Interesting perspective of "old" cars

[uh6077]

I was reading a car book I picked up yesterday. In the foreword the author talks about how the hobby has changed. "The enjoyment of driving seems to have been lost. Cars of today are too reliable needing next to no repairs or maintenance". The book was written in 1953, haha.

[Rusty_OToole]

A guy named Gottleib had one of the first regular columns on antique cars in Motor Trend in the fifties. In 1957, someone asked him which 1957 cars would be the antiques or collector cars of the future?

His answer was, "none of them". He said, nobody makes hand built, high quality cars anymore. They are all the same mass produced run of the mill products. Furthermore, nobody will be able to restore them in 20 years time because they will have nothing to work with. Old cars were made with steel, brass, and cast iron parts that could be taken apart, repaired or rebuilt again and again. The new cars too often have parts made of tin, swaged together, or upholstery made of heat pressed vinyl that cannot be repaired or reproduced without a fully equipped factory. When the supply of factory repair parts runs out, they will be finished.

So. All you owners of 1957 Bel Airs, Cadillac Eldorados, Corvettes, Thunderbirds, Jaguars, gullwing Mercedes, Chrysler 300s, and all the other fifties cars, now you know how they were seen, by the antique car expert when new.

[Paul Dobbin]

Even the definition of "öld cars" has changed.

When I bought my first 1934 Ford in 1972, it was a whopping 38 years old. A pre WWII antique car made when the Ford Motor Company was 21 years old. Today a 38 year old car would be a 1976 Supermarket Parking lot Special. When I see a 1976 Ford 2 door on the road today, it's just not the same as it was to see a 1934 in 1972. However, go to a AACA Show and the 1976 cars far outnumber the 1934 cars.

[R Walling]

Even the definition of "öld cars" has changed.

When I bought my first 1934 Ford in 1972, it was a whopping 38 years old. A pre WWII antique car made when the Ford Motor Company was 21 years old. Today a 38 year old car would be a 1976 Supermarket Parking lot Special. When I see a 1976 Ford 2 door on the road today, it's just not the same as it was to see a 1934 in 1972. However, go to a AACA Show and the 1976 cars far outnumber the 1934 cars.

I visited the Lars Anderson muesum in Brookline MA. and there is a discription of the "Museum" in a news paper of about,1924, stateing that some of the cars are even over 25 years old! That was written 90 years ago, so my question is, how"old" are they consitered now?

[R W Burgess]

A guy named Gottleib had one of the first regular columns on antique cars in Motor Trend in the fifties. In 1957, someone asked him which 1957 cars would be the antiques or collector cars of the future?.................."None!"

So. All you owners of 1957 Bel Airs, Cadillac Eldorados, Corvettes, Thunderbirds, Jaguars, gullwing Mercedes, Chrysler 300s, and all the other fifties cars, now you know how they were seen, by the antique car expert when new.

Wait a minute! Wait a minute! Who called him an expert? Another magazine columnist/journalist?

[60FlatTop]

Bob Gottleib was a specialist in recognizing and promoting the value of 20 year old luxury cars at a time when $3.00 got a lot of labor. And restorations are labor intensive.

Economic climate makes the future for antiques and collector cars.

Ask any 30 year old if they have the discretionary money for an extra car as a toy. They are the future.

The best stuff I have came from money I got during the Reagan administration. The future of all the cars we Baby Boomers held onto......."pretty bleak".

Bernie

[R W Burgess]

Bob Gottleib was a specialist in recognizing and promoting the value of 20 year old luxury cars at a time when $3.00 got a lot of labor. ....

But, according to Rusty above. Mr. Gottleib said "None would be collectable!"?

The best stuff I have came from money I got during the Reagan administration. The future of all the cars we Baby Boomers held onto......."pretty bleak".

Bernie

I am doing better now than I was back in the Reagan years. I'm not saying Reagan did not do a good job, but I think as one gets older (I'm speaking as a private business owner now) one makes better contacts, has a history of quality of work, and can command better profits.

By the way, what most of us consider collectable is very often what we grew up with, the girl friends we had in certain cars, the lifetime friendships made from these vehicles.

[39BuickEight]

The older I get the more everything seems like it wasn't that long ago. The Civil War doesn't seem that long ago to me now. I mean, for the sake of easy math, lets just say car have been around 100 years, what's another 100 years from that, the early 1800's?

Compare a 1953 car to, say, a 1920 car, 33 years, then do the reverse to 1986. Fun to think about, that's for sure.

[R W Burgess]

Compare a 1953 car to, say, a 1920 car, 33 years, then do the reverse to 1986. Fun to think about, that's for sure.

The thing I love about my 80's cars is the A/C and the cruise control. Yeah, I know they look almost like late model cars. (What! That Olds is an antique?)

You live long enough, everything gets old. I still have my 60's suits, hopefully I can let/alter some out in the back for an upcoming "tacky clothes" contest! I do "tacky" good!

[Guest Skyking]

You live long enough, everything gets old. I still have my 60's suits, hopefully I can let/alter some out in the back for an upcoming "tacky clothes" contest! I do "tacky" good!

I recently got rid of a pair of shoes I had when I got married 47 years ago. I just hate to part with good stuff!:eek:

[R W Burgess]

I just hate to part with good stuff!:eek:

LIKE!

[West Peterson]

The thing I love about my 80's cars is the A/C and the cruise control.

The 1980s cars have nothing on cars that are 75 years old. The thing I love most about my 1940 Packard is the A/C. As for cruise, there's a throttle on the dashboard that is used to hold speed on the freeway. Keeps up easily with modern cars, too (just ask Tom Cox).

[R W Burgess]

Sorry West, I could only afford a $4500.00 A/C car.

I guess if I want to ride around in style, I'll have to look you up! :cool:

[West Peterson]

Some people take Zantac before getting in my car. Just sayin'

[R W Burgess]

You sure you don't mean Xanax?

[West Peterson]

That too.

[Steve_Mack_CT]

I used to think the cowl vent on my Packard was the AC, guys, but then there is the crank out windsheild on the Model A Ford, and now, the "No Wind shield, roof or doors on the T Speedster, I think it is actually the earliest form of air conditioning. Or taking "minimalist" to new levels..

[Rusty_OToole]

I first read the Gottleib article when the magazine was about 20 years old and thought it was pretty funny. Even then, certain 1950s cars were considered collector's items.

It was one of the first examples I saw, of how far wrong the experts can be in their predictions, but not the last.

[Rusty_OToole]

I understand Gottleib got to be the classic car expert by calling himself one. Before he came along there were no classic cars - he invented the genre and composed the definition. Remember, this was in 1953 when the newest Duesenbergs were 15 year old used cars, and V12 Packards could be found in the back rows of used car lots. Nobody called them classics until Gottleib did it in Motor Trend.

[R W Burgess]

Nobody called them classics until Gottleib did it in Motor Trend.

The dog! No wonder I can not afford a nice one!

[uh6077]

I understand Gottleib got to be the classic car expert by calling himself one.

In that case I am a rich male model with outstanding athletic ability. Oh, I am wicked smart too.