Mopars brought back from the dead?

Shows like graveyard cars, Gas monkey garage , barrett jackson among others weather you like them or not are also helping to drive that trend to fix em up, as well as the repop parts that are coming along fueling the trend. Of course that makes everybody sitting on a rusty slanty dart in their backyard think its worth buyit jackman auction $$$$$

So even though these may have some drawbacks to them, it helps the hobby appeal to people that are not in the hobby as traditional hobbiests. This helps in regards to saving old cars rather than relegating them to scrap.

Also the higher visibility of these old cars is the reason why there are companies like AMD and others making as many pieces of these cars as they are doing. The reality is that back in the 80s the yearone mopar catalog for example was only 1/8" thick. I remember getting excited when 68-69 charger interior door panels came out so i could buy a set for my 69 R/T. Now you can damn near build a complete 69 charger out of a catalog. Only a matter of time before they offer a complete shell.

Back in them days, No internet, so everything was thru catalogs and call em on the phone to order, or mail in an order sheet with a check in the envelope. Or hit the swap meets, and hope you could find the parts you need used and in better shape than what you had, or restore what you had.

I remember seeing a truk lagoon rusty 69 R/T in a local N.J. wrecking yard sans engine and trans around 1990. I mean this thing looked like it was dipped in the ocean for a few years. Seats falling thru the floors, i opened the trunk and the springs were thru the floor. I was staring at framerails, a gas tank, and the gravel under the car. No trunk floor left. Bought the bumper off the back for my 69 R/T. Shook my head and said this thing is too far gone to save. And back then it was too far gone to save. Same car in same condition today is repairable because of AMD and others.

I keep watching youtube, and i see more and more of all makes being pulled out of the weeds, woods, and junkyards and headed for rehabbing. I keep pushing the narrative that we are the best recyclers simply because we are keeping our automotive heritage alive with every restoration, plus the fact that the energy spent and pollution expelled to manufacture these cars and their parts when new is already done, to melt them down is a waste and creates even more pollution to turn them into new cars.

Had non enthusiast people tell me that they are old and pollute. My reply is always the same. Old restored cars are kept in top states of tune, and are not used daily most times because they are too valuable now to use daily so their impact on the environment is minimal, additionally i tell them, that there are fuel injection kits, and even sometimes people refit modern engines and transmissions in them to get better performance and mileage along with reduced emissions, so the emissions issue from them is really a non issue.

Education is key. Teaching folks how we recycle them. And how its better than crushing and melting them down. About how peoole do restifications with modern drivetrains which is still recycling because these drivetrains are typically out of wrecked junkyard vehicles typically trucks and vans now. Also Disc brake setups and axles used off non typical newer vehicles. This is all still recycling.

Saving our hobby by saving em from the dead is great, however raising awareness with the general public can also help change public perception.