I have been an avid fan of cars since I can remember. I was that kid that had car posters littering the wall when all other kids had superheros, women, or their favorite bands. I was the kid that had his own subscription to AutoWeek magazine. I was such a fan that every now and again my father would bring me the latest issue of the Dupont Registry, which is a catalog of very exclusive cars that are for sale. Yep, I was somewhat sick.
I write this as I watch the Barrett-Jackson car auction on SPEED. It's amazing to see the type of cars available. Many of them are works of art. Beautiful cars that are carefully crafted with much care and precision. Cars built in the 30s-60s seem to have a personality you don't see today. They are the elite cars of the world.
More interesting is the type of people who are buying them. Some people see these buyers as selfish rich people who just want more stuff. I see most of them as people who not only love cars, but are there buying their dream cars. Some maybe buying because they are interested in them, others are buying them because they were the cars that bring back memories of their childhood, or were in awe of them during their childhood. It may even be to get that car back that they wish they had never gotten rid of.
I often find it interesting to hear some of my older friends talk about the cars they had when they were in high school, or even after that. They speak of 60s Camaros, Bonnevilles, Malibus, Impalas, etc. It seems to light up their eyes when they talk about it. I a little smile comes across their face. Sometimes it's a car they had and wished they had never sold it because it brought $60,000 on the Barrett-Jackson auction. The talk about their cars and engines and transmissions in their cars. There are often several stories and memories tied to them. I think about the cars I've owned and none of them really speak volumes about my personality including the mini-van my wife had me purchase last year. I often drive that vehicle with my mind saying "Hurry up and get back home so we can drive the truck to get that off..........ITS THE ONLY WWAAAAAAYYYYY".!
I have to admit, I really dread the day my sons ask me what my first car was. Not that I didn't appreciate the fact I had one. It is more of the fact that it is really hard to make cool a 1990 Nissan Stanza. I mean how do you really say "That baby had a 4 cylinder engine with a five speed manual tranny giving me an entire 115 horsepower" in a real cool, manly way? I'm sorry, you can't. I don't really think that talking about tinted windows and headlight covers would really help either. Of course I can make it look better by talking about one friends Geo Metro 3 Cylinder. Or my other friend's Geo Storm that was so small the subwoofers he had in the back seat weighed so much that the front wheels would start lifting off the ground at 90 mph. But then I think my sons would probably roll their eyes and think we were all losers. ( I only say that because my oldest two watch Top Gear with me about every night.)
What in the world is the fascination with cars? Back in the day, it was a privilege to ride or drive a car. Generation Xers were excited to get in a car and take a trip. Memories were made in those cars. Cars had personalities. Cars were a luxury that was not taken lightly. In the 60s cars identified the individual as muscle cars became popular. Cars brought families together for vacations and memories. They brought friends together to compare who had what or what they did to their cars. You don't see much of that today. It's kind of sad. Today, its more comparing as a status symbol. I often wonder if my children are really going talk about the trips they took in mom's ole Honda Odyssey. Probably not, but I could be wrong.
I have yet to own the vehicle that I believe would show my personality. To tell you the truth, I don't know that I could ever afford it. Moreover, I don't know that I could fit in it. Hmm.
What is it? 1966 or 1967 Shelby Cobra Roadster with the 427. For some reason, I see it in blue and white.
Could you be more practical. Nnnnnnnope. Other than that it would be something I could take to a road track to fly through as fast as I can. It would be considerably less expensive than the above, but practicality would not be in the subject. Whether a Porcshe 911, or Corvette, or one that I have a love for now and that is the Cadillac CTS-V. The Wagon version of the CTS-V is slightly more practical, but it would be for that. It would be for the incredible power and handling rather than to haul kids around.
Yes, my wife thinks I'm crazy, too.
Final Thought: If you ever really want to know how the economy is doing, you should watch Barrett-Jackson. When the economy is down, sales and prices are down. When the economy is up, sales and prices are up. Right now, I think it is decent, but still not good. There have been some very high sales prices for the premiere cars, but for the typical muscle cars and other typically high demand cars it is still down. At least, that's my opinion.
