Collector Cars and the new Economy

[jerrym3]

ALll great comments and what has made the car hobby what it is today. While many of us were a little over zealous about cars 50-60 years ago I,m not sure we were typical or at least the majority. Today's youth has a lot more to be interested than we did, but my guess is that the few who are car nuts will be just as gung-ho as we were.With them it may only take one noticeable incident to start a mad run on a car or a pair of $200.00 sneakers

I think the key word in your post is the "few". I don't think a relatively handful of car lovers can sustain a classic car culture. Maybe those well off will still buy an old car the way they buy an old painting.

Even if we all weren't crazy car lovers back then, we all drooled over getting our licenses and owning our first car no matter how crummy it was, (and my 1953 Ford 4dr sedan was definitely crummy). Driving defined independence, dating, trips to "lover's lanes", etc. In my low teens, I used to walk to the local dealerships to pick up catalogs and see the new models. (One Ford dealer in 1956 had his showroom windows soaped up with just a small clear spot to look inside. Other dealers did some other wild things.)

Now? People go nuts over the new Apple product announcement.

Went to a local old car show Sunday. Struck up a conversation with the owner of a 68 Chrysler convert, 75,000 mile survivor. My Galaxie won a "Top 25" trophy. His Chrysler won nothing. All the MoPar class trophies went to five fairly new Challengers. I disagreed with that decision. His car should have been recognized for being a survivor.

(He also told me that when the retros first came out, his wife wanted one, but when they saw the dealer mark up, they walked out and never returned.)

We both agreed that the classic car era could be dying. We could see it in the ages of the attendees, and the music played by the DJ. Mostly late 50's to mid 70's music. The age demographic is changing. You don't hear any Frank Sinatra or Dean Martin tunes over the speakers. At some point, you may not hear the Platters or Buddy Holley either.

When folks like me get too old to attend car shows, or we pass on, then what?

I'll just have to enjoy it while I still can.

[Splitwindo@gmail.com]

All we can do now is love them now and leave them later, whenever that is!
I’m going to take my ‘05 RedBird out right now for a ride! That’ll cheer me up after reading the previous downer emails.

[007Cruiser]

Yesterday a friend came by with her eight year old son. He totally flipped when he saw the Tbirds. There is hope for the future.