LINC400

I remember these cars when they first came out. I thought they were horrible. It looked like GM took a chainsaw and chopped off the front and rear of their pre-1984 full size cars. I could not believe anyone would trade in a 1984 Park Ave, Olds 98, LeSabre, Delta 88, or Deville for one of these dinky fwd boxy things. Let alone a much nicer 1976 or earlier. I thought it would be the end of GM. They didn't exactly end GM, but I do think that they turned a lot of people to Toyota, Honda, and other imports. The buyer of a 1976 GM full size would never consider a Toyota Camry or Honda Accord unless they wanted something totally different. But by 1986, there was not much difference in size, features or price between a GM full size and Camry or Accord. So with all the hype the imports got (and still do), why not check them out? I think these cars ended GM's automatic dominance in the U.S. They might be reliable and make fine antique cars now, and many have nice interiors. But they still just aren't as interesting as 1950's - 1970's GM full size cars and never will be. At a car show, what is going to get attention, a 1959 Cadillac, 1976 Eldorado convertible, or boxy 4 door 1985 Deville? So with plenty of earlier cars still around, I can't imagine too many people seeking these out as a collector car of choice. Probably most of the ones that will be someone's collector car will end up that way because someone found a really clean cheap one. Most full size 1970's cars are finally starting to be appreciated now at 30-40 years old as opposed to 1950's cars that already started being collectible when they were less than 20 years old. I imagine these more ordinary post 1985 GM full size cars will take even longer. They just don't create the type of positive nostalgic feelings that earlier cars do.

That is correct. There is no need to feel sorry for the neighbors. They may not be responsible for Detroit's economy. But being poor is no excuse for vandalism and throwing garbage in the streets, including, as I already said, a couch we had to drive around. If the plant were leveled today and a public park replaced it, it would not improve the area much. The rest of the neighborhood is in almost as bad of shape, and the park would not be a safe place to be. The plant had sections rented out over the years, but it just became more unsafe for tenants to stay there. So who would want to buy a loft or shop there if it were turned into lofts or a mall? You probably wouldn't even make it back to your car with your purchases before you got mugged. If the plant was in a better area, it could have been converted to another use decades ago, or bulldozed and replaced by something else. It is because of where it is located that no one wants the expense of converting it, or bulldozing and building something else, only to be vandalized yet again and having no one want to go to what replaced it. The Packard plant is the victim. It is not the cause of the problem as everyone makes it out to be. I have no idea how to fix Detroit's problems. But getting rid of the Packard plant is not going to make everything all better in that area. It's not like property values will skyrocket there once it is gone.

It has been several years since I have been there. But at that time, there was no need to feel sorry for the neighbors that had to look at the plant. The neighborhoods around the plant are in just as bad of shape (including houses people are living in), as the plant. In fact, there was an old couch sitting in the middle of the street that we had to drive around just to get to it. One of the reasons it was never converted to some other use is because no one would want to go to that area even if it was converted into nice lofts or a mall. It probably wouldn't even be finished before it started getting vandalized.

The following errors have been found: non-existence, re-read ...enjoyable to read, and instill... Otherwise, I agree.

I have to say that I am embarrassed by the responses most people have posted on this thread. Ok, so some of you do not like 50's-60's music, it has been too loud, or you have encountered a DJ that was a jerk. Is that any reason for you to take it out on this guy that said he was looking for suggestions to improve his shows? Obviously he does not fall into this category if he is on here asking how to make his show better. He has already said that he plays his music at background level, and now uses more speakers and wants to get scissor jacks because he gets better coverage this way without blasting out people next to the speakers. You are basically telling him to get lost, and that you don't care if he has a job. What a nasty welcome for a new member who was only trying to get input to make his shows more enjoyable (or at least tolerable to those that hate DJ's at car shows). And then people on here wonder why they have a hard time getting new members. As for suggestions: Play more variety of music. Matching the music to the cars is a nice idea, but most shows I go to (which I hate rod and customs shows) the best prewar trophy is won by a car because it is the only one there that qualifies for it. But it couldn't hurt to throw in some Dixieland or 40's music for variety. Play some vintage car ads to add some interest and break it up a little. Keep announcements to a minimum. I hate hearing the same announcements every 10 or 15 minutes. As well as thanking all the same sponsors every 10-15 minutes. I also hate longwinded stories about a song, or telling dragged out personal stories. A few quips are fine, but again, keep it to a minimum.

???? Look up. First thing I listed.

It is a buyers market for these. For whatever reason, these cars are constantly labeled as gas pigs, and that is all the thought anyone gives to them. I highly doubt they use much more gas than 1960's luxury or muscle cars. But this is the first thing anyone says about them. There are still a lot around in decent original condition. So what drives up the price is low mileage, options, moonroof or glass roof, rare special edition packages, and rare colors. 2 doors are also more desirable. Unfortunately this car has none of these. It is a decent color in decent shape, so I would say about $3000 to $5000.

As long as the volume is not obnoxious, I do not find DJ's to be a problem. I think they are better than the amateur bands that do atrocious jobs of butchering the songs. Most shows will have 50's - 70's music, and that is what most of the cars are. But this DJ seems to have a good idea with matching the music to the cars. I have always thought it was really cool when someone has a 1920's or 1940's car with music from that era set up for it. I always have Disco playing for mine on the 8-track. Something that is interesting, but I have only heard a very few times is to throw in a few vintage car commercials. Dinah Shore for Chevy, Groucho for Desoto, etc.

Saturn, Pontiac, Oldsmobile, LaSalle, Viking, Marquette, Oakland. I don't think I would consider anything bought by, and then absorbed into GM without any cars being built as GM's, a forgotten division.

I have to wonder if the dates on all of the pics are correct. Some dated 1962 look almost like the finished product. While others like the one above, also from 1962, look nothing like it.

The no respect for young people at car shows post got me thinking about a similar problem. A club for a long out of production car company in my area constantly holds events and shows during the week, when younger people are working and cannot attend. I am fine with grand invitationals starting on Weds and running through Sat. But this club has monthly meetings on Mondays. Schedules driving tours or shows for Thurs and Fri, etc. Unfortunately this is not the only club that does this. It seems when a club is mostly retired people, they think nothing of this. I am actually going to miss events this year from 3 different clubs, and have missed several each year from previous years because they schedule stuff during the week. How do they expect to get younger people interested in the car and club if their events are when younger working people cannot attend?

Some might not like what the article has to say. But there is definitely truth to it. When I was in high school, we could not wait to get our licenses, and then our first car. It was the most important thing at that age. Driving your mom's car, especially a station wagon or some other type of uncool car definitely got you laughed at. Even worse was having to use a bus if all your friend's had cars. Now, many teens do not get a car or even a license. Driving mom's minivan or even taking a bus is just fine. Even better, why bother with going anywhere at all. Just do everything on your iPad or other device. When I went to a family reunion last year, I had just bought my first brand new car. A 2012 45th Anniversary Camaro convertible. I thought this car would appeal more to younger people, but no one under 25 even bothered to get out of their chairs or stopped typing on their devices to go look at it, much less go for a ride. They simply had no interest.

1935 Stout Scarab?

How do you figure a Cadillac airport limo would be the "basis" for the hearses? There were no airport limos built by Cadillac that someone would be buying to convert. They were all custom built, either by a coachbuilder or in someone's body shop, the same as the hearses were.

I also get really tired of the "it's their car, they can do what they want argument". Yes it is true. However, most antique cars have outlived their first, second, and even third owners. They could go on for another hundred years or so unless someone happens to come along with cash, a blowtorch, and some bad ideas. Not all rods and customs are well built or creative. Many are hack jobs that look terrible and sometimes never even get finished. Thus destroying a car that future generations could have enjoyed. Also, just about every TV show and magazine promotes rodding and customizing. I have people come over to me and tell me how my car needs to have 22" wheels, needs to be chopped and have all other kinds of tacky modifications done to it. And how I should paint over its extremely rare color original factory paint with flat black primer. They do the same to my friend that has a hearse that is one of 2 built. I do not tell them they need to undo all the stupid stuff they have done to their car. Obviously they have no respect for history, rarity, or my or my friend's feelings. So why should I be the one being told to "live and let live"?

Actually I see a lot of the exact opposite. A 1915 or 1935 is cut up, has a new crate motor, transmission, running gear, everything fresh out of catalogues. Very little is left of the original 1915 or 1935, yet it is exempt from all emissions testing and gets reduced insurance and registration fees because it is titled as a 1915 or 1935. They couldn't do that if they didn't chop up an old car simply for its title.

On another post most members on here could not be bothered to check if a car they were selling was going to be modified by the next owner. But everybody can complain about it afterwards.

You can also try Baker Automotive in Connecticut. But both Baker's and Lincoln Land tend to be expensive and are best used as a last resort. You can try the Lincoln and Continental Club online forum. Maybe someone has one cheaper there.

I have no problem with the fire extinguisher. I already have one. Besides, a friend's car caught fire out the the blue once and it took 3 extinguishers to put it out, and it still suffered a couple thousand in damages, but it was repairable. I just didn't want to be stuck sitting next to my car all day, and not be able to do anything else. But if there is a time window given for judging or evaluating, that should be fine.

I will be at my first AACA meet being judged for points in the HPOF class this spring. Usually I do not remain with my car because I do not have it judged, and do not feel like just sitting next to my car for 8+ hours. I like to walk around and see the other cars there and talk to people. Does AACA at least give some sort of estimate as to when your car will be judged, like 1970-79 will be judged from 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m., or are you just expected to sit next to it all day and never move?

Not all flower cars carry a casket. Only some are dual purpose. If you would like to see some vehicles like this in person, the Professional Car Society (for hearses, flower cars, limousines, and car based ambulances) is hosting its Grand Invitational in Milwaukee in August this year. I am helping with this and can answer any questions anyone might have about it.

I have to disagree with most of the other posts on here. While it is true that you have no control what happens to the car after you sell it, you have already been told what the buyer's plans for it are. And you do not like them. Yes, wheels can easily be changed back, but that does not mean that will be the only modification the new owner will do to it. I am sure there will be others, and they might not be reversable. It seems like most people on here can complain when a car is rodded or customized. But they are not willing to do something as simple as inquiring what the buyer's plans are when selling to try to prevent it from happening. I would not sell it to him either. In fact, I would not even say it was because of his plans for it. He could easily send someone else back to buy it for him if he was really determined to get it.

Ok, I just read this article, and I really can't see why anyone would find it offensive or find it necessary to defend the hoarders. First it states that someone that simply collects a lot of cars is not a hoarder. Anyone that buys, restores, and then sells them is fine. So is anyone that buys a lot of cars and takes them to shows. It doesn't really specify, but I would say that anyone that has some projects that they haven't gotten to for years isn't considered a hoarder based on that alone. It states that a hoarder is someone that lives in squalor, regardless of financial status, and devotes their life to simply amassing as many cars, parts, and automobilia, as they can get. These items are simply stacked up and never restored or cared for until they deteriorate. The hoarders will usually never sell or trade anything or let anyone see their collection. They keep hoarding until they die, at which point, someone else has to go through their stuff and sell any salvageable stuff. The rest that is too far gone, is thrown out. This isn't someone that simply collects a lot of projects that they are not getting around to working on. And they are not doing the hobby any favors either. Yes, some of their stuff will be sold and go to collectors after they die. But it was probably in much better shape before they got it, and would have been in better hands with another collector that even if they didn't get around to restoring it, would have tried to keep it from deteriorating so badly. I've never watched more than a few minutes of the show "Hoarders", but this is basically the same thing, only with cars and auto related items. If the regular hoarders are treated with medications and therapy, why should it be any different for hoarders that hoard car stuff as opposed to anything else?

This is without a doubt one of my favorite cars museums. For me the best part of it is the fact that it is an actual Auburn delareship across the street from the factory. And it has been all restored to its art deco splendor. Many musuems have nice collections. But the fact that even the building itself is part of the history is an experience you just don't get in generic warehouse museum buildings, no matter how nice the collection.

I don't know about that. I suppose it is done sometimes. But the majority of cars on this show, 4 door 1962-64 can probably be bought for less than $8000 each, maybe even $5 or $6K. So I would think it would be easier and cheaper for them to just find decent ones and destroy them rather than spending a lot of time and effort making a junkyard one look decent for the shot, especially if it needs to be running. They obviously aren't concerned about authenticity, so whatever they can find cheap and conveniently would work.