Classic Cars
I love antique cars. Call them classic cars, antique cars, vintage cars, hot rods etc, I think they have a timeless beauty. There is such a dignity and poise in some of these old regal cars that is almost seems to take on a personal character. Well, I would not say that for the muscle cars because to me that is what they are, just muscle cars. I know I will incur the wrath of the muscle car lover but I think they lack the beauty and class that say the old Fords and Chevy's of the '1920s, 30s and 40s.
One to the things I have come to realize is that the owners of these cars are crazy about them! It is almost like a cult! See, these cars have been babied – the owners buy a frame/ skeleton and then look for all the other parts from all over the country (some of which are not available) then they start the work of restoring the car and remodeling. This is usually a time and money consuming project that can take years to complete. No wonder some of these cars are just for show, they are never driven- lest they get scratched or something.
There is usually an antique car show every Friday evening during the summer in the main street of downtown Somerville, New Jersey. Here are some pictures that I took at one of these. The camera was acting up but you can still appreciate the beauty of these cars! You will also note that there is a picture of a beautiful dog that had come car-watching…it is not there by mistake. That dog was as huge as a lamb and she had the whitest fur and was very friendly! She was all groomed with a hair clip too! She just seemed to fit right in with those beautiful cars.
Like I keep saying, when I become rich and famous (ok, scratch the famous part, just give me rich!) I will splurge on at least one or two beautiful red or maybe white antique classic cars. The only thing is that my hot rods will be fun ride cars and not just for show. OK enjoy the pictures.
8 comments:
Ok Jabi, now you got me. You love antique cars! I often wonder what the hey is about these cars. What would I do with a 1920 Ford? Give me a 2008 Infinity FX45, fully loaded - Now we are talking. See someone decided to get rich on this slogan "Old is gold". These old mzee cars make money only to very few. It's a cult!
There you go,Ja"B"...i think i'll free load on Kim's view,though they are cute and all, i'll take something modern that i can drive daily.They are cute though...r u really the photographer?
Hey Jabi, Looks like you've got expensive taste. Mr Kim doesn't know what fine cars are all about. Think about this: Only rich people drive old cars. It take a fortune to restore this automobiles to their original glory-even better. Parts are costly too. I had first-hand experience trying to restore my '90 Chevy Camaro RS. I had to finally give up the chase. "Old is Gold" The older the better and the pricier.
Kim and Dontis -appreciation of antique cars is for a selected few!hahaha! It is like fine art...(though I still do not understand why some blobs and lines on a canvas by Picasso costs millions!)
For you to fully appreciate your '08 Infinity EX45 etc., look at their ancestors!
By the way Dontis,it was yours truly who took the pictures - and I take your doubting as a compliment...LOL!
Joash(stm) has summed it well- it is an expensive hobby! these are not your everyday drive cars. By the way Joash if you had held on to your Camaro it would be heading to becoming an antique at 25years. My '86 Dodge Lancer would almost be there if I still had it.
I have to agree that, acquiring and restoring antiques is an acquired taste and not everyone has the time and especially the money to do so. As much as I do appreciate antiques, I'll have to say, being a ".com", present day muscle is more my taste, so throw a lime green Lamborghini murcielago my way with a 6.5 ltr, 640hp engine, an SLR McLaren with a 5.5L, 617hp engine or a Ferrari Spider with a 4.3L, 490hp engine, just to name but a few, and we are talking, but then again, those are but toys for the ultra-luxurious men and women who can afford them, but some day, some day!
Nice pictures. As they say, one mans meet is another mans poison. Cars are not my cup of tea but I wouldn't mind investing in one of those classics.
Make that Ferrari spider bright red and we will be talking Edwin! I appreciate present day muscle.
Ssem I am glad you liked the pictures. I wonder if classics can be considered an investment though. I know some of them are really expensive but when you think of the time and money it takes to restore them...one must go into it for the love of it first and foremost.
For starters, it doesn't take a fortune to redo some of these cars. Sure, a 1959 Corvette is going to cost around 50 Grand to redo, but a 1950 Plymouth (my current project) doesn't cost that much.
You can pick up a running one for about 3-4k and buy a parts car for around $500 bucks. The parts car will be ugly, rusty, and probably well beyond salvage. However, it will possess many pricey, functional components that would cost a small fortune otherwise.
My parts car cost less than the price of new brake drums (which I pirated off of it).
You can restore it while driving it. These cars weren't meant to babied, they were meant to be driven. Taking it off the road for a few days while prepping it for paint, or upgrading the electrical system is alot easier than a frame off anyways.
If given the choice between an Infinity FX45, and my 1950 Plymouth... I would stay with the classier vehicle (which would be the 1950 Plymouth). No car note, easy to work on, more unique (unlike the guy driving the Infinity, I don't look like every other car on the road), and a little piece of history all in one.
We spent the first 64 years of the last century perfecting cars, and have been working earnestly since then to screw them up.
John
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