Trump and Our Cars

[Bruzilla]

Lots of good opinions here... and more than a bit of wishful thinking. The market is going down, and has been for close to a decade. This truth really hit home for me on Saturday when I watched a 1969 COPO Camaro sell at Barrett-Jackson for $120,000. That sounds like a lot, but I remember back when Reggie Jackson bought his and paid a whopping $800k or so and all the buzz was how the COPOs were going to be the first million-dollar Camaros. Then just after 2010 when he sold it, I recall it barely brought in $300k, and now we're seeing COPOs struggling to bring in $100k. It used to be owning any Superbird was a license to print $300k, and I just saw a 440-6 car struggle to get over $100k, while a bunch of late 80s Mustangs and Camaros were going in the mid $30ks. A few years ago, they were struggling to get $5k.

Purchases for cars like ours have always been driven by investment and emotion. The investors are leaving, thank God, and now the emotion buyers are getting control back, but as has been pointed out, there are fewer and fewer of us who have an emotional connection to these cars. Yes, there are some younger folks who like them, but there are nowhere near enough of them to replace us as we die off or drop out of the market. These folks want cars they have an emotional connection to, like the 80s and 90s rides, or they want an old school look with a modern ride, which is what's driving the restomod market.

But the big question is, as the market continues to tank, and collector car prices get lower and lower, will those lower prices induce more younger folks to want an older car? I would love to say yes, but the other side of the issue is I grew up in a time when every guy, and a lot of gals, took auto shop class. Working on cars was natural to us. Now we have more and more kids who think "Go to Jiffy Lube" is how you change your oil, tune ups... what are tune ups?, and who can live without A/C, cruise control, and a video display screen in their car. Totally different mindset and priorities from what us older guys have.

 

[fwi]

The smartphone and social media have replaced our old preoccupation with hot rods.

 

[Superb Bee]

Maybe it is the "stick with what you know" theory at work here. Most of us grew up with these cars, the younger generations likely have more interest in what they grew up with.
The day will come when B-J's hot sellers will be the rice burners with fart pipes!

This is already happening, I seen a Toyota 1.8 (like an 81) sell for money I wouldn't pay for 15 of them if they had no miles on them... First thing I said to my brother who was at the auction with me was "that's for just that one car?" he laughed but I was serious, I thought the guy was buying a fleet of them..

 

[Bruzilla]

The smartphone and social media have replaced our old preoccupation with hot rods.

Lot of truth to that. My son was dating a gal and he was looking at buying a new F-150, and she was like "why do you even need a car these days? That's what Uber is for. Why pay all that money for something that sits around doing nothing most of the day?" I had to admit, she has a point. When you've got hundreds of uber drivers running around, who will take you wherever you want to go for a couple of bucks, paying $500 or more a month for a vehicle doesn't make much practical sense.

 

[Superb Bee]

Lot of truth to that. My son was dating a gal and he was looking at buying a new F-150, and she was like "why do you even need a car these days? That's what Uber is for. Why pay all that money for something that sits around doing nothing most of the day?" I had to admit, she has a point. When you've got hundreds of uber drivers running around, who will take you wherever you want to go for a couple of bucks, paying $500 or more a month for a vehicle doesn't make much practical sense.

In a city that could work, but out in the country I feel it would be impractical, and if you need to go to work every day, screw that..


I feel like as soon as the "uber serial killer" trend takes off and people start having ubers take them to bank robberies, and they start putting it in the news everytime an uber driver gets raped or robbed, it will be all over..

 

[Cranky]

Lot of truth to that. My son was dating a gal and he was looking at buying a new F-150, and she was like "why do you even need a car these days? That's what Uber is for. Why pay all that money for something that sits around doing nothing most of the day?" I had to admit, she has a point. When you've got hundreds of uber drivers running around, who will take you wherever you want to go for a couple of bucks, paying $500 or more a month for a vehicle doesn't make much practical sense.

Who the hell wants to get in a car with some dumbass Uber driver!!? With all the crap that's been happening with them, I'll gladly spend the money on what it costs me for my OWN car with ME at the controls. That gal your son is dating sounds like some far left leaning lib to me....

 

[Nicknet]

I could definitely see the interest/price drop of the rare muscle cars "numbers matching" hemi, 440 six pack, etc. The younger generations don't care we weren't around when these cars were the top dogs on the streets. Plus now you can build what ever crazy combo of big cube high horse engine you want with after market parts.

'90s prices would be fun with a strong economy and cheap gas of course.

 

[Bruzilla]

Who the hell wants to get in a car with some dumbass Uber driver!!? With all the crap that's been happening with them, I'll gladly spend the money on what it costs me for my OWN car with ME at the controls. That gal your son is dating sounds like some far left leaning lib to me....

Who the Hell would want a car that smells like oil and mold and has no A/C or cruise? We have our own mindset based on how we grew up and they have theirs. Yes, that young lady will save thousands of dollars using uber, but waste hundreds of hours of her time waiting for her driver. I would rather spend the money and be able to roll when I want to, but that's the view of my generation.

 

[Bruzilla]

I could definitely see the interest/price drop of the rare muscle cars "numbers matching" hemi, 440 six pack, etc. The younger generations don't care we weren't around when these cars were the top dogs on the streets. Plus now you can build what ever crazy combo of big cube high horse engine you want with after market parts.

'90s prices would be fun with a strong economy and cheap gas of course.

Which goes to my point about lower gas prices driving the "Hellcat" effect. How much interest does a 60-year old Hemi car with 425 HP when more and more new cars have well over 450 HP? And as more and more kids who grew up in the 80s and 90s come into money, and start buying cars from their era, the aftermarket for their cars is growing by the day. Normally this wouldn't be an issue due to attrition rates with our cars over the decades, but hundreds of thousands of cars from the 60s and 70s that would have normally been scrapped were saved instead to capitalize on all the money in the market from investors.

Interesting times are coming...

 

[furyus]

I agree with what was said about the price of projects. I won't buy another project car until the prices come down. $12k for a project B Body, that needs everything is crazy in my opinion. The prices have climbed to ridiculous levels that my pay has not kept up with. Parts are the same. $40 for wipers. I don't want to spend that kind of money, plus the dedication it takes to build a car. So, for me, it's best to keep what I have.

 

[Nicknet]

Yeah interesting times to say the least Donald Trump is president!?!? Who sal that coming??

 

[747mopar]

I agree with what was said about the price of projects. I won't buy another project car until the prices come down. $12k for a project B Body, that needs everything is crazy in my opinion. The prices have climbed to ridiculous levels that my pay has not kept up with. Parts are the same. $40 for wipers. I don't want to spend that kind of money, plus the dedication it takes to build a car. So, for me, it's best to keep what I have.

Agreed, I paid $3,500 for my Charger about 14 years ago and now see much worse ones for $10,000! Stupid!

 

[Cranky]

Who the Hell would want a car that smells like oil and mold and has no A/C or cruise? We have our own mindset based on how we grew up and they have theirs. Yes, that young lady will save thousands of dollars using uber, but waste hundreds of hours of her time waiting for her driver. I would rather spend the money and be able to roll when I want to, but that's the view of my generation.

My cars don't smell like mold or oil and they have AC.....and the cruise control is controlled with my right foot

 

[Ron H]

Us pre-75 mopar folks should be exempt from paying vehicle taxes, licensing, be allowed to do burn outs and exceed speed limits. hmm...I'm one of those aging boomers maybe I'm losing my mind...

 

[Paul Boucher]

It doesn't affect values, but at least there is hope for the younger generation, I am 36 and have a 67 Coronet R/T, my one cousin has a 72 Challenger, and my other cousin is restoring a 73 340 Cuda with his dad. Looks like our folks must have done something right!

 

[Dreamcatcher]

So basically, it's who knows?
Personally, I figure if I'm in it for the money, I'm in it for the wrong reason.
If my meager collection was worth nothing tomorrow, my lifestyle would not be affected.

Totally agree! The value of my cars means nothing to me. I have over 50K invested in my bird tribute. Worth it? Probably not. But I never cared when I built it and don't care now. I have and will always have 7 to 9 cars in my stable. Of all makes of American muscle. The only way I value them is in what amount of insurance I put on them. And I keep that well below what I think there worth for cost reasons. I just like my cars because I built or restored them and what there worth is for someone to figure out after I am gone.

 

[Cranky]

Us pre-75 mopar folks should be exempt from paying vehicle taxes, licensing, be allowed to do burn outs and exceed speed limits. hmm...I'm one of those aging boomers maybe I'm losing my mind...

Been awhile since I've checked but I think in Texas you can register a car as an antique once it's 25 years old. The registration is cheaper and needs not be inspected anymore.

 

[Runner 68]

My cars don't smell like mold or oil and they have AC.....and the cruise control is controlled with my right foot

Exactly. Plus how many Uber drivers will "light em up" if you ask them? None probably plus you would be robbed of all the fun of doing a smoky burnout. I like my cars and don't have a problem paying for them simply because I love to drive.

 

[Richard Cranium]

On a related subject...

Why Trump could lower MPG standards

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/why-trump-could-lower-mpg-standards-201915207.html

 

[crahill39]

I don't know how much of this I agree with about the younger generation. The younger folks are growing up with action movies and stars who love to sport old muscle cars in their films. Example, the Fast and Furious series, Keanu Reeves and some of his movies, ***, etc. I have met quite a few kids, and I mean under 18, who have seen my project and consistently know what kind of car it is and love to recite off their favorite muscle car. I think there is hope for the next generation to carry this on. The more inclusive we are with them and their ideas, the more chance we have of preserving the true heritage of these cars, which for me growing up was taking an older car, dressing it up, making it fast, and chasing girls with it.