Not enough younger people in this hobby...

I have an idea that you have to be a gear head, before you can become a "brand Loyalist", which is what this thread is about; "MoPar guys". Yes, I know there are exceptions to that rule, and it isn't necessary for anyone to jump into this thread with their stories of being a MoPar guy ever since he got a pull toy at 2 years only of a roadrunner... :roll: .

The fact still remains that you first need to have an interest in cars, and mechanics, in general, first. You need to have the place, the time, they money, and the desire.

MY future son-in law has little, if any, interest in cars, as a hobby. His father, on the other hand, is a former roundy-round racer, and presently owns about a dozen (no exaggeration) finished hot rods and resto-rods at his shop.

The government restricted, high insurance cost, expensive gas, strict law Enforcement, and over zealous cops of, plus the sheer cost of ANYTHING car related, and the tight jobs market put's the car hobby in a position of tough times.

Another factor is the sheer lack of inexpensive muscle around. $8000.00 for a "driver" isn't a "bargain", adn the more Barrett-Jacksons and Mecoms there are, the fewer, and the more expensive everyone's junk, becomes.

Back in 1977, I purchased a 392 Hemi, it was fully machined, and set up ofr a 6/71 supercharger. The engine was complete. except for the supercharger, carbs, and exhaust headers. I paid $150.00 for it. Today, you can't even buy the rocker covers of that engine for $150.00

Everything, including the cost of living is more expensive, today, and young people have FAR less disposable income today, than we had as kids.

The car hobby, and the "MoPar" hobby, require people will interest, people with some skill, and people with some money. All of those things are in fairly short supply, lately, and with kids having a greater interest in 4cyl/FWD, "tuners", than 8 cylinder torque monsters, the classic MoPar hobby is, sooner or later, going to become similar to those collectors and enthusiasts who specialize in Hudson's, Studes, Grahams, Essex, and Stuts.

Muscle Car guys are a smaller and smaller field, every year. MoPar guys are even a smaller group. It's just the natural cycle of things. Kids today, (with some exceptions) like what they know, and can afford, and a 2000 Civic, is much more affordable than a 67 Barracuda, and the kids know more about the Civic than they will ever know about the Barracuda, or want to know.

When I was a kid I was much more interested in the 1968 Roadrunner, than in my fathers 1951 Straight 8 Buick. TOday I'd die for either, but, that wasn't the case back then.