Biscayne John wrote:There are not too many of those early Chrysler Mini vans left either. There was one at Hershey at the show last year unrestored class, it drew a lot of attention, same with a Chevette.
Hobbies are generational, this has become expensive. True the older (pre WWII) cars have dropped in value. I started with these cars 40 years ago. Restored cars or drivers still sell, and there are a lot of buyers in their 40's. Model A Fords are still popular due to the huge amount of parts and technical information, so it is an easy pre war car to get involved with. What I don't see are the projects getting restored anymore. I am new to H body scene and 70's cars in general for that matter. I don't see the same romance that the pre war cars had when they were 30-40 years old (which was the early 70's)
The car hobby always was and will be a time and money game, you a lot of both to play hard. What I do see in the future is the current H body cars that are running and driving surviving, and the ones on cinder blocks will either sell for scrap or become parts cars. While a few the next generation might have money, they won't have the time. It will be a selective market, or a buyers market. Like it is now with the pre war cars.
I sold my 31 Chevy a few years ago, we are talking a good running, driving, presentable, original drivetrain restored driver quality 83 year old car. It sold for less the $10K and the buyer was older then the car.....scary. It cost 20K to get the car in the condition it was. They were antiques when I was born.
My 33 year old son is the only one I have that is interested in cars. considering all three grew up around it traveling all over the country to meets and tours for the AACA and VCCA. I grew up in it also, and when my father passed away a few years ago I offered each of them a pick from one of his cars in his collection. My oldest was the only one who wanted a car. He choose one of my Dads 54 Chevrolet Bel Airs, nice car older restoration loaded with factory accy's. like power seat and windows (rare) The car sits in a rented garage all summer long and maybe goes out once or twice a year, because his wife does not like it. I wish someone gave me a turn key antique car when I was 33. I would have it out every weekend.
Right now there is an influx of prewar cars hitting the market so prices are dropping, many of those guys are dying off.
A HUGE problem with the H body cars is a lack of plastic parts around. I found it easier to find parts for my 31 then any of the H bodies own or have owned
I know what you mean first hand with many of your points! The Dodge minivan plant is local here and for the 25th Anniversary they were running ad's looking for an '84 (fist year) to display at functions and they ran them for a long time so even the "Guys" whom built them can't find them. After my Dad died we (my brothers and myself) had to find a home for his Model T Project about $10,000+ invested about 4 out but surprisingly easy sell we were Lucky and found the right guy early in the "journey", but for pennies on the dollar. And you can buy a complete Model T in parts brand new, but if a windshield and two tires are destroyed on an H, that will "Total" your H-Body as they aren't available readily, so the insurance will probably write it off
And we brother's and I all would LOVE to keep more of my Dads things but we can't afford the space and associated cost to do so and that would add to the burden of what we will leave behind (we too aren't in our twenties anymore the baby is almost 50) so it is time to start planning to enjoy what we have and stop adding to the mess of someday dreams. I would LOVE a thirties Packard, Caddy, or even more expensive beauty of that era but impractical drivers for most of them, just something to look at and worth more than my house, tools and cars combined. Harry
I'm not a hoarder I'm a preservationist 78 Monza Spyder (~Soon(ish +/- I guess) To Be 2+2 with Spoilers)
