My opinion, what's yours

[Rondor]

Many threads have discussions about future retroe bird values. After 55 plus years of cars I see something different in the future. It has been amaizing to watch the evolution of the auto industry and what it has come to be.I don't think the buyers today are remotely like they were 20 or more years ago. The result is cars have become function and nothing more. The occaisional unique car is all but gone from the market. Look what has happened to the price of once worthless rods and racers. While the number of buyers deeking more than functionality may be declining the few who want more will be far greater than the supply. I am not ready to call a retro bird an investment but it's a toy you can play with for years and likely recoup your cost, especially if you buy at todays prices. Unique cars are a thing of the past, even a 5 year old one.

[4LOWBIRDS+7]

Re: My opinion, what's yours

I THINK THAT HITS THE NAIL ON THE HEAD. AND SO MUCH FUN TO ENJOY THEM WHILE WE WAIT.

[Gobird]

Re: My opinion, what's yours

Yes, The Times They are a Chang en. I wonder back in the 1920's if there were people going around looking for a horse & buggy,wagon that was in good condition. I would bet there weren't many. We aren't to that point yet but are headed there in the next 40/50 years. Whatever people will be using in the future it won't be cars as we know them today. By then gas may be outlawed and other fuels will be used to power what is being used for transportation then. We are very slowly getting away from gas powered cars now and this will be picking up speed in our life time.

The possibles are endless.

[Skip]

Re: My opinion, what's yours

Many threads have discussions about future retroe bird values. After 55 plus years of cars I see something different in the future. It has been amaizing to watch the evolution of the auto industry and what it has come to be.I don't think the buyers today are remotely like they were 20 or more years ago. The result is cars have become function and nothing more. The occaisional unique car is all but gone from the market. Look what has happened to the price of once worthless rods and racers. While the number of buyers deeking more than functionality may be declining the few who want more will be far greater than the supply. I am not ready to call a retro bird an investment but it's a toy you can play with for years and likely recoup your cost, especially if you buy at todays prices. Unique cars are a thing of the past, even a 5 year old one.

Ron:

I agree. I remember when I was a kid in the 50's, when someone got a new car it was a big deal. It didn't make any difference whether It was a super strip base Ford, Chevy, or Plymouth, or a really nice Mercury, Buick, Olds, Chrysler, Cadillac or Lincoln (although there were very few of the latter two in my neighborhood). Now, unless it cost $50K or more, and is unique or trendy, it is just transportation. I miss the "good old" days sometimes.

Skip

[DavidA]

Re: My opinion, what's yours

I used to ride my bike to all the dealers around Setember, sneaking in to look at the new cars BEFORE they were put on display. Even in the 60's my office looked over a large convention center and in June, I watched them set up the displays for the new car dealers showing what was coming in the fall.

Now you can get a new cookie-cutter car so early it's rediculous. I bought a 2011 Sonata in April 2010. Because every car is basically the same, there is no grand opening, no hoopla ... nada. That apathy has filtered down to the buying public so nobody cares any more. Too bad, but I guess that's progress.

[Lonestar]

Re: My opinion, what's yours

I use to be a contributing writer to High Performance Pontiac magazine. Several years ago I did a piece that I titled New Car Announcement Day and as noted already in this thread the excitement of the wait, the secrecy, the fanfare, and so on was remembered. This was lost in the 70s when cars starting having virtually no distinguishing differences between one year and another.

I am still amazed to think that starting in the mid fifties and continuing through the sixties each model from each manufacture change every year to the point that it was easy to tell a the difference. These cars were designed by people standing at drafting tables but every year the manufactures were able to re-tool and produce the new design. Now, with processing power beyond comprehension, cars have an eight to ten years run. Half way through the run the interiors get a face lift but virtually nothing on the outside. This is due to all the federal regs that have to be complied with when even the slightest changed is made. Oh well, progress.

I am reminded of a plaque that use to be, and maybe still is, mounted in the lobby of GM assembly plant in Kansas City. In effect it says, or said, Cars made today will never be restored or be considered as classics. They are simply too complicated and contain too much plastic to be restored. The plaque has the name of the person who made the statement and it was dated 1957.

[Skip]

Re: My opinion, what's yours

I used to ride my bike to all the dealers around Setember, sneaking in to look at the new cars BEFORE they were put on display. Even in the 60's my office looked over a large convention center and in June, I watched them set up the displays for the new car dealers showing what was coming in the fall.

Now you can get a new cookie-cutter car so early it's rediculous. I bought a 2011 Sonata in April 2010. Because every car is basically the same, there is no grand opening, no hoopla ... nada. That apathy has filtered down to the buying public so nobody cares any more. Too bad, but I guess that's progress.

David:

My buddies and I did the same thing right around this time of year - late August into September. I remember also when they even covered the new cars on the car carriers transporting them to the dealers before the official introduction date. Now we're seeing photos and road tests months before the "official" introduction date, and often before production has even begun.

Skip

[Peterfurlan]

Re: My opinion, what's yours

I THINK THAT HITS THE NAIL ON THE HEAD. AND SO MUCH FUN TO ENJOY THEM WHILE WE WAIT.

I also totally agree with Ron's post these cars are toys that should be
enjoyed. As far waiting for them to become classics okay for you as you
must still be in diapers. That's based on the fact that you have not received
your picture yet. By the way I check every day to see if your pictures have
arrived, It's like a soap opera.

[islandtime]

Re: My opinion, what's yours

My dad & I used to play a little game back in the 50's & 60's - and I always won...I could tell him every make, model and year of all the American cars on sight. Now I can't even figure out who the manufacturer is unless I get up close and look for the name. They all look alike. Even the new Taurus looks like every Toyota or Honda on the road. Blah. My apologies to anyone who owns a Taurus, but that's my opinion, and I'm sticking to it! That's one of the (many) reasons I bought my T-Birds...they are truly unique, they won't go 'out of style', and they will turn heads forever (even many years from now when they are parked because we can't find gas).

[4LOWBIRDS+7]

Re: My opinion, what's yours

I also totally agree with Ron's post these cars are toys that should be
enjoyed. As far waiting for them to become classics okay for you as you
must still be in diapers. That's based on the fact that you have not received
your picture yet. By the way I check every day to see if your pictures have
arrived, It's like a soap opera.

I THINK MY PROBLEM IS THAT I HAGGLED THE LADY DOWN ON THE COST. WE FINALLY AGREED ON TEN DOLLARS, WHICH WAS ON THE FORM FROM PAUL. HOWEVER, I DO HAVE MORE FUN THAN A TEENAGER.

[DavidA]

Re: My opinion, what's yours

I could tell him every make, model and year of all the American cars on sight.

I used to be able to tell them by the tailights AT NIGHT from a distance. Try that today. Like you, I can't tell a Toyota from a Honda from a Buick. Put most cars today all together with the same color and I can almost guarantee you there sill be mistakes naming them even from 10 ft. away.

[bwlewis]

Re: My opinion, what's yours

David, that sounds like a contest for this winter when we all get cabin fever!

[Skip]

Re: My opinion, what's yours

I used to be able to tell them by the tailights AT NIGHT from a distance. Try that today. Like you, I can't tell a Toyota from a Honda from a Buick. Put most cars today all together with the same color and I can almost guarantee you there sill be mistakes naming them even from 10 ft. away.

And my parents told me I could tell the various makes of cars just by their engine sounds even as a small child. Might be a little more of a challenge today with hybrids.

[MEK04]

Re: My opinion, what's yours

From the time I learned to drive at 16 to about 10 years ago I would spend just about every Saturday morning going from dealership to dealership (before they opened) checking out the cars, window stickers for options and pricing. There was a time that if you gave me the model and options, I could come pretty close to the sticker price. But once all the cars looked the same, it had to be something pretty special to get my attention. Then along came the T Bird.

There are some other vehicles that have gotten my interest but thats for an other day.

[Rondor]

Re: My opinion, what's yours

With our likds and grandkids not growing up in an era when the car represented so much more than transportation I wonder who will relate to our cars in 20 years?
Ousr salvation will be one of the few left built for more than a ride