Car shows and new cars . .

[anlauto]

I don't get impressed that easy at those types of shows anymore...pretty much seen it all I would say.

What I do like, is seeing any person, or generation of people having an appreciation for their automobile...Around here we're starting to see many different types of people as well taking an interest in their cars which is great too.

Hundreds of billions of cars out there are just modes of transportation for people who could care less about what it looks like or how clean it is...so these types of shows are refreshing to see there are still "car people" out there

[djw383]

It is also a cost issue. I know members of the young generation that have tricked out hellcats and would love a Cuda. They say they are priced out of owning a classic, and enter the hobby by leasing a hellcat and accessorizing it. They daily drive it because they cannot afford a second car and when they lease is over they take all the gizmos off the car. I believe hot rodding has always been driven by cost and figuring on how to got fast for less. Maybe why many of us bought muscle cars in the late 70's and early 80's when they were not as desired, much like kids tuning Honda's because that's what they can afford. 10 years ago I would go cruising with people in there early 20's who had 70ish mustangs and chebby's that were barley road worthy. We always brought tools so we could "roadkill" them back to life when they would break down on a cruise, that was half the fun and that was all they could afford. I was happy to help them as they were trying to enter into the hobby like us old farts did at one time. However, fast forward to now and many of them have better jobs and are now restoring, and more often restomoding classic cars. There is hope.

[YYZ]

So I went to a local cruise in today and sat next to some Nilsson . . Not that I knew what it was.  But I tell you it was like my car was invisible . .  The attention it got was unbelievable . . Is this where the hobby is headed, clearly it is . .

Nissan GT-R aka 'Godzilla'

For the import crowd, this is roughly equivalent to a Hellcat.  Even in the Toronto area I see far more Hellcats (and Lambos, and Ferraris) than GT-Rs.  The GT-R's predecessors, the R32 R33 and R34 Nissan Skylines are legendary and are very sought after.   Even as RHD models.

[76orangewagon]

Thankfully some show like Goodguys, have age restrictions on entering their show. I can appreciate a newer Hellcat, Shelby Mustang or ZL1 Camaro but for god sakes they are not Show cars. Although that's still better than the lazy idiots who drive their rusty piece of S**t 20 year old Ram or minivan into a show field because they don't want to walk.

[JH27N0B]

I was at the Chicagoland Mopar Connection Belvedere show Saturday and Sunday, and it was organized such that the late models weren't something that would bother you if you didn't want to see them. 
They were all in one area, and the vintage and customs used the rest of the fairgrounds.
Everyone was happy and could focus on what they wanted to see.  When I get my pictures organized and share them you will think only one late model was there, a red TRX.  Actually there might have been between 100-200 cars, I never went over and looked at them!
Sort of like Corvettes at cruises, auctions and mixed make shows I go to.  You look at my pictures and think there was only one or two Corvettes at a huge event! 

[Marty]

For ME !!   A car show is for classic cars...period.   

If you want to look an a new Challenger SRT or Hellcat...go to your local Dodge Dealer...they have them EVERY day.   If you want to look at a new Mustang go to your Ford Dealers...   Whats the point in bringing them to a car show ?

Revenue.

Your comment though...

[JH27N0B]

For ME !!   A car show is for classic cars...period.   

If you want to look an a new Challenger SRT or Hellcat...go to your local Dodge Dealer...they have them EVERY day.   If you want to look at a new Mustang go to your Ford Dealers...   Whats the point in bringing them to a car show ?

Revenue.

Your comment though...

Good luck, now the dealer lots are pretty empty, if you want to see new cars you need to go to a car show!
One thing I have come to consider, is that what me and my like minded friends like to see, doesn't mean everyone is interested in the same cars.
I remember years ago when I bought my new 2009 Challenger R/T, I'd take it to cruises, and notice that more people were checking it out, then when I would take my Challenger convertible to the cruise.
One time I took it to a very large cruise in the area, and it was a real hot day so we camped out across the street from where our cars were parked in the shade of a business.  I sat there in my chair watching a stream of people coming up and checking the '09 out and all of them were really interested in looking in the interior.  I put a gunslinger pistol drip shifter in my car and I guess that is what they found so interesting.
As I mentioned in a previous post, I don't mind new stuff at events, I just prefer the event is organized well enough that they are grouped together, so that people who aren't interested in them don't have to look walk through a bunch of new cars to see the vintage ones mixed in to the rows of cars.

[torredcuda]

It is also a cost issue. I know members of the young generation that have tricked out hellcats and would love a Cuda. They say they are priced out of owning a classic, and enter the hobby by leasing a hellcat and accessorizing it. They daily drive it because they cannot afford a second car and when they lease is over they take all the gizmos off the car. I believe hot rodding has always been driven by cost and figuring on how to got fast for less. Maybe why many of us bought muscle cars in the late 70's and early 80's when they were not as desired, much like kids tuning Honda's because that's what they can afford. 10 years ago I would go cruising with people in there early 20's who had 70ish mustangs and chebby's that were barley road worthy. We always brought tools so we could "roadkill" them back to life when they would break down on a cruise, that was half the fun and that was all they could afford. I was happy to help them as they were trying to enter into the hobby like us old farts did at one time. However, fast forward to now and many of them have better jobs and are now restoring, and more often restomoding classic cars. There is hope.

I don`t buy that excuse - $4-700+ a month in car payments for a new musclecar when they could be driving a cheap car and free up all that money for putting towards a classic. I think it`s just easier to just buy a modern toy that drives nice, a/c etc. than to bother with the restoration/maintenence/ride quality etc. of an old. one - even a lot of the old guys are spoiled by the new cars and have either sold their classics or rarely take them out of the garage or off the trailer -  I hear a lot of guys say they would rather drive thier new musclecar than thier old one.

[Racer57]

What grinds my gears (local old hot rodder says that all the time and I love it ! ) is all the new Vettes that show up trying to impress each other with all the fancy painted crap they have in the engine compartment. Then have a pro style board sitting by the car that says nothing about car specs, just where the bought the stuff.

[Mopsquad]

The younger gens and women just don't recognize the e-bodies as much as other older classics.  I park my '70 Barracuda Lime Light convertible beside my '65 red Mustang fastback at shows.  The e-body gets some occasional looks from the classic car aficionados but the Mustang gets all the looks, from young, old and females.  They all know what it is and flock to it.

[Poolshark314]

So I went to a local cruise in today and sat next to some Nilsson . . Not that I knew what it was.  But I tell you it was like my car was invisible . .  The attention it got was unbelievable . . Is this where the hobby is headed, clearly it is . .

Nissan GT-R aka 'Godzilla'

For the import crowd, this is roughly equivalent to a Hellcat.  Even in the Toronto area I see far more Hellcats (and Lambos, and Ferraris) than GT-Rs.  The GT-R's predecessors, the R32 R33 and R34 Nissan Skylines are legendary and are very sought after.   Even as RHD models.

The majority of R34s won't be available until 2024 for importation to the US but the few that are here are in the 200-300k range

[HP2]

Of course show organizers can isolate and cater exclusively to only specific model years that are classic and watch their attendance, revenue, and relevance all whither. Goodguys recognized this trend a few years back and expanded their eligible years from their original 1972 cut-off to 1987 for almost all of their events. I don't doubt a revision to this may even occur again in the future as the demographics of the hobby change.

[72 Challenger]

I love new cars. I love old cars. I love car people.

You like what you like. What I like to see way more out there is acceptance. Car people accepting the difference between cars and the people who drive them. I don't want to own a lot of cars out there. I think A ford Model A is a really cool car but I never want to own one. I think a Ferrari is a cool car but I never want to own one. I appreciate anyone who has a car and is passionate about it. I don't care what it is or how much it's worth, how much power it has. The owner of a car who is thoughtful enough to bring it to a car show, be polite to others and allow complete strangers to enjoy taking a look at the car is a fantastic thing. Come one come all, new, used, custom, van, truck, go kart, motorcycle, electric, there is room for everyone.  If we limit everything there will be no future of the car hobby.

[bentpshrods]

   I completely agree with 72 Challenger. I take mine to car shows most every weekend. You pretty much see the same cars so when something different comes in=it's a nice change. It might be a new mustang with some weird body kit on it, or some ricer with a highly modded 4 banger. Not my cup of tea but if you talk to the owners they have the same passion for what they have as I have for my old car.  New cars at shows don't really bother me---I just ignore what I don't like

[Poolshark314]

I love new cars. I love old cars. I love car people.

You like what you like. What I like to see way more out there is acceptance. Car people accepting the difference between cars and the people who drive them. I don't want to own a lot of cars out there. I think A ford Model A is a really cool car but I never want to own one. I think a Ferrari is a cool car but I never want to own one. I appreciate anyone who has a car and is passionate about it. I don't care what it is or how much it's worth, how much power it has. The owner of a car who is thoughtful enough to bring it to a car show, be polite to others and allow complete strangers to enjoy taking a look at the car is a fantastic thing. Come one come all, new, used, custom, van, truck, go kart, motorcycle, electric, there is room for everyone.  If we limit everything there will be no future of the car hobby.

Couldn't have said it better. There is no reason to hate on anything not from the 60's/70's era. Most of the folks on this site prefer those cars because that's what they grew up on. 90's/00's cars are what THESE kids grew up on. I love em all