Definitions Please- Antique, Restored?

[Guest imported_Dwight V.]

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I still believe by trying to be all things to all people we are loosing focus as to what 'Antique Automobiles' is all about. Note I am NOT talking about DIS'ing or EXcluding ANYONE. I simply think we should NOT be so $%*& INclusive!!

There are MANY specialty clubs for those other venues. I believe my point here is WHY has the AACA gotten involved in 'Automotive History' and all those other venues?? </div></div>

RAH, you need to clarify for me what it is you are objecting to. With this statement I take it you are troubled by the motorcycles, trucks, race cars and so forth that are not 'normal' cars. If so, then I can understand some of your objections. While I personally don't have a problem with AACA recognizing anything vehicular and historical, you are correct that these vehicles do have other venues they could use to show and compete. I like giving, say, the motorcycles a cursory glance at Hershey, but don't spend any time looking at them in detail as they aren't my bag.

If you are objecting to the AGE of vehicles (anything past some quaint notion of what 'antique' is) or objecting to the inclusion of consumer passenger vehicles like my pickup, then you have just given me a big reason not to join AACA. Neither of my cars would fit your definition of 'antique' yet both are collectible and of some historical significance. To want to exclude my vehicles (and thus, me) is completely rude and the opposite of a club's purpose.

I think AACA should be open to any road-driven vehicle 25 years of age and older.

[Guest leadfoot]

RAH -

Personally, I don't see any rational argument against the AACA trying to be "all inclusive" for automotive history preservation. I've been a member for about 30 years and feel that the club has become much better with its multiple programs - extensive local club network, judged national and local shows, national and regional tours, quality reference library, the museum, etc. The creation of HPOF, Driver's, and Historic Racing classes have all been excellent enhancemants. I want to reserve judgement on the new Historic Hot Rod class.

Could some things be done better if the AACA had a narrow focus? Maybe so, but I enjoy having a lot of hobby options and seeing the variety of well restored cars at National Meets. I believe the 25 year rule for inclusion in AACA activities has had the effect of increasing the preservation and restoration of some cars that probably would not have survived, especially in today's regulatory environment that encourages crushing "old cars" to get them off the road. And sure, the 25 year rule has helped the AACA grow. I don't think that growth of the hobby is a bad thing.

If you are trying to convince us that say a 50 year old car is more of an antique on therefore should have special status as historically more significant than cars from the 70s, I disagree. I guess that I fall in the hobby category of liking all old cars (or trucks, etc.) - although some more than others.

[Guest imported_RAH]

Dwight, Ledfoot, et all. Good grief guys! I have tried every which way I can to explain, and you are simply NOT listening. Somehow the Madison Ave. hype that "Bigger is Better" has invaded even the Antique Automobile clubs! It seems some of you are more interested in seeing how many members we can entice, by whatever means necessary, even to the extent of including HotRods! <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />I could understand this philosophy at Hershey if there was infinite land for display of all the diverse areas of interest. Please step back from Hershey for a moment though, as this is just one small part of the club's activities. Let's go to your local region or group wherever that may be. It is Saturday of Sunday and there is a tour. What kind of vehicles show up? There are probably a couple of teens/twenties and a proliferation of 50's/70's cars, right? Why is that? Are there fewer antique automobiles today than there were 25 years ago? I don't think so! It is absurd and anachronistic to assume these diverse vintages can play nice together on the highways. Modern Iron objects to driving 35-40mph. and the older cars object to being pushed to highway speeds. Now who is being dissed or EXcluded?

Why are there so many ads for people looking for higher speed rear ends or overdrive tranny's, etc.? Where do you think the 'HotRod concept came from?

As I tried to point out many times previously, having 60,000 people interested in every thing from soup to nuts can NOT be BETTER than 20,000 people interested in soup and another 20,000 interested in nuts! MORE members with diverse, often conflicting interests, do NOT make a 'Better' club, it simply makes a 'Bigger' one! For those of you who cannot, or will not, see the difference between 'Antique Automobiles' and 'Modern Iron', no amount of words can help you. Sorry!

Rodger "Dodger" Hartley

1915 Dodge Brothers roadster

1928 Dodge Brothers cabriolet

1934 Dodge Brothers KC pickup

1958 BMW Isetta 300 motocoupe

[Guest]

I think you could have a club exclusively for preWW2 cars.

But the name "antique" works very well within the 25 year rule. And is what most people consider appropriate.

Just call your club something else. Like "very antique" or "antiquely antique"

[Guest imported_Dwight V.]

You have a point about the tours that makes excellent sense. And I would have no problem with making tours eligible for "pre-whatever" cars to keep the groups within a similiar speed capability. Of course, you get a Duesenberg or Cord to show up and your whole speed limited theory kind of falls apart.

But when it comes to BELONGING to a club that supports preservation and restoration of historical automobiles I think it is very short sighted to exclude any car that doesn't have wooden wheel spokes or babbit bearings. (I know, I'm giving extreme examples but I'm trying to make a poiont).

Guess we'll have to agree to disagree on this one. <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />