The Mecum Effect...Part of the Problem...or Part of the Solution???

Hey Guys, figured it post a though provoking post. As some of you may...I spend a majority of my free time searching craigslist, ebay, newspapers, swap meets, newspaper ads, etc for scores on projects and cars parts. As of late, I've been noticing something i coined the "Mecum Effect". We've all see the ad littered with such phrases as...NUMBERS MATCHING...ALL ORIGINAL...FRAME OFF RESTORATION....TRUE SURVIROR. The phrases in and of themselves arent the issue...its the fact that these terms are used on cars that really arent collectables.

Now I'm not trying to start a fight as to which models are collectables and which arent (as that would have to be disected by brand, years, blah blah blah)...but generally speaking, I find that these terms apply *in most cases* to cars such as 57 Bel Air's, GTO's, GTX's, Chevelle SS's, HEMI anything, or R/t anything. In cases such as theses, these are important tid bits as if your searching for these types of cars as you are more and likely looking for original unmolested car (project or completed). When you see an ad for a 1966 Lemans that dosnt run...has half of the front clip disassembled...and has a Chevy 350 in it being advertised as...NUMBERS MATCHING and a TRUE SURVIVOR you kind of wonder...Is this guy freaking serious?? :dontknow: Gets even more confusing when you expect to see a $1,500 or $2,000 asking price and see a $6,000 price tag instead. Thats no diss to the Lemans as i love that car but...when did a $1,500 car become anything else then...a $1,500 car.

The gripe i make is this...since the popularity of these types of shows have grown...I feel that its brought out every would be car enthusiast/collecter with an OLD CAR [regardless of make or model] and given him/her the idea that its a *MECUM CAR*. I cant count how many times i've heard..."Well one sold on [insert your fav auction show here] a few weeks ago for [insert nausiating price here]."...to which I always reply...Maybe you should try selling it on Mecum then :violent1:

Do you guys think that shows like Mecum, Barret Jackson, and Pinks have hurt our hobby...or helped it? I remembers when pinks was all about the weekend racer who built a car with a couple grand, plenty of beer, and a few friends. Now you got a show full of 10 second cars with 50 grand in the motor :wack:

What do you guys think...