[old5.0]

Something to keep in mind is that the automobile is well over 100 years old at this point, so the number of choices available to a young person getting into the hobby are astronomical. The WWII generation was into hot rods because that's what they had. Fast forward to the Boomers and you'll find a few hot rodders, but primarily musclecar guys because that's what they grew up with.


Now? How about a 55 Ford? 62 Impala? 70 Road Runner? Maybe an SS396 Chevelle is out of your price range, but what about a two-door Malibu, of either the A- or G-body persuasion, with a hot small block? No? Well then how about an 80 Trans Am? Ditch that weak suck 301 for a 455 and raise hell. Or maybe an LS swap is more your speed. Not really? How about an 85 Mustang GT? You can buy the nicest one on earth for less than 15 grand and another couple g's spent wisely will get you a drivable 10 second street sweeper. Even thirty years later, they're still the best bang for the buck around.


But Fox bodies aren't your bag, huh? Ok, so how's about an LT1 4th Gen? They're at the bottom of the depreciation curve right now and the LT1 is a solid platform. But you know what? The later 4th gens with the LS-Juan aren't <span style="font-style: italic">that</span> much more than the LT-powered versions, so why not spring for an '01 WS6 Trans Am? Lucky enough to have indulgent parents with a decent sized bankroll? So get <span style="font-style: italic">them</span> to spring for a new Mustang GT or Camaro SS.


American V8's not really doing it for you? Okay, what about a turbo'd Civic? Put it together for chump change. Mk. III Supra? Z-car? Early RX-7 with a SBC swap? How about a used Genesis coupe? Or one of those Subaru BRZ's? Lancer Evo? WRX STI? Nothing?


Okay, what about a diesel truck? Hot rod VW Bug? P71 Crown Vic's are a dime-a-dozen and that junkyard 32-valve modular slides right in. Slap a used blower on it and go stomp M5's on the LA-to-Vegas run. None of this ringing a bell? Okay, scrape the change out of your couch, get a tetanus shot and go drag that 38 Plymouth coupe out of Farmer Johnson's pasture.


The point is that young people today have exponentially greater choice in hot-rod material than their parents and grandparents had. The longer they keep making cars, the more choices each successive generation will have and the more fractured and &quot;niche&quot; the hobby will become. It's just the passage of time and there's no way around it.