Are classic cars dead?

[berogersjr]

Interesting article on classic cars...and which ones might be one day.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/LIVING/perso...ex.html?hpt=C2

-bobby

[00mustng]

Re: Are classic cars dead?

....well...It's definately going to be interesting....I can't imagine any more classics coming down the 'pike....as manufacturers and consumers embrace the green....I can't help but wonder what is going to happen to all the battery packs in 10/15 years when they are done and can't be re-charged....I think we will experience changes like no others have known....I have no plans to buy a new car....but if I did...I find the Mustang and the Volvo C30 appealing for different reasons....I'm not ready to go green....as the technology today is a stopgap....Hydrogen would end dependancy on fossil fuels....but by then, I'll probably be pushing daisies.....

[jerrym3]

Re: Are classic cars dead?

I'm sorry to say that I think the American love of the automobile has eroded. Cars basically look alike, and the new car excitement is gone. That's not to say that there still aren't some younger folks who love cars, but it isn't like it used to be.

As a kid, we'd walk the main drags to peep in the dealerships to see the latest model. That doesn't happen anymore, although the many Auto magazines may have helped to kill this ritual.

At night, we'd hang around for hours in front of Shirley's Diner in West New York or Russell's Diner in Cliffside Park, NJ, and talk cars. Who does that now?

If most younger folks don't care for cars like we did, why should they care at all 40 years from now?

There are a few cars out there that can still get us car nuts going, like the new Caddy 2 dr, but the cost for these cars is astronomical.

When we were kids, almost anybody could afford a new GTO or Mustang. Now, a Tuarus SHO price is out of the question for many youngsters.

Just my opinion.

[steelblue5505]

Re: Are classic cars dead?

Jerry
You are so right! And it is not just our cars.

[jayred1]

Re: Are classic cars dead?

Jerry -
In general I agree with what you've said. However, you're statement regarding 'if they don't care for something in their youth, they won't when they're older' may not prove completely true. I didn't care for cars at all when I was growing up (as proven by driving a '76 Plymouth Volare through college!). But when I saw my Red T-Bird, I thought it was incredibly cooool.
Now I find myself watching the Mecum auctions even though I doubt I'll ever purchase anything else. That mid-life "itch" can bring desire out of no-where ...

[Fordguy]

Re: Are classic cars dead?

The fact that the auto companies don't release their new models all in September like they use to but drible them out throughout the year makes it hard look forward to the event like we did in our earlier years.

[tbird6t4]

Re: Are classic cars dead?

Hmmmmm.....old car, limited production, distinct design, eye catching appeal, convertible top, 40 years from now? I think I have the solution!

I think that like so many other things that often it is love at first sight and despite the article siting the Miata/PT Cruiser? I am willing to bet that the demand for the 02 to 05 RetroBird will be high. As we know as time goes by and cars are totalled, not properly maintained and go to the crusher ect., our little gems will be desirable since there really isn't anything comparable to them. Not the Miata, certainly not the Cross Fire, or Solstice or the BMW for that matter, but all produced in huge numbers. They are all very small, not very comfortable to drive any distance in, IMHO not nearly as attractive.

Only problem is like someone said in 40 years I will be dust and probably have returned as a donkey and miss all the excitement.

[Daktari]

Re: Are classic cars dead?

Hi there,

Back in the 40's,50's and 60's when young kids would take their big Fords and Chevys and cruise and customize them, even race them sometimes, I'm guessing is because that's really all there was at that time.

Well, it still goes on today but partly because of the price of gas, they have moved to the European and mainly Japanese cars. Kids nowadays are having just as much fun in their customized and hot rodded Civics, Accords, Infinitis, Lexus and Acuras for the ones with more money. A big difference nowadays is the attention spent on the sound systems which back in them days, the technology was not there for that side of the customizing.

Also, lots of folks laugh at these oriental cars but lots of them are really well put together and are designed in the first place with the option of customizing later on. A 1600cc Civic fully chipped out with all the extras is probably a lot faster and certainly more nimble than most of the old classic Americana that was popular back then.

Will any of these new generation hot rods still be around in another 50 years? Probably very few, because like it or not, everything today is marketed to be disposable and with a fixed and fairly short shelf life.

All the best, Gordon.