[RocktimusPryme]

Its actually my 33rd birthday today. This is a hard game to get into for anyone under 40 and finally secure anymore. Its an expensive game. ESPECIALLY if it doesnt involve small block Chevrolets.

There are lots of us who dont help too. Many who would scoff at someone for driving around in a 4 door chevelle for example. Or at a cheap paintjob. I think some of that is changing though. Similar to the rat rod craze there is now a ratty muscle car movement. A driveable enjoyable ratty car being more fun than a perfect project in your garage that you will never be able to afford to finish.

[i82much]

Originally Posted by RocktimusPryme

Its actually my 33rd birthday today. This is a hard game to get into for anyone under 40 and finally secure anymore. Its an expensive game. ESPECIALLY if it doesnt involve small block Chevrolets.

There are lots of us who dont help too. Many who would scoff at someone for driving around in a 4 door chevelle for example. Or at a cheap paintjob. I think some of that is changing though. Similar to the rat rod craze there is now a ratty muscle car movement. A driveable enjoyable ratty car being more fun than a perfect project in your garage that you will never be able to afford to finish.

The only cars that matter are the ones that get driven. A guy with an LS6 Chevelle in his garage that never moves may as well have just bought a painting instead. I see a kid around my neighborhood driving an old Buick Skylark, I give him thumbs-up every time I see him. That's a hell of a lot more what this hobby is about than polishing your air cleaner every Saturday, at least as far as I am concerned.

[Indianhead]

54 for 2 more months. I bought my first Pontiac at 17 years old and have owned at least 1 all but 1 year since.

[ho428]

Old enough to know better, too old to care.

[pontibeast]

Originally Posted by RocktimusPryme

Its actually my 33rd birthday today. This is a hard game to get into for anyone under 40 and finally secure anymore. Its an expensive game. ESPECIALLY if it doesnt involve small block Chevrolets.

There are lots of us who dont help too. Many who would scoff at someone for driving around in a 4 door chevelle for example. Or at a cheap paintjob. I think some of that is changing though. Similar to the rat rod craze there is now a ratty muscle car movement. A driveable enjoyable ratty car being more fun than a perfect project in your garage that you will never be able to afford to finish.

I have always felt like it's ok to drive it ugly, meaning drive it as you restore it. I have had my 71 Lemans for 17 years now and it got a 200 dollar MAACO paint job back in 2002. The inside has had all new parts from Ames and OPGI done and looks really nice as I was able to do that work myself and a piece at a time. I would like to get the body work done and have a decent paint job done but I won't get too pricey when it comes to the paint because I just want it to be my daily driver and not have to worry about a shopping cart or some jerks car door doing damage to my $10,000 paint job. Perhaps if I was really well off financially I might feel different but I don't think so even then. I think it's cool to see the show car quality cars and appreciate them but it's just not for me. I like beating on my car too much.

[RocktimusPryme]

Originally Posted by i82much

The only cars that matter are the ones that get driven. A guy with an LS6 Chevelle in his garage that never moves may as well have just bought a painting instead. I see a kid around my neighborhood driving an old Buick Skylark, I give him thumbs-up every time I see him. That's a hell of a lot more what this hobby is about than polishing your air cleaner every Saturday, at least as far as I am concerned.

I agree wholly, I respect the truly rare. But if I honestly sumbled upon a numbers matching 302 z28 with a race history. I probably wouldnt keep it. I would sell that car to someone who was going to enjoy it as art.

That being said about my point Im guilty too. I wouldnt be caught dead in a 4 door malibu even as I encourage others to do exactly that. Because the hobby needs the entry level people. But there is a lot of deep seeded over generations bias towards cars. Ive been casually looking for a deal on a bubbletop car for a while, whenever I open a craigslist ad and its a 4 door I feel like my time was wasted.

I know every year there are people with classics on power tour who get downright HEATED that there are those in 5th gen camaros on tour with them. but truth be told its guys buying bolt on cold air intakes for those cars that make it possible for companies to produce and sell low volume restoration parts for a 1964 grand prix.

[grivera]

I wanna know when OMT decided he was old enough to give himself the OMT screen-name!

[i82much]

Originally Posted by RocktimusPryme

I agree wholly, I respect the truly rare. But if I honestly sumbled upon a numbers matching 302 z28 with a race history. I probably wouldnt keep it. I would sell that car to someone who was going to enjoy it as art.

That being said about my point Im guilty too. I wouldnt be caught dead in a 4 door malibu even as I encourage others to do exactly that. Because the hobby needs the entry level people. But there is a lot of deep seeded over generations bias towards cars. Ive been casually looking for a deal on a bubbletop car for a while, whenever I open a craigslist ad and its a 4 door I feel like my time was wasted.

I know every year there are people with classics on power tour who get downright HEATED that there are those in 5th gen camaros on tour with them. but truth be told its guys buying bolt on cold air intakes for those cars that make it possible for companies to produce and sell low volume restoration parts for a 1964 grand prix.

Yeah, I mean, I don't want a four door either! And I have spent obscene amounts of money on my car, paid a lot of people to do work that I would up doing over anyway. I am just glad the freaking body and paint turned out nice or else I wouldn't really be able to do anything about it.

But, as much as my car has a lot of $$ in it and frankly a lot of repop Chinese parts, I can also say I have spent a buttload of time working on it and also working on my old 72 K10. Right now my hands are covered in scabs from using my grinder on the Chevy, so while I'm too stupid to wear gloves when using the grinder at least I give myself a little credit for working on the freaking things. It was raining like crazy and dripping off the roof down the crack of my butt while I was grinding on the firewall too.

Ah well. No one that drove by would think I was particularly smart, but at least a car guy would respect my efforts. Feels really nice when you bust your butt and something comes together to make your ride nicer, and no amount of money can replace that.

[pgp66]

Only cracked half a century last July, so still a spring chicken!!

[mrrat1]

56 in April but going on 26......like b-man!
I'm still trying to grow up and will never act my age!

[dataway]

I don't even buy green bananas anymore

[STEELCITYFIREBIRD]

Wow, 1200+ views!

I haven't been around this forum for long but I have to compliment all of you.
What a great group of respectful enthusiasts and wealth of shared information.

Thanks all...especially the Wise Elders!

I use to spend a good bit of time on the circle track forums, the disrespect and disinformation was too much to take anymore.

[MNBob]

Coming up on 69, definitely qualified for elder, I don't know about wise. Anyway, in very good condition despite the miles!

[Colin70TA]

Awesome to see the wide range in age's. I was definitely one of the few "kids" in my area with an old muscle car. I was lucky enough to have a father that did it as a hobby and passed the skills down to me. I was also lucky and smart to purchase a number matching 70 T/A for $2k at 15... I started working at 13, specifically saving up for a 70-73 T/A.
The barriers of entering the hobby for us younger people are huge, its definitely not cheap, like everyone else, daycare bills, mortgage etc...there isn't much left to use as play money.
I will say that when I attend an autocross or track day event I am surrounded by lots of young people....yes they may not be driving old muscle but that doesn't bother me, I have respect for any machinery, especially one that is getting the hell driven out of it!

[prix-tender]

I'm 61 but I still have the body of a 60 year old.

[Colin70TA]

Originally Posted by RocktimusPryme

Its actually my 33rd birthday today. This is a hard game to get into for anyone under 40 and finally secure anymore. Its an expensive game. ESPECIALLY if it doesnt involve small block Chevrolets.

There are lots of us who dont help too. Many who would scoff at someone for driving around in a 4 door chevelle for example. Or at a cheap paintjob. I think some of that is changing though. Similar to the rat rod craze there is now a ratty muscle car movement. A driveable enjoyable ratty car being more fun than a perfect project in your garage that you will never be able to afford to finish.

Agreed,
Nothing is worse then a car just sitting, if my car sits during the summer for more then a week I make sure my wife takes it to work. Heck I even have two car seats in the back for my daughters....they LOVE riding in the T/A. Only issue is I feel like they are going to cause me to get a ticket 'Faster daddy faster" lol

[Squidward]

Originally Posted by unruhjonny

The only redeeming things from the 1980's seems to be cheesy sit-coms, and the development of home video game systems...
Then in the early 90's music got good again, and Detroit started mixing things up - the Quad4 seems to have been a huge deal when it was released,

You sound like a pretty cool dude, but we are very far apart on these things!

I loves me some hair metal. I tuned out of music in the 90's because it so damn depressing. It was Emo, but with flannel instead of makeup.

The Quad4 was a step in the right direction, tho. My dad worked on that project during its development. I remember going to some sort of unveiling ceremony as a kid.

47 here. I also agree with some previous posters on the hobby. I play at the bottom end of the hobby. I like ratty cars that go fast, and I don't have to worry about a scratch or a dent. If I was given a super rare and valuable collectible car, I'd sell it for fat cash to buy me whole fleet of beater drivers. THAT is the 17 year old kid in me shining through.

I spent years playing in the hobby on a shoestring budget, balancing family and finances. Now that finances are better and kids grow up/move out, now I have to worry increasingly about retirement plans. It never ends!

[FirebirdHank]

Turning 68 in a couple of weeks. I agree the hobby needs the younger people coming in to survive. Not sure that is going to happen. I'll do all I can to keep it going as long as I can.

[ponchjoe]

52 year old that thinks he's still in his 30s but feels like he's in his 60s when wrenching on the car.

[carcrazy]

Heading toward 66 and still doing things most people have long since grown out of!