Classic car rebuilding is starting to fade slowly into the back of society's mind, making way for the new tuners, ricers, and European sports cars that are becoming so much more popular. The frequency of classic cars spotted on the roads have drastically decreased, while our ears are inundated by the characteristic higher pitch of exhaust from the new Civics and Neons.

The important question to discuss here, however, isn't which is more popular, but what has happened to create this change. Many people want to immediately blame the new generation for losing touch with their past, for buying into this new culture created mainly created by the European and Japanese markets. Classic car enthusiasts are often heard condemning this newest generation of customized cars, and car shows that include both classic and tuner cars are very seldom found.

But really, who is the misled ones here? Are the two groups really that different?

There are actually quite a few factors to consider. For one, the price of building a classic car has risen off the charts in recent years. Many kids dream of one day owning a 1971 Plymouth Barracuda or a 1969 Ford Mustang, but the combined popularity and rarity of these cars have made those dreams nearly impossible. Many are stored away in museums or private collections, and the few that are still available are not only in a condition that requires a significant amount of work, but are being sold with hefty price tags well out of the range of the new generation of car owners. Even if a younger person looking for a Mustang happened to find one within his or her price range, there is a good chance that an older person with more money will come along and out-bid them.

Also to be considered is the pressure to restore classic cars, instead of customizing them. One of the major draws for the newer generation is to have a car that they can call their own, a car that reflects their personality and tastes. These days, however, if you show up at a car show with a modified muscle car you are alienated and sometimes even scolded by the restoration crowd, condemned for "ruining" a piece of history. Restoring a car to original condition also happens to, again, be much more expensive then simply customizing one. Why would a younger person spend up to $700 for a set of original chrome hood inserts, when they could pick up an aftermarket set for $50? Even then, if they did put out the money for a full restoration, they'd only show up at a car show with the same exact car as the 70 year old man parked next to them.

Classic car rebuilding isn't fading into the past as much as car rebuilding is simply evolving to the next level. The price range and availability of classic cars has simply fallen out of what is possible for today's generation, and has somewhat created an elitist classic car enthusiast market that is resistant to change and customization. Today's generation isn't misled or disrespectful to their ancestors, they're simply trying to live the dream that all of the teenagers of the 60s and 70s did, building the car of their dreams with what little resource they have.

Learn more about this author, Richard Gibbens.
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