Then And Now

I was thumbing through an old issue of Hot Rod (February 1964) on Saturday morning and got warmfuzzy feelings about certain aspects of that issue;
 - The story on the factory built 1964 lightweight 427 Ford Fairlane that would become a legend.
 - A tech article about using Corvair front suspension under a 30's street rod (!!)
 - And an advertisement for a mint 1957 Chevy BelAir with a 2-door hardtop that had the rare 283 cubic inch V-8 power-pack option with only 4400 miles on the clock... for $1000 firm.

Say what? Yup - only a grand for a rare performance machine. "But that's in 1964 dollars...", you might say - things are way different now. Well, that $1000 dollars equates to just a tick under $7600 bucks in today's world. Now how do you feel? I looked online for a similar model that was for sale. I found one with almost the same mileage (4,187 original miles to be exact), it was red (not turquoise and white like the one in the 1964 ad), and the red car didn't have the power pack option, although it had its original 283. The price? $50,000 dollars. Now how do you really feel? But that's the big difference between then and now - and there's two sides to this coin.

The negative side, in my humble opinion, is definitely the money aspect. There's no denying that almost all muscle cars (even clones), any classic drag car, and most antique vehicles from the 30's through the 50's that have serious street rod potential (in other words, not a basket case project) have escalated beyond a lot of enthusiasts financial reach. I can remember 20+ years ago when muscle car values took a down-turn, enthusiasts would never consider a 4-door, a wagon, or a 2-door model from the late 70's through the early 80's. Today those cars get serious consideration.

This brings us to the flip side of the coin - and there is a silver lining here. I feel that since fewer and fewer of any classic vehicle built from the mid 50's through the mid 70's exist today, prices are naturally going to go up. The after-market has responded tremendously with parts, kits, and who-knows-what-all, so vehicles that were impossible to restore or modify 20 years ago, can be a reality today. I mean, who would've thought one could get a 6-speed manual transmission & installation kit for a 1959 Edsel wagon? Yeah - a company makes them. This I feel, also drives car prices up. So where's the silver lining I'm talking about?

A lot of people mention, "...all the good cars are gone." What they really mean is they feel all the cheap cars are gone and definitely the most popular. The silver lining is, there are cool, classic cars still out there, in very restorable condition (and better), waiting to be purchased. It takes diligence, patience, timing, and really expanding your horizons. Face it - it's highly unlikely you're going to find that 1970 Chevelle SS 454 somewhere in decent shape for $5000. But, if you can get past the 4-door stigma in your head, I've seen some nice Chevelle V-8 models with little rust (I'm talking Virginia little - not New England little), faded paint, needing some minor interior work that run good for the same money. Another example; when I was at a car show last weekend, a guy I knew was selling his 1968 Falcon wagon, (very similar to pic on right) that was in really nice shape, for $4995. Did I mention it had a brilliant red paint job, a mint interior, ice-cold A/C, power disc brakes, and a 340 horse 351 Cleveland between the fenders with a 4-speed? This car needed nothing. If I had the cash, I would've been like, "Where do I sign on the bill of sale?"

I was reading an article a while back and how John Force and his two daughters were looking for new sponsors to keep their team of Funny Cars & Top Fuel dragsters going. The money it takes to be competitive in any NHRA event is staggering and borderline sickening. Even John Force thinks it's out of control. But that's the nature of the beast today. Unfortunately, that same aspect keeps a number of talented drivers out of the game, which in reality is creating one of the big divides between the fans and the NHRA sanctioned events, which is resulting in poorer attendance at events. I can remember going to Englishtown Raceway in New Jersey as a kid in the late 60's and early 70's - things were so much looser, seemed easier, and innovation - not always money - is what made numerous racers victorious. Just groove for a moment at the pic from 1968. Look at the cars, the drivers, the fans - all mixing and mingling. Everybody's cool, no headaches. And even though it's still popular, don't even get me started on modern NASCAR...

I find that I'm at a cross-roads in my automotive hobby. I'm not as young as I used to be and my knees, shoulders, and at least three other bodily areas remind me of this frequently. I'm jonesing for another go-fast summer vehicle, especially since gas is still below the $2.75 a gallon mark, even along the Maine coast in summer where price inflating for the tourists is common. However, I've come to the conclusion that I no longer want to do extensive body work. The last time I did a complete re-paint job was several years ago on an antique Chevy pickup. There was so much metal on that rig, inside and out, it was literally sand until you bleed. I'm also becoming more comfortable with the fact that, the more a certain ride is finished, the more I'm liking it - even though I long for (in my head anyways) wrenching on it, modifying it, or restoring it.

I think I need to have a sit-down conference with my brain and my body and get into some kind of agreement and balance. Written contracts may have to be signed. I don't know.
Until next time, peace out.
Dave