[richopp]

Almost all of them have valid points. (The poster unhappy with people who search for specific parts so the car can be "right:" needs to lighten-up, Francis. It's called a HOBBY for a reason.) Some people like to do that and it can be both frustrating and enjoyable. I just found two IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND tiny clips for $20.00 and it was a real treat even though I have the "original" since I ordered (remember those days?) and purchased my '72 new.

The car business is so different from what it was in the "old days" and the tech is so helpful in many ways. The nanny state stuff worries me A LOT, so I daily drive a 2007 car with a mechanical connection between the throttle plate and the gas pedal. Imagine that!

Look. the muscle cars are what they are and were...by today's standards very crude and mostly no match for a new Demon, but then again they were of that time and are clearly light-years more attractive than most any modern car IMO. Designing for gas mileage and aerodynamics and safety is much different from designing for a specific reason--to win races on Sunday so you can sell on Monday.

Muscle cars, especially the 400-point ones, will continue to draw museum and private collection crowds the same way dinosaur bones do. The difference is that you can DRIVE THEM if you want.

I see some of these high-dollar 400-point restorations becoming drivers by people who have the funds--almost everyone in the top 5%, which is about 17 million people best as I can see. They have managed to accumulate all the money and toys, so that is what will happen. Personally, I would purchase one myself to drive (it is a"new car" if done properly) and enjoy. No, the tranny is not a 97-speed or CVT (UGH!) but you can shift and drive it 1:1 and pay the VP gas price of 12/gal and still get from A to B in rather more style (IMO) than pretty much anything on the road today.

As for the hobby, even my club is losing people and interest daily, and most of us are pretty fanatical. I am old now and retired, so I don't go to events as often, but I very much appreciate the talent and skills required to do the job to get a car ready for a race or show and then SHOW UP and do it. As long as there are people around to do that, the muscle car hobby will be around in some form if somewhat diminished. As for going the way of the Model A and T, who knows? I foresee a day when Congress will outlaw gasoline, so who really knows what will happen? Enjoy today and your car(s) and keep the fires burning with everyone you can influence. We ain't gone yet.