing when the kid gets to experience the cars first hand, even as a passenger. He get to ‘feel’ it, smell the interior, hear the engine, engage all of his senses. To him, the car comes alive, it’s not just a boring history lesson. When was the last time ANY of YOU gave a kid a ride in one of our beloved FL-cars?? Some of you have children, some have grand-children- or even great-grand-children. As car guys we all talk a great talk, and most of us are VERY protective of our cars. A kid in one- sticky fingers touching everything, bouncing on the seats, chatting away at the speed of light, not able to sit for a few seconds without moving- well, that’s the horror show in many ways. But if we DON’T establish the love early on, what will happen? Exactly what has happened to the Model T- and A to some extent- crowd...they’ll die off, and no one will keep the hobby alive. How many of YOU know how to drive a Model T? It doesn’t use the 3-pedal system that we all know well, and it involves adjusting the timing at the steering wheel (amongst other things). It’s a real challenge to drive one. Most of you have probably seen one driving somewhere- but have you ever driven one? By the way- I’m only using the Model T as an example. I would LOVE to drive that 1930 Nash. Just so I could say I’d done it. Just to appreciate what life must have been like in the early 30’s and this car was someone Pride and Joy, and sole transportation. But I’m 43, and already hooked until the day I die. Just as a side note- I love junkyards, but they are depressing. Every car there- from the crappiest little Toyota, to the grand and rotting Imperial was once someone’s pride and joy. Someone once loved that car- thought it was the best thing ever- and here it sits now- discarded. Says something about the human condition. Anyway- sorry for the rambling on. I try to give every kid-who will take the opportunity-a ride in one of my cars. Even if the car isn’t something special- just a 318 grocery getter- because if we don’t get them now- We’re All Screwed. Charles. ************************************************************* To unsubscribe or set your subscription options,
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