Kids These Days

[FinallyRearDrive]

Hey guys,
  So I've been doing a lot of thinking lately and I've developed a concern regarding one of the greatest era's Detroit has ever had, and where these classics are heading.
   I started thinking about it when I pulled up to a gas pump in my 'Cuda last January or February. In the station, there was a group of about six or so kids, probably my age (23 for those who don't know me), and they were all standing around talking about how awesome their rice rockets are, hoods open and everything, and more than likely exchanging stories about how they "walked all over this Porsche the other day" or something of that nature. Then I pull up in my little red big block... they all stop talking, look over at my car, and welcome me to the Shell station with the most intense stink-eye I've ever been given. They drop down to whispers, and I can't make out the whole conversation, but I can pick out words like old, unreliable, inefficient, and some other adjectives that are less than praising. When I finished the most awkward fill up of my life I noticed they were still glaring at me and my car, so I left a couple black marks and a cloud of tire smoke to show what the "old" girl's still got.
   Now, I'm definitely not one to care what others think about me. I've owned modern cars in the past which didn't meet everyone's approval, and it never bothered me. But to hear them say what they said to show disapproval for a car just because it's from 1970 was a little discouraging. Since that night, I've been talking to all my buddies, the kids I work with, classmates, and anyone my age that would talk to me. Nobody had any interest in any kind of classic car. One girl thought I drove a 'Cuda because I couldn't afford anything better. And one guy said he would keep a '66 Mustang if someone gave him one and he didn't have to work on it too much.
     This brings me to my point....
   When Generation X-er's take over the world, what's going to happen to our cars? I've been wondering a lot lately about what happens to some of the greatest cars ever built if the only car market is made of people who only want the latest and greatest. Obviously I'm a kid and favor these cars over anything modern, and I know I'm not the only one, but kids who share my passion are very few and far between. Does anyone else out there share my concern? or am I just worrying about nothing here? Do you think the value will plummet on every muscle car since there won't be as much demand? I know how it works: these cars are only worth what someone's willing to pay for it, but if nobody's willing to pay anything... then what? And what happens to the cars that can't be sold? I love the phrase "don't crush 'em, restore 'em" but I've never heard someone my age use it.....

[brads70]

Ya that's a common concern, all I can say is I have 3 boys aged 10-15 and they all like older cars, the youngest wants a 69 Charger, the other 2 are Ford and GM nuts. ( At least it's North American)
They all love riding around in the Challenger. The oldest REALLY likes getting picked up or dropped off at highschool as it always draws a crowd. Sometimes girls too! 
I hear what your saying.... but al is not lost. There are still some kids that are into them!

[Bullitt-]

Just need to look at what has happened to the pre-war cars today for a possible answer. There are the museum pieces, an handful of owners who keep them faithfully, then many that customize with modern V-8s.
I imagine that some day, perhaps your kids or grand kids, will be shoehorning in the latest hot E-Volt or Flux Capacitor Charged power train into an E-Body .   

[AARCUDADEN]

Funny you started this post, we just talked about this saturday nite at the super cruise in Heath Ohio for the mopar nats. The local ricers were trying to be part of the act and the idiots just don't get it cause its not about you or your generation ricers. The knuckleheads were trying to impress everyone with thier front wheel burnouts and thumping boom boxes. A friend says just think thats the future classics of tomorrow    Sad part is hes right 

[HP2]

Well, Gen Xers are already buying and building them somewhat extensively as these were the cheap cars that were almost 20 years old and easily available when we were in high school and a lot of us now have the means to restore them. FWIW Gen X is those born between 1965 and 1980. Gen Y is 1980 to 1995. Linksters are all those born after that and Millenials are those born into teh post 9/11 world.

Funny thing is I've seen plenty of unreliable, inefficient, supposedly hopped up FWD new cars. Yeah, some of them make stupid amounts of power per litre, but they also deal with broken half shafts, split transaxles and other mechanical maladies, not to mention the host of electrical gremlins that are introduced as GPS, mega stereos and other electronics are klugged in to the system. But, despite that and the differences in mechanical choices, they are still gearheads and in the hobby. That means they will learn and adapt to the changing scene around them as they get older.

As example, when my parents where young, the hot (ie expensive) collectors cars were Duesenbergs, Stutz, and other early hot rods that came from the factories with special equipmeni. Guess what, as our grandparents pass away these cars still retain their collectible status and are still highly prozed and expensive. While muscle cars are edging in to that territory as well, those original factory hot rods from the pre-war era are still expensive and collectible. When the Baby Boomers start to pass on and Gen Xers start to retire, collectible vehicles will still be collectible and will still be expensive and well to do Gen Y and Linksters will start buying them. The range of what consitutes a classic will similarly expand and premium examples of select models will still command premium pricing. Will there be some big boom in restoring pedestrian Hondas, unlikely, but rare cars will still be rare and still become collectible.

[Aussie Challenger]

Well said HP2, it is also funny that back in the day many used the "No Radio" option when buying a car but now days this is the first thing that is a "must have" in these ricers and of course it must be LOUD.

[GranCuda1970]

I am a Gen X-er and your car is safe with me, I hate the ricers cars too. I was a kid in the back seat when mommy and daddy were driving them new. My daughter is a Gen Y-er and she love my barracuda and watches me work on her, the millenials who knows , lots of young gunners out there. 70's Mopars are timeless and IMHO are still the best looking cars out there.

[GranCuda1970]

The biggest problem I am seeing with the generational spread is the they are not on the Road!!! The more they are seen on the road in the spring / summer the more people like em and want to drive em, own em, build em. This summer other than shows I rarely see one, any mopar!!!!,.... as soon as mine is done it will be seen alot. I can count on 1 hand the # i have seen on the road through spring and summer.

[Chryco Psycho]

I look back further @ the Duesenbergs & Model A  cars , in there prime when the people who really appreciated them were well off probably in there 50-60 s the Duesenbergs were worth over 1 million . Now they are worth approx 1/4 - 1/3 of that maybe , Do you want one ... me neither .
 Even now I look at the newer cars that easily & reliably make as much power with far better braking & handling drivability & comfort compared to old muscle & wonder why I don't go buy a new Chall ,built a stroker & twin turbo it . It could be driven anywhere with decent milage .
Don't get me wrong I am as hardcore as they come loving old Muscle but i have built stroker engines with EFI & they run far better , I have no interest anymore in total 3S matching resto , I far prefer to add new technology into the mix & improve the breed further .
 I was at the local track last weekend & there were apporx 10 old muscle cars there , & 100s of import tuners , the fastest car of the weekend was an all wheel drive Subaru forester running turbo & NOS , he had better traction with all whell drive & drove around a 69 Camaro back 1/2 car running 500+ hp to a best time of 9.98 putting the Camaro on the trailer . Some of these cars will always be preserved , a lot will be left to rot , assuming we are even allowed to drive them & the gov doesn't succeed in legislating then off the raods entirely . I do not see a bright future for these cars ulimatly

[dodj]

This summer other than shows I rarely see one, any mopar

As far as I can tell, my Challenger is the only e-body on the street around here. Been a few years since I've seen a 'Cuda being driven. 

[ChallengerHK]

When I was a kid, when I first bought my car, we made fun of Chevies and Fords and Pontiacs, and Japanese cars were beneath contempt. Point is, we were just like the kids you encountered, except that we were contemptuous of different things.

At the same time I find lots of kids today, even ricers, who are interested in my car. Especially when they find out about everything I've done with it and plan to do with it, they're pretty genuinely inquisitive.

But, by the time the next generation comes along, there won't be too many left to fix up, and most of the drivers will be firmly in the hands of people like me. The rest will be in museums and collections and will never see the road. I haven't seen any huge movement to move on to 80s cars, so I don't think that's going to happen, and I agree with whoever said upstream that kids buy whatever's cheap at the moment, so I don't think there will be too many younger types getting into old musclecars from here on out.

[GranCuda1970]

I'll tell you what I never see , maybe a few at shows..... The late 50's Mopars, Fury's, New Yorkers, Savoys' Love those cars NEVER SEE EM'.

[ChallengerHK]

I'll tell you what I never see , maybe a few at shows..... The late 50's Mopars, Fury's, New Yorkers, Savoys' Love those cars NEVER SEE EM'.

There's a guy in Cape Fear Mopars in Fayetteville, NC who has a beautiful 58 Fury, and there's a 58 New Yorker that I think is complete in a very overpriced junkyard near there. Would love to have it.

[GranCuda1970]

I have bad dreams about what may have happened to my Granpops 57 New yorkers , 57 300 and 57 desoto fireflyte. I hope they are still in good condition. He drove the desoto daily when he was alive. Beautiful big wing cars, Plush interiors.

[joef89]

i know exactly what you mean people are so happy when i show up to a car show with my car (me being only 22). The older generation is so happy to see some one young that is trying to cary on the tradition. i get it all the time these kids with supercharged rice rockets talk about how bad and awesome there car are, and its very disappointing because im from the motor capital, michigan. you would think people from this area would have some of the most respect for these cars. Concerns do arise as to what will happen to these cars in the future, with the growing rise of scrap prices i would be afraid that they would all just be sent to scrap.