I think as long as the money is there and the people are around, these cars were built to stay. There is still plenty of 1920's cars around, a bunch of 1930's/1940's/50's/60's/70's/and 80's cars around, and as many old cars as I see in my town im sure there is way more elsewhere. :TU:
brian i knew as soon as i opened my piehole i was in trouble,the problem is i like all makes and models and can only afford 1 at a time.and ive already decided what i'll buy next and i have'nt even raced my new 1 yet.oh by the way i got a room for stanton at comfort inn so you won't have to sleep with kenny in sept.
It may not be so bad I do think what is happening at the Barrett-Jackson auctions is crazy, but I also think what everyone is overlooking with the price of musclecars going up is that it may influence more companies to reproduce more parts if these companies see that people are willing to spend good money on a restored musclecar. In the end, I believe this will benefit our hobby. Ken
I agree to an extent As long as they have those part's reproduced in the U.S.A., with American built tooling, but if it's just a bunch of Chinese built garbage, I would rather go without. :Smarty:
New!!!! :laugh: My car was a model "T" when it was new :laugh: but it was not a muscle car(or at least by the definition offered here earlier in another thread) :Brow: so not sure what you are talking about. p So, I guess it is just is a Model T from the get go and never changed. :grin: :TU:
I don't pay much attention to muscle car prices but don't be fooled and think the old stuff is getting cheaper...it's not. True you can find "restored" cars like a model A or T cheaper than they used to be, but now everyone wants to make hotrods or streetrods out of them. I've been looking for a decent model A tudor for over a year and for just a decent body...no frame, engine, running gear it'll cost better than $2000. ou: So if you know of a "cheap" A or T laying around....I'll take it of your hands for ya :grin:
The bubble may not have burst but I believe it is beginning to shrink. I remember 1974 and gas lines.. This is all that the muscle car boom needs to stop the crazy prices. If the stock market continues to fall b/c of gas prices so will muscle car prices. Look at the Market today. It was much higher 3 weeks ago and alot of guys are trying to cash in now. Look at Ebay if you don't belive me.
i went to jack maxton chevrolet to get a new trans dipstick for the w31,the label on it said"made in canada",but the label was made in taiwan :laugh: car shows are the ultimate waste of a car,talked to 3 guys yesterday at one in my town,one guy couldnt talk enough about owning a badass GS ragtop,and a guy who didnt know squat about his 69 firebird ragtop,and a guy with a 73 cutlass wanting some stupid amount of money for it(he knew nothing about the car). i just cant see why some people just sit in a lawn chair in the hot sun when they could be out riding around in it. o No: as far as the market and prices,who cares.
First of all, let me say "good thread" and "good responses". I've tried for a week now to construct a decent post to this but it never seemed to measure up. So, I am going to forget about making it sound right and just let 'er rip: I bought my Model A (restored, 1931 rumble seat coupe) about 8 years ago and paid a very reasonable price for it. It's a driver, not perfect, but very presentable. It's something the kids can ride in and I don't have to worry about them climbing all over it. Momma likes it, which is a huge plus :TU: (I'm rambling again) - Anyway, I think the reason I could afford such a car was because the prices were a little depressed because all the old guys who liked these cars were dying off. Most of the younger pups like myself are into "muscle cars" and for a while there antique cars were moving a little slow (no pun intended). Prices on these are starting to climb again, now, and I could probably double my money if I sold (although I do not plan on it - see above). Will muscle cars ever become Model T's? I don't think so, and here's why: there's a lot more "water under the bridge" now. Back then, all you had were Model A's and Model T's. Now, there is so much more to choose from, both in terms of type and brand and sheer volume produced. Plus, back then "hotrodders" were kind of social outcasts, bad boys. It's much more mainstream to be a "car guy" now, much like how "bikers" have become more socially acceptable. On an unrelated note, owning an original Model "A" has certainly put me more in tune with the early hotrodder mindset. I find myself thinking, "boy, I sure would like a little better brake system. And maybe a little more power. And maybe a synchronized 4 speed...etc". But each little move takes you farther away from the original mystique. I really have to fight the urge to modify this car. Also on an unrelated note, the rear main leaks like a sieve :laugh: K
That's why I went with the "A". It's a little more "stylish", plus the driving technique is more traditional (clutch pedal, gear shift rather than the planetary gearshift on the floor). I had a guy approach me and say "...that's a Model "A", right?". I said yes, and he said "...sir, I will have you know I learned to drive in a Model T". :Smarty: I replied, "...sir, I don't think I could drive a Model T even TODAY.." :grin:
That's fer sure - I can see it in their eyes when they look at my "Gennie". I have to beat the hotrodders/streetrodders away with a stick :blast:
Ok - last one - Here's a thought: Henry produced over 15 MILLION Model T Fords. How come there's not still a bunch of unrestored cars around, in barns, yards etc? With that many produced seems like you'd find a Model T every time you looked under a rock... o No:
Tom's absolutely right about the price of oil, it's the demand in developing countries that is driving the price up. And it will only get worse. On a brighter note, did you hear that the president of Mexico is complaining that companies are moving jobs from Mexico to China. Poetic justice I think. :moonu:
Now maybe we understand all the suitcases of cash being carried into the whitehouse every day in the 90's. Don't recall Mexicans carrying suitcases full of pesos into the whitehouse in the 80's. We reap what others sow. There's also a factor of foreign money boosting up the oil futures market.....which really has more to do with crude prices than anything else. We need to develop and protect our own domestic sources and refineries. If we don't, this will seem like kindergarten in 10 years.
I really don't know what all the fuss is over prices! Prices are only important to those buying or selling. Most of the people on this board already have one (or more) classics, If you don't and are looking for one then you have my sympathy. But If you aren't buying or selling then what does the price really matter? I bought my car for 4500 dollars. Who cares what its worth now? I don't! These things do run in cycles and always will. We are seeing the apex of a cycle nothing more. and the next cycle will be cars from the 80's. You can already see it happening. I see a lot more restored Caddys and Lincolns out of the mid eights restored than I used too. And younger guys driving them too. You know the phrase "They don't make cars like they used to?" They never have and never did. Each generation wants to rebuy their first car. Trans-Ams, Firebirds and 80's Camaros is where the next peak will be. All the TV shows you see now will only be around while the cycle is peaking. Do you really think the average 16 year old wants a car out of the 70's? Okay well a couple do, but most of them don't, the ones that do only want them because somewhere along the line a parent or Grandparent had one. There is no emotional attachment to the cars (and that is what drives this hobby.) so the muscle car generation will fade into the Model T generation and someday your kids or grandkids will want to find todays cars, saying "They just don't build them like they used to"
What suitcases full of cash-one can presume for Clinton, since he owned the place "all through the 90's"-are you talking about? I would posit we may need to try to get a good handle on forcing our representative government to actually work on much less think about alternative fuel sources/ alternative enrgy sources. Maybe even conservation? I remember when I was a kid, you used to see commercials, print ads that were all for conserving energy-turn off lights you aren't using, don't use an air conditioner unless you have to, keep heat at a minimum, etc. I think it's impossible to get our govt. to support that kind of thinking these days.
Just heard that State of Michigan has doubled its revenue in gas tax this year as compared to last, but demand and consumption is about the same. No way the government is interested in doing anything about lowering the cost of gas since the tax is a percentage of the price. Now our infamous Lady GUV is going after all the retail outlets by turning loose $$$$ from the budget (wonder where that came from, thought we were on the verge of bankrupcy here?) to increase monitoring of retail outlets to ensure their pumps are actually providing full volume. Another great plan of hers. The problem is gas prices are too high. I don't think it's the retailers or the distributors here and it's not all the oil companies either. So lets' put another 100 or 200 "inspectors" out there to measure gas pumps and levy big time fines to the offenders. Good press coverage, but doesn't even address the problem........as usual. It's the illusion that they care. Votes!
