Got my new Mopar Classic catalog - kinda sad

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Syleng1

Syleng1

Karma is real and Life is short...
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So the other day I went to my PO Box and retrieved my mail and found the updates Classic Industries Catalog with a nice orange Duster on the cover. This am while drinking my coffee I opened it up all excited to see what new and special parts have entered the market place for restorations and …….
CRAP! NOTHING. The “New Product Showcase” was racing seats and rims. Stuff I’ve already seen elsewhere. I look forward to all the new stuff that becomes available during the new year and how many smaller companies are growing and adding parts available and this was a let down.

As a guy who has owned a welding business for now over 25 years- I realize that it takes a lot to bring a product to market- especially in THIS economy. But to see nothing- hurts my heart. The economy is getting the best of companies and the spirit that drives it.

I realize a lot of companies- mine included are just trying to survive…. Along with a lot of families sadly. I want to see this country flourishing and not slowing down. Car catalogs are like the Sears and Roebucks catalog was like when I was a kid at Christmas. Except now, I can actually buy what I see. Lol! For how much longer - I don’t know.

okay- off soap box
 
The economy? **** for the last year and a half or so people have been spending money on toys, houses etc..etc like mad. Now the supply chain is a different story.
 
Yeah, the covers the hook and when you open it up, nothing but minnows. Their website isn't much better. I was looking for a replacement 3 spd washer bottle...nothing.
 
Gotta face it the folks that are reproducing parts for this old stuff are getting much older.
So are the folks buying. I used to build a car every year. Spend $$$ with these companies.Not now.
Some are done with the hobby.No new blood interested.It will slowly fade.....
 
Darter6 said:
Some are done with the hobby.No new blood interested.It will slowly fade.....
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Yup. These old heaps are way too expensive for the normal kids now. Plus why as a kid would you build one anymore with all the modern muscle out there these days that do everything better then our old junk? Hell a lot of the modern muscle is cheaper then the classic stuff.
 
abodyjoe said:
Yup. These old heaps are way too expensive for the normal kids now. Plus why as a kid would you build one anymore with all the modern muscle out there these days that do everything better then our old junk? Hell a lot of the modern muscle is cheaper then the classic stuff.
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So true, you can pick up a 10 year old Challenger, Mustang, Camaro etc reasonable for less than 20 grand, and it is a way better running and handling car, fixing the old stuff up, will run you more than that and you might be driving it in a few years if you started with a project.
 
sireland67 said:
you can pick up a 10 year old Challenger, Mustang, Camaro etc reasonable for less than 20 grand, and it is a way better running and handling car,
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And they can go 200,000 miles without a major rebuild (with regular maintenance of course).
Back when we were young,let's say the 70's, a 32 Ford was only in it's early 30's.I thought they were really old cars. Now the cars we play with are pushing 60 years old.
 
abodyjoe said:
Yup. These old heaps are way too expensive for the normal kids now. Plus why as a kid would you build one anymore with all the modern muscle out there these days that do everything better then our old junk? Hell a lot of the modern muscle is cheaper then the classic stuff.
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Yeah, I know what you mean. my 2008 BULLITT can kick most of the old muscle cars a$$es, but there is nothing like an old car. They all looked different... most new cars look the same.

Now that I think of it, the BULLITT is somewhat slow compared to the new muscle and most people think it's just a regular green Mustang. :( Oh well, I still love driving it, because I know what it is. :usflag:
 
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abodyjoe said:
The economy? **** for the last year and a half or so people have been spending money on toys, houses etc..etc like mad. Now the supply chain is a different story.
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This.
 
abodyjoe said:
The economy? **** for the last year and a half or so people have been spending money on toys, houses etc..etc like mad. Now the supply chain is a different story.
Click to expand...
Yeah true, I know guys who were never car guys, buying old cars and paying people to fix them...these guys arent rich either working class...a guy I know bought a 68 chevy convertible, it needs all the replacement typical rusted body panels for a vert. this is a car that I would have walked away from...
 
Dartswinger70 said:
Yeah true, I know guys who were never car guys, buying old cars and paying people to fix them...these guys arent rich either working class...a guy I know bought a 68 chevy convertible, it needs all the replacement typical rusted body panels for a vert.
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It's crazy. RV lots were empty, boats sold out, motorcycle dealers empty, car dealers empty, couldn't find a kayak or bicycle, home improvement items sold out and the list goes on. People spent big time money.
 
I told my then 15 year-old (21 now) when he got interested in cars from the 60s and 70s, that at some point in his life these cars were going to be like a Model A's. Hardly any parts available. Unless you make it. They will become Museum pieces. Sorta encouraged him to go a different route. Messing with 40/50 year old Mopars was my path. It didn't need to be his. I'd help him with whatever he wanted to work on. He wouldn't have any of it. Loves his Scamp. We've had a lot of fun working on this stuff together. Who knows? We'll see where it goes.
 
@Syleng1 ..as a welder, maybe you can take the reigns and make something happen? How about some welded up 340 passenger side motor mounts? How about some Streetmasters style LA /B conversion motor mounts (I drew up some technical drawings of mine before I sold them). Some turbo 6 "Peesh-pipes" (my take on a slant 6 turbo mount off the 6 manifold) Some fabricated slant 6 dual exhaust manifolds...Heck, even a 6 sheetmetal intake that can take a TB? Not quite restoration grade stuff but there is a market for this stuff. I came close to making a sheetmetal Clifford style slant intake but my flux welds were just too bad and the material was pretty thin for my rig.
 
pishta said:
@Syleng1 ..as a welder, maybe you can take the reigns and make something happen? How about some welded up 340 passenger side motor mounts? How about some Streetmasters style LA /B conversion motor mounts (I drew up some technical drawings of mine before I sold them). Some turbo 6 "Peesh-pipes" (my take on a slant 6 turbo mount off the 6 manifold) Some fabricated slant 6 dual exhaust manifolds...Heck, even a 6 sheetmetal intake that can take a TB? Not quite restoration grade stuff but there is a market for this stuff. I came close to making a sheetmetal Clifford style slant intake but my flux welds were just too bad and the material was pretty thin for my rig.
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Trust me - I’ve thought about it many times. I can come up with only one reason to do it and about 75 not too. This winter I was planning on purchasing a $50k water jet cutting table. Now when I Goto pull the plug- they are 9-12 months behind in production. This is their starting point. The bigger stuff is even more of a delay. So going bigger is even more of a challenge.
Even new plasma cutters in the 1.5” to 3” are 12 months behind. Plenty still of the 3/4” or smaller. Heck even bottle glasses are behind. I went to refill a few propane bottles for heaters and Airgas was out of propane.
 
Buying one of those little kerosene portable home heaters for when the power goes off and its 5 above AGAIN this winter, plus some good oak firewood!! Yes ther is a source here for bulk kerosene!!! lol
 
Syleng1 said:
Trust me - I’ve thought about it many times. I can come up with only one reason to do it and about 75 not too. This winter I was planning on purchasing a $50k water jet cutting table. Now when I Goto pull the plug- they are 9-12 months behind in production. This is their starting point. The bigger stuff is even more of a delay. So going bigger is even more of a challenge.
Even new plasma cutters in the 1.5” to 3” are 12 months behind. Plenty still of the 3/4” or smaller. Heck even bottle glasses are behind. I went to refill a few propane bottles for heaters and Airgas was out of propane.
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Have you considered buying that water jet used? I would think there is plenty available off lease or from COVID affected shops. Buying used is practical, I've bought one new car in my life. a CNC Water jet would be very nice to work with for brackets and precision sheet metal intake parts.
 
One thing I noticed is the prices in the catalog don't reflect what's on their website. The prices in the catalog are much cheaper.
 
pishta said:
Have you considered buying that water jet used? I would think there is plenty available off lease or from COVID affected shops. Buying used is practical, I've bought one new car in my life. a CNC Water jet would be very nice to work with for brackets and precision sheet metal intake parts.
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I think a used water jet, would be pretty used up, we replace ours at work every few years, when the cost to repair, exceeds the new cost, but it runs two shifts a day, 6 days a week. But it is a very cost effective tool to cut rough stock.
 
well, like you guys said, modern muscle is cheaper than old. but nothing drops panties (best i can remember) like that look and rumble of the old muscle. id rather drive my old swinger than the new stuff (talking about daily and not a hellcat for a weekend!) any way, that cover pic on the catalog, wonder if they got permission to use it from the owner?? talk about free parts for life if they did not. :)
 
abodyjoe said:
Yup. These old heaps are way too expensive for the normal kids now. Plus why as a kid would you build one anymore with all the modern muscle out there these days that do everything better then our old junk? Hell a lot of the modern muscle is cheaper then the classic stuff.
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That all may be true. But I can't work on the new cars. I can't get my artheritic old hands in the tight spaces you have in the new cars. And if you modify anything you have to know how to reprogram the computer to make it work. I still enjoy the old cars. Tinkering to see how smooth you can make it run. My son has a new charger. It has constant electrical problems. So he bought an early '70's Satellite, so he can do what he wants with it. Some days it's the only car he has that will run.
 
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