Hip to Be Square: Why Young Buyers Covet 'Grandpa' Cars

WSJ ^ | 05/09/2006 | By JENNIFER SARANOW

[DejaJude]

Jabari Bryant didn't go to a car dealership to buy his new car last fall. The 28-year-old went to a retirement community in Tybee Island, Ga., where for $2,000 he bought a navy blue 1988 Chevrolet Caprice Classic Brougham from a man who was "at least 83."

Try Sun City, AZ. These people take great care of their vehicles (be they old or new models). I just bought a 2005 Toyota Camry that you would swear is brand new. Still has the new car smell about it.

[38special]

What? They're giving up their Hondas and their fart pipe mufflers and giant wings?

[Tail Gunner John]

"1963 Dodge Dart"

My first car. Mine was a convertible with push button auto transmission.

[dalereed]

Built an aluminum Cobra with a 429 in it for Dennis Wilson to go drag racing with.

The fun all ended when Dennis got off on drugs and traded it off for a motorcycle, of course he died shortly after that.

[Nik Naym]

"You can pick up a good Buick Roadmaster with a 350 Engine that gets 25 MPG "

I have had 350s. You CAN NOT get 25 MPG with one even if you had a tailwind downhill. Not gonna happen. The 350 was one of the biggest gas hogs out there. Crap performance too, unless you did some mods, which made it eat more gas, and then made it round of the soft cams they put in the piles of crap.

Give me an old 327 any day.

Anyone who honestly thinks they are getting 25 MPG with a 350 in a Roadmaster is either poor at math or smoking something.

[norton]

Cars today are BORING. Cars a few decades ago had personality.

Cars today are BORING. Cars a few decades ago had personality.

Cars today are BORING. Cars a few decades ago had personality.

(You get the idea)

Pimping out a '70s car just trashes it,
My '57 is stock,
The '53 looks stock with period adjustments.
The '60 looks stock with different year's paint.
The '63 will look same as the '60.
The '65 is stock ex for engine.
'67 is close.
'73 not so close.
'89, box stock, parking lot car, ex-hertz & washed twice in last 12 months
(When I change the oil)

(OK, so it's a disease, but Cars today ARE boring...and all the gizmos,computer generated voices, and shimmering tones don't change that a tad. Drive lines & tires, however, have come a LONG way.)

[Nik Naym]

Speaking of new cars you said"

"They all look like bars of soap on wheels."

If you mean after the bar has been used for a half dozen showers, yes.

[Maury]

So did you look back? ;)

[Nik Naym]

"My 25 year old son wants my 1964 Shelby AC Cobra."

SO DO I!

(pant pant, drool.....)

[Tail Gunner John]

I have a 1976 Monte Carlo with swivel buckets and landau roof. 35,000 miles, all original. I've been told by a few people that mine is the ultimate "ganstamobile".

I've considered trying to market it as such for a highly inflated price but am afraid of being capped while trying to consummate the deal.

[Boiler Plate]

You're kidding right?

[tubebender]

I'm sure y'all have nothing to add to this thread...

[Uncle Vlad]

Oh no. Don't look back. You can never look back. ;)

[norton]

Actually,
there are several of us who want your '64 Cobra.

Good thing we're all honest, trustworthy, and thumbing through the 'phone book under "C" and "64".

[shorty_harris]

As I recall the Super Beatle was a pretty good car.

A great little car! Reliable, easy to maintain, and parts were easy to get and cheap, too. It isn't running right now, but there's nothing seriously wrong with it. I may get it back in shape for this summer.

[LibWhacker]

Can't believe anything with four doors is in. When I was a kid, only two-door coupes were cool.

[Boiler Plate]

I was helping a friend move about 5 years ago and one of the folks helping was this college kid. I saw a Gremlin in the apartment parking lot and called him over and told him to take a good look because he is never going to see another one for the rest of his life. So far it has been true.

[B Knotts]

Kids want rear wheel drive, which isn't offered much right now by the domestic (or Japanese) automakers.

That's changing, though. Rear wheel drive is making a comeback.

[Muleteam1]

The most interesting thread on FR in days and only a little over 100 posts. Come on guys and gals, let's see some of those pics of your old wheels, or something you are building.

[Psycho_Bunny]

My two, current cars. 

 

And I like them both more than just about any car made within the last 10 years.

I never understood the concept of a "babe magnet" car until I got my hands on the 67-horsepower diesel Mercedes.  A lot of women just like that car for some reason.

But guys hoot at the Nova.  Which really kind of creeps me out.