Corvette interest in future years

[Jack U.]

Re: Corvette interest in future years

My very first show with my restored '63 "fuelie" coupe was in late January.

A father and son walked by and the father explained to the son that this was a Corvette. The teenage son was comparing it to the new 2007 Z06 on the other side of the show floor. He said "yuck" and "no way".

That was the only bad comment that I heard and the one that I remember and got a chuckle from.

I figured that I "planted the seed".

My opinion of this particulat incident: Some people don't like a car's looks
when they see it for the first time but it may grow on them later once they understand the history. (The "icon".)

The "ricers" on the streets were never designed with any style like the
midyears.

I really believe that this will become obvious to the "kids" of the next generation.

[Mark #28455]

some people still love fins too

To each his own. Many NCRS members first saw the Corvette as the ULTIMATE performance car of its era - hard to argue with that! Until the late 1980's, the 1960's cars dominated that niche. Not any more! I sold my L88 because the new ZO6 will run circles around it, gets 26 MPG highway, has AC and a decent stereo, can be easily insured, can be driven EVERY DAY to work .... You get the picture! I think there will be future Corvette lovers, but they will remember the new ZO6's as the true king of the hill, not the old 283 HP 283's etc.

Don't get me wrong, I still enjoy the old show cars, but how much market is there for a perfectly restored Ford model A? My cousin had one in the 1970's and it was considered really cool. Now, unless it's a "retro rod" it would get little attention at a local show with its four banger.

Mark

[Wayne P.]

Don't you go to shows?

Look at the age of the vast majority of the people at shows, wether it be Corvette, antique , or street rod. Everybody is 50 plus and most are 60 plus. I see the same with motorcycles. Little hope for future gearheads. Enjoy whatever you have. Drive the wheels off of it. There's nobody to save it for!

[Joe M.]

Re: Don't you go to shows?

New fuel sources and engineering will make the internal combustion engine a pariah just like lead based paints. The Feds and states will extract tax money based on the legacy operation of driven cars. Lighting up your old vette will be on par with the money spent to run a twin 350, 30' Bertam out for a day of offshore striper fishing.

The cars will be around, stored like clumsy pieces of art for people that have the room. All the 'natural finish' parts will be maintained only if you hire a live in 'mechanic' like a Jay Leno or leave the car to a museum.

The car mags will feature a former 62 fuelie converted to the latest design of locomotion. Well at least some things will never change. Other reader questions will ponder how to remove all that old tech urethane paint without destroying the fiberglass and their own health. Car ads in the back might read, "Original 57 vette with independant rear suspension, AC and factory leather interior".

Right now the worry is about which mechanic has the ability to work on the simplest C-1 corvette. What the heck is the expectation to get a competent mechanic to work on a 2007 corvette 20 years from now.

Old vettes have a chance in the future if they can be converted to whatever is the au currant means of locomotion. Just hope it not be a form of hovercraft. Route 66 was the first road to fall perhaps roads of the future will be grassy lanes with no bridges. What was that!!!?? A return to the vista seen from the seat of a horse drawn wagon in the mid 19th century? No way!

So 50 years from now the 'essence' of a vette will be its design as seen from 50' away as opposed to the bolt finish on a rear bumper. However, like collectors of old Oliver tractors there will be rare folks that need to fondle and own yesterdays technology and appreciate the timelessness of design and finish.

So that begs the question, "am I a loyal corvette afficinado to the end, its or mine, or just an investor betting on the right time to sell". Might also be tough to sell NOS/ used original parts in a dwindling future market.

[Mike M.]

Just Ask any 19 year old

Just ask any 19 year old what he would rather have a 67 427/435hp car or a new Z06 and 99% of them would say the Z06. In 20 years very few people are going to want a C1,2 or 3. Most of the people who loved these cars will be dead. People buy these cars because they loved them when they were in there teens. The next generation is going to want what was hot when they were young.
I believe the price will drop a lot on our cars. So don't hang on to them to long if you expect to get the big bucks out of them. Thats what I think will happen.

[Roy B.]

Re: some people still love fins too

I realized what is being said here 25 years ago , that's why right after doing a ground up restoration of my 55 Corvette we started driving it around the country and it nows has over 115K miles on it ,I've done I lot of repairs and replacement of parts to keep it on the road and still love driving my 55 . Remember 25 years ago it may have been worth 10K now ten times that but I got to drive it also,