my take on the classic car scene
Discussion
My first classic car was purchased when i was attending the Naval engineering college, a gt6 mk1 in 1982, however i passed my test in a 105e anglia in 78. Interesting thought. Was these classic cars then or just old cars?
In those days, to me the classic car scene was guys like me doing a bit of tin bashing, welding, spraying etc to keep these cars on the road. Mostly out of necessity due to finances. My uncle taught me to spray. He was a finishing sprayer for Jaguar.
Then in the 80's it suddenly became commercialised. Etype jag prices soared to in excess of 30k. Cars that was once affordable were no longer within our reach.
The up side of this commercialisation is now we can buy off the shelf more or less every thing needed. Quality can be an issue, as can the exorbitant prices some suppliers charge. Rimmers come to mind! No problem with people making a profit, but those out to make money and get fat i have no time for at all .
My ultimate classic car hero. Keeps his car out side, uses it daily, and cherishes it. What accolades do people like him get. Not many , but the guy who can afford to pay for a professional restorer to "sort" their car, that is then trailered to shows gets the lime light and the prizes. Classic car mags are full of these cars.
I have seen a lad turn up to a meeting in a worse for wear car, was ignored in comparison to the guy that turned up in his pristine mark.
My final rant is the bigotry or snobbishness of some owners. There does exist a culture within the classic car scene as your status is according to the car you drive. Well a pox on you if you are that person. I get as much fun driving my 1962 herald saloon about as i do the Stag.
These are my thoughts that are a generalisation of the whole classic car scene and not the rule.
Ill go and put my tin helmet on now
Shaun
In those days, to me the classic car scene was guys like me doing a bit of tin bashing, welding, spraying etc to keep these cars on the road. Mostly out of necessity due to finances. My uncle taught me to spray. He was a finishing sprayer for Jaguar.
Then in the 80's it suddenly became commercialised. Etype jag prices soared to in excess of 30k. Cars that was once affordable were no longer within our reach.
The up side of this commercialisation is now we can buy off the shelf more or less every thing needed. Quality can be an issue, as can the exorbitant prices some suppliers charge. Rimmers come to mind! No problem with people making a profit, but those out to make money and get fat i have no time for at all .
My ultimate classic car hero. Keeps his car out side, uses it daily, and cherishes it. What accolades do people like him get. Not many , but the guy who can afford to pay for a professional restorer to "sort" their car, that is then trailered to shows gets the lime light and the prizes. Classic car mags are full of these cars.
I have seen a lad turn up to a meeting in a worse for wear car, was ignored in comparison to the guy that turned up in his pristine mark.
My final rant is the bigotry or snobbishness of some owners. There does exist a culture within the classic car scene as your status is according to the car you drive. Well a pox on you if you are that person. I get as much fun driving my 1962 herald saloon about as i do the Stag.
These are my thoughts that are a generalisation of the whole classic car scene and not the rule.
Ill go and put my tin helmet on now
Shaun
Quite amused by the inverted snobbery going on here. So if you haven't got the mechanical aptitude to knock up some beans on toast, let alone work on your own classic, so you have it restored or serviced and maintained by someone else, you're not a proper enthusiast?
We aren't all spanner monkeys you know.
We aren't all spanner monkeys you know.
And even if we do know which end of a spanner to hold, it's not always possible to find the time. I enjoy rebuilding engines, or at least I did enjoy it last time I tried. But I know I'm crap at body work and wouldn't ever be happy with the results I would produce. Does that mean I shouldn't be allowed a classic car?
Trailer queens aren't my scene either but if that is what your hobby happens to be, then that's fine. I can admire someone who has completely rebuilt their car from nuts and bolts, but hey who made those bolts? On another forum I read there is someone who's been known to make their own too, I ducked out when conversations got to the metallurgy required to get the right performance from them.
Trailer queens aren't my scene either but if that is what your hobby happens to be, then that's fine. I can admire someone who has completely rebuilt their car from nuts and bolts, but hey who made those bolts? On another forum I read there is someone who's been known to make their own too, I ducked out when conversations got to the metallurgy required to get the right performance from them.
Sax Player I agree with some, of but not all your comments. If the rich person keeps classics alive then its a good thing and in many cases these people spend more than the car is worht so when they sell us mortals can have the benefits of their passion.
The Two things which annoy me are:
1. People who wont drive the cars (or drive them so gently they might as well not bother) in order to keep them pristine, and ignorant snobs who point out faults on hands on enthusiasts cars who cant afford to have the car mint but keep it tidy and running---and is enjoyed. the later point is actually quite common unfortuately.
The Two things which annoy me are:
1. People who wont drive the cars (or drive them so gently they might as well not bother) in order to keep them pristine, and ignorant snobs who point out faults on hands on enthusiasts cars who cant afford to have the car mint but keep it tidy and running---and is enjoyed. the later point is actually quite common unfortuately.
ok guys
My thoughts are, it does not matter if you are crap at mechanics or body work ..HAVE A GO. the rewards are great when you look back and say its not concours but i did that. b
ks to the people who pay for a expensive spray job, and a big bks to any one who puts the have a go guy down.
The end of the day we love old cars and should encourage enthusiast to get there hands dirty. After all we are talking of mechanics that are far simpler then using a remote control.
My thoughts are, it does not matter if you are crap at mechanics or body work ..HAVE A GO. the rewards are great when you look back and say its not concours but i did that. b
ks to the people who pay for a expensive spray job, and a big bks to any one who puts the have a go guy down.The end of the day we love old cars and should encourage enthusiast to get there hands dirty. After all we are talking of mechanics that are far simpler then using a remote control.
When I go to classic car meets or anywhere I'm out, I'd always rather see used classics than pristine examples. I like to see a bit of rust and some litter on the back seat. Of course there is a place for shiny concours examples and anyone who keeps an old car going is not going to be bad, I just prefer the weathered look! Mine is certainly worn at the edges. There is not much I do on it myself but I'll always have a go.
sax player said:
ok guys
My thoughts are, it does not matter if you are crap at mechanics or body work ..HAVE A GO. the rewards are great when you look back and say its not concours but i did that. bks to the people who pay for a expensive spray job, and a big bks to any one who puts the have a go guy down.
The end of the day we love old cars and should encourage enthusiast to get there hands dirty. After all we are talking of mechanics that are far simpler then using a remote control.
So what you are saying is that I'm only allowed to drive around in a car that looks as good as I, personally, am able to make?My thoughts are, it does not matter if you are crap at mechanics or body work ..HAVE A GO. the rewards are great when you look back and say its not concours but i did that. b
ks to the people who pay for a expensive spray job, and a big bks to any one who puts the have a go guy down.The end of the day we love old cars and should encourage enthusiast to get there hands dirty. After all we are talking of mechanics that are far simpler then using a remote control.
How far would you like to take this? Should I only be allowed to eat food I can make, or perhaps food I can grow?
I own a "classic" car, it is in much better condition than I could have made it. It is far from being in concourse condition, thank god. I don't drive it much is winter because I don't have the time and facilities to de-salt the car after it has got plastered in the stuff. But apart from avoiding salty roads I use it as much as I can. Certain work I can, and do, do to the car. As I said before, other things that are needed on it are beyond my capability. For example, a year and a half ago the bonnet came open on the Motorway, rebuilding a XK bonnet is far beyond my ability. It is far beyond the ability of most tin bashers in the world - so what would you have me do at the stage?
a) give up and get rid of the car?
b) balls it up completely and drive around in a wreck?
c) pay someone to fix it for me?
I fear that my engine may need a rebuild. I could rebuild it (honestly I couldn't have rebuilt the bonnet), but I don't have the time (I like tinkering, I LOVE driving it!) also I don't have the facilities to make a good job of it. Sure I can dismantle the engine, I would like to think I could put it back together too. I don't have the facilities at home to clean it down properly, I don't have the sort of engineering equipment to rebore the engine, grind cranks, dynamically balance all the rotating masses. So lots of the work would need to be farmed out. Where do you draw the line? If you blow a piston do you buy a new one or do you make your own? If you made your own where would the materials come from?
Once the car is back together and run in again properly, I'll drive it down to Goodwood and enjoy it to the best of my limited ability. But getting there I'm going to need help with. Without more skilled automotive engineers than I, I won't be able to enjoy driving my "toy".
sax player said:
My ultimate classic car hero. Keeps his car out side, uses it daily, and cherishes it.
"I'm your man my little Huckleberry"
My low rent classic and (and only car) it's not as good as it looks in photos and not even the rust is original on it
I've used many classics as daily drives all year round including work mileage, weekend and continental tours and rallies
AND
I'm not your hero (no one should have heros anyway) because as often as I can I pay others to do any work on the car - I haven't got the skill to open a can of beans without slicing my hand open
I generally try to avoid static shows and meets as I prefer driving my car
I bought my classic to drive it not to do loads of work on it. I do the odd jobs on it but 90% of the work is done by a specialist. I don't have the inclination, time and the facilities to all the work myself. I managed 7000 miles in it last year which while not spectacularly high its a lot more than a lot of classics do.
I am not convinced by your the best gets the most attention argument. A ph'r has a 53 Chevy truck which bodywork wise is as "in found condition" not much paint and all of it faded. That gets plenty of attention.
I am not convinced by your the best gets the most attention argument. A ph'r has a 53 Chevy truck which bodywork wise is as "in found condition" not much paint and all of it faded. That gets plenty of attention.
My car sleeps outside 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The only time it sees the inside of a garage is when it goes for an MOT. I do all the work on it myself. It gets used every day. It was a 1979 Jaguar XJ6 4.2, and it has been my pride and joy.
It is NOT an ideal situation. To put it simply... it is a lost battle. I have just had to scrap it, because the bodywork had deteriorated to a point where I couldn't save it. I have the skill to do welding and replace panels, but to do it outside in the depths of winter is something I am sick of having to tolerate and not something I want to do again.
I've done a head rebuild with the bonnet propped open and a tarpaulin over the lot to protect it and me from the elements, in the middle of winter. I've fitted a newly rebuilt Borg Warner automatic gearbox while there's been snow on the floor. I've driven the car with just a drivers seat, while I did welding on it in the evenings after work.
I don't have a problem with people who spend money for other people to do the work. Myself and some friends have clubbed together and leased a garage unit to do work on our cars, so I have another XJ6 on the way.
What annoys me about the classic "scene" is how some people are just blatantly ignorant of your efforts to get your car to shows... and sometimes downright rude. Thankfully this appears to be a minority element. To give an example at one show I went to last year I had an elderly gentleman who owned an E-type approach me and enthuse about how good it was to see a young man into old Jaguars and that an XJ was an excellent car to cut my teeth on. At the very same show I had somebody else accuse me of bringing the standard of the show down because of the rust and primer on my car...
Regards
Ric
It is NOT an ideal situation. To put it simply... it is a lost battle. I have just had to scrap it, because the bodywork had deteriorated to a point where I couldn't save it. I have the skill to do welding and replace panels, but to do it outside in the depths of winter is something I am sick of having to tolerate and not something I want to do again.
I've done a head rebuild with the bonnet propped open and a tarpaulin over the lot to protect it and me from the elements, in the middle of winter. I've fitted a newly rebuilt Borg Warner automatic gearbox while there's been snow on the floor. I've driven the car with just a drivers seat, while I did welding on it in the evenings after work.
I don't have a problem with people who spend money for other people to do the work. Myself and some friends have clubbed together and leased a garage unit to do work on our cars, so I have another XJ6 on the way.
What annoys me about the classic "scene" is how some people are just blatantly ignorant of your efforts to get your car to shows... and sometimes downright rude. Thankfully this appears to be a minority element. To give an example at one show I went to last year I had an elderly gentleman who owned an E-type approach me and enthuse about how good it was to see a young man into old Jaguars and that an XJ was an excellent car to cut my teeth on. At the very same show I had somebody else accuse me of bringing the standard of the show down because of the rust and primer on my car...
Regards
Ric
This subject, in one form or another, is the backbone of the classic car movement it seems. I'm fairly well known for my love of Jaguars but that doesn't preclude me drooling over a Peugeot 203 or recently a lovely Mini Countryman does it? So, in the main, I don't think most classic car fans are snobbish. Some are, some aren't but as usual it is the few who give the majority a bad name. Spannering; something I did in my youth but was never very competent but as I've grown older and the machinery I own has got more complex I prefer to pay someone to do it rather than attempt to do it myself and then pay someone twice as much to put things right afterwards! I wish I was gifted but no matter what my friends have tried to teach me I am just one of life's cack-handed people it seems. Now on the subject of "trailer queens" I think that 99% of the movement agree that it is an obscenity. The famous story of the Aston Martin concours where one car won because the owner had cleaned the inside of the exhaust comes to mind. The Ferrari club introduced a rule where the car had to have done 3,000 miles between concours. The result; the same F40 was trailered from Monaco the next year but I'm prepared to swear that all he did was put a drill on the speedo cable in between time! The pinnacle of this obscenity must have been at Pebble Beach when it was admitted that some of the cars weren't safe to drive because the suspension nuts were hand tight to avoid damaging the fresh paint.
But, on the subject of spares I am not sure I would like my elecrical equipment to be built to the original Lucas standard; would you? At the same time Rimmers and Martin Robey to name but two have taken the time to invest in the manufacture of body parts that otherwise would be unfindable nowadays and while the quality at times isn't perfect it is better than nothing. I've been around Robey's factory and the presses and level of investment are impressive. One wonders though just how many more people are going to need new E type body shells!
Rather interestingly, to see the reaction it will get from you, is the story of the new car I am building and its paintwork. Now since it is a fresh alloy body it isn't a big job to paint, but I've paid extra to have the paint matted and airbrushed to make the car look 50 years old from the outset. I hate shiny cars and want my car to look "lived in". Now is that inverse snobbery, stupidity or just bloody perverse? No doubt you'll tell me!
But, on the subject of spares I am not sure I would like my elecrical equipment to be built to the original Lucas standard; would you? At the same time Rimmers and Martin Robey to name but two have taken the time to invest in the manufacture of body parts that otherwise would be unfindable nowadays and while the quality at times isn't perfect it is better than nothing. I've been around Robey's factory and the presses and level of investment are impressive. One wonders though just how many more people are going to need new E type body shells!
Rather interestingly, to see the reaction it will get from you, is the story of the new car I am building and its paintwork. Now since it is a fresh alloy body it isn't a big job to paint, but I've paid extra to have the paint matted and airbrushed to make the car look 50 years old from the outset. I hate shiny cars and want my car to look "lived in". Now is that inverse snobbery, stupidity or just bloody perverse? No doubt you'll tell me!
lowdrag said:
Rather interestingly, to see the reaction it will get from you, is the story of the new car I am building and its paintwork. Now since it is a fresh alloy body it isn't a big job to paint, but I've paid extra to have the paint matted and airbrushed to make the car look 50 years old from the outset. I hate shiny cars and want my car to look "lived in". Now is that inverse snobbery, stupidity or just bloody perverse? No doubt you'll tell me!
I think you're spot on to do that... I don't really like cars that look like they've just been pulled out of the box. To me it takes the soul and the story away from the machine.Ric
richw_82 said:
lowdrag said:
Rather interestingly, to see the reaction it will get from you, is the story of the new car I am building and its paintwork. Now since it is a fresh alloy body it isn't a big job to paint, but I've paid extra to have the paint matted and airbrushed to make the car look 50 years old from the outset. I hate shiny cars and want my car to look "lived in". Now is that inverse snobbery, stupidity or just bloody perverse? No doubt you'll tell me!
I think you're spot on to do that... I don't really like cars that look like they've just been pulled out of the box. To me it takes the soul and the story away from the machine.Ric
On the wider issue I must confess that I don't find concours especially stimulating, and, and perhaps it's because I've generally tended to have cars drawn from the lower end of the market, I do struggle to understand someone who throws their life - or at least their life savings - at restoring and cherishing 'cooking' models: why would you spend a fortune on the painstaking resotation of a Herald when you could have a Vitesse for no more? Or a P6 2000 TC when you could have a 3500S?
I also get a little annoyed with owners who condemn specialist traders for outrageous prices, and run the most appalling bodges on their cars by dint of their refusal to replace components with new ons from said specialists, but who can never quite see the equivalence with comparable parts for modern cars. Do you really think £150 is a rip-off for a steering rack?...
I will never own a concourse car. Nor would I want to- I would rather work on it and rirve it then polish it HOWEVER I think they are very important. Its great to see cars which are that original- as they left the factory, with no modifications or modern tweaks (a concourse d'etat rather then a d/elegance, which is the AMOC). Its good to see how my car was like when new, and there are plenty of modified/modernised cars around which i can get ideas on my DBS V8 from.
As for snobbery... Its a curious thing, as M in OHMSS said. I have been to evetns where owners have signs saying things like "Dont touch", "keep away", "This car is like your wife: look but don touch" or somesuch. I find it strange that these all appear on Morriw Minors, A35's etc and not on more expensive cars, which are in just as good condition.
Oh, and I do all the work on my car myself. If I didnt, I could not afford to own it. However, I dont enjoy it. If I had the money, someone else would get their hands dirty on the car and I would simply get the pleasure from it, without any of the pain. which reminds me, I need to fit a new exhaust section and start it tonight. Now its warmer
As for snobbery... Its a curious thing, as M in OHMSS said. I have been to evetns where owners have signs saying things like "Dont touch", "keep away", "This car is like your wife: look but don touch" or somesuch. I find it strange that these all appear on Morriw Minors, A35's etc and not on more expensive cars, which are in just as good condition.
Oh, and I do all the work on my car myself. If I didnt, I could not afford to own it. However, I dont enjoy it. If I had the money, someone else would get their hands dirty on the car and I would simply get the pleasure from it, without any of the pain. which reminds me, I need to fit a new exhaust section and start it tonight. Now its warmer
All of our bikes are what you'd call "oily rag" condition. Most of them are non-original, not through choice but through necessity. Most of the vintage stuff (pre-1931) was bought by my Dad in the '60s, when they were bought for little - if any - money rather than see them scrapped.
Because of this, spares weren't available. Because of this, anything that was needed to keep them on the road was either made or modified. Now, many of the parts are available (as the bikes are now more valuable), but I'm of the opinion that the non-original parts should be left on. This upsets many 'purists', but I believe that all of these parts add to the history of the bike, and are as important as the bike itself as they tell the story of the bike.
I personally like vehicles to look like they've been used. That's just my opinion though, and I'm glad that not everyone thinks like that. I like to see immaculate bikes/cars at shows. If we all thought the same not only would the classic scene be dead, life would be very, very dull!
As for people who pay someone to look after their cars/bikes, why not? If it means the vehicle is maintained and survives when it may otherwise have layed rotting, I think that can only be a good thing.
Because of this, spares weren't available. Because of this, anything that was needed to keep them on the road was either made or modified. Now, many of the parts are available (as the bikes are now more valuable), but I'm of the opinion that the non-original parts should be left on. This upsets many 'purists', but I believe that all of these parts add to the history of the bike, and are as important as the bike itself as they tell the story of the bike.
I personally like vehicles to look like they've been used. That's just my opinion though, and I'm glad that not everyone thinks like that. I like to see immaculate bikes/cars at shows. If we all thought the same not only would the classic scene be dead, life would be very, very dull!
As for people who pay someone to look after their cars/bikes, why not? If it means the vehicle is maintained and survives when it may otherwise have layed rotting, I think that can only be a good thing.
Edited by srob on Monday 12th January 12:57
Well, here's my take.
I've owned two 'classics', one was a complete shed, it had about 9 months ticket and I think Mr Magoo must have been the MOT inspector.
Yet, I was made very welcome in the P6 Owner's Club, explained that it was a 'trial run' and met lots of chaps (and a few chapess owners). I met the Sunday afternoon drivers and inveterate polishers right through to Mr. Permanently-Covered-in-Oil; by and large they are all wonderful people. Even people that would help (give their time free) to help me resto it, if I liked.
All walks of life, from people that owned the car from new to people like me who remember them as a kid.
After 3 years of looking, I got the one I wanted. The keys will be prized from my cold dead fist, an 'Stang or a DS as much as I love them would not be the same.
I wish I had time to do all the bits, I'm no novice with the spanners and I find it immensely relaxing and the sense of achievement is rewarding. I have to pay (luckily a reasonable rate) for others to keep it running.
I read my Practical Classics avidly and this month, how to rebuild a BW35 gearbox. Never done one, let alone an auto. I would love to pick up a £20 gearbox from a scrapper and have a try, follow the instructions (very slowly) and learn how to re-condition it. However, my time is such that it's a luxury.
I work 40+ hours a week, married, little nipper, a house half decorated, two gardens and I just can't fit 3 hours of spannering (I'd rather spend it driving the thing) at the weekend let alone a whole day. My car also has to be run on a budget and thanks to the sheer amount of metal, rust would finish it and me off, dry days only for me.
Sheer self-preservation of the bank balance and no other reason.
I agree the 'Classic and Sports Car' snobby types bother me, my car isn't a famous Alfa or Maserati. Some classic owners may even argue my car it's not a classic (only happened once at the NEC, the said Maserati Quattroporte MK1 owner was red-faced at the end of it though).
It's the same in any hobby, any pursuit, the pushy and competitive clique up and then 'outdo' each other. Whatever floats their boat, I just know the salt-of-the-earth from binmen to bank manager classic owners are in the majority.
I've owned two 'classics', one was a complete shed, it had about 9 months ticket and I think Mr Magoo must have been the MOT inspector.
Yet, I was made very welcome in the P6 Owner's Club, explained that it was a 'trial run' and met lots of chaps (and a few chapess owners). I met the Sunday afternoon drivers and inveterate polishers right through to Mr. Permanently-Covered-in-Oil; by and large they are all wonderful people. Even people that would help (give their time free) to help me resto it, if I liked.
All walks of life, from people that owned the car from new to people like me who remember them as a kid.
After 3 years of looking, I got the one I wanted. The keys will be prized from my cold dead fist, an 'Stang or a DS as much as I love them would not be the same.
I wish I had time to do all the bits, I'm no novice with the spanners and I find it immensely relaxing and the sense of achievement is rewarding. I have to pay (luckily a reasonable rate) for others to keep it running.
I read my Practical Classics avidly and this month, how to rebuild a BW35 gearbox. Never done one, let alone an auto. I would love to pick up a £20 gearbox from a scrapper and have a try, follow the instructions (very slowly) and learn how to re-condition it. However, my time is such that it's a luxury.
I work 40+ hours a week, married, little nipper, a house half decorated, two gardens and I just can't fit 3 hours of spannering (I'd rather spend it driving the thing) at the weekend let alone a whole day. My car also has to be run on a budget and thanks to the sheer amount of metal, rust would finish it and me off, dry days only for me.
Sheer self-preservation of the bank balance and no other reason.
I agree the 'Classic and Sports Car' snobby types bother me, my car isn't a famous Alfa or Maserati. Some classic owners may even argue my car it's not a classic (only happened once at the NEC, the said Maserati Quattroporte MK1 owner was red-faced at the end of it though).
It's the same in any hobby, any pursuit, the pushy and competitive clique up and then 'outdo' each other. Whatever floats their boat, I just know the salt-of-the-earth from binmen to bank manager classic owners are in the majority.
My take on the classic car scene is that i like it because there are so many aspects to the overall classic "scene".
In a nutshell what i'm trying to say is there is room for everyone from the younger / older lads and lasses doing projects as a 1st car etc through to the multi millionaires who enjoy the higher echelons of the scene such as Villa D' Este or Monaco Historique etc and can pay for the privilege to own such aspirational cars.
TBH I don't really care whether an individual enjoys one or a combination of spannering, polishing, driving, racing, organising, attending meetings, the social side or whatever the reality is there is room for all walks of life to enjoy what aspects they want to enjoy from the overall "scene".
The fact that the classic scene is so strong is because of the varied nature of these many aspects imho.
I personally don't see how people can derive any real pleasure from certain aspects of the scene but there are still other areas that enable me to have an interest.
As a couple of examples i've had pints with a bloke in the local pub who had spent all day in the workshop degreasing his engine block only to be told by someone else after enjoying a couple of pints and some good banter that this bloke was a multi multi millionaire.
Converesly i know of another person who didn't quite think his car was suited to an up-coming event so just went and bought something more suited for the next event whilst still keeping the original car anyway (and we're talking easily £80k plus cars).
There are then people like a relative who has kept the same car from new and it went from a daily runner to a weekend car but it led to membership of the relevant car club to then being involved on the organising side of the club. Over a period of time he has gained many new friends and enjoyed the social side of the scene as much as keeping his car on the road for a period of thirty years.
There are then people like my father who hasn't really stayed specific to a badge but has tried to enjoy as many different classic cars as possible including MG's, mini coopers, Porsches, Triumphs and a few others along the way. Some were bought ready to go, some were bought as restoration projects but all were used for various club meets, race meetings or a trips abroad.
I'm rambling on a bit now but to me the person who wants to spend his weekend under a car or tying balloons to his allegro and sell some club memorabilia is just as important to the overall classic "scene" as the person who flies in to Monaco for the Historique and jumps in there expensive race car that has cost a fortune to buy and the owner pays a fortune for others to maintain.
Vive la difference and all that but the important thing is that all of these older (and newer) jallopies are kept going by current and future generations.
Cheers
In a nutshell what i'm trying to say is there is room for everyone from the younger / older lads and lasses doing projects as a 1st car etc through to the multi millionaires who enjoy the higher echelons of the scene such as Villa D' Este or Monaco Historique etc and can pay for the privilege to own such aspirational cars.
TBH I don't really care whether an individual enjoys one or a combination of spannering, polishing, driving, racing, organising, attending meetings, the social side or whatever the reality is there is room for all walks of life to enjoy what aspects they want to enjoy from the overall "scene".
The fact that the classic scene is so strong is because of the varied nature of these many aspects imho.
I personally don't see how people can derive any real pleasure from certain aspects of the scene but there are still other areas that enable me to have an interest.
As a couple of examples i've had pints with a bloke in the local pub who had spent all day in the workshop degreasing his engine block only to be told by someone else after enjoying a couple of pints and some good banter that this bloke was a multi multi millionaire.
Converesly i know of another person who didn't quite think his car was suited to an up-coming event so just went and bought something more suited for the next event whilst still keeping the original car anyway (and we're talking easily £80k plus cars).
There are then people like a relative who has kept the same car from new and it went from a daily runner to a weekend car but it led to membership of the relevant car club to then being involved on the organising side of the club. Over a period of time he has gained many new friends and enjoyed the social side of the scene as much as keeping his car on the road for a period of thirty years.
There are then people like my father who hasn't really stayed specific to a badge but has tried to enjoy as many different classic cars as possible including MG's, mini coopers, Porsches, Triumphs and a few others along the way. Some were bought ready to go, some were bought as restoration projects but all were used for various club meets, race meetings or a trips abroad.
I'm rambling on a bit now but to me the person who wants to spend his weekend under a car or tying balloons to his allegro and sell some club memorabilia is just as important to the overall classic "scene" as the person who flies in to Monaco for the Historique and jumps in there expensive race car that has cost a fortune to buy and the owner pays a fortune for others to maintain.
Vive la difference and all that but the important thing is that all of these older (and newer) jallopies are kept going by current and future generations.
Cheers
215cu said:
I agree the 'Classic and Sports Car' snobby types bother me, my car isn't a famous Alfa or Maserati. Some classic owners may even argue my car it's not a classic (only happened once at the NEC, the said Maserati Quattroporte MK1 owner was red-faced at the end of it though.
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