I don't have my cars judged, but I'm wondering...all this controversy over restamps, repaint, brake fluid, tires, stainless this and that etc. begs an underlying question...what diffence will all this make 10 years from now? Where are judging standards going over time? Are they getting more lax or more strict as our icons fall farther into American history? Can we look at the Ford (oops, I said the "F" word) Model A or 32 coupe restorers clubs and draw any parallels? Seems these guys have been preserving and judging their cars ages before the Corvette was even a glimmer in someones eye. Whats going on in those camps? How were they judged in say 1965 compared to 1985?, and today? What trends, guidelines, acceptances, exceptions will our cars be judged by in 2007 or 2015? Will we be taking a 10 point hit on the field because we don't have late 1966 air in our early build 1967 roadster tires. What can the guy down the street restoring his 1985 corvette (buying his parts now for a song and a dance, by the way) expect from judges in 2015? It's clearer why market values will always be effected by these issues...we are in a free market economy and the fair market value of any given Corvette at any given time...past, present or future will always be determined by the market, and ONLY by the market (short of America moving to a dictatorship). Just wondering about judging...
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Re: Judging...what direction are we headed?
Hi Dave:
This is excellent food for thought and an often discussed topic when we sit around events and have run out of food, drink and all the ladies have gone wherever ladies go after 4 PM.
One thing is for sure the restoration enthusiasts will have a bit easier road to travel. More people are aware of the significance of documentation, (both monetarily and historically ), more people save everything today than in years past. Parts will be more plentiful, more Corvettes are made every year than ever before , with a few notable exceptions.
I believe Hard Parts will be easier to come by due to the lack of powertrain options but the pill in the poison may be all of the electronics, will all those C4 components be available.
I believe the judging will be of a quality that we could only target today because of the economics, more people with expendable cash means more cars that are simply put away undriven , how many no mile 78 Pace cars are there around, won't be very hard to figure out what they looked like when they rolled off the line.
I also think engine numbers will DECREASE in importance. The engines are manufactured to stricter tolerances and CNC machining equals more motors that don't buy the farm, after all, when was the last time you heard of a new C5 needing a replacement block ?
Sorry for rambling but we really have discussed this a bunch.
jerComment
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Re: Judging...what direction are we headed?
Dave, Well certainly the judging isn't getting any easier. As the judges see more and more cars they find NEW things that become standards. These new things are added to the judging guides and the knowledge expands. I've had my car judged 4 times with new stuff added each time. I'm sure that all the info levels out eventually. I would say to you, " who cares what happens in the future, now is the only real test!"
NCRS-Texas ChapterComment
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In the future cars are not judged, just displayed.
In the new millenium, the 70s idea of "I'm OK, you're OK." is expanded to include not just people but cars. Therefore, all our cars will be perfectly OK just they way they are, (no matter what way that is). Original Motor cars will revered as such while NOM cars are respected for being used the "way they were intended". We will all see the good in even bad restorations and consider them "unevolved' rather than deserving of deducts.
If anyone feels the need to be judgemental, we will all be walking around among our OK cars, tasting and critiquing wine and cheese or perhaps wine and tofu since cheese is bad for us.
I also predict Roy Sinor will trade in his JMs for books on California and Longuyland Vineyards and Al Grenning will amass a collection of wine bottle labels (the MWBLC), second to none.
Remember, you heard (read?) it here first.Comment
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In the future cars are not judged, just displayed.
As the "I'm OK You're OK" routine begins to take root the NDB becomes an out moded dinosaur and fades away. Years later "The Dead Cybersea Scrolls" that rumor of a lost and defunct Corvette internet site which answered questions and held discussions will surface. Messages from a place called the "Archives" mysteriously begin appearing at random in e-mail boxes worldwide. Most are cryptic in nature but a near complete discussion on "Heat Transfer" is pieced together. It is later believed that the site had originally been hosted by a guy named "Joe". TBarr #24014Comment
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Re: Judging...what direction are we headed?
As a member of the so-called Generation X, I think that judging as the NCRS defines it will begin to fade-out as the baby-boomers age. Younger generations are much less interested in rules and conformance than baby boomers, as evidenced by their work habits, styles of dress, etc. They are more interested in expressing creativity through what they do, and restoring a car to someone else's standard is not really creative. They are less interested in formal organizations like clubs, whether they are social, community service, or hobby clubs, more interested in "just hanging" with friends. The biggest mark against the NCRS is that the majority of the members are restoring cars that they longed for or owned when they were younger. These kids are driving Hondas and new Mustangs or Camaros, they don't have the sentimental attachment or in many cases even respect for older Corvettes. I was part of a small minority of kids who liked muscle cars when I was in high school, and that minority seems to be shrinking every year. Last time you went to a Model T club meeting, how many folks under 50 were there? Same thing with Ham Radio. Kids today can get on the internet and interact with people all over the world, who needs a radio? The hobbies of the baby-boomers will peak in the next few years as you guys continue your maximum earning years, and enjoy retirment. There will probably always be a few folks interested in the old hobbies, but these groups will shrink within the next 20-30 years. Of course, I could be wrong. There is a small movement in Southern California by young guys who build old-fashioned hot-rods - black primer, slammed, shaved, sectioned, chopped, and always rough. Who knows? Jeff
Jeff's '74 Corvette Restoration ProjectComment
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Corvette and the next generations
Jeff, I agree with you and I think you've touched on a troubling trend. When I was a high school kid in the early-80's, high-performance offerings from the big 3 were sorry at best...and we all knew this even at that time. The new Corvettes, F-bodies, and even Mustangs were poor excuses of what they once were (from a high performance standpoint). At that time (15-19 yrs old) our "training" wheels were beat-up late 60's and early 70's Camaros, Chevelles, Mustangs etc. because thats what we could afford. Nonetheless, they all taught us how to turn a wrench on' and respect for' a good old American thumping V8. These early years undoubtably set the stage for us to own the coveted "old Corvette" later on. Todays 15-19 year olds are driving and hopping up Hondas, Toyotas, Mazdas etc. that have no desire for, or knowledge of an old Corvette. The only hope I see is todays youth (Generation Z?) can go down to their local Chevrolet dealership and press their little noses against the big plate glass front window and covet a truly extraordinary brand new Corvette like my father once did in 1966, and know that one day they will be able to afford that old Corvette.Comment
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Re: Corvette and the next generations
Good point. Today they are hopping up those funky little cars, and personally I don't care how much horsepower you can get out of them with two turbos - BUT, they can go look in the Chev dealer window and see a real car, and maybe they will want one someday. I will never like little high revving mouse motors with turbos, after growing up with monster motors that make power because of their rather large pistons. Just my preference... don't anyone get upset.Comment
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Re: In the future cars are not judged, just displa
...and that they never did find an answer to all their questions on heat transfer.Vice-Chairman (West), Michigan Chapter NCRS
71 "deer modified" coupe
72 5-Star Bowtie / Duntov coupe. https://www.flickr.com/photos/124695...57649252735124
2008 coupe
Available stickers: Engine suffix code, exhaust tips & mufflers, shocks, AIR diverter valve broadcast code.Comment
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Re: Corvette and the next generations
Mid Years are such phenomanal cars I'm quite sure interest in them is only going to grow. I use myself as an example. 37 years old who just sold his 99 C5 for a 396 coupe. I couldn't be happier1969 Riverside Gold Coupe, L71, 14,000 miles. Top Flight, 2 Star Bowtie.Comment
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Re: Corvette and the next generations
Like many of you already said,It seems those who grew up with these cars are ultimately the only ones who care.My daughter lusts for a new VW,daaaaaaaaah.Comment
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That's What I'm Talkin' About!
Congratulations on your 396 coupe! Excellent choice. Selling your new one, to get an older one - hard to make a mistake doing that! I'm doing the same thing too; selling one generation car to pay for the earlier generation car I am buying. And while I love the C5 - great performance, great looks, it just doesn't have the character of a mid-year or a solid axle car.Comment
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Re: That's What I'm Talkin' About!
ME TO: Moved to Arizona to live out the Golden Years with a 96 Collector and missed the older cars so much that I sold it to buy a chrome bumper car and get back to tinkering. Who the hell can work on those micro breweries anyway unless you have all the special tools and can change parts. It's like fixing the old tube tv sets, just swap parts till it works again.Comment
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Re: Judging...what direction are we headed?
Speaking as part of the FOBBIE generation, (Fat Old and Bald), if you look in your rear view mirror and see a black 62 Corvette coming at you, GET YOUR HONDA OR 4X4 TOYOTA OR WHATEVER OUT OF THE WAY! Us major cool dudes from the sixties ain't done yet!
Varooom!Comment
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