boblichty

People really driving old cars to the max and having fun, great stuff, thanks Steve. Poor Old 16 now just sits the Henry Ford and they occassionally start it up. Give me the gold old days.

Lots of good advice above. A couple good ones were, buy what you like, don't focus on money making, if you chose well it will be ok. Yes, there are trends, but most are falsely created by hype. The huge dollar muscle cars so heavily promoted by the TV auction feel back to reality as fast as they were hyped up. Over all as a generalization the market is down 15-20% but good cars are always hard to find and will be back in price. As a matter of fact you are getting in at a good time. Prices may not be this cheap in the near future. If you still need help making a purchase soon, hire an appraiser or pre-purchase inspector to look the car over for you. There are plenty of qualified ones out there, any issue of Hemmings or Antique Automobile has many. Beware of novices trying to be appraisers by saying they IS one, or guys who try to blow their own horn too hard. Price Guides. There are a number on the market and most have some merit. As a dealer I find they all fall short. Some prices are too high, some too low, some cars are not listed etc.etc. I subscribe to five: Old Cars Price Guide, Kelley Blue Book Early Models, NADA, Cars That Matter, and CPI. If you look up any single car in all five, add them together and divide by 5 you get a pretty darn good number. I would never trust just one of them. Good luck, have fun and buy what you enjoy.

I think we have all noticed. Three or four years ago you could put any part or car on ebay and it was gone instantly. ebay today just isn't what it used to be, I think even more than just from the economy. But some of the others above are right, the market may be smaller and less funded, but good stuff is still good stuff and will find a home. We all have to recognize that cars are not what they were worth even two years ago. As a dealer, I recently radically marked all my older inventory down to match today's prices. I have to face a loss on some, but, I also find that the market has stablized and there are a lots of great cars out there at "today's" prices to be bought. So it is a double edged sword. Don't expect your car to be worth what it was even last year, but don't expect to have to pay for your next one as much. Keep in mind it could be worse, you could have put all your car money into stocks!

You are getting a lot of good advice here, the best is that you should collect what you enjoy. Cars of the early eighties are already elegible for AACA events, and we are seeing the 80's and early 90's coming on. At 62 they "feel" like used cars to me, but yet I do find some interesting. I went to Hershey for the first time in 1967 and have only missed three since. My first collector car bought in 1970 was a 1951 Hudson Hornet, which made it 19 years old, way too new to be let in AACA events yet, but I had no doubt it was collectable. I joined the Hudson-Essex-Terraplane Club and found a lot of people who also thought so, not to mention a few still trying to keep the family car running. Checking the web there is already clubs for Chrysler K cars, Pontiac Trans Ams and more from the eras you talk about and like I said AACA goes back 25 years touching your era already. While even I have owned cars in my life time I might not ever afford to buy back, the older car hobby can be affordable also. It just takes finding the "right" old car, get with the "right" AACA buddies and you are on your way. So build what you enjoy, stock pile a couple of those cars you like away and most of all have fun.

I had a near identical Jetfire as my daily driver in California during the late 1970's. It was white with a black interior, it is actually shown in the Standard Catalog of cars as the illustration for a 63 Jetfire. I loved it peppy with the turbo, but got great gas mileage as well. Of course lots of cars are turbocharged today, but it was a very special car in it's day. Congradulations on your find.

Oh, no doubt what so ever, The Pontiac Axtek. They must have hired the Citroen Ami designer, flown him to Michigan, gave him bad drugs, and told him "What will the Ami look like when it grows up?" Free drugs and creative freedom run amuk.

Around 1978 I had a 1966 Shelby Mustang GT 350 that had a great history but it was not much fun to drive. I sold it while I was living in So. California at the time, don't even ask how little money. I moved back to Wisconsin to work for Old Cars Weekly again about then and bought a spectacular 1966 Mustang GT fastback with the K-code hi-po, solid lifter 289V8 in it. That car was fantastic, an Emberglo fastback with a pony interior, ran super strong and had mid-30's miles on it and mostly original. I kept it a couple years before moving to Carlisle, PA to work for the Millers and hace missed it ever since. I've owned a couple red K-code fastbacks since but non have ever been the equal to that very special Emberglo fastback. Cruisin' the back roads of Wisconsin on the two or three days of nice weather up there. We always used to say in Iola, "If Summer comes on a Saturday this year, we can have a picnic."

Isn't it interesting that many of us who bought cars in the late 1960's and 1970's had collector cars that we had no doubt were collectable and as little as 14-15 years old. Today I doubt many of us would walk across the street to even look at a 1985 much of anything. I will admit, my 27 year old son "thinks" his 1987 Monte Carlo is an antique. When I bought my 1951 Hudson in 1967, I do remember while it was not eligible for many AACA outings, the HET Club in our area was super active. Many members were people who simply would not give up driving their Hudson daily and needed advice, and parts. But there was still a lot of friendship and fun, just as we have today in our club.

Gary Pelger got your photos this week for the registry, what is the deal on the Bliss with the twin rear seats pictured. I 've even seen one like that, did they cup open the rear deck?

What was your first collector car that was NOT your daily driver, but bought purely for hobby fun and what year did you buy it in if you can remember that far back. Mine was a 1951 Hudson Hornet 4dr bought around 1967, so that means the car was only 16 years old. By todays standards not eligible for collector plates, or in those days any AACA show. but I knew it was special, and joined the HET Club right away thanks to a guy in Tallmadge Ohio who was a big Hudson collector. That was the year I attended my first Hershey. To this day those Hudson's and Hershey are still special to me. But in comparison my antique car is a lot older. Uh oh....so am I.

I am going to replate the bumpers on my otherwise original 48 Nash 600. It is my true keeper, I am little torn about replating the bumpers but it really detracts from the car and needs done. If the car wasn't so original I would not have second thoughts.

A '41 Ford Deluxe 2dr sedan in 1947. I remember it like it was yesterday.

Even though I am a classic car dealer and auction company, which during my day job, it has to be about money and values. I am, always have been and always will be a hobbyist first. I have cars in my own collection that will never be for sale. It is a runaway hobby that put me in the crazy business I am in. And, it is comforting to know that after 39 years of working in this hobby/industry as my career, hobby and passion, I know that the money is meaningless and if I was not doing this as my career, I'd be putting out money to do it as my hobby only. I have said for years, "If I worked this hard at doing anything I hated for the past 39 years, I'd be a rich guy by now." But, instead I am one of the most blessed guys I know. I get to do my hobby everyday. My career and hobby has been a passion and priviledge. AACA has been part of every day of it.

Steve, summed it up the best. Nothing remains the same, but both events are worth the travel. I've missed 3 Hershey's since 1967. And I worked for Carlisle as their Marketing Director for close to 9 years for most of the 1980's going to California in 1990, and I had not missed a year prior to that from when the Miller's created the place in 1974 in responce to AACA restrictions prior. <P> I missed going to Carlisle for about 10 years while I was in California having only enough time to make it to Hershey, always my first priority on my antique car travel budget. I think I went back sometime in the very late 1990's and told a couple friends I was going, I got the old "it isn the same, only sock vendors, no car stuff, greedy owners drove out the car guys" . The same critique I always heard for years prior to going away. Anyway, my point is...when I did go I found what was the same far out weighed what was not, and Carlisle today is still a mecca for car guys of a later model bent, and Hershey a little older demographic car group. Guess what? Still plenty to see and do for call, both shows are great. Hershey can't be truly replaced even right down the road, and Carlisle more commerically run makes the experience more pleasant, with less rules. So, these days, I never miss a Spring Carlise or a Fall Hershey, filling as I can find time with some of Carlisle's specialty shows, like Ford, and MoPar, and their new auction series. The last two years much to my wife's chagrin, I've made it to both Fall Carlisle and Hershey, while I am still young enough to walk it all without the aid of a "power chair/scooter". <If I miss Hershey, check the morgue!

Here is my ten 1) 1955-56 Chevrolet Cameo Carrier 2) 1955-57 GMC Suburban Carrier 3) 1957 International Golden Anniversay 4) 1937-39 Studebaker 5) 1953-56 Ford F-100 6) 1957-59 Dodge Sweptside 7) 1948-43 Chevrolet 8) 1963-65 Ford Falcon Ranchero 9) 1957-59 Ford Ranchero 10) 1964-65 Chevrolet ElCamino

This was my 32nd Hershey, I love it, I would not miss it, if I am not there check the hospital or worse. However, in that many years I have witnessed or experienced a Derry Township Fire Police officer go nuts on someone. Yes, it is a stressful job, but don't tell me they never have crowds at Hershey Park. When we arrived we met a very nice young woman who was amazingly nice. We actually said "this could be the year they get it". But by morning the Chief must have passed out the cood-aid to the troops because I saw a cop have such a tempor tantram at some poor guy who did not stop at the "exact" spot the cop pointed to with his flashlight, it was amazing. Behavour like that was an unbefitting the fine community of Herhey, and I see it every year. I can only imagine the what impression this guy made on that particular visitor and those who also saw what I did that morning on Hershey Park Drive. I hope they come back, Hershey is a great town and we have a great club.

In 2005 I bought a new Ford F-350 Super Duty dualie for trailer pulling. The Navistar engine was so bad, Ford replaced it at 19,000 miles. That year Ford replaced over 5500 similar engines according to Automotive News. I ran it until one day past the warrenty ran out at 100,000 miles and bought a Dodge dualie with the Cummins diesel and can't imagine ever going back to Ford, except one thing. Now in Chrysler's wisdom, the nearest Dodger dealer is about 30 miles away. And we only have a Ford dealer left in town. I guess i will nurse the Dodge along as long as I can, and look forward to the new Fiat Ram 3500 HD diesel. LOL.

Dave your article seems a lot more reasonable. Seems like idiocy to drop Dodge totally. The article I found was on MSN yesterday and I doubt it was written by a car guy. Did you read in you article they "don't" intend to market the neat little Fiat 500 as a Fiat but just the 500. The only fun car Fiat makes, gets great reviews overseas and they are not going to use their own name on it. I guess I will never have a future in marketing at an Italian automaker.

I think the "Standard Catalog of Ford 1903-90" by Krause Publications (now F&W Media), is still in print and it will give you everything you want. It was reprinted many times with myself and Ron Kowalke listed as the author. It is really a compliation of the Ford Products out of the bigger Standard Catalog series which is now out of print unfortunately. I bet you can find the Ford book used on Amazon at a good discount.

Last night going through my book collection I can across a book done by Steve Butler a couple years ago. It is the full history of promotional models, it is wonderfully complete and does not miss anything. It was $19.95 in soft binding. I would watch the swap meets for it. Well worth the effort on this great subject.

Yesterday, Fiat (owners of Chrysler) annouced that they will be dropping Dodge. So now Dodge joins, Plymouth, Oldsmobile, soon Pontiac as long lost great American brand icons. Fiat claims there new line of products will "honor Dodge's hi-performance and rugged truck image". Cant you just see the new Fiat Hemi Charger? No one is going to miss Saturn too much, but what car is next...Mercury? Buick? GMC trucks? I guess the Italians have no clue what an icon Dodge is. I doubt I'll be buying a new Fiatized Chrysler anyway, they closed the best dealership within 30 miles of here. Our town has lost two Chevy dealerships, soon a Pontiac dealership, Chrysler, Olds, and next year Dodge. This is actually true the only auto dealer left in our town of 80,000 people is a very good Ford/Mercury/Lincoln dealership.

Yesterday, Fiat (owners of Chrysler) annouced that they will be dropping Dodge. So now Dodge joins, PLymouth, Oldsmobile, soon Pontiac as long lost American brand icons. Fiat claims there new line of products will "honor Dodge's hi-performance and rugged truck image". Cant you just see the new Fiat Hemi Charger?

This controversy has been going on as long as I have been in the hobby and that was shortly after cars were invented, well...not quite. Anyway, I don't mind seeing a well done street rod or traditional hot rod from time to time. I personally prefer stock, original or well restored cars. I do see a trend however and that is as hot rodders have developed more spendable income over the years they begin a project with the best car they can find. I know of several cars that I saw on the show field at Hershey a few years ago that are now high priced street rods. Just as said by others above, the owner has the right to do what ever he wants with his property. He could bury the car in the backyard if he chooses. However, I fear that at some point future generations will not be able to view and enjoy a bone stock car out on the road as the bulk will have small block Chevy's and mag wheels, except at a museum. For history sake I hope a few cars are spared. Thank goodness for AACA's pure stock policy for judging. Lets hope no future board approves even the little modifications such as mag wheels, non-correct white wall widths, hidden A/C.

There were some fairly accurate hard rubber promos built in the 1930's and early 40's. I have seen Oldsmobiles, Fords and even International trucks. Someone with more knowledge may be able to list the exact makes and who produced them?

This was my 39th Hershey in 42 years and just as good as ever. No mud but fun anyway. In all those years there is always a car or two that always makes me Wow! We made a couple deals in the Car Corral, enjoyed the RM Auction what little of we we could since it started so early in the day and no way am I leaving the swap meet before 5. The Derry Township Fire Police clearly had drank the koolaid as they were their usual charming selves. I saw one guy have a complete total melt down in the middle of the street when a car failed to yield to his demands. I can't imagine a NYC cop having such a fit. But Hershey would not be Hershey without those guys. The wind on Wednesday was amazing, we didn't put our tent up until Thursday and then enjoyed the cool Fall weather from then on. The tiny bit of rain was nothing more. Our Car Corral spaces face the path the cars take to the car show on Sunday and the parade was great. In the evening we hit a couple of our usual stops like the Hummelstown Hotel and the Union Canal House for dinner and it was wonderful both places with lots of old friends in and out. In spite of the cost the Hershey Lodge was as nice as ever. Hopefully Hershey will never change too much and we will be attending for another 39 years.