History Where is this hobby headed?

Building that Honda today took about the same effort to build a 32 60 years ago
Yank off some fenders, add a couple carbs, make it loud and zoom zoom
Not exactky rocket surgery

 

Robert, Please don't hate me for asking, Are these "OLD" restored cars or newly built to look like old cars that ran in the '60's - '70's?

 

Fifty years from now what do you think will be front yard art? A rusted out McLaren Speedtail? A Ferrari F40?

 

Current state of the hobby:

 

things are constantly changing. me not so much. not spending the rent & grocery money on hot rods . if cars I desire get cheaper I hope I can buy more

 

Strictly by the numbers, yes the Boomer generation is getting smaller day by day, and like others before it, will eventually vanish. Now wheather later generations, step up in as large a number to fill our shoes remains to be seen, but I really doubt it. Some of these youngsters don’t have a ride, and some even don’t have or want a drivers license! So again, following the numbers, there will be more vehicles on the market and should see lower prices, but I wouldn’t hold my breath on it. This will probably continue for a long time. But how will it actually affect the market and those in it? Only time will tell. We are only a few pen strokes from being banned altogether, so outside forces like that will have as much to do with what happens as anything else.

So, how will that affect me? Not much. I have my stuff and am not really looking for anything else. I’ll drive my junk as long as I’m able. I’ll expose others to it and answer questions when asked. What happens to it after I’m gone won’t matter, I won’t know about it.

 

economy is somewhat ok , if it goes south the hobby will follow as usual....cost of restoration and parts has gone to the moon.....projects and driver quality cars are affordable ...I remember paying 3500.00 for a project late 30s . 40s coupe 30 years ago....

 

I am 80 years old and have been building since 1961. I currently own 4 cars. A 1962 Studebaker. 1932 Bantam altered which I still race and is towed by the Stud, a 1930 Hot Rod Tudor and a 1931 RPU banger. Today I sold parts to a 43 year old for his 1937 Chev and I work constantly with a 37 and a 53 year old who are both building bangers. I see a resurgence in the young generation regarding hot rods, but maybe different and better. As we were in the 50s and 60s, different but not too different then our parents were in the 40s. Think about hot rodders going out to the sands and the evolution since then.
Warren

 

To be perfectly honest, I don’t give a shit where the hobby is going, I do what I enjoy. That’s my concern. I don’t give a rats as if anyone else does or doesn’t like it.

 

I do know I've been a bad influence on a younger guy or two. I'm in my 40s now (jeez I was 23 when I first joined the hamb). I have younger engineers (late 20s?) at work all about the modern fast cars (think M4s and C8s) because of the thrill and comfort- but I'll take em along a ride and they are ALL one sideways on-ramp away from getting it.

There will always be someone.

 

Bingo!

 

our HotRods are being replaced by newer cars with LS motors in the same way restored Model A's and T's were replaced by Hot Rods. went to a "general interest" car show a while back and late model motors were taking over. more muscle cars than HAMB style Hot Rods.... lots of bombs around here also.

 

I've got great nephews into old cars, and I know other youngsters into vintage gear. They seem to like older stuff the older they get. Give the kids time.

 

When the end comes and the ass falls out of the hot rod market, I promise to buy as many as I can in a valiant effort to save what we hold so dear. The cheaper they get, the more I shall have........

 

Asking how the hobby is going on a forum that freezes time at 1965 is funny. The HAMB goal is to build cars as they were back then, that’s what the guys building 20 year old Hondas are doing now, taking affordable used cars and souping them up.

It’s kind of hard to find nailheads and olds rearends and model a’s in the junkyards these days. How many “era correct” rods and customs were built out of desirable collectors items? All those must have parts can get far pricier that a belly button sbc/th350 and now LS engines are dropping.

I feel that my generation ,late Gen X, heavily embraced imports because quite frankly the affordable cars the big three were putting out in the seventies and eighties were sad. I had an ‘87 Ford Escort as my first car in ‘92 and was jealous of my friend with a similar era Honda Accord. I felt like I’d moved up to a real sports car when I traded it in on a ‘89 VW Golf.

Then came Cash for Clunkers which only god knows how many cool running older sleds got crunched and did away with the $500 drivable used car.

Then the TV shows. Everyone and their brother either watched Monster Garage and had to chop up grannies old sedan into a rat rod or watched that auction show and after seeing a ‘67 Shelby Mustang roll up to the podium decided that their Mustang II rotting behind the propane tank was worth and easy $100k.

I’m also into the vintage moped scene, legit pedal mopeds although I have some neat scooters too. I’m looking forward to having my Chevy safe to drive so I can mount my vintage scooter carrier on the back bumper to haul my ‘64 Vespa around. That scene is also dying back due to shortage of bikes due to jerks like me hording them and younger folks flocking to e-bikes as they’re more reliable, quiet, and treated as bicycles in most areas.

Progress is good and bad. I think if we just do what we like and don’t bother others too much we’re ahead.

sorry. I didn’t mean to rant that much.

 

Key word is hobby. Looking at it with a open mind our hobby is just fine.
It's evolving as change is the only constant in life.
A narrowed focus on anything can warp perspective.
Keep it a hobby and enjoy the now.

 

I have no idea what an M4 or C8 is. Honestly never heard of them. Does this make me old?

 

Well , I do think about it. I saw and dealt with a close friend passing and all of his stuff ( cars , guns , tools ) gathered up and sold for cheap to get $$ in hands of the unknowing . But it’s life , 2 things you are goin to do for sure in your life , pay taxes and die . Make the best of what you have and enjoy yourself as if today is your last , don’t sweat the small stuff .

 

Am watching this from Europe where messing with American/Canadian cars was always an expensive (or semi expensive) hobby. We never had things like $500 Tri-Chevies (well not unless it was in the 70s-80s and the car was a total loss you counldn't do anything with other than to break for spares) and this has not changed. So for most younger people getting involved was not an option. I have to say even here if you want a seriosly modified VW Gti or similar it won't be cheap either. The "crap" Japanese cars of the 80s, 90s and early 00s are also no longer available for the proverbial €3000, and JDM models' prices are in some cases higher than genuine 60s muscle cars (which commend the highest prices here). Younger people are interested but to me the issue is price first and - as was mentioned already - regulations, and we have serious Green zealots here who would ban ALL cars at a drop of a hat (and they are trying). The second will not get any better unless we stop voting for the same people, is all I'm going to say about it.

 

Some of each, the 96 sedan is a “new” build 15 years or so stock Ford frame, buggy springs , S.B.C. Frankland Q.C. modern cage




The 2 coupe is a new build 4 years ago. Built by Jimmy Fugel it is a clone of the car he raced in the early 70s.
49-54 Chevy frame, buggy spring with an early Ford axle in the front Chrysler parallel leafs in the back with a Frankland Q.C. modern cage.

 

Given that any "young" people working on a more modern (modern 1966+) car, would not be welcome on this board, how do you think they see the "OLD GUY" cars. They just see the "Get off my lawn" crazy old man that has a weird, smelly car. You only stay relevant, if you stay relevant!

 

Well, the EV “boom” seems to have hit a wall. Which is a good thing. Numbers and interest will dwindle, and maybe “hot rodding” will become a hobby like “steam engines”. No matter. Just enjoy what you have, and the time you have left.

 

The future is OK, I cant wait to give my teenage son my hot rod and more importantly he cant wait to drive it (legally). If young people are not into our thing, thats OK - as long as someone is hopping up something somewhere....

What will stop us is government policy regarding fossil fuel, that will price this hobby into extinction, not the people within the hobby.

 

Some people own a vehicle for the memories or nostalgia of a time gone before. Some people are fixated on one vehicle, it was a dream car or a bucket list ride that they now own, and base their whole hobby on that one vehicle instead of seeing life outside the iron curtain. Personally I find that I am in a position of my life, where I don't quite fit in anywhere, Too old to party and act an ass, too young to join the stock Model A club.

I think the other thing that hasn't been discussed is belly button cars.
How many Tri 5 Chevy's can you see in different colors to still be cool? You can own a belly button car, own it because you like it, do not expect or try to get noticed and compliments. Look at how hot the OT squarebody C10 crap took off and now look at it, matching LS swaps and wheels with just a different color on the body, all lined up like they did something monumental. We know its lame as hell, and those trucks were really rust prone cheap trucks. But to them they mean something, and its something they are proud of. And who knows, maybe that's the stepping stone for them to build something cool that is HAMB friendly.

Here at the H.A.M.B. we dance to a different tune, some people come and some people go, but the family here is real. We color outside the blue jean shorts and new balance shoes, we stand out normally more than most because most of us do things the old way. Most of us here are builders, not just "Car owners". We are wired differently than the owners.

I swear this topic keeps getting brought up by some older guys all the time, its not dead, but if you keep treating it like a members only club it will be. Inspire and uplift the next generation. Driving your stuff to places it shouldn't or normally wouldn't be seen is more of an inspiration to others than sitting at a car show with the hood up. History in motion doing what its meant to do instead of being a parking lot princess is much more riveting. Hell, dust the ass of a newer Camaro with a carburetor engine real hotrod, everyone at that light will remember that moment and that kid in the Camaro may say damn I want that in my life instead.

Remember kids.......
"It's more fun to try to go fast in a slow car than go slow in a fast car."

 

While I will agree that there aren’t many 30 and over people involved in period correct hot rodding there are many of us in the 30 to 50 age group, however we aren’t interested in the fairgrounds sit in your lawn chair behind your car events.

We want to use our cars for what they were intended for driving and racing!

If you look at event like The Northeast Vintage Drags, The Pine tree Jamboree, Rodotber’Fest Reliability Run and Dirt drags there are plenty of us.

 

The most complements of all my cars is my daily driven 77 Tbird I've had since 85 dropped with ASTRO Supremes and it's all from 40 and younger people why it old to them and is different. At work the talk of cars is dying the under 30 guys is all about online gaming we did hire a 20 something that's putting all the go fast goodies on a Subaru that's there thing and it won't change. Cars we wouldn't look twice at they love although there is a some younger people interested in the old stuff you just have to look for them we have a 18 year old in our club with a very nice 31 model A and he's a HAMB member.

 

I thought this was a lifestyle! Some people prioritize cars over basic life necessities, like health insurance. As long as there are hero’s like that, we have nothing to worry about.

 

Not enough canes…one would have a walker.

 

As far as being legislated out: I for one, would want to stick it to the man and drive my car every day. Better if blue smoke bellows from the tailpipe. I think back to the song "Red Barchetta" by Rush.

My uncle has a country place
That no one knows about
He says it used to be a farm
Before the Motor Law
And on Sundays I elude the eyes
And hop the Turbine Freight
To far outside the Wire
Where my white-haired uncle waits


Jump to the ground
As the Turbo slows to cross the borderline
Run like the wind
As excitement shivers up and down my spine


Down in his barn
My uncle preserved for me an old machine
For fifty odd years
To keep it as new has been his dearest dream

I strip away the old debris
That hides a shining car
A channeled flathead roadster
From a better vanished time
I fire up the willing engine
Responding with a roar
Tires spitting gravel
I commit my weekly crime


Wind
In my hair
Shifting and drifting
Mechanical music
Adrenaline surge


Well-weathered leather
Hot metal and oil
The scented country air
Sunlight on chrome
The blur of the landscape
Every nerve aware


Suddenly ahead of me
Across the mountainside
A gleaming alloy air car
Shoots towards me, two lanes wide
I spin around with shrieking tires
To run the deadly race
Go screaming through the valley
As another joins the chase


Drive like the wind
Straining the limits of machine and man
Laughing out loud with fear and hope
I've got a desperate plan
At the one-lane bridge
I leave the giants stranded at the riverside
Race back to the farm
To dream with my uncle at the fireside

 

"If you look at event like The Northeast Vintage Drags, The Pine tree Jamboree, Rodotber’Fest Reliability Run and Dirt drags there are plenty of us."

These are awesome events, but still only draw about 50 competitors. Pre '54 is rapidly becoming an old mans game with a few exceptions, '55-'70 cars it appears are for the middle aged and the young want post '85, notably off shore products. Drifting and circuit racing these later cars are drawing hundreds on a weekly basis, just like we used to back in the 60s. Static events seem to be the choice for the post 65 crowd. Yes, we can be grumpy old men and do our thing alone as long as we live, but I find it much more satisfying participating in events as mentioned above and/or passing the little that I know on to any up and comer that will listen.
Warren