CRG Discussion Forum

Camaro Research Group Discussion => Garage Talk => Topic started by: Sauron327 on June 05, 2022, 02:42:04 PM

Title: This hobby is dying
Post by: Sauron327 on June 05, 2022, 02:42:04 PM
My friend is at Ford Carlisle with his survivor lightweight 62 Galaxie. His is a featured car and inside. He said there are hundreds of Ford Focuses on display, and nearly a thousand late model Mustangs with typical fart pipes. There is a retired 80 year old race car driver there signing autographs who said old cars are pieces of garbage and new cars with all the computers are much better.
Title: Re: This hobby is dying
Post by: jwbavalon on June 05, 2022, 07:11:47 PM
I hope you are wrong Scott but maybe not.  A few years ago, I entered my restored  '71 Opel GT in the Import Class at a local car show only to lose out for 2nd place to a brand new Kia Optima.  At least 1st place went to a 1968 Triumph TR6.
Title: Re: This hobby is dying
Post by: Sauron327 on June 05, 2022, 07:43:27 PM
I'm not wrong. Most young people today have very little mechanical aptitude and think a classic car is junk. Just saw a fart pipe owner go down the street with a tailpipe sticking out 2 feet at a 45 degree upward. Lot of classics cars are going overseas. The two elusive brothers out west amassing a over a billion dollar collection of classics is unbelievable. Kids today would think they are junk. I'm 56 and see it all the time. My friend is raising his 18 year old nephew and teaching him how to appreciate old cars and work on them. Pretty rare today.

I've also read that some classic owners would gladly convert their cars to EV. Yup, just yank out that original 427 and install a battery.
Title: Re: This hobby is dying
Post by: maroman on June 05, 2022, 08:27:10 PM
People are stupid, they buy what they are told to buy. In the 60 and 70's it was HP.  Then it was minivans, then SUVs {how many of you have them?} and now the push is electric. Doesn't matter if it makes sense it's what people are being told to buy.
Title: Re: This hobby is dying
Post by: Sauron327 on June 05, 2022, 08:37:01 PM
Sheep. I have a 70 year old friend with a classic car collection that owns a hybrid, but he is not giving up his musclecars. Another friend had a hybrid but the battery was junk and replacing it was not worth it. He junked it. But he has over 50 gas and diesel powered vehicles he can jump in. I get ridiculed for my 97 crew cab Powerstroke. A guy in a Prius once looked at my 67 and shook his head in disgust. Dying breed.
Title: Re: This hobby is dying
Post by: crossboss on June 06, 2022, 12:56:35 AM
Sheep. I have a 70 year old friend with a classic car collection that owns a hybrid, but he is not giving up his musclecars. Another friend had a hybrid but the battery was junk and replacing it was not worth it. He junked it. But he has over 50 gas and diesel powered vehicles he can jump in. I get ridiculed for my 97 crew cab Powerstroke. A guy in a Prius once looked at my 67 and shook his head in disgust. Dying breed.



Gotta good story, and a payback to the lib greenies. Here goes: several years ago I was doing this film shoot (I'm a cameraman) at this posh Beverly Hills hotel and when it was finished everyone was waiting for their cars from the valet. There was this group of female reporters bragging about their Priuses, and 'saving' the world. My (then) 2005 Mustang GT arrives from the valet, and I turn toward the libs, and say "My Mustang burns rubber and gas!". I got this look of shock and horror from them. I promptly left 2 stripes of rubber in that snobby hotel.
Moral to the story: I will NEVER own an electric car, or get rid of my 'old' dinosaur Muscle Cars!
Title: Re: This hobby is dying
Post by: MO on June 06, 2022, 03:12:50 AM
To me, this is really no more than changing attitudes and taste. It's obviously how the guys that held model A's and T's, and other early cars, as well as hot rods in such high esteem. They saw the same diminishing interest. The hobby isn't dying, as evidenced by the continually escalating prices, but the fan base is getting smaller. My kids like the cars I like because they grew up around them, but they gravitate to today's technology, style and comfort. Their kids will only know current model trends.
Title: Re: This hobby is dying
Post by: camaroboy68ss on June 06, 2022, 04:19:21 AM
Its not fully dying, but I will say the restoration and preservation group is getting smaller, but I know quite a few people my age (30) and younger than still love playing with muscle cars and older stuff. Then there is still the massive group that like to LS swap all the old cars, I guess that's better than just tossing out the old stuff for scrap, but then to defend the younger crowd, its not cheap to restore or just maintain the old cars. When I look at project first gen Camaro's it hard for many to buy a decent project. Was just looking at a 69 RS coupe on facebook. 16 grand for a car that had the bottom 2 inches rotted off, no drivetrain, half the interior missing. Then all the metal work just to make it a solid base is gonna make many go broke.

I admit I have hoped that the early hot rods would start to get cheap as that age group that preferred them started dying off, but the pricing has only gone up, have not dropped at all.
Title: Re: This hobby is dying
Post by: 69Z28-RS on June 06, 2022, 12:24:59 PM
As long as we keep DRIVING our older cars, where they can be SEEN by the public at large, then they will be appreciated.   It wasn't all just horsepower and noise for the older classics (as compared to newer vehicles)... Go back and look at some of the '60's ads for our cars... you won't look at many before you realize their appeal (compared to new cars today) Is also about STYLE...   new cars have NONE...  :)
Title: Re: This hobby is dying
Post by: crossboss on June 06, 2022, 03:20:07 PM
I tend to agree with most comments here. Yes, the 'Resto-Mod' crowd/trend is keeping the hobby alive. I support it. I also support keeping the pedigree of significant cars/models 'correct'. I also support vintage 'Hot-Rods' and 'race cars' of the past. Thats my worthless two cents...
Title: Re: This hobby is dying
Post by: David K on June 06, 2022, 03:33:08 PM
A good indicator would be cruise nights, cars and coffee, car shows, and swap meets. If you’ve done any of these lately, you already know that trend changed with the Charger 4 door Hemi years ago. If you watch Mecum or B.J. auctions, how many model Ts, As, or cars from the 30-s-early 50s are there? Not many, and every fan base is decreasing by the minute. Not everyone has to love or appreciate the muscle car era cars, as to each his own. I found my brother his 67 vert and he took it with him to SoCal in 97. He still drives it and is the cool dad with all the moms. The kids love the loud exhaust too. You don’t have to like a car with a fart can (I said fart), and pay it no mind because it doesn’t interest you. I’m sure back in the late 50s and early 60’s, there were a lot of parents shaking their heads about the young whipper snappers driving fast; and girls wearing fewer clothes. JMHO.
Title: Re: This hobby is dying
Post by: 169INDY on June 06, 2022, 04:59:40 PM
"A good indicator would be cruise nights, cars and coffee, car shows, and swap meets. "

For me a Good indicator is people are restoring Four doors and wagons,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,amazing!

ALOT of parts and car will be available in the Next 20 years! (That was not a Gorey negative statement) just an eventuality - reality. 

as a point My family had to (Chose to) liquidate Dads Model T's, Packard, Hudson Etc, just as someone will distribute my Super sports and Z, as the world turns.
Enjoy them (& the friends) as best you can
Title: Re: This hobby is dying
Post by: vtfb68 on June 06, 2022, 05:13:58 PM
Just wondering how many of us have cell phones or have benefited from modern medicine ? We are clearly on the world wide web. Older generation rodders decried flathead swaps, thought the world was ending then too. life goes on regardless of opinions. We should be happy with our life's and what we have accomplished. Me, me, me will never be a winning strategy.
 Hope we are not chasing kids off our lawns either. MTC
     
        VT
Title: Re: This hobby is dying
Post by: Sauron327 on June 07, 2022, 12:50:52 AM
Was just looking at a 69 RS coupe on facebook. 16 grand for a car that had the bottom 2 inches rotted off, no drivetrain, half the interior missing. Then all the metal work just to make it a solid base is gonna make many go broke.

I recently bought a '71 429 Cobra Jet 4speed Torino driver with 70 percent original paint. Drove it home 25 miles then drove it to one of my storage places. 68K miles on the odometer and the car reflects it. $12,500. Minimal bodywork. I do this everyday as a resto biz. Without a network, most people are paying way too much. I will not pay $16K for a pos unless the car is valuable.
Title: Re: This hobby is dying
Post by: crossboss on June 07, 2022, 03:15:15 AM
Was just looking at a 69 RS coupe on facebook. 16 grand for a car that had the bottom 2 inches rotted off, no drivetrain, half the interior missing. Then all the metal work just to make it a solid base is gonna make many go broke.

I recently bought a '71 429 Cobra Jet 4speed Torino driver with 70 percent original paint. Drove it home 25 miles then drove it to one of my storage places. 68K miles on the odometer and the car reflects it. $12,500. Minimal bodywork. I do this everyday as a resto biz. Without a network, most people are paying way too much. I will not pay $16K for a pos unless the car is valuable.



Excellent deal! You purchased a pretty rare car for $12.5K, AND drove it home! This proves there are deals out there...IF you know where to look.
Title: Re: This hobby is dying
Post by: MO on June 07, 2022, 03:48:07 AM
The key is to own what you like regardless of value. That way when/if the value falls, you won't be disappointed, you'll still have the car of your dreams.
Title: Re: This hobby is dying
Post by: GMAD_Van Nuys on June 07, 2022, 04:18:51 PM
I was talking to someone at our local monthly cars & coffee show on Saturday as he was interested in buying a 1965/1966 Mustang fastback to restore with his daughter, who was just hired at JPL in Pasadena, CA.  It turns out that he had 2 1970 Cudas that he bought in the early 1980s, one was a 440, the other being a 426 Hemi.  Both cars had been sitting in the garage since the 1980s and needed some attention, but he hadn't gotten around to working on them.
Title: Re: This hobby is dying
Post by: David K on June 09, 2022, 12:28:24 AM
Thinking Restoration on the ‘Cuda is the better way to go.
Title: Re: This hobby is dying
Post by: BULLITT65 on June 09, 2022, 04:36:26 PM
The key is to own what you like regardless of value. That way when/if the value falls, you won't be disappointed, you'll still have the car of your dreams.
great point.
I think here are new fans of classic cars everyday coming out of the woodwork. *BUT keep in mind there are another round of new cars coming out every year, that are eye candy to some new generation. Trends come and go, but at worst a classic car from any decade may plateau a bit, but most of them rebound and keep pace with the overall market. 4 doors wagons,  being restored or preserved only proves there is a strong attraction to older cars(older truck market 60s-90s is red hot). Plus the 20 yr old cars that are now legal to import to the U.S. My coworkers were just talking about the Ford Focus RS (import track monster) 40k equivalent price in the UK, which seems nuts to me. 

Thing is there are so many options of course classic cars will get watered down, but they are a staple and proven blue chip, AND they aren't making any more of them. 🙂
Title: Re: This hobby is dying
Post by: crossboss on June 13, 2022, 05:54:59 AM
Went to my local Cars & Coffee this Sunday. Majority of the cars were from the 60s, and a couple from the 50s and 80s. Sadly, all the owners are quite old. That said, this crowd is known for that. On the flip side, the Friday night 'Cruise Nights' are usually a mixed bag of younger/old along with the vehicles. Two distinct crowds. Everyone is very nice. One thing that I did observe among most of the cars regardless of make/brand, that they all had the same modifications under the hood: Edelbrock intake, Holley/Edelbrock carb, headers, HEI type of ign, chrome valve covers, etc. It reminds me of the 1980s at the street races. Pretty boring to say the least.
Title: Re: This hobby is dying
Post by: camaronut on June 14, 2022, 04:37:01 PM
Like everything - its all coming sooner or later. 

I remember years ago (1993 maybe), a friend was selling his beautifully restored 1935 Chevy Master Coupe - this thing should have been in a museum, it won almost every award you could get.  He was selling it to help fund his daughters education...
He told me he was only getting offers way below its valued estimates from Hagerty, etc......I really felt bad for the guy....
But - the crowd for those kind of cars were "getting older" and thinner....no one came even close to what it was worth. 
He sold it cheap - someone got one helluva deal.

I'm afraid that scenario will follow suit for us too - sooner or later.
Title: Re: This hobby is dying
Post by: BULLITT65 on June 14, 2022, 05:13:01 PM
I doubt the scenario will be the same. If there is enough desire for the first gen camaro for dynacorn to build bodies of them, and how having a 5 seat muscle car can still be a practical fun driver. I would worry more about some of the corvette models. The owners of those are getting long in the tooth, and I think some of those C3 and C4 models could have trouble in collectability over the longer run
Title: Re: This hobby is dying
Post by: crossboss on June 14, 2022, 07:17:21 PM
I doubt the scenario will be the same. If there is enough desire for the first gen camaro for dynacorn to build bodies of them, and how having a 5 seat muscle car can still be a practical fun driver. I would worry more about some of the corvette models. The owners of those are getting long in the tooth, and I think some of those C3 and C4 models could have trouble in collectability over the longer run



I also agree. 1980s-2000s 'Vettes are selling for great prices. Most are owned by older folks, so unlikely they are abused.
Title: Re: This hobby is dying
Post by: camaroboy68ss on June 28, 2022, 10:14:41 PM
I doubt the scenario will be the same. If there is enough desire for the first gen camaro for dynacorn to build bodies of them, and how having a 5 seat muscle car can still be a practical fun driver. I would worry more about some of the corvette models. The owners of those are getting long in the tooth, and I think some of those C3 and C4 models could have trouble in collectability over the longer run

Yeah those Vettes are finally on the upswing in value at least to me locally. 74-82 Vettes are jumping in value, you used to not be able to give a rubber bumper vette away. I was looking at 74/75 roadster and they are now bringing 30-45k depending on motor and trans. C4s used to be big for donor cars for street rods in the 90s and now clean base models are past the 15k mark when you used to get them under 10k not to long ago. Stuff like the ZR1s and Grand Sports are booming, even C5 Corvettes are starting to rise again. Same could be said with 3rd and 4th gen Camaro and Firebirds, their values have skyrocketed over the last year or two.
Title: Re: This hobby is dying
Post by: BULLITT65 on June 28, 2022, 10:49:54 PM
I was teaching my son to drive a 3 on the the tree this weekend, and passing on the info that while a popular set up back in the day, you hardly see them now. Fun times