Folks Of Interest Vintage speed equipment better than aftermarket?

Does true vintage speed equipment hold more value than newer aftermarket stuff??
Does it perform better or are we in love with the nostalgia that comes with it.?
Sometimes I look at repopped stuff and it's a bit cheaper than old stuff but it doesn't feel right ya know??

 

Oh, I think it all comes down to cool factor. I have a "Say Why-And" dual quad intake I bought off of Mark @Moriarity and I doubt that it will make 2/3 of the power I could have with a modern air gap 4 barrel intake....But it's way cooler and it makes guys remember their teenage years. Those teenage years (1st couple of years driving are a magical time). Plus, if you want a certain vibe, it just makes you feel like something is off.

Kinda goes along with this thread.
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/spending-the-money-building-vintage-engines.1197227/

 

Old original stuff usually but not always commands more than new stuff, even if new stuff performs better. Guitars are a good example. I had a 62 Les Paul Jr I ended up selling for like 7 grand, but it didn't play anywhere as nice as a new guitar. Sounded good, but as Keith Richards says "give me five minutes with any guitar and I make um all sound the same..."

There's definitely no cool factor like old original car parts though.

 

To me, it seems to be the thrill of the hunt more than the actual parts. Guys love stuff made of unobtanium.

 

The old vintage flavor gives us more to like.
Truth told, more cars are built, these days, to impress the ( visual ) senses, than to beat the guy in lane 2.
Kudos to those that do challenge the laws of time and distance.
You know, The leaders of this pack

 

Would you pay more for an old Rembrandt or a new Rembrandt?

 

I doubt that most of the old stuff actually performs better; it's more the idea of trying to make something that looks like it could have been on the cover of a 60 to 70 year old Hot Rod magazine. I think that it's good that people are making new finned aluminum valve covers for the old engines again, but I'd still rather have a Nicson or McGurk valve cover on my 235. Face it...it really wasn't too difficult to improve on the stock intakes and camshafts of old Chevy sixes and Ford flatheads. There didn't have to be much science involved; if you just made an intake manifold with a place for one more carburetor, or reground a camshaft to have .040 more lift and 20 degrees more duration, you came out ahead.

 

For me a part of the car hobby is the many happy memories from my youth, cars were and still is my hobby fun outlet. I lived "American Graffiti" 16-20. I was born into a racing family, I was street racing 16-20 then Midgets/finished up in wing Sprint cars into my 40's, back to hobby cars to present day, still cruisin and going to car shows hanging out with car guys. I worked hard, played hard with no regrets about how I've spent my life. Now 75 and to answer your question about vintage OEM speed parts,I appreciate them just like I appreciate a classic car restored and even more a survivor gem, I like Everything about the car hobby from old school to the new super cars, the hobby has served me well all my life. Check out my albums as I have pictures. Have a Great Day, Spring is coming for my Wi. friends, I'm skipping Winters these days, now Winter in Az. loving it.

 

I view it a little different---would i rather hear a new hellcat or vet idle and rev, or hear an old 327 with a solid lifter cam (like the old 30-30's), valves rattling, shaking the front end hard, loping and barely able to idle at 1500, and probably fouling out the plugs trying, and almost killing everyone around with the super rich exhaust-bunches of it-coming out of a pair of burned out glasspaks. I think i know who would win in a contest like this.

 

"Preserve your memories; They're all that's left you"

There's something really special about a hot rod part that's been around for over half a century.

 

U need to reread my post----I have the feeling you missed the point. BTW, did you even look at my avatar????

 

Olde Speed Equipment Has History And Personality..

 

I just like old stuff even if it doesn’t perform as well. It has history and scars, etc. that just oozes cool to me as compared to newer parts. When I go to build an old car, engine, etc. anymore, I rarely even buy things that aren’t old other than common wear parts, etc.

 

Over the years I've looked at (lusted over?) aluminum heads for my 8ba flathead. The look/cool factor is unmistakable but I'm always worried if the heads have been surfaced too many times or have other issues, etc. In the end I ended up with EAB heads with chrome acorn covers. Definitely not the cool factor but performance wise probably just as for my situation.

 

If you are a true Hot Rodder you embrace all!! When on the HAMB, Vintage Rules! If you are in it for the resale value maybe find another lucrative ! Hobby! Pete

 

Current Offy speed equipment is made using the original tooling. So, are those parts repops from 1949? There are several manufacturers still offering parts and pieces that are made using the original tooling. Better alloys and more precise machining mean a better part overall.

 

That's why I'd never spend money on Offy stuff. Because you can buy it new. I'll take my old Fenton, Edmunds, Grancor, or Canadian Ford heads.

 

Yeah but you have to admit that the Cadillac 3x2 is by far, the sexiest intake known to man.

 

And then , there's the "Where the hell did you find THAT?" factor.

 

New is usually better, performance wise
but
Old (vintage) is kool
Value depends on your destination

 

You don’t have a choice if parts you want are no longer made. If you want dual quads or 3-2’s but all there is made is a single 4 barrels then old is it. For many on the HAMB it what we may have wanted when young. Will carburetors be next on the list? How about tires? Not many 14-15’s as there once was…

 

I felt that

 

Just please don't use Allen head screws on your vintage stuff. That ruins it for me.

 

Saw a newer Edelbrock tri power manifold. That later American flag made in the USA cast on it looked all wrong.

 

I agree. If they want to make the point, MADE IN USA cast on the underside of the manifold will do it.

 

My bad!! I should of wrote we instead of You! Did not mean to single you out!! I will go and stand in the corner for an hour with my dunce cap on!! Pete

 

HEH, does all this apply to women also??

 

I find it more fun to play with vintage parts as much as as possible. To someone like me who is younger than the part by decades it give me a time machine type feeling that Im probably yet another younger guy sticking this old speed part on motor hoping for a gain like a guy 50 years ago.

I also just like using the old stuff to piss off guys on other forums. Im used to see typical post of dumping points for HEI's and what modern roller camshaft is the flavor of the week. For small block Chevy's I'll take a 30/30 cam, L79 or 140 off road over a modern grind. Yeah I leave power on the table, but if it worked when it was designed it still works now.