[RA1John]

Just wondering..

Is the future of muscle cars changing direction?

In the beginning, they were simply cars to be modified to go faster or look better. Day two changes.

Then came the originality phase. Restoring the classics to their original factory condition. Numbers matching. Date coded components.
While there are some still pursuing this level, it seems a new phase has really taken off.

Restomods.

The look of classic but all the benefits of modern drivetrain, handling & function.
LS motors. 4 wheel disc brakes. Subtle body & trim alterations to improve upon what the factory "missed".

Custom body features. Better fit panels & bumpers. Even taking Dynacorn bodies and building a "new" but modern performance muscle car.

Then of course, there is the "barn find", patina trend. Leave it as found. Rust, dents, scrapes, dirt & all... but upgraded or rebuilt drivetrain.

Seems less people are going down the path of numbers matching and getting every detail to look factory.

Thoughts?

[400 4spd.]

From what I've seen, it changed direction several years ago. I get more inquiries about upgraded/modified builds than stock builds. And these are from middle aged guys.

[mgarblik]

Originally Posted by 400 4spd.

From what I've seen, it changed direction several years ago. I get more inquiries about upgraded/modified builds than stock builds. And these are from middle aged guys.

This certainly seems to be the current trend. The cost of doing a nut and bolt restoration is so high, and once it's done you can't drive it. There is currently a glut of these type of cars because so many speculators did these high dollar restorations a decade ago. If that's the type of muscle car you wish to own, great buys are out there that would cost you double to do yourself. It's an interesting time for sure. Younger people in particular care little about what powers the car. They want modern do dads in the interior, decent brakes, larger wheels and tires and classic muscle car looks.

[RocktimusPryme]

I dont think its new, there are always new trends. When I was a kid in the early 90s all the high dollar builds were pro street looking. I think the biggest money is still always going to be in all original, or cars with a race history. But as far as the rat muscle, resto mod, day 2, etc Im sure something new will be right around the corner.

[dataway]

The cars, and parts available for numbers correct restoration are getting few and far between. Many of the cars that are capable of restoration have already been restored, or are in restoration now. Not a lot left to pick from. There is a very finite number of 40+ year old cars out there with original engines and running gear, but there are many, many 40 year old cars that could be made streetable again.

And .... just like eventually people started modding T-Buckets, 32 Fords, 57 Chevies .... the "Mod" phase works its way up the years because fewer and fewer living people can relate on any level to the vehicles in stock form.

[Judge273]

I like my cars to be factory stock. Because I like to drive them like they were meant to be driven.

My cars don't fall into the other categories. But, finding a correct part for them is still a thrill.

Local shows are fun to see all types of cars, and I'm not seeing a decline in interests? TA Nats was also amazing examples of all types of f bodies.

This years MCACN show was well attended and cars were outstanding examples top restorations. I drove my car to TA Nats for the ride, and to MCACN and got concourse Judged.

Not sure there's a decline in any aspect of the hobby? Just widening into all aspects.

[dhcarguy]

You have to understand the ages of people that want a muscle car. Myself, I am 64 yrs. old now, I was 11 yrs old when the GTO came out I still have an original copy of Car and Driver with the GTO and Ferrari on the cover. I grew up in my teens with muscle cars like a lot of us. I bought my first GTO (67 conv.) in 1971. The first thing me and my buddies did with our cars was try to make them faster and cooler looking. I am still that way., however I have a lot of respect for the guys that strive for originality .
Guys between lets say...40 to 55 ,ave.47 years old., What did they grow up with???? not much. They did see a lot of great performance stuff come out in the last 20 yrs. or so. Guys around that age love both worlds , and that is great with me, I love it too.,but my heart still and always will belong to the 60's and early 70's.

Dave

[The Boss]

I think each of those designations have been around for a while but will wax & wane in fashion. I've chased numbers for decades but have always admired original un-restored cars (barn finds) that still tell their stories as well as the day two cars we rode in or worked on as kids. Resto mods being a modern version of the day two modified cars is nothing new but how many times do we need to see an LS motor under a hood before it gets old.

[Larry Navarro]

there are few cases where the LS1 trend doesn't get "old". This is definitely different and keeping with the Pontiac theme if you will.

[Half-Inch Stud]

I see a definite decline now. It'll pick right back up in the Spring. Probably all versions of Musclecar activity will persist. I prefer the day-2 taken out to post OPEC fuel crisis trim:455's, good radios, good tires & suspension urethane. Stuff like that.

What i noticed is a great amount of retro-Dodge challenger/charger/rt/hemi cars on the Used car lot. Is that an opportunity? GM Musclecar bodies on a modern Dodge driveline?

Seems i'm in favor of original rust

[U47]

Look at what has happened to the Ford model T, A and B models and their prices. There is a waning interest in those cars as opposed to when I was a kid in the 50's. Most of the people that were interested in those cars are dead. Kids today for the most part don't care about cars, but rather view them as a appliance. A necessary evil as taught to them in school or the media. Our cars in the next 20 years will be great fodder for the crusher.

[mgarblik]

This is how I see the next 20 years shaking out. I agree it will follow the familiar pattern of the Model T's and A's and now the Tri-5 Chevys and so forth. The premium, perfect, restored or original cars will ALWAYS be valuable. There will be fewer and fewer of them, they will be in museums and private collections and rarely or never driven. All the rest will exist as amateur restorations, original survivors, restomods, day 1, day 2, whatever one chooses to call them. They will be used and enjoyed by their owners, passed among people their age until they die off. I am one of them. Their heirs will have little to no interest in them when they are gone other than the memories of their loved ones enjoying them. They will have ever decreasing value as the generation dies off and will be sold off, scrapped, or otherwise recycled like the millions and millions of 40's, 50's, 60's cars before them. Our beloved cars are a time capsule of our youth, good times growing up and enjoying life. That's why we love them. There is no reason to expect them to provide the same kind of connection to the future generations. A few will be in museums for the curious. Enjoy them while you can.

[Interceptor]

My kids love the GTO but I guarantee that when I'm gone, if it gives them a lick of trouble it will get sold. All their friends are the same -- musclecars are super cool but need to have the reliability and economy of a new car to appeal to the next generation. If it dies at a light nobody will know what to do. That's why the restomod idea is so appealing to me -- it might enable future generations to enjoy what we all take for granted.

[Chief of the 60's]

Originally Posted by RA1John

Seems less people are going down the path of numbers matching and getting every detail to look factory.

Thoughts?

Numbers and date code matching is a total waste of time as GM never made Unicorns, they pumped out mass produced disposable vehicles. Many of those vehicles had problems at the end of the line and were pushed off into the repair area. THAT WAS THE END OF YOUR NUMBERS MATCHING/DATE CODE. The repair area ended any numbers and date code matching.

And then, there was dealer warranty.

The numbers game is for Corvette idiots and the "look at me" idiots in polo shirts, wearing a Titleist hat and glasses hanging from a string around their neck.

Besides GM never in business to make Unicorns, people take the fun out of owning a collector vehicle because it sits in restoration limbo while the owner looks to all 4 corners of the Earth for that 1 lug nut that has 15 threads in it not 16.

I know more people having fun with their old car because they don't need that part that was made at 4:42 on a Wednesday in October, during a snowstorm in 1966 on mill #7 by employee #3787.

Don't make yourself an insane idiot. Stop looking for that date coded Rally II that you are only going to cover up with a tire and trim ring, enjoy your car.

Making a car "correct" is one thing, making it something it probably never was is a total waste of time.

[FULZGOLD]

I have a very original car, but I like all of the different trends. I don't sit around thinking of ways NOT to drive it, I just often don't have that time available, so it pretty much stays low mile. There are many who obsess about this or that, but when it comes down to it, it's just a car. They all are. The younger crowd could care less about my original paint, and absolutely none of them will fork over the dough I have in it. When I want something else, I'll probably go a different route, just because I can. I never liked pinning myself down to just liking one type of ride. Enjoy them all I say !!!

[GT182]

I say Muscle Cars are going modified for the drivability aspect. Lower rear gear ratios, engine improvements [for the original style engines], brake, tires, rims, suspension and even paint. With the rest of the car still having the original look... tho some inside changes for comfort, but the body staying original.

That is a lot but the end result is a really big improvement for today's driving on the roadways we now have. And a lot of it is for improved gas economy with today's higher gas prices. Back in the day [50s up thru and to 1972] us old timers had the good gas prices on average . Even tho we didn't make much money paying 5 bucks or less to fill the tank wasn't all that bad. I remember my folks just hopping in the car on a Saturday or Sunday with no plans just to go for a ride... long or short.

[6567GTO]

There's also the trend toward driver-less cars further making our cars less desirable and therefore less valuable. The insurance companies, law suits and push towards driver-less cars will make our cars a liability to own and drive and will be the final nail in the coffin. Enjoy them while you can...

And the young are using uber more and more...

[dhcarguy]

Originally Posted by U47

Look at what has happened to the Ford model T, A and B models and their prices. There is a waning interest in those cars as opposed to when I was a kid in the 50's. Most of the people that were interested in those cars are dead. Kids today for the most part don't care about cars, but rather view them as a appliance. A necessary evil as taught to them in school or the media. Our cars in the next 20 years will be great fodder for the crusher.

Have you been to a street rod nationals lately?? More Ford Model T's, A's and B's then what you will find at an AACA show.

[Chief of the 60's]

Originally Posted by dhcarguy

Have you been to a street rod nationals lately?? More Ford Model T's, A's and B's then what you will find at an AACA show.

LOL! There are guys that look for some of those old AACA cars so they can cut them up.

[bird72]

Muscle cars first became eclipsed by new transmissions. Gutless new cars of the 80's could out-MPH a muscle car on a highway by being able to ultimately go faster. At some 5700 Poncho RPM point, the OD-d egg car can pass you. So if we weren't fastest anymore, we at least were quickest, right? Now everything and their mother 4 door sedan is 400 hp it seems. Fast AND quick egg-cars. To run in todays world, OD or tall gears are needed. Neither are stock musclecar stuff. The purist correct musclecar is now an around town item of historic importance, and a thing of timelss beauty. Just not not a real world contender, unless modified. The world changed around us, 70-80 mph highway is common. So I say the bigger future is modded cars for the new public that wants them. Correct cars will even more become parade cars.