The future of restoring old Chargers

[Dreamcar]

I was reading this thread (see below), which got me thinking of starting my own topic.

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,118667.0.html

Most of these cars are in the same shape as mine, which I'm rebuilding right now. But I consider myself as one of the younger (35yo) hobbyist that are into restoring cars on this vintage. However, I personally don't think that many guys (and gals) that are my age or younger will take up restoring 60s-70s muscle cars (we didn't grow up with seeing them around every corner), and most of the baby boomers who wanted to get into the hobby have probably already done so.

This makes me wonder what will happen in about 10-20 years with all these parts/restorable cars like the ones at Stephen's Performance. Any useable parts/cars are going to rot out eventually. Plus, there's going to be a growing market of available "already restored" cars too that the baby boomers will slowly start selling off as they get older.

Just got me thinking about the future of restoring old Chargers.

[Ryan.C]

Im 31 and right in the middle of restoring a '69 Charger. While I do agree with you that very few of our generation are interested in restoring cars, there are some. 

This may sound cruel but, I figure when the baby boomers are too advanced in years to enjoy there prized automobile the market will be saturated with vintage detroit iron. Guys like you and I will be able to purchase these cars at much lower cost than they are right now. Maybe im wrong but with very few buyers and lots of sellers...... we shall see.

[6spd68]

Have to agree with Ryan on that point.  When was the last time you saw your average 30's 40's or 50's(besides everyone's fav 57 ) car command super high dollar?  There just seems to not be the same interest in those cars any more.  Mabye I'm wrong though? 

[Mike DC]

                 
The prices will fall as the baby boomers leave the hobby.  The cars will never go back to 1979-cheap again but they will be cheaper than they have been in the last 15 years.

[myk]

30's to 50's cars never had the impact that the 60's generation did, then and now.  Maybe it's just my opinion, but the styling of pre-60's machinery is a selective, acquired taste, and it's not for the majority.  What came after those years is what is etched into everyone's minds when it comes to the dawn of American performance, and nothing will ever change that fact.  Now will prices come down in the future?  Will I have pizza or hot dogs at the next baseball game?  Who knows, only time will tell, and I probably won't be around to see what happens anyway...

[Dreamcar]

I agree with all of you on the prices coming down over the next few years and then staying relatively stable. It will likely become more of a buyers market for muscle cars of the 60s and 70s.  

But I'm also thinking about there being more and more restorable cars becoming un-restorable and thus turning into scrap because the number of people interested in starting a restoration on an old Charger will decline.

[skip68]

   so do you think we've peaked on value of these cars?  Or close to peaking?    It does make sense though.  

[Dreamcar]

 so do you think we've peaked on value of these cars?  Or close to peaking?    It does make sense though.  

I think the values will always go up, but the big gains are probably over or close to being over. The baby boomers saved the original muscle cars because they had the money to bring back/keep alive the cars of their youth. However, eventually, many of their cars will be on the market. And, as any collectible item, the most rare will more often than not be more valuable then the less rare.

[DixieRestoParts]

There will always be a market for muscle cars because they have something the older cars don't - sex appeal and speed. However, you will see prices adjust. Obviously, the super rare stuff will always command the higher prices and probably trade within the serious car collector group. But, your normal 440 and down cars will be probably more affordable and still have a following. However, I'm not sure how many people will be on the OE restoration bandwagon as opposed to just nice driver type cars.

My son is 17 and has a love for these cars because he's been exposed to them. While I lean on the resto side, he's mostly on the driving side. If we want others to love and enjoy these cars like we do, we must get the younger generation to car shows. We need to expose them to these cars not as museum pieces that cost a fortune to buy, but as cool cars to own and drive.

[cavemanno1]

In Europe these cars will always have a strong base of fans!I could show you at least a hundred guys in there 30' whom dream muscle car is a 2gen charger!Unfortunatelly because of the high asking price plus shipping and restoring there is one or two in this country!Mine was the only '69 ever in this country.
If you look at the avarage sallery is 400 dollar a month,spending 30+k on a 47 year old car is insane!Could buy a 3 bedroom flat for this kindof money and most 30's struggle with even having their owne home!

[moparchris]

As a baby-boomer ( a young one ) I have to agree that in the future these cars are not going to be where they are now.  I think we are in the last peak before the prices will start to creep down little by little.  It's hard for me to believe how old these are really are now because I've been driving them since I was 16.  I think we really have to start seriously looking at what the "up-side" is to our cars , they're cool and sexy all day long and twice on Sundays, but to the kids who are just getting started in adult life how do they really fit in?  I personally don't see this country getting any better.... does anyone think it is better now than it was 25 years ago??  So who/what is going to make it start getting getting better?  It will be increasingly difficult for younger people to have enough disposable income to warrant an old collector car.  In 10 years SRT Challengers etc... will be $15K and the air will still work.  If you aren't really handy with tools etc... what would you buy.  A car that can still be taken to a shop if something breaks, or a 55 year old "collector" car?
I'm thinking that I'm getting closer to selling the old Chargers I have left, yes including the hemi 500 and just having fun with my Viper.  It does everything better than the old cars and I can buy 5 first or second generation vipers for the price of one nice hemi Charger.
Just my 2 1/2 cents.

[Barfyspitz]

If you really wonder if the younger generation is going to want a muscle car, just pay attention the next time you rumble into a cruise in or car show setting off car alarms. look at the faces of the young sideways ball cap Wearing kids standing next to a Nissan skyline, or observe the way his girlfriend is  staring at your car. Ya....he's gonna want some of that.

[ITSA426]

My son is going to inherit the fleet so I'll just let that be his problem.  He grew up on these cars and has spent a lot of time with them.  We've gone to car shows around the country together since he was in sixth grade.  He's in his mid-thirties now.  His value of the cars, like mine, is probably not dollar based.  He might have to re-restore them at some point.  He helped put them together last time.  His son can help him next time.  It makes me feel better thinking that.

[1974dodgecharger]

60s and early 70s was about styling and muscle cars.  Sorry 40s and 50s were not the styling and muscle car rear mixed together like it was during later years.   Young kids even love the styling of the muscle.....no badass gets im his 55 ford and drive off in the sunset movies directors know this also another reason that era will be popular because it was the peak of muscle car era.   


Yeah they will stabilize once baby boomers die off but they will always be expensive from now on.......

[LaOtto70Charger]

I think prices well keep going up and more will become garage queens.  In the last five years I don't see to many older vehicles period on the road.  Just took a road trip last Sunday from upper Indiana to upper Wisconsin on a gorgeous day.  Doubt I saw more than five cars older than the 90's the whole way.  Never used to be like that in the summer.

[cbrestorations]

aslong as muscle cars are in popular movies, they will never die. fast and furious brought the charger back into the younger generations. i was already a muscle car kid but at 13 when the first fast and furious came out and i remember arguing in class which car was really faster the supra or charger.

[stripedelete]

The Marine industry is a peek into a future without baby boomers.  However, I do think muscle cars will have a much softer landing.   If they keep that flying orange Charger, with the funny horn, on TV, 2nd gens will outlast them all.

[Dreamcar]

The Marine industry is a peek into a future without baby boomers.  However, I do think muscle cars will have a much softer landing.   If they keep that flying orange Charger, with the funny horn, on TV, 2nd gens will outlast them all.

They just stopped but thats another thread that is active right now.

[AKcharger]

Good points all and supply and demand will always rule but as cbrestorations hinted at, these cars aren't like 30's/40's/50's cars where interests dies with their purchasing generation, they're multigenerational...consider:

Boomers or 1960's 1970's people - bought them new or wish they had, then bought them when they had $$

Gen X - Drove 'em in high school and in adolescence (I'm in this group) I'd say this is actually the sweet spot now as we have a soft spot for them and we have disposable $$$

Gen Y - Was raised on every action adventure movie they've ever seen and a significant many music videos having a muscle car in them

My real concern is people are getting lazy as a whole on don't want to work/fix them ...kids now adays! 

[stripedelete]

The Marine industry is a peek into a future without baby boomers.  However, I do think muscle cars will have a much softer landing.   If they keep that flying orange Charger, with the funny horn, on TV, 2nd gens will outlast them all.

They just stopped but thats another thread that is active right now.

Not trying to drag any of that over here.    The appeal of that car to those little sponges skews the future of 2nd gens.  Not trying to stir up that debate either, but, I think it has some relevance to the OP.

[68RT440]

Im restoring my '68 as we speak and Im 32. My dad and I have had the charger since I was 15, after me begging him to get a 68-70 charger as a father/ son project. At the time, none of my friends could understand why I wanted an old car and not a new Mustang or Camaro. Out of all of my friends, Im the only one that "gets" the old muscle cars. The future of our hobby does have me worried. Go to the Mopar Nats, or Carlisle...its all old guys with their cars. Whats going to happen in 20 years when I want to go to the Nats or Carlisle with my son....

[HPP]

Demand will stabilize some, as will prices, but  they won't come down at all, for a few reasons. 1) They aren't making any more of them.  2) Some will become unrestorable which will further reduce the number available. 3) If prices continue to climb at a stupid pace and they do reproduce them, it will be because the price sin the delusional seller thread has become the normal rpice. 4) Its one of the most recognizeable cars  not just in the US , but in the world.

Case in point, te egeneration that built and raced the original 30s era Fords are dead and dying, yet demand and prices for those are still  very solid. Simialr, the Tri 5 Chevys are so popular still, you can buy brand new ones without any original GM parts on them.  Muscle era cars will become the same. They may become regualted  to Camaros, Mustangs, Challengers, Chargers, and  Chevelles as the more obscure models become harder to keep alive, but there will be demand for them for the foreseeable future as Gen Xers  move into middle age and become more liquid with their money.

[Mike DC]

INFLATION  


If prices have "stabilized" then they are steadily falling.  

If they are "climbing" then they aren't really climbing unless they appear to be rocketing up.  

 

[marshallfry01]

I'm 21, and I'll be restoring as many 2nd generation chargers as I possibly can when I get this last year of college completed.   I wouldn't mind having 2 or 3 1968-70 chargers laying around.   So if any of y'all want to will your charger to me, feel free. It'll go to a good home.

[Mark H]

I'm 25 and restoring my 70 Charger, my third car I've restored and it seems like most of my friends around my age group like the old cars but don't want to restore one... I grew up around muscle cars, mainly mopars and always had a desire to own one, it is an addiction for me I plan on buying more Mopars and doing my part to keep the cars alive and on the road.

[RallyeMike]

I don't think we are going to run out of restorable old Chargers any time soon. There are ten thousand cars hoarded away as well as a pile of parts. As boomers get older, they are going to be letting go of this stuff into the market. There will still be generation Y'rs and younger folks that will be interested in the hobby, just not the same % as the older generations. Generally, I think in the next decade plus, the supply vs. demand will mean that prices will drop a little and then stabilize roughly matching inflationary increases.

Or, everything's going to go to shit and we'll be armoring them up and battling over precious fuel resources in the desert while dressed in butt-less leather chaps.

One of these two scenarios for sure.

[HPP]

butt-less leather chaps.

This has always cracked me up. If they had butt covering, they would be pants. All chaps are @$$ less.   

[XS29L9Bxxxxxx]

While I don't have much interest in "restoring" Chargers, I would pay to have it done, or buy a car already done.

In my teens and 20s, I had more of that desire, but time marches on... :Two cents:

[el dub]

As long as there are cars, there will be hot rodders

[6spd68]

While I don't have much interest in "restoring" Chargers, I would pay to have it done, or buy a car already done.

In my teens and 20s, I had more of that desire, but time marches on... :Two cents:

I'm in the same boat, only my options in Ontario were limited.  At least with getting it done myself, it'll be exactly how I WANT it to be.