After reading the topic about the demize of camaros and firebirds it brought to mind that there are no Hangouts surounded by Musclecars here. When I was younger we would gravitate too a Resturant. Where all the coolest guys and the prettiest girls and most of all the baddest cars in the county were.Then after we took our girl friends home.we would then get back as soon as possible knowing There would be a race brewed up by the time we got back pitting the best with the best. This had been going on for years. And Now its no more. I see
the same type of guys are now driving 4 door cars in poor condition that have never been wash in years and nor have they. they ride skateboards with their pants down around their butts.
Is this just here? or is this everywhere?
there use to be a time when the thought of driving a new camaro or firebird to a place like this was what dreams were made of.


PS. I remember driving my 80 Corvette 4speed "of which I still have" there and my friends gathering around it. Man no drug could be better than night !

For some reason, they think Camaros, F-birds, and Old Cars are uncool and ugly. I blame the PARENTS!

Rick

wolfdaddy,
I'm 16, I love 50s built cars, I own a Chevelle, I'm a greaser...still no cruise spots. I did have one. It was just bikes & classic cars. Cops shut it down cause owner didn't pay taxes. Sad day. I am looking at starting up a cruise down here in my town. One day my friend, hot rods will reclaim the streets they once owned. Primer will be cool, flames will be adorned to cars, & coolness will be here once more. I don't see that happening anytime in the near future. It was different in the 50s, 60s, & 70s. Back then you didn't have to worry about someone pulling a gun on you cause you do not fit their expectations. Most kids are more into their riceburners than they are in old Detroit Iron. I'll fight to keep the spirit alive, but it is dwindling. I guess the only thing we have left is shows & cruises. And cruises aren't even cruises. You drive around the same street 5 times, park your car, couple hors later you do the same thing. Oh, and some of my pants are baggy, but they don't pass my butt. I wear a belt http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif Have a good day.

------------------
Jay W.
In-the-works 67 Malibu
surferwagons.8m.com (http://surferwagons.8m.com)




[This message has been edited by SoCalRat (edited 11-13-99).]

well , the kids today ( most of them anyway ) don't know alot about cars . there are many more distractions today than in our days of cruising the hot spots in the cars we put together . alot of them could not tell the difference between a squarebore or spreadbore carb to save their gigapet's life . there isn't alot , if any , cruising left around here either and that's really to bad 'cause now i have the kinda car used to ooh and ahh at but nowhere to show it off http://www.chevelles.com/forum/frown.gif

SoCal same here, i am 16, drive a chevelle around my yard for now. still in process of resto to my specs. Every Sunday night there is cruize night where everyone who has or likes cars goes. there aren't ever many newer cars. I do find youg people now don't know much bout cars, i have a friend who tries to talk alot of tech things, i don't know why maybe tring to think he knows more than me or something but he doesn't really know all the tech things. I'm not saying i know everything that can be known but i can say i know more than some around my age. One reason too not much is going on now look at prices. Just bought a 396 and my dad and i are gonna build it because i don't have neer as much money needed to buy everything. I know it was prob the same "back in the day" but you dealed everything. my dad had something different almost everyyear when he was my age. also parents i feel aren't helping, mine are but most arn't. I must say it is sad when i hear someone in my school is selling a 78 montee for a rice burning, 100mpg car. i could go on for about 3 days about it but i will just stop here. my 2 cents

------------------
OWNER OF 66 CHEVELLE MALIBU
Check out page dedicated to resto of my chevelle. still being made.
www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Shop/9801/ (http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Shop/9801/)
Team Chevelle # 424
Canadian Classics Chevelles and Beaumonts #393
Fav Quote: Second place is the first loser...

It's up to us to keep tradition alive as long as we can. I'm planning on buying a fourth gen Camaro as soon as financially possible, just like I wish I had bought a Chevelle back in the seventies. I won't make the same mistake twice.

I'd like to echo a note here: My dad knew alot about cars. Course after he married my mom he went into the 60-a-hour week grind til' I was in high school.

He didn't have the interest to show me jack-sh#t about any of the car-stuff I know now. He even sold the 68 Impala my mom use'ta street race right before I turned 16 (the bitter bast@rd).

Anyway, I noticed that damned few of the friends my wife and I have now, that are 30 somethings also, work on or even have an old car. There are a few that have nice old cars, but bought 'em that way. Most can't believe I can work on it let alone that I would want to.

I doubt I'll ever do major engine or tranny work, but I've always felt that if I could take it off and put it back on with out breaking it (too much http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif) I could probably fix it (or at least drop it on the parts counter, point and say, "need one" http://www.chevelles.com/forum/frown.gif). Most of my friends just aren't interested in spending the time with it.

Well this is turning into a rant. So back to the topic......what was it again?

------------------
DG
Springfield, Ohio
70 Chevelle Malibu

www.wright.edu/~adams.6/chevy.htm (http://www.wright.edu/~adams.6/chevy.htm)
TEAM Chevelle Member #0086
Genx member (Founder 4 Ohio)



[This message has been edited by DG (edited 11-13-99).]

hey randy in that press release that gm made they say they are making a special edition camaro for the 2002 year. save up grab one of them. when the camaro comes back fwd and all you will say i have the last real camaro made. :)

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OWNER OF 66 CHEVELLE MALIBU
Check out page dedicated to resto of my chevelle. still being made.
www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Shop/9801/ (http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Shop/9801/)
Team Chevelle # 424
Canadian Classics Chevelles and Beaumonts #393
Fav Quote: Second place is the first loser...

Well, I fell I must put my .02cents in here. I'm an 18yr old college student. I own 2 cars, my beater '91 Grand Spam which has more primer than pealing paint. And of course, I own my baby, '72 elky. I notice alot of things here at college. First off, no one is interested in classic Detriot muscle. There must be a gazillion rice burning, plastic, lawn boy powered Japenese "things" on this campus. And most of these people have probably never even driven a car or truck w/ a carburator. And to answer Yaounto's question is your totally correct about most of todays youth not being able to tell you the difference, or for that matter point it out to you.

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Bryan Shook
Burgettstown, Pa.
1972 El Camino
www.geocities.com/motorcity/speedway/6673 (http://www.geocities.com/motorcity/speedway/6673)
Favorite Quote: Some people have shrinks. Some people have their garage.

Sorry, had to post this: My friend & I are standing by his car, a 54 Chevy. A guy that goes to my school walks up to my friend & I(he owns a new Civic...5 in. exhaust pipe, automatic, drives it like it's a stick)and says "Whatcha got in it?" My friend opens it up...& says '396'. The kid asks, "What's that thingy?", referring to the carburetor & we tell him "It's a carburetor, 4 barrel." He looks at us with a weird face, turns around, walks back to his friends, & we hear him laughing. We were listening in on what he had to say(bad, I know) & he says, "Hey guys, it's got a carpet-raider! HAHA!" & they all laugh. I couldn't stop laughing. Now that I think about it, there went some of our future passing on knowledge unknown. I was talking to 81ElCamino on Instant Messenger about old drive-ins. There is only 14 left in California! 1 is not too far away from where I live. Even has the old microphones next to the parking place & still shows movies(modern of course). I wish we had that kind of stuff nowadays. Anyone ever buy a car for $10? I've heard so many, "Well back in the day, I bought my first car, a ___ ____ for $10(only in incriments of 10)."

Currently this is the longest stint (3mo)in the past 17yrs that my 67 Elcamino has set idle! I drive that sucker everywhere & its a show car!!! I could drive our 93 Park Ave, but I'd rather drive my Elky, its fun and creates enthusiasm. In fact I know of at least 5 guys that went out and bought Chevys from the 60's one is a '67 (427) Stingray. I believe seeing them on the road sparks the desire to have one. To me, having a classic always garaged, is like having a diamond in a safe deposit box, only to take it out once in a while to look at it.
I understand that there are inclamatic days (2'snow) when it's unsafe & I'm not that crazy http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif

We have 2 cruizing spots.
1)Burgerking: cars rangeing from slammed VW's to concourse Packards.
2)Herfy's Burger: Where all the serious hotrodders show up. And all of this usually happens within the same night http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif
FUN? You bet! Sometimes we stayout 'till 3AM & you will never see anyone intoxicated!!!

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Lowered '67 Elcamino
ZZ430 eng / 4L60E trans
"Canyon Carver"



[This message has been edited by Cardiac (edited 11-14-99).]

Carpet-raider?? LOL!!! Thats something else, man. I would also bet that 396 was a 3.96 liter to him! http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif

Kids build and modify their computers today. More RAM, more HDD, aftermarket graphic cards, bigger woofer, bigger monitor, joystics, internet connection, more soft/games etc. Also clothes, CD-s, cell phones and misc stuff.

Though some racing sims liks Test Drive have those euro "supercars" but with classic muscle like LS6 Chevelle (rated at 500HP, 187 mph), ZL1 Camaro(600hp, 205 mph!!), ZL1 Corvette (600hp, 200 mph!), hemi Cuda, AC Cobra, mustang, winged charger etc . That might help.

Dads are yuppies or otherwise car ignorant, no drag races, girls dig imports and thats it.

Ignorace is the key.

But i do all i can to avoid a ride along with FWD car/driver, because they do not drive safely, DUI, have zero emergency reflexes, no serious metal around me etc etc
I dont want to get killed, you know!

On a FWD car, if the rear starts to slide, its all over..

And I have RWD reflexes anyway. Among other RWD preferences.

what to do? burnouts?? cruises?

Movies too, for ex Blade (wesley snipes, black charger, good soundtrack for a hollywood movie, too)

But i just hate that all the classics in the movies are usually blown up or otherwise wrecked!

Still, i usually carry some pix with me, everybody seem to like "old" cars very much! Muscle, boyd, troy etc

Make a X-er smile, to quote that man Chas!

Partel.


------------------
Partel Roos
Tallinn, Estonia, Europe
Law Student, Tartu University (a.d. 1632)
GSM cell ph: +37 250 93828

Gentlemen,
You are so right in saying that to most people, the thought of driving or working on an old car is totally foreign to them. No matter how nice the car is, it's still an old car. I'm 52 years old and bought my 70 Chevelle Malibu new in May of 1970. After getting out of the Army in September of 1969, it took me that long to save up a down payment for my first new car. Through the years we've restored it and brought it back from the dead a few times. This past summer we repainted it and did a total reatoration of the interior. Overall, the car looks brand new. Still, whenever we drive it to family functions or friends houses, they can't believe I'm still driving it. I have to park among the Volvos and Nissans or Toyotas. They call it a "hot rod". One so called friend actually said to me as we pulled into his driveway: "what are you driving this for?" I guess if he doesn't know the answer to that, I can't help him. Everyone seems to need a "yuppiemobile" SUV or a "ricemobile".
Sorry about my rambling, but I really feel sorry for most of the people who think this way. At least my 16 son and most of his friends are into the old Classics, and hopefully will pass appreciation of the "real" cars down to their kids. Like the old proverb says: "The apple doesn't fall far the tree".

Its not that kids today dont care about old cars . Its that they dont know what they are.You have to remember that the collage age kid today were born in the 80s. (starting to feel old) They have no meaningful recollection of the Reagan Era.They can only remember one president.They were pre-pubescent when the Persian Gulf War was waged.They were only 10 or 11 years old when the Soviet Union broke apart and dont remember the Cold War.They never feared a nuclear war nor the space shuttle blowing up.Tianamen Square means nothing to them.The Vietnam War is ancient history to them as is WW1,WW2. and Korea. they have no idea Americans were held hostage in Iran.They have never owned a record player or an 8 track player.The Compact Disc was introduced when they were 1 year old. As far as they know stamps have always cost around 33 cents and gas always been over $1.00 a gal.Their lifetime has always included AIDS and Bottle caps have always been screw-off and plastic.They have always had ansewering machines.Most have never seen a black-and-white tv set nor one with only 3 channels.Cars have always had front wheel drive, plastic bumpers and air.They have idea what a rust bucket is.Well i think your beginning to see where i am going with this-are hobby is in danger of being ancient history if we dont teach and share them with these kids .

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CFR.

I guess I kinda have it lucky. In Chicago their are cruise spots nearly every night. Wensdays,Fridays,Saturdays,Sundays these are just the ones I frequent their are more. Their are two 1/4 mile tracks kinda close. Lots of place to fill N2O. Lots of respect for early iron on the street. Don't get me started on the the street racing scene!!

I really don't know where to start. This is an excellent topic. I am 25 and I have to say that I have the most absolute and ultimate respect for our muscle car history.
My dad bought a ' 70 Chevelle Malibu brand new back in 70 and it has been passed down to me. I have been sinking money into it for the last 10 years. I have to thank my parents, muscle car mags, and my Chevelle herself for showing me the way. Now when I was growing up, playing with my Incredible Hulk action figure in the back seat, I didn't know what piece of history I was part of. I did know that at that time (late 70's), that many, many people would come up to my parents and say, "Hey, nice ole Malibu! Care to sell it?" and then they would ramble on about what they used to have and what they would give us for it.
THANK GOD.....my parents never sold her. Then one day I was reading comic books at the grocery store newsstand and happen to pick up a muscle car mag. There was a car just like we had. And then and there I realized I didn't just have an ole Malibu...nooooooo....I had a Chevelle. I had remembered dad telling some of his glory days with the mileage racked up 1/4 at a time.
I have been an incurable gearhead ever since. I shudder to think if they had sold her...or if they never cared about muscle at all. I probably would be driving....gag...I can't even say it.
As it is...my Chevelle is driven daily, and has received her first true dose of muscle. The original motor has been set in a vat of cosmoline in the barn for the future and a 355 hyd. roller with aluminum heads resides in her engine bay now.
I cruise whenever I can...in constant fear of John Law and his troops. I have had a few coppers give me admiring looks, but most stare me down, daring me to make a move for the throttle.
I have gotten more yelps, hoots, and hollers from white trash greasers in one night than from the total amount of women in my life. And to be honest....anymore it doesn't bother me. Cause I think it has to do with the parents....and women. Now I don't want to rile up any fellow lady gearheads, but MEN constantly strive to impress women. And nowaday, the best way to do it is, buy a late model pickup...put in a chip...buy a set of Flowmaster 2-chambers, and slam it! I actually had a guy in a late-model FROD pull up and rev his motor at me. In no way did he sound special. I looked over at his passenger buddy and said "You wanna run 'em?" (respectfully of course) The driver had the nuts to say "What....I wouldn't waste my gas on you!"
I can safely say I was beyond pissed. Now that was the original motor in my car at that time. One friend of mine later claimed the guy had a Lightning. BUT....the point is...I didn't know...and HE didn't know...what we had. It was completely assumption. And dollars to doughnuts, I don't care what he has now...if we line em up....he won't even see my taillights.
The bottom line is NO RESPECT! That is what is ruining this hobby by outsiders...there is little interest from punk kids to find out what a "carpetraider" is (re: carburetor). They don't want to get dirty, plain and simple. And even more the lack of respect for other human beings is what is ruining this world! People don't respect others...and they don't respect themselves!
I need an aspirin....talk to y'all later!

Oh Please, not another string bad-ragging the younger generation and import cars.

Think about this;

Due to attrition, there are less and less "popular" muscle cars available. The cost for a "rebuildable" 65 Chevelle is going through the roof! Why, because nobody can afford a 69 Camaro anymore. Chevy II's are also getting beyond reason.

I enjoy building cars, but NONE of my friends understand. They think I'm strange to like driving a 64 2 door wagon (but I'm the first person they ask for automotive advice).


How about the idea that we just keep the secret and let others drive what makes them happy. That leaves more for us!!!

(for fun, you could try to explain to a "Honda kid" why you spent good money for a "radio delete" option)

------------------
Wes. Vann
Technical Reference section
Gold Member #5

CFR,

Even though what you said made me feel real old... http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif I think you hit the nail on the head. With a few exceptions, young people now a days haven't had the opportunity to experience what we sometimes have taken for granted. We were lucky to experience several of the things we did when we were younger. A lot of what we did then can't ever be experienced in the same way again.

------------------
Dave Knapp
TC #388
ACES # 3474
'70 SS 396

I have referred a few of my rice buddies to this site and they are always telling me that the people must be lying on the other end in performance becuase they say no1 can get a 1/4 mile time like that and still be on the street its so called IMPOSSIBLE http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif. Well i always tell all of my muscle friends to goto
http://riceboypage.com

and we just laugh our ass off but the rice guys don't even know what half of this stuff is like slicks, posi, less then a 17" exhaust pipe, i can go on and on. Oh ya i am 18 and i grew up in a family that always had old cars although my parents didn't fix them because they hated fixing them but i bought my first car as a chevelle and do some myself but without hands on help i must contract out lots. Well in a week or 2 its time to prove those ricey's whos boss when i drop the new 500+hp engine in the car that will give them something to think about http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif.

Wes thanx your reply it brought to mind a funny thing that hapened to me.This guy at a Gas station challenge me to run my 454 4spd chevelle that runs 13s though mufflers and very street tires against his ford ranger 4 cylinder complete with 5 inch tail pipe extention " whats up with these tail pipe extentions?" I started to laugh very hard and young man got really pissed off and then he assumed I was scared.
Thank God your parents didnt sell Their car. When I was younger my dad would tell me about the cars he had and so would my uncle "They really had some nice cars" some 30 years later people from our town see us in stores, shows, or around town and ask what happened to those cars? Its taught me something. Never get rid of a car that you know is special when you bought it. Ive got a employee that sold "No Lie" a Yenko Camaro with a 427 in it for $700.00 in 1979 " his wife wanted to buy some new furniture" now the furniture is gone and the car is too. Every time Ive ever sold anything the next thing I know the money and the thing is gone and Im wishing I still had it. Thats why I have every special car I've ever bought. 3 Chevelles, 1 Elcamino, 1 Harley, 3 Vettes,a few Military Trucks, and 14 Antique Tractors, My wife would love for me to sell these and us go on a cruise but a week later it would all be gone and I would be telling my children what I use to have. Good LORD Willing I Hope I Never have to sell them. I keep my wife fresh Suv and that keeps her happy. Well Im rambling now so Ill go. Again thanks for your interest in this topic it s nice to know Im not alone. Man the kids in my Nieghborhood don't care about muscle cars or harleys the guys in my neighbor hoods with such were considered kings when I was young " FOR THE TIMES THEY ARE A CHANGING".


There two thing that always Brings Me peace JESUS and the rumble of a Big Block!

I am 35 years old and remember those days well but if you look hard enough there are plenty of cruise spots left and plenty of intrust in old American steel I'm a mustang guy at heart I have restored a 68 conv. & a 79 hatch back, although I now have a 72 chevelle conv. The old drivein restaruant haunts are now gone but you can usually find a gathering at the back parking lot of you local mall on a given week night.

Got to add my .02.
Remembering the past is cool. Around E.PA there is alot of shows/cruz ans car stuff.
the Wheels of time guys statred a monthly
cruz with music and there gettng 400 to 500
cars showing up. Everything from T buckets to
old State/ Police Mustangs GAGarghhhhhhh.
Ther are Some youth but seemd mostly OLD
KIDs like myself 30 and above.
I have a 16 year old son how has NO intrest
in Cars peroid. Now VW with a 90db pounding
stero cool. I droped him off at a freind home
( yeas at 16 he's still walking. I got a 64 Chevelle HT Project. running just need some floor work and it will pass inspection. the deal I made to him was We'll work on this together and when it finnishe it's yours. He said " I don't like working on cars thats NOT FUN ) So he's walking. I walked in to visit Floyd/ ( hates his name wants to be called FLIP ) WELL ther he is New confusser
pent 3 a 21in mon. Blowing something I think stero blasting some Korn CD cell phone beeper. He's an A+ Student a good Kid
but this sees to be the Norm for the youth
today. Only a few of my sons freind ever ventur out to the shop most just to say HI
The one that looks at the projects or askes questions about That eng on the stand or glances at one of the Chevelles. Is the execption to the Rule.

OLD Fart 51yrs old
Likes Loud Rock and roll
Likes Loud Fast Cars
Likes to work on Chevys
Wants his Casket to be
Chev.Orange

To those of you who's dad didn't have an interest in cars, Sorry to hear that, but there must be an Uncle or a neighbor that worked on all the cars and trucks in the neighborhood. When I was a kid, we still had "Service Stations" where they fixed them all day long, but alas, not today. I was also lucky that my Dad and my Uncle both worked on cars and didn't mind if I looked on over there shoulder.

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Leo Paugh
Maryland Chevelle Club #017
Those who do the world's real work don't usually wear ties.

FWIW: There isn't a large "old car" cruise spot in the bay area that I've found so far (SF bay area), but we share an In-N-Out burger with a bunch of ricerockets--they stay on their side, we stay on ours, but we occasionally cross over andlaugh at one another's rides. No one has challenged anyone on the opposite side to a race yet, but I'm waiting for that to happen. I think it'd be fun! http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif

My .02

A couple of things: Anyone ever see "Bye-Bye Birdie"? An old 60s musical which, in its made for the big screen version, starred Ann Margaret as the lead female. Anyway, there's a song in the musical called "kids."

One of the lines, "Kids, I dunno what's wrong with these kids today/Kids never understand anything they say."

As long as there are adults, there will always be misunderstanding between the generations. http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif

But think about it this way: Mom and dad remember what it was like driving those "big unyielding, heavy cars" and are enthused with some thing as "responsive" as a ______(insert car here).

Mom and dad buy their kid a sprightly but SAFE car with seat belts and air bags, and an automatic. Kid goes, "I want to do something cool to it so mine looks different!" So they buy clear lenses, a big stereo, and if they're REALLY ambitious, they'll pick up a set of rims too.

Think about it (for all those elders out there): where'd you get your first car. Your parents. Kids are working with what they are given (Shoot the ones that buy something for themselves http://www.chevelles.com/forum/wink.gif).--Wes V. I agree completely about the $ thing--it's difficult to get a decent car for a decent amount of $.

Side Note: When I was starting to work on my car I remember this from my parents:

"Is it running?" "No mom/dad, it needs an engine."

"Is it running?" "No mom/dad it needs a transmission."

I think you can get the idea.

I was one of the lucky few who got into cars because I wanted to get into 'em, not because it was always around me. My guy friends were always saying, "I wanna," or "I'm gonna," but I was the only one with the wherewithal to get a bucket and bring it back to life (it's still a bucket, but at least it doesn't leak! http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif).

Spread the love, and get as many people as interested as possible, but don't push too hard. You can't MAKE someone like something. Oh, and someone shoot the kid who called it a "carpet-raider". That's like one of us calling it a "turbine". <shaking head, but chuckling>

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--Amanda http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif

Proud owner of a 68 ElCam

"Sometimes the only reason to get out of bed in the morning is to wear a new shirt."



[This message has been edited by CA Elky (edited 11-16-99).]

Gentlemen,
I think the bottom line is that the car hobby will always be kept alive because cars will be the main way of transportation.

I bring 2 points to the table:
1. Back in the 60's and 70's the car market was flooded with muscle cars. So used or new someone had one. They were unique creatures of the time. Anyone with a little bit of money could get one and get educated and excited about fixing or restoring a muscle car.
2. What car company today provides a young 80's generation young man or woman a chance at owning a new muscle car (V8)that is affordable to an entry level salary? Practically none because the prices for performance today have gone up and to restore or fix a piece of muscle car history is almost a down payment on a house.
I say these things not to be negative on the hobby but not to blame the kids its more the fact that GM and the others do not provide an affordable variety of muscle cars today to keep the interest flowing.

FROM REAR TO FRONT: WHERE THE GENERAL WENT WRONG

This sounds like a question for Urban Sociology 101:

"1. Back in the 60's and 70's the car market was flooded with muscle cars. So used or new someone had one. They were unique creatures of the time. Anyone with a little bit of money could get one and get educated and
excited about fixing or restoring a muscle car.

2. What car company today provides a young 80's generation young man or woman a chance at owning a new muscle car (V8)that is affordable to an entry level salary? Practically none because the prices for performance today have gone up and to restore or fix a piece of muscle car history is almost a down payment on a house.

I say these things not to be negative on the hobby but not to blame the kids its more the fact that GM and the others do not provide an affordable variety of muscle cars today to keep the interest flowing."

(above quote reprinted for reference)

The quote is a social issue. First of all, back in the 1960s, Detroit had a performance musclecar in every American division, but today, this is the direct opposite, where Japanese automakers are being macho with the American musclecar.

The 1980s quote may be politically correct, but one thing to keep in mind was that the musclecar was dead, from the bureaucracy and governmental regulations, along with insurance conglomerates like Allstate. No one wanted to purchase a performance car, since insurance rates are costly, and no one wanted to purchase a small car. While at it, the website www.vehiclechoice.org is a prime example when they discuss downsizing and the government. No one wanted to buy a car anymore, and what was the replacement vehicle? An import or a SUV/minivan. Why the BMW or Toyota as the icon of the 1980s instead of American products?

The repecussions of the 1980s transcended into the 90s, with the demise of RWD from GM, where productivity is one goal to raise profits. How many of ou heard of Roger Smith, the previous chairman of GM? Deindustrialization of Flint, MI led to the closing of 11 factories, and during the mid-1980s, GM opened up factories in northern Mexico, because the Mexican laborers are paid $.70/hr. The same trend was done in the 1990s, where the closure of the Willow Run and Van Nuys assembly plants was a direct result of the deindustrialiation of America. No one wanted to buy a car anymore, especially American-made products.

Why the GM B-car became EXTINCT in 1996? Sales and profit, since cops and cabdrivers were the only commodity, and a comparable SUV would profit for more. The 2000 Impala? Just another Americanized rice burner with a Chevrolet bowtie, and a $#!tty FWD powertrain. It might look import-esque, and would anyone consider this car a classic in 25 years?

There is a conspiracy at GM to make RWD extinct, and all they care is profit and sales. DaimlerChrysler is slowly creeping back to RWD, in 5 years, and the retro craze is fueling domestic sales. Does GM has a retro vehicle ready for production? NO.

Look what has occured to the Tahoe as a police vehicle. The Ford Probe? U B the judge. It seems that no one wants to buy a car anymore, and I ain't gonna be a statistic when I drive a small car, and end up in a wreck.


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The Emissary
descendant of a former Chevelle owner
http://www.angelfire.com/tx/lonestarclassics/acar.html

Tales From The Crypt -- A-Cars
http://members.tripod.com/~seributra_d/TFTC2.htm

1969 Chevelle Memories Page
http://members.tripod.com/~seributra_d/time_and_memories.htm

Chevelles (and A-cars) On Screen
http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Downs/5196/a_car.html

Disco-Era Classics
http://homepages.go.com/~55498/hooptie.htm

Alright guys, I'm gonna be the dissenting voice of the teenagers. I'm 18 and in college, and I have a chevelle that I'm restoring. It was my first car, but when it was finally time to tear it down, I got a cheap Nissan pickup so I could wait on a great deal on something I would love, like the '85 chevy shortwide my grandpa will finally part with this weekend. The thing is, I'm not unusual amongst my friends. All my friends either have their own RWD detroit steel, or are still figuring out how they can convince their parents to let them. We all change our own oil and can explain mechanical and vacuum secondaries. And cruising is just about all we do on friday and saturday nights. We cruise with everything from late-model dodge pickups with 35" mud tires to Chevelles running low 10's. Our cars and trucks are our biggest hobby, and they are the reason we all work 70 hour weeks in the summers. And as far as what our girls want... well, no one in my hometown thinks a slammed pickup is cool. When I went to college, I was the only one who would still work on their car in the parking lot. We all did it at home, but something was taboo about getting greasy around the college girls. Well, I don't care what anyone says; they may not touch you when you're greasy, but most of the girls I'm good friends with admit it's sexy. Now one of my best friends is giving back the explorer his mother gave him to drive at college and we are going to rebuild his beat up 85 jeep cherokee's motor. Maybe its the difference between rural and urban. I'm at the University of Tulsa, and I grew up in eastern Oklahoma. Or maybe its because I'm in the heartland, and most of us here are blue collar americans. Whatever it is, the local riceburners are rare and definitely an oddity, and they know who owns the streets. The point of all this is, the generation is not as lost as it seems. I have 12" woofers, but they stay in my dormroom. And I build computers for fun and profit, but I build 350's as well. And my dad owned cars like a '72 skylark and a '69 firebird, but he never taught me anything, mostly because he isn't around much anymore. I wouldn't blame the parents for what a kid drives because I didn't know my dad had those cars until after I bought my chevelle. I guess it comes down to who watches MTV and who doesn't. I don't, and I don't know many people who do. But the alternative, foreign-influenced culture is more persuasive to some people, especially in more urban areas.

I'm 16 too and I have to say I agree with everybody's opinions in one way or another. I am looking to get my first car very soon and it will most likly be a Chevelle. Most of the guys at my school are into imports and I laugh out loud when they talk about getting headers for their Prelude or intake for their Civic(like it'll help!). I know one other guy thats almost into cars as I am, he rolls in a '91 Firebird. I can talk tech with him. As for the rest of the school, they're amazed when they find the spare tire. Besides late night drag racing on the road in front of my neighborhood there are no drive-ins or runs any where near me. I agree with all of you about keeping the muscle car alive. So for all the older owners, help us young Gearheads out by selling us your dream machines, and we'll take real good care of them.

Later!

I see the young kids today going to school everymorning at Wayne High School in Huber Heights, Ohio. The ones that have the big tailpipe extension/muffler are driving what they have. I think back in the late 70's and early 80's Cherry Bombs and Thrush mufflers were in and they had to be the loudest. I remember all those Camaro and Firebirds that had 10 inch S/S Cragar and Keystones with Gabriel Highjackers and shackles. You also had to put mud flaps on because those wheels stuck out 6 inches beyond the quarter panels. Now they lower instead of raising. They put all 4 wheels sticking out instead of just the rearwheels. Almost forgot about those home speakers on the package tray with high treble and no bass with just a little static with a 8-track tape deck and a FM converter hooked up to the radio playing Led Zepplin so loud your head was reeling from the worst headache and earache you ever had. I don't think any of us remember that because we don't want to. I used to see some guy that had a Judge spoiler on a 71 Chevelle SS (egads). Kids are doing what the in thing is for them to do today. When I drive my 69 Chevelle 406 with 3 inch flowmaster wrecking havoc at 6:45 in the morning going by that highschool I get thumbs up from the kids hanging out before class. Cruising through that School Zone at 20mph is hard to do when the kids are yelling to burnem off. Got to keep cool man.

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Malibu 307 (aka 406 smblk)
69 SS 396(aka 454)
Wolf in sheeps skin


[This message has been edited by plain 69 (edited 11-17-99).]

I'm a 37 year old who feels that it is my personal responsibility to pass what knowledge/opinions I have about cars and cruising. Not only do I get my three kids involved, If I notice a kid (3-30) showing any interest in my cars, I immediately invite them to sit behind the wheel, rev the engine and then offer them a ride. I explain why I like this car, cars in general and what it means to drive a RWD, Detroit Ironmobile. In other words, I soft sell them and leave them pumped up and interested.

We al have to do are part to sell the dream or the dream won't be worth a penny in the future.

BTW, remember when we as kids did stuff to *****off older people? Loud Music, staying out late, sneaking some beer, wearing bell bottoms etc. Big pants etc. are a phase. Modified rice burners are because the x generation knows nothing else. Let's do our part to teach 'um without trashing what they think is cool. My 2 cents.

--Andy--

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1970 Chevelle SS Convertible
1937 Master Business Coupe
1996 S-10 Blazer

Yup, I'm Chevy Prejudiced!!!!

I'm 16 and I will drive a chevelle to cruises but not race it. Around here we have something called the "loop" it is 2

streets like this _______ and some kids
around here have |_______| classics because their parents were into classics and they do the loop others have 3rd generation camaros and tell me thats the closest they could afford to classics. They usually stop at a store's parking lot to check out others cars before they race on the loop. We usually hang around other guys with classic and most of them are like in their 30s. So cruising is not totally dead but its on its last breath around here.



[This message has been edited by Buddy (edited 11-17-99).]