Why Is This Stuff So Cool... Really?

     Wow! This blog is up for just a few days & I received an email from a guy named "Modern Steve" basically asking why on Earth would someone want to write about this "old" stuff. In his mind, vintage high performance vehicles from the mid-50's to the early 70's cannot hold a candle to the vehicles of today - even one's with 6 cylinder engines. The handle & brake better, are (in many cases) just as quick in acceleration, get better gas mileage and they're greener to boot! His email even got into a slight rant mode, where he just cannot understand why these cars are still so popular.

     Yo - Modern Steve; you need some type of coping management classes.Yes, technology is a wonderful thing, especially when it's applied to vintage Detroit iron. In fact, the current muscle car I drive has modern aluminum heads and intakes, computer controlled fuel system, modern camshaft profile, and a 5 speed manual transmission. The vehicle knocks down very low 12 second quarter mile times & can get up to 23 mpg.

     While it's not the fastest car I've owned, nor the "nicest", it's probably the most reliable. I've personally owned over 20 muscle cars over the past 30 years. Some were brutally fast, but had horrible street manners, some were beautiful cruisers, but could get whipped by a modern potent 4-banger, and some were as ugly as a mud fence with what many believed to have no redeeming social value.

     But that's not the point - there's an old saying; "...if I have to explain it to you, you wouldn't understand." Looking back, in their showroom stock configuration, muscle cars from the 60's had powerful engines, not many options (in most cases), didn't have the best handling or braking (Detroit didn't have the knack of that yet), narrow tires, and in some cases, weren't even very comfortable.

     But, again, that's not the point. They represented more than just transportation to their owners. They were a statement about them to society. They also represented a time that almost every kid could afford one. Gas was less than 25 cents a gallon for high test and one could cruise around (and most likely street race at some point) on $3.00 worth of petrol. We will never see a time like that again - period.

     But even again, that's not the entire equation. Let's look beyond the muscle car and expand our vision to hot rods, rat rods, and more late model turbo cars. When referencing "late model", I'm not talking about cars that are less than 5 years old. In my opinion, technology has increased so much in vehicles over the past 7-8 years, it puts them in an entirely different category. Would I like a 2013 Boss Mustang or Challenger SRT-8? Sure I would. I just don't have the 40 - 50 large to park one in the driveway. The current muscle car I own - I have less than 5 grand in the entire ride... and that includes the purchase price. That's not just a monetary statement - that's a social statement.

     The bottom line here is, as it was then, people who owned machinery like that didn't care about what people thought. They march to the beat of a different drummer. I've talked to people who own hot rods, rat rods, and muscle cars - and drive them regularly - they don't care what people think. If you get a rock chip in the pearl paint, you touch it up. That's what "touch up" paint is for... imagine that. It's that spirit of freedom that can't be taken from you. It's settling into that sweet spot you have in the drivers seat, the windows (or the top) down on a warm summer evening, you hear the roar of the engine and exhaust, while you're watching the sun start its journey into dusk with that golden hue. You can't buy that... anywhere. At any price.

     It's also being able to work on your own machinery, with your own tools, in your own garage or driveway. It's doing what you want, when you can, and not having to worry about voiding the warranty. Or worrying about emissions testing. Or even beginning to ponder about what that Prius owner thinks. In the end... who cares?

     Until next time, peace out.
     Dave