For certain the so called "Collector Car" market is shrinking. A lot faster than most want to admit or fail to recognize. I was born in 1955 into a car crazy family starting with my grandfather, my dad, uncles and my one brother. My daughter likes VW's and is not really interested too much in the old car hobby but she indulges me when she visits. My brothers kids, not interested. Nor my cousins or their children. It's the same with the vast majority of my car friends offspring. More interested in computer games, etc.
 This story plays out where ever I go and listen to the geezers older than me as well as the geezers to be at my age. For example the price of original Model A Ford's has dropped signifigantly and the supply is better than it's been in decades. Why? Because the boomers and their kids that are inheriting them want a BMW instead. So they sell them as use the money towards one or another type of toy or vacation. Will they want a 25 year old BMW in their future? Not likely, eventhough there is exceptions it won't be widespread. It is very tough trying to sell my 4or 5 old cars now. The future will be even worse as younger people get involved in politics and policy making the only way they will be able to get elected is to frown upon such polluters as old automobiles.
 If you think I'm wrong, just listen to Al Gore, or go to a Sierra Club meeting. The Glory Days of the Collector Car have ended as we know them. Adapting to the future and making yourself heard when "clunker bills" are up for public debate is imperitive for the hobby. Get out and drive your old car is the best thing you can do.

As father of 3 next generation, 18, 20, 23 I have come to realize and accept long ago that my children are not me. I do not live vicariously through them nor do I expect them to like and like what I do. I am proud of them for who they are.

Funny you feel young Darryl because sometimes I go to cruises and swaps and I feel so out of place I just want to leave because I feel young. I'm born in 1957 and I can't help but think that holding on to the past is rather pathetic when I am out at a lot of these venues.

The more I go out to these events and the more people I meet I realize that there is no future in this hobby, so many closed doors and backward opinions keep it to an exclusive dying minority. For anything to grow it has to be open minded and inclusive and lets face it, if it hasn't got a V8 and rear wheel drive and its not made in Canada or the USA its garbage attitude is very prevelent.

The hobby is dying and we have only ourselves to blame.

The sport of collecting cars will not die it will just be what we call tuner cars. It may not seem right to us but think about it the cars a lot of us collect had not even been built when you got your licence. That's why our club welcomes all cars, trucks, bikes, tuners,and even a VW van . It does not matter what you drive or how nice it is just bring it out and hold your head high. One of our members has a Civic with twin turbos putting out 421HP at the wheels.Its not for me but you must admire the guys work the car is beautiful.

-- Edited by 57poncho on Monday 19th of April 2010 04:33:50 PM

yup this is it ask a question and not two minutes later i have the answer. There is a club up here or down here how ever you want to look at some of the guys are cool some arnt oh well. The coolest guy calls my venturas modern rats (rat rods i hope) His car is a model a (kit Kar) rat with a susuki motor cycle engine that thing is so cool. This guy is just a guru he don't car what you drive as long as you drive it.

I blame the insurance companies. hahaha I don't care what any one else says, but there premiums are jokes when It comes to younger drivers. How can you get into a classic car hobby when they want 10 000 dollar premiums ON TOP of your daily drivers?
I called over 12 companies to get insurance, utterly a joke. That for sure is one thing thats killing the hobby, joke insurance prices. 1 Car insurance company wanted 13 000 a year for pleasure use on the car. Other insurance company said call back in 6 years. what kind of crap is that. Thanks to these jokers, you buy the car and let it rot. until you are over 25.

My opinion, this just makes the minority get to even less of a number, like I said, how can you drive a car that you can't insure (or rich out of your mind to pay rediculious premiums)

I was so tempted to sell it and buy a NEW challenger, if I didn't have to save for a house at such a young age.

68 427 wrote:

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I OFFERED TO GIVE MY NEPHEW A CAR WHEN HE WAS 14...ONE CATCH, IT NEEDED WORK. I TOLD HIM I WOULD GIVE HIM A HAND WITH IT AND TEACH HIM SOMETHING ALONG THE WAY. HE HAD ACCESS TO A 2 CAR GARAGE AT HOME, AND GRAMPA WAS GOING TO FINANCE MOST OF IT. COULDN'T BE BOTHERED TO PRY HIMSELF AWAY FROM HIS COMPUTER. I WOULD HAVE BEEN ON CLOUD NINE IF SOMEONE HAD MADE ME AN OFFER LIKE THAT WHEN I WAS YOUNG. HE IS NOW 18 AND STILL WALKING EVERYWHERE...ON THE PLUS SIDE, HE DOES NEED THE EXERCISE!

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I agree, would have been extremely pleased if a car was given to me, Hell. I would be pleased if I actually had a place to work on the car.

 

mike667 wrote:

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68 427 wrote:

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I OFFERED TO GIVE MY NEPHEW A CAR WHEN HE WAS 14...ONE CATCH, IT NEEDED WORK. I TOLD HIM I WOULD GIVE HIM A HAND WITH IT AND TEACH HIM SOMETHING ALONG THE WAY. HE HAD ACCESS TO A 2 CAR GARAGE AT HOME, AND GRAMPA WAS GOING TO FINANCE MOST OF IT. COULDN'T BE BOTHERED TO PRY HIMSELF AWAY FROM HIS COMPUTER. I WOULD HAVE BEEN ON CLOUD NINE IF SOMEONE HAD MADE ME AN OFFER LIKE THAT WHEN I WAS YOUNG. HE IS NOW 18 AND STILL WALKING EVERYWHERE...ON THE PLUS SIDE, HE DOES NEED THE EXERCISE!

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I agree, would have been extremely pleased if a car was given to me, Hell. I would be pleased if I actually had a place to work on the car.

 

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same

 

I agree with the Barrett Jackson comment.
But I also want to add, that I also have to agree, that some, not a whole lot, actually had good prices at some local car shows, like the barrie flea market one. Like that 1969 Cougar, new paint job, new interior, 3 Grand only.

tc wrote:

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Hey !!!! Whoa Whoa !!!! How come so much gloom and doom about the hobby we all love and enjoy.

 

 

You get that way when you can't drive it because of dumb insurance.

tc wrote:

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Hey !!!! Whoa Whoa !!!! How come so much gloom and doom about the hobby we all love and enjoy. I agree there is a lule in the action in the collector car market right now. The prices dropping was way overdue (On Certain Cars) and don,t forget the reccession we are in at the present time. I firmly believe when the world economic situation turns around you will see a slow and steady increase in price and demand. I buy and sell several 50's and60's cars annually and have had little problem selling any of them. I agree the silver hair crowd (which I am one of) are the backbone of the hobby. History has proven and I firmly believe there will always be a buyer for an old car. Lower pricing will create interest and new buyers to the hobby. There not making these cars anymore and the population is growing. Lets face it old cars are still a better investment than a new one. LONG LIVE THE OLD CAR.........

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We still need a take a kid to a car show progeram!   good responce

 

I saw some American 40's era car the other day that had been restored and I wondered how the fella could find parts for such an obscure model of car. I would hazard to guess that if it wasn't for the internet and Kijiji/EBay, the car wouldn't be on the road. I'm also guessing the guy watches shows such as Car Krazy, or Stacey David's Gears etc to give him the motivation and remind him how much he likes the hobby. I also saw an interview with Carol Shelby who was commenting on the amazing and wonderful things that the kids are doing now-a-days with the imports and such. We also have kids playing video games that are choosing from cars like '68 Chargers, '57 Chevy's, and Nissan's. As well we have a generation that is more enviromentally aware. When I was a kid and some were drooling over the model A's and T's, I was into the muscle cars. I didn't "get" the rods. Yet there are some kids now that are well versed in ratrods. Bottom line, things are changing as they always do, and todays parents are saying the same things that our parents said about us.
I for one am thrilled that I can get so many after market parts for my car. I also don't mind the thought that many of these cars/parts are coming down in price so that I might be able to upgrade some day. Enjoy it while you can. Before Justin Timberlake does a movie with a Cdn Poncho in a costarring role, which will drive the prices up again!...LOL

73SC wrote:

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68 427 wrote:

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I OFFERED TO GIVE MY NEPHEW A CAR WHEN HE WAS 14...ONE CATCH, IT NEEDED WORK. I TOLD HIM I WOULD GIVE HIM A HAND WITH IT AND TEACH HIM SOMETHING ALONG THE WAY. HE HAD ACCESS TO A 2 CAR GARAGE AT HOME, AND GRAMPA WAS GOING TO FINANCE MOST OF IT. COULDN'T BE BOTHERED TO PRY HIMSELF AWAY FROM HIS COMPUTER. I WOULD HAVE BEEN ON CLOUD NINE IF SOMEONE HAD MADE ME AN OFFER LIKE THAT WHEN I WAS YOUNG. HE IS NOW 18 AND STILL WALKING EVERYWHERE...ON THE PLUS SIDE, HE DOES NEED THE EXERCISE!

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I can't help but think what your nephew would say if he saw what was written here.

 

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Probably the same things that we said about our parents when they had idea's that didn't align with ours...

Mark Twain once said  "When I was a boy of 14, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be 21, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years."

-- Edited by 03cts sport on Monday 19th of April 2010 09:27:49 PM