Future of classic cars

[Aero426]

they make cool hot rods   

Yes they do.   They then are capable of being able to go, stop, handle and look good.   

[marshallfry01]

I'm 18 and I have always loved muscle cars. You can thank Dukes of Hazzard for that! When I was 4 years old I saw that bright orange charger and have wanted one ever since! So it's been 14 years and still no charger.  But hopefully that will change soon! I have money to buy one but I'm paying my way through college with it right now. And believe me, an aviation degree is not cheap when you are flying! It costs me $145 an hour while the plane is running. It's expensive everywhere but at least I get a degree with it at Henderson State University.  My best friend from high school would give his left nut for a 69 road runner. And I would give my left nut for a 69 charger! So the future for muscle cars? I plan to have a shop full of muscle cars in myfuture! My grandpa has a 1931 A model coupe that has been in his barn since 1955. I hope to restore it someday. And he also has a 59 Chevy appache step side short wheel base. It's a 235 inline 6 with three on the tree. My great great grandpa bought it new. Hooefully I'll get the chance to redo both of them. And both are great projects with tons of potential!

[Dino]

Many old cars are rolling sculptures and that's why we love them so much, that is not going to change from one generation to the next...but eventually we'll run out of these sculptures and I don't see anyone producing replacements.

[Cooter]

Look no further than those old timers who loved their Model T's. That, my friend, is the future of us and "our" cars.

Exactly.

My father-in-law passed away nearly three years ago.  He had a 1929 Model A 4 door for nearly 20 years.  It is still sitting in my mother-in-laws garage.  None of the kids or their spouses want the car, so it will sit as she does not want to sell it to a stranger.

As that generation dies off, so does the desire for that era of car.

If this were the case, then there wouldn't be anything called "Rat Rods" that seem to be so popular right now. I remember when one could buy a whole RUNNING 1937 Chevy for peanuts....Today, just the rusty sheetmetal will run one $1000.00....

[hatersaurusrex]

Tell me again why 20 year olds would want a musclecar except when show day comes?

Cooter apparently you've forgotten about this thing they call 'girls'...

[bobs66440]

Look no further than those old timers who loved their Model T's. That, my friend, is the future of us and "our" cars.

Exactly.

My father-in-law passed away nearly three years ago.  He had a 1929 Model A 4 door for nearly 20 years.  It is still sitting in my mother-in-laws garage.  None of the kids or their spouses want the car, so it will sit as she does not want to sell it to a stranger.

As that generation dies off, so does the desire for that era of car.

If this were the case, then there wouldn't be anything called "Rat Rods" that seem to be so popular right now. I remember when one could buy a whole RUNNING 1937 Chevy for peanuts....Today, just the rusty sheetmetal will run one $1000.00....

This is very true. The rat rod craze is big right now, but it's definitely regional. Around here, you don't really see many at all. It's mostly muscle cars/classics with a few street rods sprinkled in. Street rods. Now THAT'S the part of the hobby that has really died off around here. At the local car cruises, you used to see tons of them. Now, if one shows up, it's driven by a 60-70-something gentleman. And he leaves before the sun goes down to avoid driving at night. And there are less every year.

All those street rods I used to see cost a small fortune to build and I often wonder where they are now. Sold off by the kids/grand kids? Sitting in the garage collecting dust? Sitting rotting in the back yard (gasp)? They just aren't interested.

Unfortunately, it doesn't help that the industry takes advantage of what's popular at the time and gouge prices it until no-one but the most well-off can afford it. We've seen it with muscle cars and street rods.

[Mike DC]

This is very true. The rat rod craze is big right now, but it's definitely regional. Around here, you don't really see many at all. It's mostly muscle cars/classics with a few street rods sprinkled in. Street rods. Now THAT'S the part of the hobby that has really died off around here. At the local car cruises, you used to see tons of them. Now, if one shows up, it's driven by a 60-70-something gentleman. And he leaves before the sun goes down to avoid driving at night. And there are less every year.

All those street rods I used to see cost a small fortune to build and I often wonder where they are now. Sold off by the kids/grand kids? Sitting in the garage collecting dust? Sitting rotting in the back yard (gasp)? They just aren't interested.

That's the future of most collectible things.  It is valuable for a while until the generation that loved it passes on, but after that it becomes much less a prized possession and more like just a curiosity to future people. 

I mean, 1930s cars?  that was 80 years ago. 
They were "old" in the 1950s. 
1950s stuff was becoming old enough to be retro-cool in the 1970s, and even that was still another 40 years ago.  It's getting too far back and nothing stays popular forever. 

Unfortunately, it doesn't help that the industry takes advantage of what's popular at the time and gouge prices it until no-one but the most well-off can afford it. We've seen it with muscle cars and street rods.

I don't see how popularity means gouging prices on everything.  That's just supply and demand.  If the aftermarket industry wasn't charging big money for '69 Charger parts then they wouldn't be selling it at all. 

As for used stuff, you can't blame people for selling things for whatever they can get.  The stuff being more valuable means more of it gets saved instead of scrapped too.  I don't see any of this as gouging. 

Muscle cars are too expensive because about 3-4 generations of car guys all compete with each other for the same single generation of cars.  Everyone wants to build up a 1969 Dodge.  Nobody wants to build a 1959, '79, '89, or '99. 

[Cooter]

Tell me again why 20 year olds would want a musclecar except when show day comes?

Cooter apparently you've forgotten about this thing they call 'girls'...

Apparently, you've forgotten all but one or two of those humans they call "Girls" today would be caught dead in a 40 plus Y/O car, that doens't run half the time, isn't reliable enough to get her home from the date, has no heat, runs rough until warm, then runs even rougher when warm, stalls, has poor seat/comfort, way too fast for brakes that are way undersized, gets around 12 MPG on a good day, so she needs to bring her own gas money if she wants to get home; ETC.....Besides, today one would actually HAVE TO JUMP the General Lee in order to "impress" today's "girls"...


No thanks.

[Cooter]

I don't see how popularity means gouging prices on everything.  That's just supply and demand.  If the aftermarket industry wasn't charging big money for '69 Charger parts then they wouldn't be selling it at all.Beg to differ...Whether you sell a few at $1000, or ALOT at $400.00, your still selling, your just looking for a huge return QUICKLY. 

As for used stuff, you can't blame people for selling things for whatever they can get.  The stuff being more valuable means more of it gets saved instead of scrapped too.  I don't see any of this as gouging. Then how do you explain a fender for a '69 Charger NOS, being offered for the asking price of $1200.00; when there's repop fenders that fit every bit as good if not better than that old, beat up reject from the factory that the owner thinks os worth $1200.00?? One would think repop stuff would bring the price DOWN on original sdtuff, not the other way round.

Muscle cars are too expensive because about 3-4 generations of car guys all compete with each other for the same single generation of cars.  Everyone wants to build up a 1969 Dodge.  Nobody wants to build a 1959, '79, '89, or '99.  Depends on who you talk to as to who builds what. I know 20 somethings that can't STAND musclecars. All they want to build is 1920-40's stuff. There's a seat for every ass.
The difference is when a 1979 Magnum fender wouldn't sell for $100.00, then, someone puts one in a movie, all of a sudden, we have a 1979 Magnum fender for the low, low price of $1500.00 cause Vin Diesel drove one. Gouging off what's popular. Am I saying what's "Right" or not? No, just saying.

[JB400]

Tell me again why 20 year olds would want a musclecar except when show day comes?

Cooter apparently you've forgotten about this thing they call 'girls'...

Apparently, you've forgotten all but one or two of those humans they call "Girls" today would be caught dead in a 40 plus Y/O car, that doens't run half the time, isn't reliable enough to get her home from the date, has no heat, runs rough until warm, then runs even rougher when warm, stalls, has poor seat/comfort, way too fast for brakes that are way undersized, gets around 12 MPG on a good day, so she needs to bring her own gas money if she wants to get home; ETC.....Besides, today one would actually HAVE TO JUMP the General Lee in order to "impress" today's "girls"...


No thanks.

I'm gonna continue this hijack.  There are still girls interested in guys with cars.  This one punk kid in a 95 Pustang convert. had that thing packed full of girls.  I'd blow by him at every stoplight (because he'd hit everyone, I'd slow down early to keep moving) and he'd make it a point to get that v6 wound up to pass me.  There was a couple girls in the backseat that was having a good a time with it. 

Too bad I wasn't in the Charger instead of the daily, then I could have really had some fun with him.

[Mike DC]

Beg to differ...Whether you sell a few at $1000, or ALOT at $400.00, your still selling, your just looking for a huge return QUICKLY.

I don't entirely disagree with you here, but Mopar stuff is always gonna be way over the Ford/GM stuff.  Same price for tooling, much smaller market for sales. 

Then how do you explain a fender for a '69 Charger NOS, being offered for the asking price of $1200.00; when there's repop fenders that fit every bit as good if not better than that old, beat up reject from the factory that the owner thinks os worth $1200.00?? One would think repop stuff would bring the price DOWN on original sdtuff, not the other way round.

Yeah, but what did the price trajectory on NOS fenders look like in the years before AMD existed?  I remember NOS stuff already bringing over $1000 many years ago, and that was when Mopars were less popular overall than they are now.  I would argue that today's "exorbitant" price IS the reduced price when it comes to N.O.S.  stuff. 

Also, as the supply of NOS stuff dries up, the price will probably start to climb exponentially, not just increase.  I suspect this would be a natural effect of everyone who wants NOS beginning to feel the urgency as the stuff dwindles. 

Depends on who you talk to as to who builds what. I know 20 somethings that can't STAND musclecars. All they want to build is 1920-40's stuff. There's a seat for every ass.  The difference is when a 1979 Magnum fender wouldn't sell for $100.00, then, someone puts one in a movie all of a sudden, we have a 1979 Magnum fender for the low, low price of $1500.00 cause Vin Diesel drove one. Gouging off what's popular. Am I saying what's "Right" or not? No, just saying.

I don't know many kids who like "old" cars but don't like 1964-74 musclecars.  I'm not saying you're wrong but what's the percentage?   I also think some guys like different "old" cars partly because they cannot afford musclecars.  But if other-era "old" cars/parts were the same price as '69 Camaro stuff, then just watch their preferences change.  At least this is my impression about most of them.  There are always exceptions.

As for the Vin Diesel & Barrett-Jackson price increases  . . .  temporary.  That usually only works for the first couple years after the new media usage. 
                         
                         

[HeavyFuel]

I like things that remind me of my youth.  I was born in 1961.....so i love muscle cars, classic and glam rock, pretty much anything from '65 to '85.  Most of the time you just can't transplant that into the next generation.  I couldn't stand most of the crap my parents thought was "neat".

I've got a couple of teen-age boys that haven't even shown the least bit of interest in my car.  They are good kids....plays sports, get good grades, and they really like their phones and ipods.

Been busting my hump in the garage for years on the car, and they never want to get greasy with me.

There is a better than average chance that the car will get sold to fund a few vacations in MY retirement when I'm too old to drive it.  The kids won't get it.

[slamooo]

 My daughters all like the older cars!

My 24 yr old has bought my 69 Chrysler Newport convertible with her husband.

The 22 yr old that is still going to collage wants my 1969 Chrysler 300 clone convertible.

Now my 14 yr old wants the 73 charger and she keeps telling me she can get her permit next summer so she can drive it...

The youngest wants a 69 VW beetle convertible pink .

One other kid that is in my fire cadet program has a 72 Chrysler New Yorker that was his grandfathers and he is restoring it with the help of his dad.

So maybe there is some hope for the next generation

[69_Charger_RT]

Hey there are some younger folks who love and appreciate the classics  I myself will save as many cars as I can 

A lot of my friends just do not have the patience/tolerance to deal with some of the issues older cars possess.  But every time I take them out in my charger their attitudes change haha

So anyone who needs a J code car to be appreciated feel free to leave them to me 

[69_Charger_RT]

My daughters all like the older cars!

My 24 yr old has bought my 69 Chrysler Newport convertible with her husband.

The 22 yr old that is still going to collage wants my 1969 Chrysler 300 clone convertible.

Now my 14 yr old wants the 73 charger and she keeps telling me she can get her permit next summer so she can drive it...

The youngest wants a 69 VW beetle convertible pink .

One other kid that is in my fire cadet program has a 72 Chrysler New Yorker that was his grandfathers and he is restoring it with the help of his dad.

So maybe there is some hope for the next generation

Nice    my dad got me first started when I was young in his 73 vette he has owned since 74.  I just grew up with better taste and crossed over to the mopar family    Now I've turned him into a Mopar guy even though he still has the vette.

[Rallyecharger]

 I believe the furture of the classics depends on the "connection" with them. Whether thats having bought one new/used, cruised in one or have some cool memories involving a classic. That is what will keep them alive.
  However, as we all get older and eventually "liquidate" the collections I believe the supply will overpower the demand and subsequently the prices will drop. 

[Cooter]

Hey there are some younger folks who love and appreciate the classics  I myself will save as many cars as I can  That's awesome, in a world of instant gratification we live in today, it really is comforting to know there is hope.

A lot of my friends just do not have the patience/tolerance to deal with some of the issues older cars possess.  But every time I take them out in my charger their attitudes change hahaUntil they have to repair it.. Funny, we hadda kid come in yesterday with a like new Toyota truck 4WD. Couldn'tbelieve the money he was gonna have to spend on it ot repair the clutch he just blew out trying to impress his buddies. Watching too much Sat. morning "Trucks" TV I guess. Anyhoo, tried like hell to convince me he Doesn't "Dog" his truck. (Blew the pressure plate clean out until it was cracked in half and cutting through the bellhousing). I talked with his father who was paying the bill, and he tells a different story. Said "Don't let him BS you, he's done his fair share of beating on his truck, it's just caught up with him now". Too many today have this mentality I fear. "Hell, beat the hell outta it, it's under warranty"....Well, when you blow your old junk up trying to impress the un-impressable, it's on YOU to repair it and not too many even know how to fix what they just tore up. At least when I was coming up, I broke it, I had to fix it, WITH MY OWN MONEY.

So anyone who needs a J code car to be appreciated feel free to leave them to me  Clones are more fun than "Real" cars.

[69_Charger_RT]

I agree clones are more fun - I just picked up a 70 barracuda and am already having fun working on it since it needs a full paint job.  It is a lot easier to work on than my charger with a/c and power steering, plus I don't have to worry about scratching any paint.  Of course, I'm still careful but should be a blast before I eventually spray the cuda it's original FK5  

Nothing beats the sense of accomplishment you get from repairing / fixing your own car.  It's a love/hate relationship but its totally worth it when you can drive your classic and see people's reactions going down the road  

[F8-4life]

YOung People nowadays have a hard time understanding much of anything, let alone the passion/heritage/connection with old cars. Take away the oh so important real life -been there lived it connection which produces the nostalgia involved with the cars.  So the future outlook is bleak more or less. Time will prove this.

Thinking big picture here, This is how you figure it out: Look at the indicators, how many good incentives do young people have to get involved?? Not many

HOw many indicators that restric the classics/hobby in the future? Well that list could fill up a entire seperate thread.

Society factors + the next generations interests lead you to a easy conclusion.

[Mike DC]

     
Young people are also priced out of the classic car market.  If the car is nice enough to use as transportation then they cannot afford to buy it.

[Cooter]

     
Young people are also priced out of the classic car market.  If the car is nice enough to use as transportation then they cannot afford to buy it.

That there is about the most stupid thing I cannot understand about the younger Gen. today. Who would even attempt to use a 40 plus Y/O classic car as transporation, must less, a DAILY DRIVER? WTF? I drove these cars back when they were 15-20 Y/O used up cars as Daily drivers and they SUCKED then. Couldn't keep up with the Honda/Mitsubishi little Jap cars zipping and zapping back then. Just like the Bodyshops and restoration work, You don't take a restoration to a bodyshop, and you don't try and daily drive a 40 plus Y/O classic musclecar.

[Mike DC]

That there is about the most stupid thing I cannot understand about the younger Gen. today. Who would even attempt to use a 40 plus Y/O classic car as transporation, must less, a DAILY DRIVER? WTF? I drove these cars back when they were 15-20 Y/O used up cars as Daily drivers and they SUCKED then. Couldn't keep up with the Honda/Mitsubishi little Jap cars zipping and zapping back then. Just like the Bodyshops and restoration work, You don't take a restoration to a bodyshop, and you don't try and daily drive a 40 plus Y/O classic musclecar.

Does every 16yo kid in the country have plenty of space, money, and parental permission for a second car?  

I sure didn't have enough of any of those things when I was in high school.  My parents' house/property had plenty of driveway space and they had plenty of money, but I didn't have it. 

And when I was in high school if your parents didn't help pay for much/all of your transportation costs then you had to invest some serious time working to cover it.  And that's just paying for the cheap beater alone, not a musclecar project too.  You basically worked all afternoon & weekend . . . for the sole purpose of paying for the car . . . for the sole purpose of driving yourself to work.



It's also easy to say, "you can get a daily beater for $1000. (or whatever number)"  

But that option is really only easy if you have many years of experience & knowledge with cars, not to mention a place to do minor repair/maintenance work on the beater, tools, etc.  Our hypothetical 16yo kid's parents will probably just see this situation as their kid having TWO P.O.S. project cars in their driveway instead of one.

[stripedelete]

When were young people not priced out of the classic market?  When I was in my early 20's I couldn't' afford a 57 Chevy either.
But you could buy and old Charger which was not classic.  If you were a chevy guy it was a Nova.  

Why is a young person trying to get into the classic market?  That's the time you should be getting your $h!t together in your, career, trade, love life etc,  instead of dumping money into cars.   Even the WWII generation waited until they were 60 before they started fixing up pa's model T.

A.k.a Delayed Gratification