Jay Leno on How Driving Changed in 2020—and How It Will Change Even More

[Johnpat]

I feel it's up to us to instill a love of our cars in
Our kids & grandkids.
My grandsons can't wait to work on my cars
& go to car cruises.
My 15 yr old grandson talks to alot of the older
guys at shows & is definitely interested in owning
a 55 Chev

 

[moparedtn]

'Classic car' doesn't mean the same thing it did 25 years ago. There's still a very healthy automotive aftermarket industry that grows every year, so I'm not sure I agree with the perception that there aren't many 'car guys' anymore.

For the most part, we're nostalgic for cars that were around when we were young. For people in their 30s, they're connecting with cars from the 80s and 90s. The same way that this group doesn't generally seek out cars from the 30s and 40s.

When I went to cars & coffee events, 60s and older cars were somewhat of a rarity. Lots of really cool cars from all different times.

This is a good point. Has there actually been an abandonment of sorts of the older antique hobby, to the point
the cars restored and kept in previous decades are being left to rot?
I dunno about anyone else, but Fred gets attention from all age groups when we take him out and about -
a lot of that from younger folks.
I'm hopeful as well that our efforts don't go for naught in years to come...

 

[Dennis H]

AND I don’t care. Will try to wear everything out before the kids get it. If lighting up that big block or Hellcat doesn’t stir your soul then you don’t need to have it.

 

[moparedtn]

Further, if we get right down to it...
The percentage of OUR generation who actually give a rip about our cars is pretty low, too.
Hell, most of them don't even know what they are!

I can't tell you how many times I've had someone in my approximate age group walk right
up to me and Fred and smile and say "I remember those! What model is it, again?"
(Of course, there's the great big "GTX" letters staring right at him on the side of the car, but...)

 

[Darter6]

This made me think of the bumper sticker "I'M SPENDING MY KIDS INHERITANCE''

 

[myk r sanchez]

This is a good point. Has there actually been an abandonment of sorts of the older antique hobby, to the point
the cars restored and kept in previous decades are being left to rot?
I dunno about anyone else, but Fred gets attention from all age groups when we take him out and about -
a lot of that from younger folks.
I'm hopeful as well that our efforts don't go for naught in years to come...

Part of the problem is that cars from the classic muscle car era are priced out of a lot of people's wallets, including younger gearheads. If a younger gearhead wants to get into a DECENT, running '69 Charger, what will they have to spend to get that, $50K? More? For $32K brand new, or $18K used, that younger car enthusiast could get into a current generation Mustang GT with 465hp on tap and all of the technology that younger people gravitate towards these days AND a warranty to boot.

The success of classic muscle cars and the price tags they now command have alienated a lot of people in the car craze culture...

 

[moparedtn]

Part of the problem is that cars from the classic muscle car era are priced out of a lot of people's wallets, including younger gearheads. If a younger gearhead wants to get into a DECENT, running '69 Charger, what will they have to spend to get that, $50K? More? For $32K brand new, or $18K used, that younger car enthusiast could get into a current generation Mustang GT with 465hp on tap and all of the technology that younger people gravitate towards these days.

The success of classic muscle cars and the price tags they now command have alienated a lot of people in the car craze culture...

True - but has that happened with other genres of collector cars from prior eras as well?
Can this market applying to our cars someday collapse and prices adjust downwards? Sure.

 

[myk r sanchez]

True - but has that happened with other genres of collector cars from prior eras as well?
Can this market applying to our cars someday collapse and prices adjust downwards? Sure.

I honestly don't know. Does a Tri Five Chevy, '41 Pontiac Streamliner or a 32 Ford go for 69 Charger RT or 69 Camaro Z28 Money? I honestly don't keep up with the values because I can't afford them myself lol...