An AMX in pieces / times they are a changing

["Widiker, John D" <john.widiker@xxxxxxx>]

Ask the model T guys how it works, Model T prices and cars were HUGE at
one time. When muscle cars were new there was a massive following for
the early Fords and no end in site as to how original they could be or
how much people were willing to spend on them. That time has come and
gone. Not that you can't still spend a bunch on one, but that niche in
the car hobby as a whole is evaporating. You can get deals now where for
a while they were not to be had. The guys who wanted them because of
youthful nostalgia are in nursing homes and there has been a flood to
the market of nice cars at decent prices. We aren't talking about '32
fords with 350/350 drivetrains, we are talking stock model T cars. A non
ram air automatic tranny 1969 GTO selling for $40,000.00 once the ricers
are in charge??? Not so much, or for so long.

Hell, thinking about that last statement I'd like to kick everyone
involved with Barret Jackson squarely in the "junk" repeatedly and HARD
for what's been happening to prices over the last 5 years, this will
normalize again, it's just going to take some time and patience.  

The guy at Hemmings had originally disagreed with me, but after thinking
about the cars that were popular to those that had gone before him he
had a change in perspective. I tend to enjoy making this point just
cause it makes the guys I grew up idolizing as car gods uncomfortable
and it's worth a laugh, but if you think about it there is a grain of
truth that's unavoidable. How may "greybeards" are enthused about
adjusting lifters these days? How many are excited about laying in a
puddle of ATF at 3:00 in the morning before a show, or better yet just
to get to work the next day? How many actually drive them any more other
then on a few show days a year? I am and do, how about you? I used to
see cool cars every single day, now in 2005 I might go weeks between
sightings. The cars are still out there, I live off Woodward, the cars
are still owned by the same guys and are still in the same garages but
not driven any more, except for the "big show". It's a very very clear
sign! Muscle cars are becoming too much of a pain in the butt for people
who aren't as young as the used to be. Also it seems I see way more
people over the last ten years with trailer queens and hanging out in
air conditioned pull vehicles. Sitting there on their leather seats
programming in the route home on the navigation system. Not so much
baking in stop and go in the car they took to the show.

Think about the conversations you hear at shows, count how often you
hear "yeah it gets a little squirrelly in second" as opposed to "yes it
took my guy 2 years to find that date coded hose". Think back to the
shows you were at 10-15 years ago. Times they have changed and it's not
the cars that seem to be getting older.  

While on such a lengthy opinion spewing roll I'd like to bring up this
guy: "Yes it's a dual quad hemi 4 speed superbird, I paid quite
handsomely to have it restored, are you kidding I won't drive it, it
might leak oil past the valve cover gaskets and I'll have to pay again
to have it freshened for the next show" The guy has the freaking holy
grail, something I'd give my right kidney for, and doesn't even know
what it's like to drive, doesn't even have a clue. Makes me sick! Yes I
know I tend to paint with a very broad stereotype brush but hey, that's
me and how I've been seeing things. 

If I just raised anyone's hackles with this post it was done in fun, I
don't really look forward to your adult diaper years as much as I might
profess. If my view of the universe is even half-way accurate that
superbird guy's going to burn in a very special hell, but then again so
might I for being so opinionated about other peoples stuff.

~John

-----Original Message-----
From: neprocap@xxxxxxx [mailto:neprocap@xxxxxxx] 
Sent: Tuesday, December 20, 2005 5:47 PM
To: mail@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: An AMX in pieces


John, I don't agree with your theory that the market will be flooded
with muscle cars. Yes, they will all eventually become available on the
market but there won't be anymore than there are right now. The only
difference will be, as you grow older, you should be able to afford to
own the car you have always wanted. 


On December 20, 2005 Widiker, John D wrote:

> Personally I just keep waiting out the real problem. The baby 
> boomers!!!! Their kids all drive Hondas with fart cannons out back. 
> Once "Dad" doesn't drive anymore the market will be flooded with 
> muscle cars!!! Every birthday you guys celebrate is one day closer to 
> me owning your cars!
> 
> This was in jest lest anyone become offended. I was born about 30 
> years later then I was supposed to be and I'm just jealous. I wrote a 
> mail with this tone to the editor of Hemmings muscle machines and got 
> half of the last page devoted to a response one month. LOL
> 
> ~John
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: mail@xxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:mail@xxxxxxxxxxxx]
> Sent: Tuesday, December 20, 2005 1:56 PM
> To: mail@xxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: An AMX in pieces
> 
> 
> When you part out a running AMC to sell the parts, you deplete the 
> herd. Eventually the number of parts will outnumber tha number of 
> running cars and there will be a glut of parts....Russ
> 
> __________________________________________________
> Do You Yahoo!?
> Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
> http://mail.yahoo.com


=============================================================
Posted by wixList Archiver -- http://www.amxfiles.com/wixlist