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Hip to Be Square: Why Young Buyers Covet 'Grandpa' Cars
WSJ ^ | 05/09/2006 | By JENNIFER SARANOW

Posted on 05/10/2006 4:48:01 PM PDT by Responsibility2nd

AUGUSTA, Ga. -- 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."

The seller said "his eyesight was going and he had no use for the car," recalls Mr. Bryant, an automobile glass installer from Savannah.

Young people today don't want their father's Oldsmobile -- they want their grandfather's. Some of the hippest wheels for under-30 drivers today are models commonly identified with seniors: Oldsmobiles, Buicks, Chevrolets and Cadillacs from the 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s.

From Collins Ave. in Miami Beach's South Beach neighborhood to International Blvd. in Oakland, Calif., teens and young adults are cruising in "grandpa" and "grandma" cars that they have painted bright colors like lime green, outfitted with fancy sound systems and propped up on monster-truck-style wheels. They're sweet-talking their grandparents into giving up old cars and offering to buy them on the spot from strangers.

Television shows, such as MTV's "Pimp My Ride," and rappers, including Snoop Dogg, are helping to drive the craze. There's even a new magazine, Donk, Box & Bubble, dedicated to the tricked-out-oldie-car culture.

For U.S. car makers, struggling to lift sales, it's a painful irony that the models striking a chord with young buyers aren't those rolling off the assembly lines today but rather ones made decades ago. Detroit's marketers are trying to figure out how to ride the trend without ruining it.

(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: automaekers; cars; classiccars; nostalgia; vintage
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To: ConservativeMind
Now this is a cool car!

A 1962 Plymouth Valiant.

61 posted on 05/10/2006 5:49:05 PM PDT by Cobra64 (All we get are lame ideas from Republicans and lame criticism from dems about those lame ideas.)
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To: Cyclopean Squid

I've always liked that body style. Those models were sort of the last hurrah for the classic American rear-wheel-drive midsize car. After that, the Grand Prix and Cutlass became front-wheel-drive mediocrities with absolutely no appeal whatsoever.


62 posted on 05/10/2006 5:51:08 PM PDT by Yardstick
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To: TonyInOhio

If you love classic cars you need to attend Hot August Nights week in Reno, Nevada. It's the ultimate cruise night that week in Northern Nevada, including Carson City, Stead, and Sparks.


63 posted on 05/10/2006 5:52:06 PM PDT by Irish Queen
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To: Responsibility2nd

My first vehicle, only $75, blown engine (thanks, Dad!):
,img src=http://www.ponyespresso.com/BRamp_Down.JPG>


64 posted on 05/10/2006 5:52:27 PM PDT by rawhide
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To: rawhide
Mine was an orange red.
65 posted on 05/10/2006 5:53:37 PM PDT by rawhide
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To: Responsibility2nd

Man, I was thinking Gremlin the whole time I was reading through this tread.

Never have one but I knew a few who did.

Notice nobody has mentioned the Pacer yet?


66 posted on 05/10/2006 5:56:51 PM PDT by PeteB570 (Guns, what real men want for Christmas)
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To: sgtbono2002

I just saw a Buick Roadmaster yesterday in a parking lot. That is one big car.


67 posted on 05/10/2006 5:57:06 PM PDT by Hildy ("Whenever someone smiles at me all I see is a chimpanzee begging for its life." - Dwight Schrute)
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To: spanalot; Responsibility2nd
I think the real Impala ss was from 94 to 98

94-96. In 97, the line was retooled to make SUVs. Ach!

68 posted on 05/10/2006 5:58:26 PM PDT by Petronski (I just love that woman.)
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To: sagar

My college boyfriend had that Toyota Land Cruiser! WE used to drive it right up to the doors of our classrooms. Gosh, those were the days!


69 posted on 05/10/2006 5:58:29 PM PDT by Hildy ("Whenever someone smiles at me all I see is a chimpanzee begging for its life." - Dwight Schrute)
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To: Cobra64

Did you build that from their pallet kit?


70 posted on 05/10/2006 5:59:28 PM PDT by isthisnickcool (What is is about "illegal" you don't understand?)
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To: Responsibility2nd
Right now I am restoring my grand daughter's great great grandfather's 1924 Dodge Brother's business coupe. He bought the car new in 1924 at Clovis, New Mexico. Absolutely no rust. I don't have pictures of my car but right now it looks just about like this one. Needs paint.


71 posted on 05/10/2006 5:59:35 PM PDT by Muleteam1
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To: Responsibility2nd

Still have my first car. It is an '83 Tbird. Heard so many older folks say "I wish I had kept my first car." I decided to not make the mistake of getting rid of mine.


72 posted on 05/10/2006 6:00:07 PM PDT by mysterio
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To: chemicalman
I had a 67 Galaxie 500 in the early 80's that brought me to work, school, and many other places/night spots.

One of my fantasy cars, along with a 96 Impala SS or a 2003 Mercury Marauder (rigged with a manual transmission and a turbo).

Dayum.

73 posted on 05/10/2006 6:00:50 PM PDT by Petronski (I just love that woman.)
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To: Responsibility2nd; EricT.

Thanks. It took me a year to build. I tried to make it as original AC 289 FIA as possible. The block is actually a 302 since Ford Racing discontinued the 289 years ago. Feinds said I should used fuel injection versus the Holly 600 CFM double pumper but I told 'em Shelby didn't use "no stinkin' fuel injection." The rear is a Jag independent with 11" inboard disc brakes. Wheels are Compomotive Competition racing since I couldn't afford the Halibrand spinners. Water pump, intake manifold is from Edelbrock. All the electrics are from Ford SVO racing and MSD.


74 posted on 05/10/2006 6:01:26 PM PDT by Cobra64 (All we get are lame ideas from Republicans and lame criticism from dems about those lame ideas.)
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To: rawhide
I curse the fool ralph nader for causing the demise of the Corvair.

TT
75 posted on 05/10/2006 6:03:41 PM PDT by TexasTransplant (NEMO ME IMPUNE LACESSET)
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To: TexasTransplant

Always liked the Corvair myself. They were sure tough on a clean concrete driveway though.


76 posted on 05/10/2006 6:06:01 PM PDT by Muleteam1
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To: Conservative Firster

OMG, I COVET that wagon!

I just LOVE wagons! Especially GM's!


77 posted on 05/10/2006 6:08:39 PM PDT by Howlin
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To: Responsibility2nd

My grandma had a Dodge Dart. Kids wanted it!


78 posted on 05/10/2006 6:10:06 PM PDT by HairOfTheDog
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To: isthisnickcool
Did you build that from their pallet kit?

Yes. A friend of mine who is a real motorhead and I spent about six months doing a lot of research and went to a lot of classic car shows,like the one in Carlisle, PA.

I bought Unique's Deluxe kit since it had the hard to find elements.

The only part I farmed out was the paint and having the pipes and headers Jet Hot(ted) by Jet Hot in Mississippi.

My paint guy does MB and Jag restorations. He HATED painting the Cobra, "there's not once flat plane on this damn car!" I asked him if I built another one, if he'd paint it. He just smiled and told me to go fukc myself. LOL

79 posted on 05/10/2006 6:10:18 PM PDT by Cobra64 (All we get are lame ideas from Republicans and lame criticism from dems about those lame ideas.)
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To: Cobra64

What a coincidence! Your car is the same as your FReeper handle! ;)


80 posted on 05/10/2006 6:11:15 PM PDT by Cyclopean Squid (History is a work in progress)
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