State of the Hobby

[PA_65_Plymouth]

Being 51 I’m wondering what everyone’s thoughts on the state of our hobby, more so the future of it?
I may be wrong just an opinion here but I feel like we’re getting down to the end of where younger kids are interested in our old cars for fun (not just for there value) went to a few cruises this year and watched kids walk past not just mine but all the old cars just to go look at new Challengers, Camaros etc.


Happy Thanksgiving All!

 

[wahya]

I get what you are saying. Some of these car shows that they let the viewers vote seem to favor a brand new something that the owner has “tricked out” over a older car that was meticulously worked on and beautiful. Then there are young ones that stop by and say wow I really like your car. If they don’t say that about your car, you’re in the wrong group.

 

[PlymCrazy]

Thank you and Happy Thanksgiving to you as well.

I’m 49 and I wonder this same thing often. Are we a breed that is soon to be no more with this hobby?

But then I ask myself “how did I acquire a taste for this hobby”? It was because people close to me that I respected and cared about influenced me with their old cars. And left positive memories related to them. I find myself regularly reliving those memories as I drive and wrench on mine.

The challenge for me is to have this same influence on my children so they too will have positive memories. Memories they associate with the hobby. Hoping this will be the key to successfully passing the passion for these old cars to the next generation around me.

But we’ll see. The world and our culture seems to moving and changing at a pace like never before. God only knows I guess.

 

[69L48Z27]

Hobby is fine. Plenty of ‘kids’ at the swap meets and shows around here. Keep in mind, when most were 20 something they probably couldn’t afford what you have today, I couldn’t. I’m not as old as you are but I still feel I can’t afford the cars I still want. The 2010’ish thru current day models reinvented this muscle car era. The future of gasoline will likely have a bigger impact vs interest.

 

[PA_65_Plymouth]

I get what you are saying. Some of these car shows that they let the viewers vote seem to favor a brand new something that the owner has “tricked out” over an older car that was meticulously worked on and beautiful. Then there are young ones that stop by and say wow I really like your car. If they don’t say that about your car, you’re in the wrong group.

I don’t care if they don’t like my car or I win any awards that’s not what I’m about anyway, just feel like they look at old cars like dinosaur,if it’s not a “street outlaw” style car or something that needs a “tune” it’s not appreciated
A guy brought an unrestored 28 ford to the car show and i couldn’t get enough of it! Literally just stared at it and thought about the history behind it and what it’s been through in its life. I’m a nostalgic person I guess
My point to this post was I was curious what others thought about things.

I have a 20 year old son that I have tried for years to be into cars and while he likes them he says it just doesn’t interest him that much and I don’t force it on him.

 

[davek]

No clue of what these kids are thinking,My grandson loves the rice burners.

 

[Richard Cranium]

The future means that there will be plenty of musclecar deals in the next 20 to 25 years when most of us are pushing up daisies and our kids fire sale them.

 

[Speedbird]

I've seen nice cars get passed down to grandchildren who had no interest in them. (Sports Ball Fan).
They got sold.
But other grandchildren would have wanted them not only for what they were but for sentimental reasons.
I think it's something one just gets or not.
Like math.
"The words of the prophet are written on the subway wall.."
Simon and Garfinkle (sic)

 

[Outlawd]

It's obvious to me that the hobby will diminish slowly as time moves on. I would think it will take a few generations before the interest in muscle cars is done for most. Hell I really don't care what future hobbies will consist of, I'm just glad to be living in this generation of car enthusiasts and if everybody suddenly decides they don't care for muscle cars I'm still going to enjoy them till I'm gone.

 

[Big Bad Dad]

History repeats itself. I grew up in a car family. My Parents were charter members of the local AACA club. I remember riding in my Dad's Model T and Model A. He and Mom would drive them any time out on the streets. They had cruises to various places around the state. I remember riding the Model A in a long line of cars, some of which are now ultra high dollar rides. Think classic Packards, Rolls Royce, Cadillacs, etc of the 1920s and 30s. Now, you only see an occasional Model A at a show. Hardly ever a T, and the big classics are in museums or private collections and never see the light of day.
I was a charter member of the local Mopar club we started in 1986. It was mostly all muscle cars of the 60s and 70s, with a couple of 50s cars showing up occasionally. We would cruise all over SW Virginia and down to Bristol Tenn. quite often. I am no longer active in the club. They still put on a fairly large show every year, but have opened it up to Jeeps, AMC, and even Hudsons. (I guess Hudson got merged into the Mopar or AMC mix..) Anyway, the shows usually have a decent smatter of muscle cars and antiques from the 50s and earlier. But it has largely gone to the new Challengers and Chargers, as well as a bunch of tricked out Jeeps, etc. I don't think there are many club members left that have the old muscle cars now. Time marches on......

 

[Cheapsunglasses]

Oh great another, the end is near for our hobby thread! How many of these threads do we need?

 

[eldubb440]

Oh great another, the end is near for our hobby thread! How many of these threads do we need?

View attachment 1377816

don't make me get the belt. youngster

 

[Demonic]

It all goes in cycles. For those of us in our 50 and 60, the brass era cars seem really old, and I suspect most of us relate to the cars of the 60's. The kids today see 60's cars the way we see a curved dash Olds. No fault, just time marching on.

 

[Cheapsunglasses]

don't make me get the belt. youngster

 

[eldubb440]

It all goes in cycles. For those of us in our 50 and 60, the brass era cars seem really old, and I suspect most of us relate to the cars of the 60's. The kids today see 60's cars the way we see a curved dash Olds. No fault, just time marching on.


View attachment 1377825

problem is cars were cool from the beginning till the 70s........ young people today have nothing to relate to in comparison........ 4 door chargers?, pluuuleeeezse

 

[eldubb440]

Boy, I'll light you up!

 

[Demonic]

Drive a 4dr Charger with a supercharged 6.4. There's plenty to relate to.

 

[DeltaV]

It all goes in cycles. For those of us in our 50 and 60, the brass era cars seem really old, and I suspect most of us relate to the cars of the 60's. The kids today see 60's cars the way we see a curved dash Olds. No fault, just time marching on.


View attachment 1377825

Guilty as charged, but I now pay attention to the 1920's to early/mid 1950's cars; and occasional panel truck.

 

[eldubb440]

modern stuff is just not my cup of tea...... anything can be made to perform, but few look cool doing it......in my little world, cars stopped being built in 1971

 

[68-500]

I think it’s just fine. Several months ago I limped my car to the local car show. Being in current non restored almost not street worthy I parked off in a corner by myself. I was very surprised at the number of people who liked the car. And to seal the deal on the return trip home to girls maybe 18 pull-up beside me and said cool car. I was flabbergasted I didn’t think girls that age gave 2 shits about cars like ours especially ratty ones