Cruise night quality/rarity decline???

[MosportGreen66]

There are a very select few around these parts that have anything other than the street rods, hot rods, and resto-mod muscle cars. The majority of them are tired and aged from years of use. I brought my Corvette to a local cruise night last year and people were asking me what the NCRS sticker stood for. Steady decline agreed.

[3macs1]

I am finding many guys keeping the rare stuff home and have built a driver or clone for the cruise nights. Mostly out of their left over parts from their other cars.We basically did the same and have a BBC rag for these occasions built to run on unleaded fuel.However with unleaded high test running $6.11 a gallon last week you don't go far at 14 miles to the gallon.

[William]

A few weeks ago I attended the first Cruise Nite at a local McDonalds-not one 1st gen Camaro. A couple of street machine type Chevelles, Street Rods, more Street Rods, a few tri-5s, late model Corvettes/Mustangs/Camaros/Firebirds.
No '60s Muscle Cars at all. I have been to a few others since and that seems to be the trend. Used to always be a few Z/28s and maybe a Z11, not any more.

They are all at home, going up in value I guess.

[SBR]

One other point is it seems to me that people have much less respect for other peoples property than in years past. I used to bring my cars out on occasion but grew tired of asking people not to treat my car as a couch or to ride their bikes one inch from my car! One other disturbing trend is at least in my area is I cannot understand why people bring their pets to a cruise night!? I like dogs as much as the next guy but it's a car show not a dog show

[Chris396]

It also seems that when prices go up collectors hoard more cars. So you have one guy who owns 10 cars and he can only drive one at a time.

[bilede]

From a long time phoenix area resident I have seen trends in exactly what you are talking about. In the 80's I saw several z/28's, pace cars, etc. at any show you went. there was always a full row of camaros, a row for chevelle/camino's, 55-57's, then usually others mixed in partial rows of cars. 90's started to see very few camaro's and seeing a real z was the exception. this went on until about 2000 when we started to see cars return to shows and its bigger than ever now. The availability of cars for sale followed this exact calendar also. Every car I sold except one in the last 20+ years left for another state. several according to AZ MVD I still own because its the last title of record.

Why are the cars back at the shows? Back when I went to shows in the 80's it was guys with a 3bdrm/1bath track home and worked at pep boys or a gas station that owned one and had it because he loved it and it was cool fast but sold it eventually because of bills and the start of a family. Off they went out of state one by one with some exceptions to collector's garages here and there.

Today, these cars are back at shows for the simple reason that they went to people who could afford them back east and these people are now retiring and bringing them out here with them. A good percentage of the cars wear out of state plates and a larger percentage of cars at shows are owned by people with a winter home here and summer home in the colder climates. they have the money to usually own not only one but several rare cars and the money to enjoy the hobby. The cars are back at the shows out here but its not the same people that own them anymore. As long as they are back I am happy though.

[ORIGLS6]

[ QUOTE ]
One other point is it seems to me that people have much less respect for other peoples property than in years past. I used to bring my cars out on occasion but grew tired of asking people not to treat my car as a couch or to ride their bikes one inch from my car!

[/ QUOTE ]

All too familiar here too. Bicycles and strollers.
And if you approach them, even politely, you're viewed as the villian.
Makes me want a Rat-Rod!

[agtw31]

this is a good example of what you'll see at car shows..

went to a big car show in lancaster ohio last year,and saw this Hemi Cuda with all kinds of aftermarket speed equipment on it,and huge drag radials.

i asked the owner what the car runs in the 1/4..

he looked at me like i was nuts,and told me it would probably run low 10's,but he only drives it to shows..