Talkin’ ‘Bout My Generation

My greatest fear is that self-driving cars and/or ride sharing fundamentally change the relationship most people have with automobiles in 20-30 years. If/when the vast majority of people never drive a car themselves then owning, driving, maintaining, restoring could become the domain of a small passionate lot (including me). The automobile didn’t mean that people stopped owning, riding, even racing horses but today owning a horse is a lot more of a niche thing than being even a mild petrolhead.

For the record my tastes span both before and after my birth. I’m a Gen X’r born in the late ’70s, had car posters on my wall as a kid in the ’80s, started driving in the early ’90s. I collect 911s (’74 Euro/MFI Carrera, ’77 930 Turbo, ’96 911 Turbo) but also passionate about cars from the late ’50s and ’60s (’58 Tojeiro Climax – British sports racing car, recently acquired a ’58 Lancia Aurelia).

I’m a millenial (shock, horror, I know…). Yet I think it’s sad that all the prewar Packards and Duesenbergs or Bugs are falling to the wayside at the Concours, relatively speaking. Make no mistake, a Ferrari 250 GTO, or a Countach will also hold the reputation of being classic car porn. However, they are still no comparison for the sweeping lines of a Duesy, or even a Mercedes Benz 500K roadster. These cars are time machines. They transport their passengers to a different time, one which the average person can only hope to relive by watching movies like the Great Gatsby. I sincerely hope that the pre-war machines continue to make an appearance as time passes.

There’s so many different aspects to this I think this is a bit of a one dimensional (and top down) view of old car culture. Loving old cars doesn’t mean you have to exclusively lust after exotic European sports cars. Most are happy putting their time into more regular stuff.
I might just qualify as a boomer too, and I only own cars from the sixties, because that’s what I like. My own interests are moulded by my generation but I think as you get older your horizons, and your spending power, change. I’m finding pre-war cars very attractive nowadays (!) Plus, you shouldn’t forget people also tend to get married and have kids… suddenly saloons and wagons seem like a good idea.
Prices also need a mention, it comes down to scarcity and demand. Sixties GT cars are gorgeous and fast and fun but there aren’t many of them so not many people can afford them. The skills to look after old cars will always be in demand so people will always fill that gap. In the UK we have an incredible network of people looking after old cars. Events like Goodwood and Pebble Beach just stoke the fire and get more and more people interested in all these things.
1960s Minis, VW Beetles, Camper Vans, Morris Minors, Volvo Amazons, Triumph Heralds, A35s, MGBGTs, Mk2 Jags these are practical characterful cars that will always be cherished will always have people looking after them and will always be on the road no doubt being converted to battery power when the petrol runs out.
Look at the very healthy custom bike and traditional hot rod scenes in the US and in the UK, working with your hands is still cool.

The wave of what makes something a valuable car is more to do with what it represents. While I am not questioning the asset worth of concours car or its artistic appeal the reality is that apart from eccentrics or special rally events – like pebble beach, you don’t see them being used. Alot of people in the classic car industry are looking at the car for what they think it appeals to someone not to themselves.

Boomer ! And damn proud of it . Funny being a [ mid ] Boomer myself that I’m pretty much in disagreement with some of your conclusions . Though not unfounded … a little [ ok .. a lot ] too overly generalized and more than a bit inaccurate .

Many Boomers are carrying on what their fathers or earlier may of started . Many of the younger generations are following suit .But theres one simple point you absolutely need to remember when it comes to the dreaded ‘ Collectors ‘ Market . The value and popularity of the cars [ or any ‘ collectable ‘ ] is strictly dependent on the whims and fancies of what ever might be in vogue … today . What will rise and what will fall tomorrow … is anybody’s guess . A prognostication made only by fools .. delusional’s .. and those with a specific agenda they’re trying to push

But as Shel said … quality and the classics will always remain . Regardless of the whims of the moment . Sometimes they’ll be worth more . Sometimes their value will fall . But unlike the ‘ trend of the day ‘ .. the classics will always be with us .

In closing [ apologies for the length ] The problem with ALL the cars you’re mentioning is … they were hardly ever used as daily drivers [ the dreaded Collectable status having been imparted from the moment of sale ] and built in strong numbers … guaranteeing the survival of many … thereby diminishing any long term collectable status one might wish for