I went to the Portland Swap Meet this weekend - an observation.

[herr_oberst]

Supposedly, this is the biggest hot rod swap meet in the nation, next to the one at Hershey Pennsylvania.
First time in 2 years for the 'annual' swap meet thanks to the pandemic. I like going, rain or shine. Big crowds, but the thing that really caught my eye this-go-round is that 99.5% of the people buying and selling are white men, between about 55 and 75 years old. It's not like I'm so unaware that I've never noticed this before, but this year it really hit home that once this generation of hotrodders is gone, no one else is going to want this stuff, and there is a TON of 'this stuff'. Me and 2 pals spent two days trying to at least look at every table, we walked 16 miles on pavement, and it would be fair to say that realistically we only put our eyes on 10% of the stuff out there. I got some vintage Cibie foglights for a buck, but my latest project is an E28 BMW, so really there was nothing that I expected to find.

I was talking with my chum who has a 67 Mustang fastback on a rotisserie that's finally at the shop getting painted... He thinks he's lost interest in the car, so it's starting to look like he's going to end up with a roller, with bins and bins full of parts he's been collecting for years, and he may never find the enthusiasm to take it over the finish line. He's 70. Maybe he'll rally. I hope so.

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by Fast Freddy 944

They have cars in Portland?:

Edited: WTF?

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

...but my latest project is an E28 BMW, so really there was nothing that I expected to find.

It has been said here many times, car values age in and age out based on demographics.

Hot Rods will be no different than past loves.

I am 65 and just not interested in projects at all.

Finish you E28 and lets chat

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

Paul, if this is where this post is going, can you just go ahead and delete the whole thing?

_Thx

We're good. Great thread well written.

Let's go. Interesting stuff.

[oldE]

I see what you mean. Looking at ads for classic cars, I wonder who is going to want them in another ten years.
"Classic American Iron " isn't where the kids' heads are at.

Best
Les

[Norm K]

I've been telling people for several years now, my belief that other than genuinely special (and largely original) cars, the big-money market for American iron is coming to an end. I may well be wrong, but with three sons aged 36, 31 and 21, all of whom are into cars (as are many of their friends) I can speak with some level of authority.

If that swap meet consisted of Euro and Japanese parts from the 70s on, it would've been as chock-full of young guys searching for treasures as it is currently supported by guys who are largely sixty-plus years old

The young guys think most old American cars are okay, but pretty much just okay.

C'est la vie.

_

[oldE]

65 and not interested in projects?
Last fall I picked up an '89 VW Cabriolet which needed some tlc. It is such a chick car, but will be perfect for ice cream runs with the grand daughter. I've had a ball taking stuff off and fixing as I go. It won't ever be more than a 10 yard car, but that's not the point.

Best
Les

[herr_oberst]

Originally Posted by Norm K

If that swap meet consisted of Euro and Japanese parts from the 70s on, it would've been as chock-full of young guys searching for treasures as it is currently supported by guys who are largely sixty-plus years old

The young guys think most old American cars are okay, but pretty much just okay.

C'est la vie.

_

Heard that same thing mentioned a time or two during the two days we were out there....

Plenty of enthusiasm, just not for this.

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by oldE

65 and not interested in projects?

Car projects.

I have a farm full of projects...fixed a mower deck, prepped the the tractors, replaced the wheel on a large finishing mower, got the sprayers ready, etc., etc.

The most interesting part of this thread is what's next?

[herr_oberst]

You won't often see something like this outside of a swap meet:

This was no forty footer, either. The quality was very high.

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by oldE

I see what you mean. Looking at ads for classic cars, I wonder who is going to want them in another ten years.
"Classic American Iron " isn't where the kids' heads are at.

Best
Les

My son is 20. He's totally into classic cars while he also loves the new stuff. There will always be a niche market for the classics.

[pwd72s]

The disinterest gets worse as you age...just a warning. I try to stay with a car interest, but it's really not there. No real desire to go to any kind of car event and reading of the new "latest and greatest" puts me to sleep. The last time I opened my rollaway was to count the 10mm sockets for a fun thread here. The time before that was to loan a socket to a neighbor. Can't remember the last time I went for a drive just to go for a drive.

But there is some hope as far as the youngsters go. The 15 year old son of neighbors across the road loves the copies of HOT ROD that I recycle in his direction. He'll be getting his license soon.
I've been thinking of volunteering myself & a Mustang to teach him how to drive a manual. All of his parent's cars area automatics. The Mustang's mild cams and flat torque curve should make learning easier. But I hesitate...don't want to horn in on a parent's job. What do you guys think?

He's a good kid...I've paid him to do some chores around here.

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

Wow.

BTW, it is not that there is interest, it is the volume of people interested.

It is Spring, sort of, in Maryland and in my area all the really well done 60's and 70's cars have been out.

Beautiful cars. I just wonder about the market.

A friend of mine owns Stovebolt, a website for old Chevy and GMC trucks. So far, so good but they are worried.

[herr_oberst]

Originally Posted by pwd72s

I've been thinking of volunteering myself & a Mustang to teach him how to drive a manual. All of his parent's cars area automatics. The Mustang's mild cams and flat torque curve should make learning easier. But I hesitate...don't want to horn in on a parent's job. What do you guys think?

He's a good kid...I've paid him to do some chores around here.

Heck yes! Ask the mom and dad for permission first and then out to the church parking lot!

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Seahawk

It has been said here many times, car values age in and age out based on demographics.

Hot Rods will be no different than past loves.

I am 65 and just not interested in projects at all.

Finish you E28 and lets chat

Yep, I'm not a project kind of guy. I am aware that there are folks that get a project, do an enormous amount of work and then don't want the finished car. I don't get that.

I don't see myself buying a project. I could only seeing myself purchase a driver, and then maybe performing upgrades to improve things. But buying a basket case and then taking years to get it finished, no way. I'd rather buy something that I can drive and enjoy now.

[sugarwood]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

I was talking with my chum who has a 67 Mustang fastback on a rotisserie that's finally at the shop getting painted... He thinks he's lost interest in the car, so it's starting to look like he's going to end up with a roller, with bins and bins full of parts he's been collecting for years, and he may never find the enthusiasm to take it over the finish line. He's 70. Maybe he'll rally. I hope so.

How long has he owned this never ending project?
These abandoned projects are the most depressing aspect of the car hobby.

[herr_oberst]

Originally Posted by sugarwood

How long has he owned this never ending project?
These abandoned projects are the most depressing aspect of the car hobby.

For a while. A number of years. He had a 65 Mustang that he restored from a basket case, sold it, made a little money and needed a new project, so he got the Mustang that he always wanted, and set forth. But you're right, people get older, slower, they have to prioritize the hobbies that they want to focus on. He rides his Fat Boy, hunts, fishes, travels, takes care of the house and spread, he knows his way around a smoker/treagar/big green egg, brews his own beer, works out in the gym 5 days a week. He needs a new knee but he never complained during our two days out at the swap meet, even though it was obvious that he wasn't feeling all that frisky.
Did I mention he's 70 years old?
Something has to give as you get a little older. I get it and it is sad the the fastback is the weak link in his plans for the future.

[A930Rocket]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

You won't often see something like this outside of a swap meet:

This was no forty footer, either. The quality was very high.

Is that factory? I saw a similar truck today, but it only had two doors with the back seat. I was thinking how cool it would be to have four doors and very short bed…4-5’.

Our son is 27 and likes a lot of the older cars, ie Shelby Cobra. When I listed all the cars I had, he said I had all the cool cars back then.

Edit: I’ve been working on my E46 track car for a year. New suspension, bushes and tracked it. Now I’ve stripped the interior to make it lighter and installed a 3.46 rear end. Looking forward to the difference on the track. Besides a cage, I think I’m done.

At 63, I’m finding it harder to get up/down/under the car, unlike 10-20 years ago.

[JackDidley]

At 69 I am still doing project cars. It is hard on my body but I will do it until I can not. I think that when the Hellcats, Zl1s and GT 350/500s get old there will be a new generation of car project guys. If gasoline is available......

[Crowbob]

Very strange.

The same thing happened to horse-drawn carriages. People just lost interest for some reason.