Re: Generation Gap??

July 11th, 2002

Rich ~ Don't make your trailer too specific for one car. In the future you might wind up with another car which could be longer, wider or higher; or all of the above.Like Father Ron says, "Been there and done that." [img]images/icons/rolleyes.gif" border="0[/img] ~hvs

**Peter J.Heizmann** · July 11th, 2002

ex98thDrill...As Ron and Howard stated, I too echo the "Been there, done that." In the war Ron and I were involved in, it was not all that popular we found out upon returning. My thoughts are the same today, "so what". The fact we served is the grit. I feel safe in speaking for all vets on this forum, that in the long haul as years go by upon your return, your honorable service to this country will far out-weigh missing hobby related events, except for time with your relatives. Keep up the good work and be safe.Regards, Peter [img]images/icons/wink.gif" border="0[/img]

**ex98thdrill** · July 11th, 2002

Yeah Peter, you're right, but regardless of how things go, you can't bring back the time that you lost ....life is short. My father is 62, he's healthy, but you never know how things could turn out. Of course if something were to happen where we couldn't work on cars together, my time over here would be lost. That's my concern. My home is East Bloomfield, New York, but I couldn't justify changing my registration to the middle east. But yes, you have an AACA member in the desert and no I haven't found any car parts or swap meats.

**Dynaflash8** · July 12th, 2002

ex -- when you get back home, make sure you and your Dad look into joining a Region or Chapter up there in NY. It will add a great deal to your enjoyment of the hobby. Keeps you informed, makes you new friends, and some of them will have needed info on parts, parts sources and places to get stuff done. I'm just a little older than your Dad, I'm 63, but I've got 40 years in AACA and in the hobby. It would have been a lot less fun without the Regions I've belonged to and the people I've met and known in this great hobby. And thanks for being there in the sand hills for the rest of us. You have our gratitude.[ 07-12-2002: Message edited by: Dynaflash8 ]

July 12th, 2002

I am now thirty seven (37) and have been a CCCA (Classic Car Club of America) member for longer than I can remember. My friends seem very interested in my 30's - 40's cars, (as well as other peoples) though really do not know what they are looking at without a little explanation. They are far more able to recognize and relate to sixties, seventies, and eighties cars (rare or common place). Their enthusiasm also dies down somewhat when they find out they are financially beyond their grasp and when they see the amount of time I spend at the machine shop vs. auto parts store. Keep encouraging anyone who has the slightest amount of interest in any car.[ 07-12-2002: Message edited by: JOHN MERENESS ]

**ex98thdrill** · July 12th, 2002

I don't know, I wouldn't mind getting into the local chapter (Genesee) but I haven't because I don't feel that I can dedicate the time to it. I work midnights and I get weekends off once every six (6) weeks, I'm in the Army Reserve, I'm also an emergency medical technician as well as one of the Fire Chief's in the local Fire Dept., and I also work on the crash truck at Watkins Glen International. My weekends are mostly dedicated to the shop working on the iron, and the rest of the time I'm pretty busy. In my spare time, I still manage to stay married (god bless her!). Although I do take time to go to some of the shows, I don't have a lot of spare time. My vacation time is usually eaten up going to shows, and working the whole week that the Nascar boys come to visit Watkins Glen. As a matter of fact, I was working the crash truck the day that the AACA founders tour cars took two laps while Dale Jarrett was eating his lunch. My father on the other hand, we dedicate our weekends in the shop (Friday, Saturday & Sunday), but he is active in the Fire Department as well (that's the only time I can tell him what to do 'cause I'm the Chief), He runs the highway department, which means in the winter time he's out plowing snow, in the summer time, he's rebuilding roads, and once a week he's sitting in board meetings. You're right, we should be involved in the regional chapters, but we're both extremely busy. Our relaxation is hooking up the trailer to my truck and hauling our old '37 Plymouth pickup to the shows. Hopefully by 2003 show season, we'll have our '40 Plymouth woodie wagon ready to show in AACA.

**Dynaflash8** · July 14th, 2002

First, I wonder why I had to log in today. Almost forgot my password.Anyway, ex, being in a Region club and just doing something a few times a year gets you involved (and might give you someplace to take the Mrs) and you meet more people that way. Remember the old story, about "all work and no play". I was on the track at Watkins Glen that day, with a silver '66 Chrysler Newport convertible. It's dull, but a good driver. Anyway, I sure would like to have had a '41 Buick straight 8 with dual carbs that day to see what it could really do, haha

**ex98thdrill** · July 14th, 2002

You're right, you need to take time to play, but for me I've found that when I have the time, I don't have the money and when I have the money, I don't have the time. It just seems like a no win situation. Even though I'm across the big pond, I did manage to get my wife to go with my father to the National Plymouth meet in Maryland last month (he took 2nd place). I'm hoping to con her into going to Hershey. If I get her interested, maybe??? I was going to use the tax free money I'm making to restore my '42 Ford/American LaFrance, but instead I opted to buy a new Harley at cost and add it to the collection. In three more weeks I'll have a brand new Harley (Heritage Softtail) sitting in the shop next to the firetruck, Mustangs and everything else, and where am I? Paying for it! I was really hoping to get a 2003 model (100th anniversary edition) but I had to settle with a 2002 instead. If I get a glimpse of a 2003, I like the bike and I can get one, I'll sell my 2002. Right now our car collection stands as having at least one car in the 20's, 30's, 40's, 70's & 80's. Who knows? maybe we'll get something from the 50's, 60's & 90's (not counting daily drivers) because with the New Harley being added, we'll have a vehicle representing six different decades.

**Dynaflash8** · July 15th, 2002

How about a well-toured 1966 Chrysler Newport convertible? It's a two-owner car with 107K, A/C and five Founder's Tours under its belt. Haha. At my age, I need to cut back, and just bought a 7th old car. Somethin' has to go before too long. [img]images/icons/smile.gif" border="0[/img] [img]images/icons/smile.gif" border="0[/img] Well, you need something in the '70s too, right? Okay, then you can take the '76 Lincoln Continental Town Coupe I just bought and you'll have a car in every decade. With 46K miles, we're again second owners and hoping it'll drive to the Founders Tour in Wisconsin and back. By the way, there's a '42 Ford pumper in a friend's collection near here, in Warsaw, VA ... or maybe it's a '46. I can ask. Keep plugging for us over here you're trying to protect, buddy, we appreciate it. [img]images/icons/smile.gif" border="0[/img][ 07-15-2002: Message edited by: Dynaflash8 ]

**ex98thdrill** · July 15th, 2002

'42? '46? Either way it would still be the same body style. If it is an American LaFrance, send me come pictures of it. One area that I really need is that most of the gauges on the pump panel are rusted and I need to replace them. I'm the third owner of my truck and I've got pictures of it back in '71 when it was still in service. As for other cars, we've got the 70's represented, It's only the teens, 50's, 60's & 90's that we don't have. (we've got 90's but they're daily drivers so I'm not counting them). Between my dad and I, we've got about 17? cars and we don't need any more. Right now we've got two cars currently under restoration, 7 unrestored, 5 restored, plus our daily drivers in the collection.

**Dynaflash8** · July 15th, 2002

This truck looks like the old 1942-46 Ford trucks in the front. It was the first fire truck in Richmond County, VA. It's very low mileage, but looks pretty beat. Trust me, it'll still be there when you get back home. The owner lives full time in York,PA, spends weekends at his old shop in Warsaw, VA, and may soon move to Florida. I'll be at the Sentimental Tour from tomorrow thru Sunday, but send me an email at buickman@crosslink.net, and I'll give you his name and email address.

July 16th, 2002

To return to a prior direction, it does make one wonder what the future 'restorers' will actually restore. Cars from the 80s and up are so much more complex in how they are made, the types of materials used, etc. Not a lot of stuff you can make in your basement machine shop.I grew up in the 70s and early 80s, there is virtually nothing from that era I'd like to restore or purchase. Those were dark days in car history. Even the sports cars were rather lame.There will always be people who go for older cars than their own time period. I have an inexplicable attraction to Packards. Never owned one, never rode in one, never knew anyone who had one. Yet, I think there should be one from the 55-57 period in my garage. At 36, I'm not quite financially able, but it's probably not too far off.I also agree that we need to lessen the emphasis on the restored trailer queens. While they are an important part of the AACA, the regular driver/weekend show cars are the bulk of what is out there, and this is the approach we should try to inspire new people through.The hobby is accessible to anyone. You can buy a drivable, interesting old 60s car for $2500. It may be a four door with no real pedigree, but it can get someone started. The problem is, everyone thinks they have to have or feels they must have the Hemi Superbird right off the bat. Folks want instant gratification. I'm a little guilty of it myself, but I've learned that if you work towards a goal, eventually you will probably get there.

**c.johnson** · July 16th, 2002

I'm sure someday a Pinto, Vega, or a Pacer will be a collector car, maybe they already are for someone. One thing I've learned is that old cars are like art. What one person finds apalling, another may find very appealing.What one person finds is to difficult, another may find it as a challenge - even with all the plastic.Maybe in a few years I won't mind seeing a Pinto in a car show, and remembering times I drove one - and wished I had something better!! [img]images/icons/grin.gif" border="0[/img] cj

**ex98thdrill** · July 17th, 2002

Pintos are eligible now, so it's only a matter of someone bringing one in. The problem with them is that a lot of them seemed to have begun to rust before they left the showroom. I'm not knocking Pintos because I have a couple of Mustang II's. Mustang II's were nothing more than a pinto with different bends in the metal. What I enjoy is when someone with one of the older mustangs, calls one of my Mustang II's a pinto and then I'll compliment them on their Falcon. It is a slam against either car, but I do use that to curb someone's arrogance towards an autombile.

**Dave@Moon** · July 18th, 2002

One doesn't have to just mention Pinto, Vegas and Pacers to conjure up images of how dark those days were. There are no American cars from that era, and darn few imported cars, that can in any way be described as well made quality products. I've reiterated stories here in other threads about my experiences with Granadas, LeSabres and Aspens of that era, as could anyone of my age or older. And with the first front wheel drives it only got worse. I've known cars from that time that if I had them today I'd be spending a lot of time in court getting refunds. More significantly, the cars of that era and beyond became increasingly complex and restoration-unfriendly. Even if your 1983 Celebrity was the most attracive and reliable vehicle you've ever owned [img]images/icons/rolleyes.gif" border="0[/img] , just the mechanical aspects of a full, proper restoration to factory correct standards would be dauntingly difficult and expensive. The engine decal kit alone would be 3-10 times that for a '57 Chevy. And God help you if the ECM sources for your car have dried up!When this topic was being breached in the early days of this forum, the prepoderance of opinion ran against this thesis. Most dfers at that time seemed to be adamant that the cars of the '80s will be to the hobby more or less the same that the cars of their youth were. I'm glad to see that opinion shifting.Guys like Robert, and their re-restoration of cars that we leave them, are the hope and future of this hobby. The key is to get young people to see the worth of antique cars through the haze of their memory of the old cars they've already known.

**29 Chandler** · July 18th, 2002

I'll have to agree with Dave@Moon. I was born in 1968 and watched my parents stuggle with their daily drivers made in the 70's and 80's. My first opportunity to drive a car I could rally get into was the family's 1971 Mercury Marquis. I learned a loy about how to maintain cars with that big old car. Then came my first car, a 1968 Mustang. It has been my daily driver for the past 17 years. (Currently resting while I give the enviroment a break while driving our new Honda Insight.)The Mustang got my feet wet in the hobby and my appetite whet for a more exotic car. But a few things had to happen first before we (my wife too)could take the plunge. One, had to pay off some bills. Two, get a house with room to house an old car. Three, have our son Chandler. Now that one, two, and three are done we really don't have a whole lot of time for our 1929 Chandler, but the way we look at it, at this point we still have a lot of time to play with it. I can't wait to see my son goto prom in the '29 Chandler that he helped to restore! Me driving ofcourse. [img]images/icons/smile.gif" border="0[/img]

**ex98thdrill** · July 18th, 2002

I don't know Dave. No maybe some people won't be restoring Ford Escorts, Chevy Citations, and Dodge Caravans, but you will still have the muscle car collectors with the Mustang GT's, Buick Grand Nationals, Chevy Iroc Z-28's, Monte Carlo SS, Pontiac Trans Ams, etc. and I'd be willing to bet that they'll be back. Of course you will still see someone restore something more "common" but I still think you'll see that stuff in the years to come.

**ronbarn** · July 18th, 2002

29 Chandler, how do you like the new hybrid. I test drove the Insight but ended up with the Toyota Prius. We needed the backseat and larger trunk. It is really neat to drive a full Interstate speed witth the AC on and still get better than 45 mpg and get better than 50 around town.Guess I'm glad I will never have to worry about restoring one 25 years from now. Talk about packing 10 pounds of it in a 2 pound bag. One look under the hood is enough to intimidate even the most serious amateur mechanic (and most professionals).Sorry about getting off the topic a little. [img]images/icons/blush.gif" border="0[/img]

**ply33** · July 18th, 2002

Ron, I did not know you were another Prius owner. We have had one for over 1.5 years now and love it.

**29 Chandler** · July 18th, 2002

Ron, We love the Insight. We bought primarily to comute back and forth to work. I love coming to a stop light and having the engine shut off! I get more looks in it then when I was driving my Mustang every day. I realy believe that these cars are the future. I take friends for a drive in it and they ask "Why don't more people know about this?!". With production at about 10,000 for three years the Insight is a real secret. I love watching the instant MPG guage at work. The car really is fun to drive. I love talking to people about it in the parking lot. [img]images/icons/smile.gif" border="0[/img]

July 18th, 2002

Insight and Pruis?? A little more input on the safety record of these "hybrid" cars please. The old chevy 3/4 ton 4x4 only gets 14 mpg, but it does gives somewhat of a feeling of safety. With some of the bonehead acts I see on the roads on a daily basis around here, I'll opt for the size factor. Don't get me wrong, if everyone on the road drove safely, I'd be more than willing to drive an environmentally friendly car. And yes, I do realize that having a heavy truck doesn't guarantee coming out unscathed in a crash. [img]images/icons/wink.gif" border="0[/img]

**29 Chandler** · July 19th, 2002

Anyone wnating to know more information about the Insight should check out InsightCentral.com This is a VERY informative site on these cars with a truly amazing interactive guide that will describe every component of the car simply by running your cursor over the picture. They also have information on actual crash results. Not surprising, but every crash involved a much larger vehicle. And every time the Insight occupant survived with little or no injury. Did I mention before that it has an aluminum body? This is a real afforadable exotic! [img]images/icons/cool.gif" border="0[/img] [img]images/icons/cool.gif" border="0[/img]

July 19th, 2002

insightcentral.net thanx [img]images/icons/wink.gif" border="0[/img]

**Dave@Moon** · July 22nd, 2002

O.K. Let's tie it together.For the hybrid car owners out there: would you, could you seriously imagine a scratch restoration of your car say 45 years from now? They'll be as historically significant as any car one could name today, and they'll be important pieces of our automotive legacy, so they'll likely be some collectible value to them in the future. Before you answer, look closely at the amount and complextiy of the electronic componentry (and the unique, proprietary nature of each individual piece thereof). Ron has already addressed that to some extent, but I'm looking for a more serious scrutiny of the likelyhood of a restoration being viable either physically or economically. Also, just for a hoot. Go around the car, under the hood, and inside any other accessable places and give us a count of the number of lables/decals/printed markings/data plates/etc. each of which would need to be either individually restored or reproduced for just that particular model. (Decals and lables may seem like a trivial point to follow, but I find it to be indicative of what cam be expected both in terms of the complexity of the project and the likelyhood that materials such as these will be available to future restorers of concours/senior level restoration. One could just as easily imagine trying to find and install a reproduction wire harness in such a car.)

**ply33** · July 22nd, 2002

There is no way that I could restore our Prius. But I think that would be true of any car that uses plastic parts and lots of electronics.Maybe in 40 or 50 years there will be developed some low cost hobbiest way of making complicated plastic parts but I suspect not: I can't see how that could be done without some sort of moulds and/or dies that would be beyond the capabilities of a hobbiest.And, working in the electronics industry, I can tell you that you will have to design you own replacement for every solid state device in your ECU(s): Even now a lot of electronic products are redesigned quite often not because the product does not work but simply because one or more components in it have been"end of lifed" by the semiconductor manufacturer. If you can keep any single product in production without redesign of the boards for more than a couple of years you are really lucky.So, no, I don't think I could restore a Prius. Nor, for that matter, do I think I could restore my 1991 Jeep. Same reasons, even if it has fewer electronics.

LinkBack

Thread Tools

Display