This thead's title, "Is hotrodding on the way out?" Really?? It evolves, and even thing runs a cycle(s). Been in thge hobby since the 80s and I am 77. Yea I got a late start. 
Back in the 60s in rural small town S W Ga. where I was raised, not every HS kid wanted a "fast" car, if they did, most could not afford such, and few kids in HS drove any kind of a new model. Mostly old pickups, hand me down beaters. Couple of kids had a new one, but they had an after school /weekend job. Not every kid was a gearhead. MOst were not even close.
Is the hobby dying??? drove I dont really think so.
So fast forward to today, NOT every person, has a huge interest in classic cars. Just like back then. Just like back in the 70os, when the so called "muscle car" was the craze, not every kid wanted one really. He just wanted a "cool" ride! He usally got a 4 door not cool beater if lucky! And many of the kids from back then, that had a fast car in his early 20s or so, have no real desire to own own today... Usually the guy that wants one now is in his late 40s, 50 and older, that can now afford one, had some "desire" maybe earlier in life, but $ and family was in in the way. Point is NOT every person out there lusts for any kind of classic , not everyone is a gearhead, today nor 50 decades ago!
I say the hobby, has grown remendously since the "musclecar" era started in the 80s. Prices have risen and fell several times. People come and go in the hobby..Some stay till they die.
The models of interest models shift by generation, the supply of "real musclecar" builders keep decreasing. And not everyone is a gearhead!!!! The guy with no desire to build a project, but wants a classic, oif he can afford such, he writes a check!!!!
The hobby actually "started" back in the late 40s after WW11. Soldiers returned home, and a few wanted a ride that was fast, fun, and the Ford model A was cheap, light, could be built out of scrap and junk, if a guy had the desire,,,and so it (the hobby) began. Did every guy want such? No. Most wanted a car to drive that was COOL! Write a CHECK!!!!!! for a not so cool and NOT a classic!!
Back in the 60s in rural small town S W Ga. where I was raised, not every HS kid wanted a "fast" car, if they did, most could not afford such, and few kids in HS drove any kind of a new model. Mostly old pickups, hand me down beaters. Couple of kids had a new one, but they had an after school /weekend job. Not every kid was a gearhead. MOst were not even close.
Is the hobby dying??? drove I dont really think so.
So fast forward to today, NOT every person, has a huge interest in classic cars. Just like back then. Just like back in the 70os, when the so called "muscle car" was the craze, not every kid wanted one really. He just wanted a "cool" ride! He usally got a 4 door not cool beater if lucky! And many of the kids from back then, that had a fast car in his early 20s or so, have no real desire to own own today... Usually the guy that wants one now is in his late 40s, 50 and older, that can now afford one, had some "desire" maybe earlier in life, but $ and family was in in the way. Point is NOT every person out there lusts for any kind of classic , not everyone is a gearhead, today nor 50 decades ago!
I say the hobby, has grown remendously since the "musclecar" era started in the 80s. Prices have risen and fell several times. People come and go in the hobby..Some stay till they die.
The models of interest models shift by generation, the supply of "real musclecar" builders keep decreasing. And not everyone is a gearhead!!!! The guy with no desire to build a project, but wants a classic, oif he can afford such, he writes a check!!!!
The hobby actually "started" back in the late 40s after WW11. Soldiers returned home, and a few wanted a ride that was fast, fun, and the Ford model A was cheap, light, could be built out of scrap and junk, if a guy had the desire,,,and so it (the hobby) began. Did every guy want such? No. Most wanted a car to drive that was COOL! Write a CHECK!!!!!! for a not so cool and NOT a classic!!
