HOW Have Automakers FAILED? Why Are People MORE Interested In Vintage Rides?

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to note that vintage automobiles are in high demand. It's not just sports cars, either. 

Check out the demand for old-school Ford Broncos, Toyota FJs and Land Rover Defenders. Hell, even Datsuns, original Skylines and the BMW Isetta are all getting love. Easily, this is more pronounced than ever before.

When I was hanging out in California last week, my mind was completely blown. I have been keeping an eye on certain used car markets and the Porsche 911 993 has been holding incredibly strong. If you have the right model in the right spec and in the right color, it may even sell for more than when it was new. But here's the crazy thing: In San Diego and San Francisco I saw 993s all over the place. 

I reckon I am seeing more 993s now than when they were new!

This begs the question, Spies: HOW have automakers FAILED to deliver vehicles that people want? There's a certain something that these old-school autos have that people want. 

Is it the cachet?

Is it having a different identity?

Is it the simplicity?

Is it the purity?

What say you, Spies?

Note: This isn't just a California thing. People are going nuts for old-school rides all over the place.

GeorgeD - 2/27/2018 12:51:45 AM

-1 Boost

I believe that the resto-mod is the reason why. You can put new running gear (engine/trans/suspension) in any older car. In my opinion, the current cars have no real style apart from other cars. All the older cars, anything before 1999ish had their own style, better or worse. Now, with cars the platforms are all the same, just either stretched/modified for either coupe, sedan, or suv.

GeorgeD - 2/27/2018 1:12:31 AM

-1 Boost

I forgot to say. Most brands have gone away from what made them popular in the first place.

In my mind,

BMW is about: sport sedans and GT coupe's (shark nose)
Audi is, sport sedans and wagons with AWD & manuals
Mercedes, luxo sedans and covertibles/coupes (best car was the 560sec's)
Lexus, the original LS400 and SC400 for affordable luxury with style. (not the current sport effort)
Cadillac, ultra in your face luxury. I don't think of sport with Cadillac.
Acura, affordable sport sedans and coupe's.

Now, everyone walking into dealerships want the same experience with every car.

TheSteve - 2/27/2018 1:42:51 AM

+2 Boost

Only *SOME* people are nostalgic for vintage rides. Many people prefer reliable, more efficient, cleaner-running fuel injection over carbs. Many people prefer seat belts over reconstructive facial surgery or fatalities. Many people prefer smartphone integration over an AM radio. The list goes on and on.

The answer is car companies have not failed. Only a small minority of people are stuck in the past, believing every car made today is horrible, and that automakers have failed.

NOTE: You can love any car you want -- 1970's muscle car, air-cooled Porsche 911, 1985 SAAB -- anything! Your preference is your preference, and nobody can tell you you're wrong for liking what you like. Just don't try to present a compelling argument that cars of yore are objectively better than recent vehicles.

MDarringer - 2/27/2018 8:35:19 AM

-2 Boost

This is another example of how ill-informed you are. The vintage car market is massive and very much alive.

TheSteve - 2/27/2018 4:01:16 PM

+2 Boost

^^^
What you refer to as the “Vintage car market” is the high value people place on SOME, specific, highly-prized, unique automobiles. Examples:
+Ferrari Dino: Vintage collectible
-Ford Pinto: Not a vintage collectible

Vintage collectibles speak to historically relevant and rare cars. They’re a form of “unobtanium.” They are NOT testimony to the alleged failure of current automakers – the opening sentence in the subject of this thread – the part I was addressing in my post.

MDarringer - 2/27/2018 11:03:48 PM

-1 Boost

@TheSteve, you know NOTHING about the vintage market. Believe it or not Pintos ARE collectable as are Pacers, Azteks, Slant Six Mopars, and other vehicles that your ignorant snobbery says are not collectable. There are more than a few clubs out there for utterly mundane cars and fans pay good money for clean examples. You clearly live in the bliss of your ignorance, but the buying and selling of vintage cars--from ALL conceivable segments--is big money. You obviously do not attend Barrett Jackson and Mecum. I do. I also keep my finger on the pulse of a number of online vendors.

TheSteve - 2/28/2018 2:15:04 AM

+2 Boost

@MDarringer: Oh, so you’re *not* talking about vintage cars like a Dino or a Duesenberg. You’re talking about fans of “golden oldies,” like a GTO or a Gremlin. Okay.

Once again, cars like these are adored by a relatively small group of fans for nostalgic reasons, and not – like the first sentence of this thread’s subject alleges, and reads – because current “automakers failed” (a direct quote).

Do try to keep up with the conversation, Matt. I know you don’t like words and stuff, and that reading puts you off, but do try to stay on topic!

As I said in my original post, people can like whatever they like, and that’s cool. But people’s enchantment with old stuff – be that old quirky cars or old radios – is *NOT* an indication that today’s cars are worse. That’s the point I made, which you missed, and which you continue to miss, over and over.

MDarringer - 2/28/2018 8:20:54 AM

-1 Boost

@TheSteve AGAIN you wear the crown or ignorance and snobbery and delude yourself into thinking you're more knowledgeable. As it applies to cars "vintage" is synonymous with "old" and NOT for some BS about historical significance etc.

You're trying so desperately to save face and pretend you are somehow knowledgeable about the vintage/old car market when you have been shot down.

Come clean. You know NOTHING about the market and what you said is 100% BS.

pcar4evr - 2/27/2018 7:09:52 AM

+4 Boost

The whole car nostalgia thing is driven by baby boomers who can now afford the cars that they couldn't afford when cars could have actually gotten you laid. I think the upcoming generations will be far less interested in nostalgic vehicles since they aren't particularly interested in cars, in general.

Here's a question: how many millennials do you know that collect stamps or coins?

Personally, I think that we are in the best era for people who appreciate drivers cars.

MDarringer - 2/27/2018 8:37:23 AM

-2 Boost

You are wildly ignorant of the market. The booming vintage market is NOT confined to baby boomers. Not even remotely. Millennials--contrary to #FakeNews--are not only buying cars, they are also very much a part of the customer base of vintage car sales.

Truthy - 2/27/2018 7:39:49 AM

+4 Boost

Any nostalgia you may have quickly fades after a 10 minute drive.

CANADIANCOMMENTS - 2/27/2018 8:23:13 AM

+3 Boost

To each their own. I sat in a 1972 911T a friend owns. I could see how close the A-Pillar / top left corner of the windshield was to my head. As well as how thin and light everything was. I knew it was a death trap and had no crash protection just like old cars of that era. Nice to look at, but not really for me.

MDarringer - 2/27/2018 8:38:11 AM

-1 Boost

I cannot think of a better person to drive a vintage 911 than you. :)

CANADIANCOMMENTS - 2/27/2018 6:14:39 PM

+3 Boost

@MD - Thanks for the brotherly love. I'm telling Mom!

MDarringer - 2/27/2018 10:56:15 PM

-1 Boost

I'm glad you saw the humor in it.

TheSteve - 2/28/2018 2:44:49 AM

+2 Boost

@CANADIANCOMMENTS: In days gone by, I didn't care for the 911 for exactly the reasons you mentioned. In recent years, Porsche made the 911 AWD versions well-behaved, and with the 991.2 body style, I feel the look -- inside and out -- is gorgeous!

So older 911s? I don't want to own or drive one, even though I recognize it's a classic, and a noteworthy piece of history. But a 2018 911 Turbo? Sign me up!

MDarringer - 2/27/2018 8:32:47 AM

-1 Boost

People who love vintage cars do so for several obvious reasons. The most obvious is to acquire a car they have always dreamed about. Another obvious attraction is that vintage cars are more mechanical and as such are more of a machine than the smoothed out automotive appliances of modern day.

For a daily driver, I'd take the modern car, but for fun the older car is better.

I'm no fan of the Porsche 911, but an old 911 with its vile "I will kill you handling" is much more exciting than the modern version that the hair dressers and fat, old, overcompensatory men love.

I've had the opportunity to experience many vintage cars. Among my favorites are the Jensen Interceptor, Lamborghini Islero, Iso Grifo, 68 Shelby Mustang GT500KR, 67 427 Sting Ray, 68 Hemi Charger, AMG Hammer, and the 450SEL 6.9.

CANADIANCOMMENTS - 2/27/2018 6:17:09 PM

+2 Boost

@MD Now that is some list. The GT500KR temps me far more than an old 911. Fun day Sunday driving only. But if I ever did a restomod, it would still look period for the most part, I am no fan of Elenor movie car creations or 20" wheels on a 60's Mustang.

MDarringer - 2/27/2018 10:55:35 PM

-1 Boost

Long story but I became friends with three older men who had car collections and in high school they paid me to start them, warm them up, drive them around the parking lot at the facility where they were stored, and to keep them looking nice. All three had multiple interests in the car business (retail and body shops). One took me under his wing and taught me his businesses.

A 68 GT500KR has the lovely Cobra Jet under the hood. The Jensen Interceptor is a most wonderful cruiser.

Truthy - 2/27/2018 9:21:04 AM

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MDaranged, no one should use the #Fakenews unless referring to Fox broadcasts.

MDarringer - 2/27/2018 11:05:09 PM

-1 Boost

Heroin? Is that what caused the non sequitur?

dtmwtch - 2/27/2018 11:35:40 AM

+3 Boost

I drive an 81 FJ 40 Land Cruiser softop on the weekeneds and it is a fun, mechanically pure machine, but it is also punishing to drive and a death trap. i love it to death, will never sell it, but for long distance comfort and safety, it is the 2017 hemi Grand Cherokee Trailhawk.

PUGPROUD - 2/27/2018 5:38:57 PM

0 Boost

Manufacturers have designed the visceral man and machine feeling out of today's cars and replaced it with computer control numb feeling driving aids. New cars do not come alive in your hands anymore...they drive themselves. When I was young a you were taught car control by listening and feeling what the car is doing through your finger tips and your butt. It was interactive. It was fun. Today you just hit the gas (traction control will save you), hit the brakes (anti-lock brakes take over), and steer as you will (lane control will keep you
within the lines). No real driver involvement. No bonding of man and machine. No fun. Add in today's generic styling and no wonder we turn to cars of bygone
eras.