Those of us that collect classic cars do so largely because of the nostalgia that we attach to them. They allow us to reminisce about our younger days when everything was better, and the sun was always shining… But the wistfulness of the memories of the old classics has also meant that many classic car collectors overlook the negatives that came with their favorite vehicles – the awful handling, the gasoline guzzling, and the backbreaking suspension. Those of us that lived through the golden age of automobiles won’t be around forever, and what will happen then to the love of the greats? Will the 1970 Buick Gran Sport go from being one of the coolest cars to have ever existed, to being grandpa’s old rust bucket? The future of classic cars may seem like it’s up in the air, but here’s why, at JD’s Auto Repair, we think it’ll never die!
The changing meaning of “classic”
When it comes to regarding cars as “classic”, the term has been debated for decades. There are the purists who believe that only cars born of the golden age of automobiles in the US should be regarded as classics, but then some believe that any car that means something to someone can be regarded as a classic. The truth is, that cars considered “classic” by the older generation will likely differ from that of the so-called millennials, who, once they’ve saved enough money in their tech-savvy jobs and moved to the country at the ripe old age of 52, may find themselves attracted to collecting cars from the ’90 or early ‘00s! Some out there may think its sacrilege to ever have a Subaru Impreza or a 2002 Toyota Supra MK4 considered as a classic, but one day that may be a reality!
A resurgence of the true classic cars
With all of that said, there is evidence of a resurgence of the classic cars from the ‘60s and ‘70s, but rather than it being grandpa working on his old favorite ride, it’s professional collectors and young bucks restoring and retrofitting the classics to make them…well, better than 50 years of wear and tear leaves them! The memory of driving an original Mustang, Camaro, or Challenger straight off the assembly line may fade with time, but the recognition of the sleek, raw, and insatiable style of the true classics seems to have been successfully passed down to the next generation. Although the ‘60s and ‘70s classics may now be attractive to young people for different reasons than their parent’s generation, the point is that their memory will live on in one form or another, which for us means that the love for the true classics will surely never die!
At JD’s Auto Repair, we want to keep the memory of both the true and new classics going! The services we offer are integral to ensuring that the memory of these classics is never lost, and it’s why we’re so proud to be serving the Philadelphia area and contributing to the continued memory of such important pieces of automotive history!
