In a sense, classic car rebuilding has lost popularity in recent years for two main reasons. One is that the younger generation is drawn to the newer, more fuel efficient "Tuner" vehicles, or what some would refer to as Fast & Furious cars. The other reason is that the vehicles aren't the only things getting older. The segment of the population that remembers classic cars is getting older too.

Many people today don't remember a '57 Chevy any better than they remember black & white television or the hula hoop. If the older car restoration hobby is going to continue, it is the responsibility of the older generation to pass the interest on to the kids.

Young people of today are still very much interested in cars, but mostly the newer ones. Part of the appeal is that newer cars have the technology behind them that simply didn't exist in the older, or classic cars. Comparing a 1969 Dodge Charger to a 2000 Honda Civic may be like comparing apples to oranges, but it could be considered a typical example of a classic muscle car vs. a tuner car. Sure a 1969 Dodge Charger uses a lot more gas than a 2000 Honda Civic, & doesn't have the creature comforts, but there is so much more to it than that. One has to consider the stylish lines & the simpler ways of the older cars, in order to fully appreciate them. Many today overlook these things in favor of power windows, more comfortable seats, & fuel economy.

Another factor to consider is what people consider to be a classic. In the traditional sense a classic vehicle is one over a certain number of years in age. To others, it's just a cool old car. When people of the over 40 crowd remember "The good old days", they will have a totally different opinion than that of their kids. The same applies to vehicles. It's a matter of perspective. When you get right down to it, the hobby of restoring classic cars is still alive, & will live on. It's the definition of "classic" that keeps changing.

Learn more about this author, Bruce Saalmans.
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