History Where is this hobby headed?

You know inflation corrected 1994 3500 bucks was roughly 7300 today.
You can still occasionally find a project coupe for 7 or 8,000 bucks, they are out there and inflation corrected the price has been pretty consistent for decades now.
I think it would be scarier if you could find a 40 Ford coupe today for $3,500 bucks that would tell me the hobby is dying or is in trouble but it being on average 10 to 15 grand for a project and 25 to 30 grand for a decent driver tells me the hobby is still fairly healthy.

 

Giving credit to the Latino guys that build the "bombs" where it is due, they are beautiful traditional cars generally speaking with split manifolds white white walls and 4 bar hubcaps I too live in California and I see them pretty often Pomona car swap meet you see tons of them, I don't know if they are necessarily replacing hot rods I think it's just the change that's happening in California and the American southwest.

 

BMW i believe is the m4 and the Corvette is a c8 meaning 8th generation, don't quote me on either of these as my idea of a new car is anything made from 1976 or newer where I still have to smog it in Cali and I would never drive an import or a mid-engine car unless it's a corvair with a mid-engineV8 swap but I digress.

 

One other thing I'd add pertaining to this issue is that FWIW, relatively speaking, cars in this genre are still attainable. Even though we bemoan the rising costs of this hobby, which is legitimate, relatively speaking, these cars are still attainable both in terms of cost of acquisition and cost to repair and modify. This is especially the case for those who turn their own wrenches. There is no nostalgia really for the younger generation with HAMB relevant cars. For my age group (I'll be 40 this year), the hot cars we saw in high school were Fox bodies, Camaros, the odd BMW, and sport compacts. For my parent's generation, it was muscle cars of the late 1960s and early 1970s. The reality is that for younger people than myself, there are 1 or even 2 generations of separation from the traditional hot rod scene as it took place then. Younger folks like myself like these cars because they're just cool old cars, not because we have any personal connection to the scene. I think this will keep the cost down as time goes on.

The younger generation often look to the "cars and coffee" thing instead of days long rod runs or custom shows. And the focal point of these cars and coffee events are not old cars (though I've never felt unwelcomed on the few occasions I've attended), but mostly late models and exotics. So while a 32 Ford or Tri-5 Chevy might not be inexpensive, it's certainly a lot less expensive than a GT3RS or McClaren. But an average kid can work hard and pick up a neat Model A or post war cruiser, put in some sweat equity, and have a killer car to enjoy. That's not the case when the end goal is a car worth as much as a lot of houses.

 

@57JoeFoMoPar mentioned Hot Rod Deluxe with Mike Ness and being hooked!


I grew up and still live in a very small town in upstate NY a population of about 800. There were a handful of old cars, a few street rods, and 10-15 oval track stock cars. (Yes, 10-15 stock cars in a town of 800.)
My dad worked on many of those racecars and built several stock car chassis.

By the mid 90's dad was burned out on working on everyone else's racecars, and I was becoming interested in period correct hot rods.

About that time I started seeing a cream and red scalloped chopped and channeled 30 A coupe, white walls and period correct small block Chevy it would drive through town about 2 or 3 times a year
It was often traveling with a chopped and channeled early 60 style 30/31 A truck purple with flames multiple carbureted Nailhead.

There were no cars like that is this area, after about 4 or 5 years I was finally able to catch up with the car and the owner/builder Doug Anderson, we ended up becoming friends, but outside of Doug and his car, I didn’t know of any other period correct hot rods I always like 50s/60s music and cars and the style, but there was no one else my age into that stuff!
Then in 1999 between my Jr. and Sr. Year of high school, I picked up a Street Rodder magazine and found an article titled The Great Rat Rod Revival about people may age building period correct hot rods and customs, and I thought I not the only one!

Doug’s Coupe

 

I went to a local cars & coffee last Saturday, and expected to see all sorts of tuner cars, modern muscle cars, etc. And I did see some of that, but was pleasantly surprised to see as many cars and old motorcycles as I saw newer cars. And what was even more surprising was I arrived at 8:00 AM and got one of the last parking spots!
I was also surprised that a lot of young people who drove some of those newer cars there were very interested in not just my '39 Chev, but also most of the other HAMB friendly cars there. So at least the younger crowd is still very interested, and it just takes some encouragement from us to sway them further towards these old rides.

 

This is a hobby?

 

I view it as a life style sometimes a sickness!

 

I don't know where it's headed but I hope it's not here.

 

Our great car Hobby will always be here, changing with time as Everything does, Nothing stays the same forever. A lifetime (76 now) of life's experiences has taught me this, always a car guy, now a OT car guy with 3 OT hobby cars, it's different, But the same. Nobody should listen to the doom and gloom, the What If's, the sky has not fallen down And IF it does we're all in the same boat, Enjoy your life and the hobby !

 

Doug Anderson was a very cool car guy, and his Coupe was one of the nicest homebuilt cars. It won Best Hot Rod at Lime Rock at the Fall Festival one year.

Bob

 

I’ll have to quote a great American.

 

I am taking the drag coupe to a show at the Hershey AACA Museum on Saturday. It is a great show , lots of classics, Hot rods. a few corvettes old and new and much more. We do not see any tuner cars at this event. And they bring the Tuckers out and drive them around. I usually have the most radical old Hot Rod there. lol. Alive and well in Central Pa.

 

Have fun! Just so everyone knows the "AACA Museum" has NO CONNECTION to the AACA that runs the Flea Market in OCTOBER. LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG story, at a cost of lots of money.

 

You know things and times don’t stand still, no matter what our age we built what we could afford when we were young, probably a body twenty or thirty years old. Well I hate to say this but the same thing happens today I happened to watch SICK Summer day 3 where there were plenty of 80s and 90s cars modified to run sub 9 second quarter mile passes. There were a few 50s and 60s cars but the most were the cheapest older models that performance chassis parts are manufactured for. HotRods are still around but they just look different than the ones you work on. Not all of us grew up in 1955 or 65 or even 75 so the cars will be different but the motivation is the same.

 

Like Smitty said
“Everything Changes, Nothing Stays The Same”

 

Sir respectfully I have to honestly say, At age 71, I don't think it's just your taste and priority's that have changed or shifted. I think maybe your eye site is maybe not what it once was. As I have tried to use my imagination every which way possible. And no matter what I do, Nothing about your pic of that old army jeep resembles a 30's ford roadster to me!! I have a 30 model A roadster and a 32 ford roadster and neither of them look anything like that jeep at all! I can't speak for you but for me when the day comes that I start thinking my 30's roadsters resembles an old army jeep, I think from that day forward I will turn in my drivers license and take the bus for everyone on the roads safety.

 

Here in Australia there is a strong resurgence occurring. Young people who love the older cars and all the nostalgia that goes along with it.

We have been to a number of events up and down the East coast and these kids are there, throwing themselves into it.

It is dynamic and we enjoy their energy.

Look up ... they are there... but they're on Instagram and driving events as well as mischief on Friday and Saturday nights !!!

Some examples below.

 

Excellent point.... !!!

 

Hello,

This is a question always asked as more folks finish their projects. They enjoy the daylights out of them, happy to finally finish a hard fought build/rebuild, and eventually get to drive anywhere they want for pleasure, business or simple errands, like shopping or bi-weekly grocery runs.

Time and money play important parts of any activity for anyone. Hot rod building has been going on for ages and as the older folks like us have been around for some time, enjoyed our part of the history, being involved.

From our earliest vision of a custom chopped candy apple/Tahitian red Ford truck, as little kids, to our first purchase of an Oldsmobile two door sedan and Model A coupe, it has been an eye opener. This topic is not new nor will it be 10 years from now. With the random participation in a limited group from the beginnings, it has stayed relatively the same. But, with only a portion of the general population involved.

As teens, we were looked upon in a minimal status. Sure, we wore the same clothes and participated in the school sports and activities, but the one thing that separated us was the ability to create something plenty of others would not give a shake as to participating. The guy down the street working in the gas station was the “automobile” guy that could do the repairs or trouble shoot. There was no need to fiddle around in the garage getting dirty or injured.

The creations we drove caused a lot of oohhs and aahhs, but, it was a fleeting matter. The bridge between building and driving around in a hot rod or cruiser was the girl sitting next to us. They usually had no clue what a spark plug was and did not care. It was a status of being in a “cool car,” that was helpful in all of our relationships. At least, we had cars, as customized as we were able to modify.

Jnaki

As the years rolled on past high school, “the needs of the many surpassed the wants of the few.” Didn’t we learn that in a school class or two? Some continued the same lifestyle as it was extremely fun, but others had their own “track” to follow into adulthood. Since we were the in the minority as teenage hot rodders, it was as if our athletic skills were limited as we moved on in life. They were and we all adjusted to that fact or facts. The hot rod skills were helpful to our new adventures so as to be there when we needed them in our future travels and activities.

The activities became limited due to family needs. So, the extra curricular activity of family jumped into the forefront for most couples/families and the involvement of hot rods began to take a back seat, as limited as it was anyway.

For some, it was and is a “y” in road. And as future families grow, that “y” gets larger and participation as we know it got (and gets) smaller. It was small to begin with compared to the overall population likes and dislikes, but continued with the industry in different ways. We all had to have automobiles and trucks for daily living. But, mainly for transportation to and from work, or work itself. As the economy changes, so does the participation.

Sure car shows gather a lot of people and the hot rod gatherings also are packed with enthusiasts, but as large as those seem, it is still and will be in the minority. There are always more folks in not giving a care about American Racing 5 spoke wheels on a custom hot rod versus, daily living requirements. So, as the few continue to do what is enjoyable, there are always thousands more moving along with their lives in their chosen futures. YRMV

 

This is too cool and made my day. I know when I was down there and went to the Yamba Rod Run, I was somewhat amazed at how many young folks seemed to be involved as compared to some events I go to in the states. However, I have been seeing more and more young folks in the states also get into traditional stuff lately when I go to events like the Gathering at the Roc. Your post reminded me that we gave an award to a guy last year that drove his 35 Ford 5 window coupe from the Boston area to Oklahoma with a hopped up flathead. This pic is him and his mom that he brought along for their journey. I think he was 28. There was also a guy in his late teens or early 20's with a pretty cool 32 5 window that received some awards one of the last few years.

 

Love it !!!!

 

I could fill out a dozen pages of the hobby here and the youth involved.

 

Hey @hotrodlane
I had to go take a look a your profile and the list of your postings to get a feel for the content and style of writing that you have.

First off, let me say kudos to you for having a fleet of, ( 9 ) 32-34
Ford roadsters, that is true dedication to this realm of traditional Hot-Rods.

And I truly do agree with you, there is nothing, remotely resembling a 30's Ford roadster, when it comes to that square fender Jeep I had posted.

So perhaps that was a poor choice on my part, to use the Jeep as an illustration.

I am sure that will make you smile!



As I indicated, in the post, " You would really have to use your imagination, to look at that Jeep, and try to see a 30's Ford Roadster "

I can see where you may have taken it personally, that for a person like me to even think, that a vintage square fender Jeep, would be pure blasphemy, for me to compare it to a 30's Ford roadster.
From your stand point, I would have thought the same thing, reading what I wrote.

So I thought, I would at least reply, and try to clear the air as to my ability to think or reason or to perceive how a particular vintage automobile, might resemble another.
As often stated by many on this website,
"Your results may vary"

I am still grinning to myself and cracking up, that I would even take the time to write such a reply, but I felt I should say something.

So as far as to where this hobby is heading, I would say its safe and not fading anytime soon.
For it is people like "YOU SIR", that are the true Hot Rod owners and builders, that are the ones that will always be an inspiration, to the younger people, that are impressed and inspired by your cool Model A Roadster's.

So to pay tribute and respect, to such people as yourself, here are a couple of pieces of my artwork, to at least try to illustrate that I do appreciate the older, cool Model A's, whether its a Truck or a bare bones frame coming to life.


Thanks for taking the time to write what you posted.
From time to time, we all need to be shown the error of ours ways!
Thanks from Dennis.

 

Looking at all the pictures from our friends in Australia, the first thing I noticed is they are all out enjoying old cars, having fun with them, not bitching about people not doing it right or wondering what’s going to happen, if more people actually went out and enjoyed them more people may want to be involved.

 

What is hot rodding?
It's taking a car and modifying it to the way you like it.
It has to be affordable and a body style you want.
The younger crowd saw the cars they are building on the street everyday and they are excited when they see a 10-15 year old version sitting beside a house or building.
The same way we did when we were younger. I'm old enough to recall our '55 Chevy 2 dr my Mom drove in the '60's and they were languishing in groves in the '70's and a high school kid could afford one.
Fast forward to today. A 10-15 year old car that teenage kid sees sitting fires up his imagination but instead of a 4 bbl intake change now it's a turbo. Wheels are still a hot item while a Pioneer with Jensen 6x9's for sound was hip for us they have bluetooth and whatever the best speaker is today.
Gearheads are gearheads no matter what generation they are from.
From the traditional hot rod viewpoint it's this little niche we occupy that may seem to be in decline. Remember the year cut off here. Back to the 50's in St Paul MN will take place soon and over 11,000 pre 1964 will fill the fairgrounds.
There will posts stating the lack of traditional hot rods. 11,000 vehicles in one location from traditional hot rods to street rods,rat rods and customs. A true gearheads dream weekend visually. There probably is a huge car show for the present hot rodders with modern cars somewhere.
Hot Rodding isn't dying or dead.

 

AMEN!!!

 

^This. Like I already said, people have to change their voting habits.

 

Dennis, really I was just poking fun with my post. It’s kind of my personality. You are a very talented artist! I really dig those two drawings and would be interested in purchasing a print for my office.

 

Isn't that the HAMB paradox? Only posting stuff that is traditional from car shows, Internet photos, etc., builds a false air of what's at events and exclusivity, making the traditional hot rod portion of the hobby feel bigger and more isolated than it really is?