I think this was a topic of discussion at one time before, but I have really noticed the shear number of these irritants on the rise. The volume of modified (ie. pricey wheels, lowered suspension and nitrous injected) street imports here in Houston, Texas is on the rise. They are crawling out of every nook and cranny in this town.

Now I have to wonder...who told this younger generation that these cars were cool? Who? What teenager in their right mind finds anything attractive or suductive about these imports? Sure, some of these cars sound really nice after stuffing Mega $$ into their stereo systems (I have to give them that much - I enjoy music that sounds really good) and raspy 'tin-can' exhaust systems but, it seems to end there.

What about these cars and their body lines and shapes? They cannot, in my opinion, come remotely close to looking as hot and seductive as a well cared for brute force Chevelle. Maybe I am 'aging' myself at the ripe old age of 30. Maybe. Generations do come and go but I still don't see the logic behind some of these current street trends. "Where's the Beef?" I ask.

I suppose beauty is in the eye of the beholder these days. Besides, as our fearless president Hillary Clinton has so shamelessly said before, "It does take a village". Ahhh, the youth of today!

Thanks for taking this short journey through my thoughts - now let's hear yours. Based upon looks and overall beauty, why do you think pocket rockets are so quickly gaining in popularity?

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Well, I'm 21, not necessaraly the youth of america but I think there just isn't much offered in the way of muscle that a 16 year old kid flipin burgers can afford now. I mean when these first came out you had to save your money to buy one but the fact that you could buy a new car on money saved from a flipin burger job is a thing of the past. How can you afford a $25,000 camaro, mustang (sic), etc. on $5,000 a year? You just can't. And the thing is not many kids want a 30+ year old car. When some of you older guys or gals, (not wanting to offend http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif ), went to buy a car, these cars were new or relatively new. I guess I look at things differently, and I like the way chevelles look. But look at it this way, I buy a chevelle for $2,000 that runs with maybe a bad paint job and a incorrect engine (350sb) and a th350. By the time I could get that chevelle faster than a new camaro and lookin nice, I'd have less than 1/2 in it than buying a new camaro. I guess I'm motivated by money but I think it's a better choice.

It's just a fad and ignorance from much of today's youth...It won't last

There is a reason why they call Chevelles and other muscle cars CLASSICS.

As long as the few and the proud don't get Integras and the "Dukes of Hazzard" is still on TV, muscle cars will be the coveted car forever

Well, I guess I would be called a 'youth in America' considering I just turned 17 last Thursday. I don't know what is with the imports either, the only thing I really dislike about them is the 'beancan' exhaust. If you take a look at my HS parking lot though, you'll see a bunch of new cars (their parents cars or they're filthy rich and got it for their 16th Birthday), No rice rockets(the full modified imports, there was one last year but the guy graduated), but mostly old cars. (Includes about 7 65&66 mustangs, my chevelle(soon my friends 65 his B-day is in April), 1 Elco(a 71), 3 Novas(2 63's & a 64), and 2 old 1/2 ton pickups (1 64 & 1 69)) And get this a lunch lady owns a 65 Nova SS and her boyfriend has a 65 Malibu SS(which she drives quite a bit(a full tilt restification))
Anyway I guess it hasn't caught on at my school yet!
Steve

I'm 32 and I was finally in a position to get my 70 Chevelle last spring. When I was in high school in the mid 80's, the cars that were popular were at least 10 to 15 years old to be affordable.

I watch a younger cousin just getting ready to graduate High school, spend 10 times what I had in high school on a car. I cringe at his 'project car'. Sure the 88 Honda is good on gas, and mechanically sound with ok paint. But I could not stand buy and watch him put on a $500 alarm, crappy window tint, $1000 wheels that stick out 3 inches, and a big $$ stereo. I had to say, WHAT THE F#c* for???

He just shrugged it off. He is a Tommy Hil-figer, all base music, jeans around his ankles follower. I think People that appreciate "Muscle cars" don't follow the crowd, we lead it with pedal to the floor!!!! Today's kid has no desire to put sweat equity into anything, let alone the mechanical maintence most older cars require (mine anyway). They want it now, abuse it, then throw it away, because that is the 'fast food' mentality of todays generation.

Of course I may be on a rant here, but lets hear what you think, dial 1-800 LACTOSE............

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DG
Springfield, Ohio
70 Chevelle Malibu
dga@erinet.com
www.wright.edu/~s001dga/chevy.htm (http://www.wright.edu/~s001dga/chevy.htm)

Have any of you ever been asked by your parents/grandparents the following question:

"You call that music?!?! "

or how about "Is -that- what all the kids are wearing today?"

It really doesn't matter what they drive now, or next week, or next year. The previous group of people won't like it for some reason or another. You can't explain it, you can't fight it. All you can do is bithc about it.

Don't get me wrong, I make fun of the punks in the slammed S-10's and r/t Neons as much as any of us, but keep in mind that just as many of them are looking back as us thinking "What a bunch of old farts"

(Actually, I'd be amazed if any of them can think at all, what with the crappy music filling their heads and having to think with both brain cells about how they'll keep from triping over their wallet chains and the cuffs of those god awful bell bottoms. Why couldn't that fad die a quick death?)

Just be thankful in knowing that if you ever have the misfortune of running into one (literally), your Chevelle will cut through that 13 inch rimed, cracking woofer, neon trimmed, stupid euro race graphic'd heap like a knife through butter.

Kurt, who hasn't even touched upon his high level of distain for the local hippy community.

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The 68 Chevelle info page. [last updated Nov. 30, 98]
www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Garage/6873/Chevelle/68_Chevelle_Info.html (http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Garage/6873/Chevelle/68_Chevelle_Info.html)
Email: Kbyfield@terracom.net

I really don't see any of today's japtraps being called classics 20 or 30 years from now. Its really hard to imagine Year One stocking reproduction plastic parts for Hondas, Toyotas, or whatever. Sadly, the same can be said for most of today's domestic cars as well. My plan is to restore as many Chevelles as I can afford the next ten or fifteen years and leave them to my son, who is rapidly gaining an appreciation for these classics. As for those who slobber over imports and wouldn't have an American car if it were given to them, just think about this; next time the economy takes a dump and everyone is getting laid off, remember this bumper sticker slogan I saw a few years back,
"Hungry? then eat your Toyota!"

[This message has been edited by Randy Mosier (edited 02-18-99).]

The other day I was looking at wheels on line and I came accross something that made me sick. American Racing wheels have a section on their web page that says "Race Fans" so I clicked on it and it brought up a picture of a Hopped up Honda. I was disgusted. If that is who they think they should make "race" wheels for, I don't think their wheels will be on my Chevelle. I dropped them a line to let them know it and they did not like it much. Mabey if they heard it from a few more people they would get the piont.

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RRCHEVL69
rreeves@lightspeed.net

Okay, I'm 19 and well . . . I've been lucky to get into the "right" side of the entire car debate, but to tell you the truth, the only reason I hate Imports is the way they race.

Because of the 4-valve head, they make little to now low end torque. It's not that noticeable because the cars are made of very thin metal or plastic composites, but the modifications are all made for the top end (and suspension mods are half-a$$ed--not necessarily good at high speeds). Even still, the people who race, race ON THE FREEWAYS. In NorCal, I have heard of at least one multiple-fatality accident per month due to racing on the freeways. Is it really worth it?

I can deal with the big stickers. I can deal with the lawnmower exhaust. I can deal with the giant subwoofers. I can deal with the Easter Egg colors they choose for paint jobs. I can not deal with the fact that their types of modifications force them to race on the freeways and kill people.

I would rather be encased in 3500 lbs of steel and able to launch off the line like a mad mother than be encased in 1500 lbs of fiberglass composite and pass people at 140. http://www.chevelles.com/forum/frown.gif--Amanda

[This message has been edited by CA Elky (edited 02-18-99).]

WOW, what is happening? I guess its just change. Its kind of funny that all these kids are getting these hopped up rice burners. When I talk to some of those kids at school, I just laugh at them. I mean by spending 20K, they get a car that maybe, JUST maybe reaches the 13's. I bought my 67 ELKY for 3800 and it beats them all. Its really scary now, that all of us are giving in to these cars, its inevitable. I just keep seeing more of them. Just after blowing one off the line, I pull up to the next light, and theres another one!! Well whatever, I usually can stand them, I just laugh at them and drive away (sometimes). You know what ticked me off the other day? One of the students at my school asked if I would rather have a 69 Camaro or a 99 BMW M3. Well of course I said the 69, and he flipped. Those new cars are nice, but what can the owner really do BY HIMSELF? I'm 18, and I eat sleep and breath my 67. Thats because I can work on it myself.
I read in an articule a while ago, that car manufacturers were going to seal the hood, so the owner couldn't get at the engine! Whats this BS? but its true, I work as a valet, and we had a porsche boxter in there, I was looking at it, and you cant open the hood! WOW why would you buy that?
Well, thats just the way it is, they'll come around (my generation hopefully) and see the light, but until then, make them blurs in the mirror.

DJ van Arkel
Proud owner of a 67 ELKY
NOR CAL all the way!!!

I too am a youngster at 18 years old. at my high school we have a large population of orientals so naturally there are a lot of imports (rice rockets as they are called). The thing that I find is that these kids get cars from their parents and of course a chinese imigrant fairly new to this country isnt going to buy thier kid an old american car. So most of the time these guys have to do what they can with what they have.
I have no problem myself with rice rockets as long as they are actually kinda fast not just plain 4 bangers with graphics and spoilers that have no balls. Unfortuantly, the majority of rice rockets out there are not fast. They would rather have the looks on the outside and no guts under the hood. Personally, I would rather have a primered car with only a drivers seat and 500hp than a cherry car that had a dog for an engine.
Basically, if the rice rocketers have the same state of mind as me, not just making the car look fast, I dont have a problem with them, its the cars that are slow with spoilers and rims etc. that make me laugh in their face.

Another Nor Cal guy...

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Jon Bush
66 Malibu Sport Coupe
Fremont CA, birthplace of many a chevelle
http://members.tripod.com/jon66bu/jon1.htlm

Well, speaking for the old farts in the group (I'm 50), I have noticed at the car shows that you tend to restore what was popular when you were a teen. Guys in their 60's are the ones that own the 40's era Plymouths, Chevys and Fords, while the muscle cars are owned by more middle age geezers like me. But there's always exceptions to this theory and you young guys prove that, and I admire anyone younger than 30 that is wild about 60's and 70's cars. I'm personally not crazy about the modern rice rockets 'cuz there's too many of 'em to be unique. I hate to see where the car resoration hobby is headed, especially with the smog controls that tend to limit what you can do to a car. But I can see more of the early 80's FWD stuff getting popular...I don't necessarily like it but I wouldn't rule it out.

Can you imagine someone restoring a turbo mirage 30 years from now....
I'm 25, I absolutely love "muscle car era" cars BUT...I can see the attraction to some newer cars(drove a supra twin turbo recently, love it) Newer cars are way more available and acessable. (read lot'o'payments!)
And yes they will be around a long long time, If the NHRA is willing to set 'em up you know it's a money maker!

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Sean Flanagan
Heavy '73

Okay, how many of you younger guys (and gals) out there, were brought up with parents who loved muscle cars or owned anything vintage or classic? I think thats where it all starts. I'm 45 and have been in love with the "older cars" since I was 4. That's when my older brother first tought me how to draw a '48 chevy pickup.

My first car was bought for $500. I was 20 and it was a '55 2dr sedan, straight 6, 3-on-the-tree. I'm still kicking myself for letting it go.

I'm now the father of a beautifull 20 year old daughter in her 2nd year of college who drives a piece of crap Jap car ('93 eclipse), but who drove for 2 years of high school a '71 Chevelle 2dr sedan. At the age of 14, she could tell the difference between '55's, '56's, and '57's. By the time she was old enough to drive the chevelle, she knew the difference between most years of Chevelles. She loves her "Jap" car, because its cheap on gas, but I'm alowed to mention (even jokingly) about selling the Chevelle. I'm the 2nd owner, but she claims it as hers. It's in the process of getting a make-over and she is very anxious to see the outcome. During the time she drove it in high school, she met lots of guys just interested in talking to her about the car. I think she wants to take to college now. We'll see.

Anyway, my point is, us "older guys" need to pass along our love for the "classics" to our children and maybe to the kid next door if we want to see our hobby continue into the next generation. It ain't easy, but who said life was going to be easy.

Well, there, those are my thoughts on the subject.

1 - I am an old fart (47).
2 - stuff changes - learn to live with it, BUT you do NOT need to like it.
3 - I love v-8s, 50/60s cars - others don't.
4 - Most people in America want only "NEW" things, musclecars are "old" thus "bad".
5 - Most interesting is; what WILL be considered "classic" 10/20/30/40 years from now.I will be watching in amazement.
6 - this phenomenon leaves more "classic" cars for us muscle car enthusiasts, thus it is a good thing.
7 - I also think the Jap sewing machines suck

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...and Corvette guys thought Chevelles were too big or too slow or too something. And 55'- 57' fans thought that the new muscle 64'- 70' lacked style. Not sure why it's necessary to judge anyone who seeks to improve the performance of their ride. I wouldn't own one either, but then again, I don't have to.

Everybody makes good points. I graduated HS in '69 which, as far as I'm concerned, was the middle of the "muscle car" era. The only guys that had the 'new' cars were the spoiled, rich kids. The rest of us did what we're still doing today...we built/modified our own. You could always tell who we were by the constantly dirty (ground-in grease) hands. The rich kids were few, so they stayed to themselves and didn't really mingle with 'our type'. We were the majority.

If you think about it...what do today's kids (the majority) have to work with? Little crappy cars that have miles of wiring and plumbing stuffed into little engine bays. If you're not a professional mechanic, and you've tried figuring out what's wrong with one of these things, you're probably a bit intimidated by it all, like me. The government standards have practically put a band around the engine, like the toilets in a motel that says, "Sanitized For Your Protection".

Point is...what else can they do to make it their own and be proud of what they can afford? Trust me, I don't like it all either, but they can change the exhaust, change the wheels, and crank up the volume. That's about it! We had tons of parts available, and interchangability with most anything. I wasn't concerned about the radio in my cars back then...you couldn't hear it over the exhaust anyway! http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif

A few comments on the subject (I'm 40):
I have mixed feelings on the subject.
#1) At least they are doing their modifications on cars that will probably never be classics.
#2) Considering what is out there, what's a kid to do? I think if the majority of cars on the road were affordable rear wheel drive American cars, we wouldn't be having this conversation (except for the subwoofer thing). I would imagine that a large percentage of them are driving hand-me-downs that their parents bought 5-10 years ago.
#3) How many of us had our cars "jacked-up" and headers with a pair of cherrybombs bolted to the collectors. Or other modifications that either made the car handle worse or make it unsafe, or generally a public nuisance? My guess is since their motors can'r generate enough noise, they let their stereos do it http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif
Now for my story:
My son (16) and I are "doing" a '72 Nova 2 door 350/350. When we first started the project a year or so ago, I asked him how he wanted to do it (keep it stock, make it a street rod, etc). His response was "I don't care...just as long as it runs" and " Why do we have to rebuild the engine..I don't care if it smokes a little...". Now that we are getting to the point of actually rebuilding the engine, I posed the same question to him again. His response this time was " I want it hot...I want to show up all the kids at school with their Hondas and Toyotas" . Kind of made me feel like Jack in the latest Jack-in-the-Box commercial:"--sniff--- That's my boy..."

Yea, Gene! If more of us spent more time with our kids, they would probably develop similar tastes. My 9-year-old can talk about nothing other than getting his first Chevelle! A couple of points:

1. When I bought my first Chevelle I was surprised how many young kids would stop dead in their tracks to stare as I drove by - they DO like muscle cars. I receive countless compliments from the 9 to 19 year group.

2. I think they tend to buy cars they know they're not supposed to know how to work on - because they don't know how to work on cars. That's where we come into the picture!

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Stan Hanek
'70 SS - 396 4 sp.
haneks@wdni.com

Gee, I truly didn't expect this many responses to my original post. Apparently this has been on the minds of many fellow Chevelle owners. I have to agree with many of the responses in that most younger people are simply influenced by street trends among their peers and that most parents are buying their kids' car. I suppose that parents are not concerned about finding a classic Chevy for their children's first ride, but are thinking more in the lines of economy and fuel mileage. Parents, don't forget the classics!

Speaking of parents, my wife and I are expecting our first baby (A BOY - YES!) in 5 weeks and 3 days (you may not hear from me for a while after he gets here). I have to wonder what kind of trends will be influencing Skyler's peer group when he turns 18 years young. If he has just a touch of the infatuation that dear ol' Dad has for killer Chevy's (particularly Chevelles), then I am in hopes that he too will enjoy restoring and driving them as well.

My wife is jokingly concerned about my desire to share 'race cars' with our son...if I had my way, we would purchase a miniature Chevelle and hop up that Briggs and Stratton power plant for the little tike. (Anyone know where I could find such a thing?!) hehe http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif

Over the past two years, I have heard from so many father-son posts on this site and I am SO thankful that I too will have the opportunity to share my passion with my son soon. My Dad was an international airline pilot and when he WAS home, modifiying cars just wasn't in his plans (jet lag is a huge energy drainer). Being able to share and bond with Skyler over hot rods is something I so look forward to doing - all in good time I suppose - I have to get past lots of dirty diapers first http://www.chevelles.com/forum/wink.gif. Have fun with your rides this weekend and remember Dads, it is up to us to train our sons and daughters in the way they should go - to someday own a classic, brute force Chevelle. Long live American made muscle cars!

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I'm 30 as well

as 283v8 said
"Old = Bad". this is American thinking. I know that my family doesn't like my 70 SS396. I went home visiting this past weekend. My mom asked me to run an errand (I had to get a specific kind of cheese) before we left to have a family portrait taken. Not finding what I needed to pick up I went on a wild goose chase that took more time than was anticipated. When I got home I found out that my sister had left to go looking for me. It seems that everyone thought I was broken down somewhere. THANKS FOR VOTE OF CONFIDENCE!

My father always referred to used cars as "Someone Else's Problems". That stuck subconciously in my mind for a long time. Now I continually amaze my parents by telling them about the work I've done on the Chevelle (i.e. Heater Core, New front end, electrical work, etc...)

The proliferation of import vehichles furthers what I've said previously that "Working On Your Car" is a dying art of our Fathers and Grandfathers. Granted, modern cars are more efficient and reliable, but why would that stop a nostalgia minded person? That in itself wouldn't, but the lack of fundamental knowledge of older cars would, even though an older car is probably easier to care for. I must admit that I've never set points (thank you Pertronix!)

CA Elky said:
"I would rather be encased in 3500 lbs of steel and able to launch off the line like a mad mother than be encased in 1500 lbs of fiberglass composite and pass people at 140."

Many of us here lucky enough to be in the distinct position TO DO BOTH! My SS can hammer off the line AND reach at least 130 calculated and still be the 1.5+ ton solid steel pig that it is. http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif

BTW, Amanda, from all your other posts about working on your Elky, I've been dieing to tell you that I think I'm falling in love with you! http://www.chevelles.com/forum/wink.gif

I'm glad they like the plasti cars. It's hard enough finding parts as it is. I hope the whole population doesn't like Chevelles. More for me.

I teach grades 10-12 and most of these kids follow the crowd. They do not have parents or anyone else to show them how cool older cars are. There friends have a newer car and that is what they want to. But as earlier posts have said, they sure look when a nice old car goes by. We have to get them interested by showing them what can be done to an old chevy and how economical it can be.

I'll strive to just add to the above as most of my feelings have already been expressed.
1. Marketing works. Look over the mags in the grocery store at all the stuff aimed at "high performance" imports. If you advertise effectively, it will sell.
2. Getting Chicks. Sorry for the lack of PCness, but if it works, what 16-20 year old is going to fight it? A clean car with cold AC in the summer and has a really "bumpin" (i.e. has a subwoofer playing rap)sound system, is, as my 16 year old daughter tells me anyway, cool.
3. G force awareness. My kids think our Acura and Honda are fast. They are quick, agile, fun to drive, reliable, etc. But they have no clue what it is going to feel like pinned to the seat in my Chevelle sometime this year! Combine the rush awareness with a good looking ride and they'll be hooked, I'm sure.
I fault no kid today for doing whatever they want to whatever car they want. Only when my BB Chevelle is dusted by a four banger will I be impressed. Then I'll tip my SS396 hat and say, "time for nitrous!".
John Walker

shvel-
Well you asked for how the younger guys got inspired, it's sad to say but not my dad(he's got Hondas on the brain, but he leaves them factory stock no wopping stereos annoying exhausts etc.) my mom got me into it. When I was really young (3-5yrs old) she had a 72 BelAir 4 door (dope car) and as I got older she bought a 57' Nomad with a blown big block(believe it was a 502)she sold the car for about 13 grand if I remember right. Now she rolls in a 67 Camaro 454 BB TH-400 tubbed with 15x14 Weld Draglites out back. You asked how I got into this stuff, she's the one!(not to mention my friends having a 63 Nova SS and a 64 1/2 ton pickup)
Steve

I agree with J kennedy, but unfortunatly I dont think itll happen just that way, My son is 22 and he has watched the old man build a bunch of Chevelles since he was 7, but when it came time to build his first Super Sport he didnt flock to the Chevelles, he went to a car that was his favorite when he was growing up, a 87 Monte Carlo SS this pattern seems to fit, I like the late 60s early 70s and he has went his own direction, Im just gratefull that he allowed me to particapate in the dreaming and building of this 80s version of a full frame muscle car, this generation coming now will have there own ideas I agree I hate the Boom Boom music and the Hondas and the neon, but at least this kids are into something and not drugs and breaking into our homes, I say more power to em!! BUT, I go to shows that are pre 72 xcept super chevy shows but they keep everybody pretty seperate and make them hold down the music, so anyway thats my 2 cents worth (my daughter is a senior in college and drives a Nissan http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif L89SEDAN

[This message has been edited by L89SEDAN (edited 02-19-99).]

I am part of that younger generation (18) that we're talking about. I'd like to think that I have an appreciation for all well engineered cars. Though I have to say that the older muscle cars have a special place in my heart. I just love the low rumble of a big block. Nothing else comes close. But, my best friend owns a 2nd gen mazda RX-7 and I love how that thing runs too. It may not rumble, but those rotors have a nice sound all their own. And if you supercharge that thing you could be making 300+ hp on a 2000lb car. That'll kick.I also love Nissan's Z-cars, they're really fun to drive. But, nothing can ever replace the in your face styling of the muscle cars. As far as sub-woofers go, I have to admit I rather like the thumping of a good pair of subs, as long as there is something other that rap coming out of them, not that rap is bad, I just want a bassline that changes sometimes. Sorry for the rambling!
Travis

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Well I guess I am "young" as well. at almost 21 I've owned my 704d for almost 2 years. I spent my last year in HS grunting and snorting around my town... and after too many wasted nights on the street I can say, from my point of view, that these kids have no idea of what it means to pilot some old Detroit Iron around. Many of the kids I went to school with are obsesed with the idea that style is better than substance; they are the alpha and omega of the plastic world. They see what thier "icons" are waering and driving and now they all wanna be "G's" from the hood driving civics. To them it's all about what to wear and how to present themselfs. My S/O goes to school in Boston and when I visit, she is always telling me that if I had my "B**ch"(when she's unhappy with me and breaking parts or wasting gas, Quadzilla when she's happy)with me... the integras would have something to fear. She's right.

Now this is not to say that I drive a show class car with ponys to spare. Far from it, rusting out the back, wearing out the 307, but I drive her with pride because she's mine and she repersents an investment. These kids today want cars that don't break, that look and seem fast and will make them look cool.

Well back to my point. Most of thses kids are living lies, funding the undermining of their future: it's kinda hard to get a job when you have no skills and you spent your HS and College years partying and being "gangsta's". I am sure it's nice to be able to debate the 2-pac & B-I-G conspiracy for hours it's not going to help you in the real world, and if you think wasting ALL your money on steroes and lowering kits and hydralics and all that is wise, what happens when you can go shoping for food and can't pay the rent. I doubt your landlord cares a rats pink... well you know in hell about your honda with a system. Through my driveway mechanics I have at least ensured I can drive to work to pay the bills.

case in short: a "hoop-d" may get you l**d but my old pig gets me to work.

francis

these cars are a shot at imortality, but so what as long as we enjoy our hobby.

Okay, to the person who asked about if the younger folk were brought up with parents who liked muscle cars. Well, when I was 6 my parents got divorced. My dad had a 70 nova that I barely remember. When they split up he got the nova because he was going to fix it up and give it to my older brother. Well, he fixed it up...but then he sold it. My mother hates old cars and thinks I'm nuts for owning a chevelle. I also listen to that "gawd awfull" new music some people call it. Sometimes I'll even wear pants that are too big for me and go out and dance to "gawd awfull" music. I've also ran into one of those stupid new Saturns cased in plastic and yes I did knock a 2 foot hole in their fender and it also f@#$ed up my chevelle ($1500+). Hey, that's me and thats who I'll be. Don't stereotype us and we won't do the same to all you old folks. http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif

-Joe Y

[This message has been edited by Joe Y (edited 02-21-99).]

just adding my two cents, all i've have too do is get one of these kids in my full tilt bb chevelle, i've got to admit got alot of bucks in the car (about as much as some kids spend on there so called fast cars) garenteed it would scare the bejesus out of them, there's nothing like the power of a big block! my son has a 5.0 ford mustang thinking about disowning him, ran one off at the local drag strip he ran a 12.60 I ran a 10.72 he's got more money in that ford than I do. keep trying to keep america's past on tha street were it belongs, not in a junk yard.

I have raised three boys. The two older ones 26 and 23 , don't know for sure how to change their sparkplugs. The younger is 14 and loves old cars and 50's & 60's music. They have all grown-up around cars and me and my projects. Today, some like it and some just don't.

Just watch out that in the near future you're not riding a bike or in an electric car or ??? This government as we speak is trying there best to rid the world of the internal combustion engine. Look at what they have done in the last two years to 2 cycle boat engines (waverunners, outboards, etc) We're not far behind believe me. If you see or hear of some legistration to rid this world of our cars you must stand up and fight it. Let your congressman/woman know you feelings. If we truly believe that if won't happen to us your wrong.
As for me I'm going to enjoy the power and sound of my Big Block 69 SS. (With Classic Rock) fighting to the end to enjoy it for myself and the rest of us.

[This message has been edited by LIGHTWAVE (edited 02-21-99).]

The reason the younger generation, in general, has no interest in Chevelles in no real mystery.

Building or restoring a "classic" takes a working knowledge of mechanics. It takes talent, determination and focus. Perhaps most importantly, it takes patience and time.

Bolting on a set of aftermarket wheels and tires takes no machanical knowledge and no talent. Adding a loud stereo and amp takes no real patience and focus (other than matching wire colors).

Today's youth, in general, is lured more by the desire for immediate gratification and the need to show off. Hence, the reason one sees more kids in Hondas, Toyotas, etc., with stupid-looking rims and concert volume-level stereos.

Building a "hot rod" puts a person's brain and skills to the test. In short, the kids today can't pass that test. And neither will most of the kids in future generations, unfortunately.

Frankly, I don't want this new breed of youth screwing up the last remaining classics still available. I'm happy with the way things are. (In a perfect world, I would want every young kid to have a working knowledge of mechanics. But reality and "progress" no longer require one to need that knowledge.)

Kids buy what they can get. A good, tricked out Chevelle with a nice paint job, new interior, wheels and some performance parts costs at least $10,000. And that's pretty much bone stock on suspension etc.

For 10,000 bucks you can build one hell of a 1992 Honda. This includes disk brakes, A/C, and excellent handling. Killer stereo, etc.

I don't like them much either, especially the stupid sounding exhaust. But hey, if the kid can beat your 307 Chevelle with a nitrous injected Honda, who's the fool?

Besides, my Nissan is much easier to shift than my 67 Muncie. You have to _love_ Chevelles to enjoy working a manual clutch.
My Nissan starts every time I turn the key, without touching the gas. I know some of you drive your Chevelles every day, I just don't have time to keep a daily driver running. Burn up the Nissans on the commute, polish the Chevelle in the garage.

I say these kids are us, only 20 years later. There are very few muscle cars left. If they all wanted one, the cost would be double what they are now (supply vs. demand). Be glad they don't want our cars. Can you imagine their stupid colors / mods on OUR cars?

Why is it that _we_ don't care much street rods from the 30's and 40's? Could it be that they cost 30 to 50 grand? Could it be they are just too old for us? Could it be that the neighbors didn't have one when we were growing up in the 70's? What are the street rodders saying about us and our "heavy unibody Camaros with huge motors and no brakes"?

I'd rather have a kid that is interested in something mechanical, even if it is just stereos and stuff like that. Which would you rather have? A kid who loves buzz bombs or a kid that is not really interested in cars and is perfectly happy driving the family wagon? Don't ask him to put oil in it, he might pour it in the tranny!

I'll take the buzz bomber. At least we would have something to talk about. Who knows, maybe he could show me how to get some really phat bass from my "boat".

------------------
Jameel Qazi
#'s 67 SS


[This message has been edited by jaqazi (edited 02-22-99).]

Jameel - That about sums up exactly how I feel. Way to go!!!

Well I have read every post, and I must say that evryone is right. I am a firm believer in do what "YOU" wanna do. Not what everyone else is doing. I am 24 and I love "MUSCLE"!!!! but finding one that i can "build" is damn near impossible!
It seems as though the era didn't last long enough because THERE AINT ENOUGH CARS LEFT TO RESTORE!!!! If I had to choose between a 1994 Corvette ZR-1 and a 1970 SS454
what do you think I'd choose...I am currently trying to find an SS 454. All I keep finding is Regular Chevelles...Here in Michigan you see the full range of cars. But the rave is more geared towards the early eighties and mid eighties GM cars i.e. monte carlos, regals, grand prix, cutlass.
I have had ten of those types, And the power just aint there!..................MUSCLE CARS FOREVER!!

------------------

Who says we don't care for street rods from the 30's and 40's. If I were Jay Leno, my dream fleet would consist of cars from every decade from the thirties till the present. (OK, maybe not eighties) But wouldn't a 32 Vicky, a 40 Chevy, any tri five, any and all 60's muscle cars (Novas, Chevelles, Camaros, you pick), 70 Chevelle, Charger, or AAR Cuda look good sitting side by side in any garage. And throw in a present day Camaro to top it off. When I hit the lotto................

I'm 30. I drive a 5 speed Honda Civic Coupe every day. I think the quality, VTEC that screams to 7200 rpm without a hiccup, looks reliability etc. beats out any Chevelle that is seriously driven every day. Oh yeah, it only cost 12,200$ NEW. So I understand why kids like them. What I can't stand is that they pretend to be fast. Wild colors OK. Big stereos OK. Lowered OK. Beanfart tailpipes and racing stickers. Gimme a break. Anything you do to a 4 cyl will work twice as good on an 8 cyl. So even though I love my Honda an understand all the "Skippy The Wonder Boy" crap they put on their cars, when I want to go fast I roll my 525hp Chevelle out the drive way for a little fun. A lot of these kids don't even know what a Chevelle is---that is until they get soundly thrashed at the stop light by me.

After reading the lead post I felt compelled to respond...... as a mom, frequent financier and moral supporter of a '70 chevelle in progress, it is clear that our family loves our chevelle. Growing up in the '60s and '70s was like no other time if you love cars. As my son began to get interested in the cars of MY generation, at the age of about 9, I was bemused and wonderfully returned to my own childhood..... the days of "see the USA, in your chevrolet....". However, the truth be known, we drive a little red rice rocket... all over the place!!! Often to the parts store for the chevelle. I love my little Nissan, and find it equally fun to think that she decends from another rich racing heritage. The SCCA Trans-Am Racing Series and The Japanese Gran Prix Racing Circuit were tough grueling competitions with high caliber vehicles and courageous racers. Those irritating little cars that do not have the ballsy sex appeal you prefer are no less engineered and designed as our favorites; in some cases they exceed anything that Detroit has made in many years. Those kids who do those wild suspension things and get their itty bitty cars to practically dance to the music or the ones who make then into stop light warriors are simply enjoying their cars in their own style.... let's be tolerant lest we hear our parents cry about those loud wild chevelles and how they are road menaces because those wild kids hot rod them!!!

Wes (Colby) is right about the imports, since these vehicles are of no purpose, and from what I have known from personal experience, rice burners/Oriental imports are of no place in the classic car culture.

I currently do not own a Chevelle or classic muscle car yet, but plan to purchase one in the next few years. I own a disco-era Nova, which is in the same predicament as a modern-day Oriental import, and another thing is that disco era classics were once shyed away by traditionalists, like the modern day Oriental imports.

Classics are appreciated more, in which they are of an era that is long gone. Because of the glass ceiling pricing of modern automobiles and restored classics, this is why some choose their pasttime wisely.

http://homepages.infoseek.com/~55498/hooptie.htm

Well, heres a somewhat newer opinion =) I'm 16 and if the cars at my HS are any indication imports arnt takin over ****e =) Now not counting the "parents old cars" (which say.. 70% of the kids have) 10 % Drive i-got-too-much-money cars (MB's BMW's) then about 10% more buy a late model used car of some sort or another..

Finaly the remaning 10% (thoes of us with style=) drive American Muscle cars. In total about 12 kids drive a mustang of some sort or another.. about 15 or so with some assorted 70's car.. and 2 GTO's and one 'cuda. and ME =) 71' SS 454 =) needless to say .. they all my bitches =) i do think the GTO's are pretty cool however...


-Chris

Well, i'm 19 from Canada, and I have to say that I agree with most of what's been said. Although I think the imports thing is a "city" problem. I live on a farm and went to school in a rural community. Where kids drive whatever they can afford or whatever their parents give them. And those like myself who have enough ambition to get a job get to drive what we want, a '71 Malibu soon to be 454. I personally think that it is the fault of society as a whole for these imports. I mean, i'm sure that all of you parents would LOVE to pass on your knowledge about these cars to your kids and help them work on one of there own. BUT, I would say that you are about a 2-5% minority. MOST people in cities don't know a dipstick from a dip*****, seeing as they go together http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif. All of my relatives from the city don't know anything about cars, and don't care too. How could one of their kids get into fixing up an old car when their parents can't even change a tire? And families with both parents working, how are they supposed to find time to help their kid build up a car? I personally consider myself to be EXTREMELY lucky. My dad farms, so during the winter (about 5-6 months) I can get a large amount of help from him, and he knows alot about what he's doing, and if he doesn't then we learn how to do it together. Just last year we spent all winter doing body work, painting and rebuilding an engine for my 77 ford 1/2 ton witch is my winter vehicle so the chevelle doesn't get wasted by salt on the road. I feel sorry for kids that don't get to share this experience because I can't think of to many other things to do with your dad that will build a bond like that. When I look at my Chevelle and think of the Hundreds of hours that my dad and I spent on that car, it almost brings a tear to my eye. You see, I also blame most of the worlds problems on large economic centers, mainly cities. No offense though, because I know i'm going to end up in one, and even worse yet I know i'm gonna end up in the states http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif. I just know for sure that when I have children that they will definitely be getting the same treatment I got from my parents.

BTW, that treatment is not a hand out car either. Even though my Dad does lotsa work on it with me, the money for everything comes out of my pocket, I pumped gas for 2 years to pay for the car. And that's how it should be, no free 10G car when you turn 16. That's bull shi#.

Well that's my piece.

Chris

[This message has been edited by Gandalf80 (edited 07-19-99).]

I'm really glad this topic has been brought up, because it really annoys me too!!! I am 16 so I can give a realistic view of what these kids are thinking. I'm so lucky to have great parents that bought my muscle car for me, and I've been now using my own money to add more and more to it. I don't want to brag...but I've been voted coolest car in the school. Its a great honor, considering many retards that go to my school drive those crappy imports. And I don't think that its a money issue, because I can safely say that all those hopped up imports cost way more than my 450 horse Elky does. I think the reason is that its simply another generation (although i'm not going with it) trying something new. The only cars close to muscle cars like mine are one kid with a 98 mustang (yuck)one kid with a 99 camaro ss (nice) and another with a 68 cougar rust bucket, yet i respect his the most, since its a muscle car in progress. Although there are many conflicting views in my school as to what a "cool car" is, I think that many of them are turning around. Many ask me where they can find a car like I did, and almost everyone is trying to go down to the local strip to check out the cool muscles. Of course there are still those few who laugh at the idea of a gas guzzlin big block 454 and prefer a squirty hi-revving 1.9 liter inline 4 (which i don't understand) but I think the majority of my school classmates know why muscle cars are "classics", and why these new imports will never become as popular or leave a legacy as the muscle cars of the 60's and 70's did. And my Elky leaves me looking forward to every day after school, when everyone leaves starting up their imports and revving them, as I turn the key to my monster chevy powered beast, and everyone's mouth drops in aw.....I LOVE CHEVELLES!!!

gandolf, dont know if you were insinuating that my car was a handout.. if not please ignore this =) If you were, i'd just like to say i striped shingles for 2 summers and shoveled snow (albiet with a snowblower) for 3 winters to buy my ride =)

-Chris

What amazes me most, is where does all the money come from? I met a kid that owns an Impala SS with 20 in. wheels and Perilli P-Zero tires to the tune of $4000.00 plus. Also a couple of thousand bucks in stereo.

------------------
Jungle Jim #105 Gold
70SS396 & 70 Malibu
"Fight the good Fight every moment, every minute,every day. Make it worth the price you pay!"

Yes and no. Are we a dying breed or is it the limited number of chevelles to go around. Just look at the production numbers for the 1960's and 70's and compare those to production runs for most cars built in the 1990's. The point is after 30 years, there are a limited number of 1960/70's cars to go around in a very large population. If you have one, you are lucky cause most people do not. I think a lot of young men and women would love to own a classic but either can't afford it or its just not available. Its a case of have and have nots. On the other hand, imports are plentiful and reasonably priced for a young person. Lots of choices these days on a limited budget. The other thing to consider is that the number of existing Chevelles will continue to shrink as time passes and those remaining will be bought and sold or passed down to the next generation. So, there will be Chevelle owners around for along time to come - but we will always be a minority.

Jungle, there are alot of kids whos parents buy them ANYTHING.. makes me sick personaly.. but well there have always and will always be people like that.

-Chris

Well here's my 2 cents. I grew up around muscle cars. Both of my uncles had their share of cars, 70 428CJ Torino, 4 different LS6 70 Chevelles, many different Corvettes, etc. My mother drove a 66 LeMans with a 389. So, naturally I developed a love for old cars. My seven year old son is following in my footsteps. I believe that it has more to do with the fact that my uncles took the time to share their interest with me, and because I looked up to them, it became a special interest to me. When my son and I hang out in the garage together, it is more about the time that we are spending together than what we are doing, the fact that he loves muscle cars too is just a bonus. Whatever he drives when he grows up, even if it's not a Chevelle, I'm sure he will always remember the time that we spent together and thats more important then what he drives. By the way he told me that he wants his first car to be a 70 Dodge Daytona (ouch!!!) I guess I'll help him work on it.

------------------

Scott

Just thought I'd throw my two cents in. I'm a twenty year old, die hard muscle fan, so I have a bit of a connection with todays youth. All the guys I hung out with at school loved older cars, and made fun of the lowrider garbage that other losers in school drove (as any TRUE American male should). i just don't get what these guys see in these japanese cars, and lowered p.o.s. they drive and dream of. I have a buddy who loves them. He's a good guy, so I just laugh at him and ignore it. But he cannot honestly give me an answer as to why he likes them other than "they're cool." Whatever. I think it's kind of an attitude thing, honestly. Think about it, all the movies and music videos these kids listen to (Rap sucks, by the way), show all these hardasses that drive these shiny, lowered, thumping imports. So, naturally, they think "Hey cool, I wanna be like that!" It's really kind of pathetic, that it's all about "fitting in," and "looking cool" even though you end up deaf from the stereo, and with a sore butt, from a lack of suspension. By the by, I paid $3500 of my OWN hard earned dollars for my 72, and I will also be paying for the resto job I'm working on now. My dad's advice and work on the car has been a big help, too. he loves helping me work on it,because he had a '70 when he was about my age. It's a great way for us to bond. Oh well, I guess we'll never know why they do it. http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif

I don't get it either. The Jarines on base used to drive toyo pickups with woofers bigger than the tires in 1985. My gal lived in Waltham Mass during law school, and the locals drove lowered toyos with "personal" on the windows. ????

And as an ex pro bass player, this stuff that passes as music is well, not.

But I just bought my Chevelle for 5500, plus another grand in misc stuff, and 2000 for my old 67 L88. I couldn't have swung those numbers in HS if I wanted to so I can understand why kids choose the burners.

Wow this post is growing. Read "I'm 16 and I don't drive an Import!" Also, ETaylor72, I agree with you on some aspects, but I would well rather see a lowered 64 Impala or other classics than a rice burner anyday. At least the guy picked a classic. Also for all these GenX-ers replying, read "I'm 16 &..." and look at joining the club I'm starting, you may be interested. Also, there was a post up above about wanting something now that's done. And I certainly agree with that. I can't wait till I get my engine back in my 67. I was even looking at getting a 30-32 Ford rust bucket coupe just to drive to school until my Chevelle is done because I don't want to drive dad's Toyota Avalon!

454

No, I was not indicating that I think your car was a handout. I don't make a statement like that without knowing it to be true. Assumptions just get you in trouble, I know that from experience. BUT I still stand by my ground that giving a nice car to your kid is wrong. Unless they have a job and intend to pay you back for it.

What makes me sick is kids who get a new car, have their parents buy all their gas for them, their parents buy the tires, their parents pay for the repair jobs. And then to top it off the kid doesn't even have a job. This may seem kinda unreal that a situation like this would happen but believe me, I know plenty of kids who get this treatment. Consoquently they are the ones who go through life not expecting to have to work for what they get, then they move away from home and mom and dad turn off the taps and uh oh, now what do I do.

Chris

I'm 30 and my daily driver is a 95 Jeep Wrangler 4 banger ( great on gas, could be better without the 4WD.) After driving that jeep around for a few weeks it is such a privledge to hop in my 67 chevelle and stand out from the crowd.Although,currently, the 67 is out of order( engine swap still in progress) . In a strange way , I am glad these kids aren't into the old muscle. When we drive our cars more often than not, Its the only muscle car on the road at the time. The fact that every kid on the block is not driving a chevelle is what makes our cars rare and its a pleasure for people that see us comming. Yeah, I really think it is cool that our cars can put a smile on someones face just by seeing it roll down the ave. The major reason our cars are joy to own or even look at is the scarceity( is that a word? I suddenly feel like Don King http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif ) of the chevelle. I never saw anybody give any tricked out jap car the thumbs up. And if there were as many chevelles as everyone wanted on the road I doubt our cars would get a second look. or be worth what they are today. So, let them build the rice rockets. I prefer the chevelle to be a unique icon of the road. Thats just my opinion, That and 50 cents still can't buy a cup of coffee. –Joe454–
"67 Malibu"






[This message has been edited by Joe454 (edited 07-20-99).]

I'm 24, both my grandpas retired from the GM plant in Atlanta, and I'll have nothing but a V8 powered chevy in my driveway. I have a full size chevy truck and of course my 69' Malibu. For me it's a matter of principle.

I just graduated from college a year ago, and I am the only person I know out of my college friends that could even change his own oil. I had one friend that didn't even know how to change a flat! The sad thing was, their parents were just as bad!

unbelievable.

I changed my brake shoes on my truck one time, and one of my friends wouldn't ride in it. He thought I didn't know what I was doing. I assured him that my brake job was better than any one he'd get at his Saturn dealership. And it cost me $30 vs. $400.

I can't even start ranting on this topic, it just disgusts me.

Every time I see some goofy looking punk in a goofy looking low rider, I have to control the urge to run over it.

I just don't understand what they see in those stupid little cars. They have no character, no soul. They're just clones. No matter how much 'modification' you do to one, it's still a plastic death trap and still looks like every other one on the road.

Look at the current automotive market today. SUVs, imports, FWDs, and a few modern musclecars. The Z28, Trans Am, Mustang, Viper, and Vette are glass ceiling, but the retail pricing on a Z28 is $24,000.

The Oriental imports are imitating the machismo of the musclecar image, like the VTEC motor found in Hondas, but these cars are not considered part of the musclecar craze.

GM is on the trend of becoming the next Chrysler Corporation of the 1980s, since everything is FWD. Look what has occured to the Impala SS in 1996. Like it or not, RWD at GM will soon become a memory, but not for long. Would anyone purchase the concept Nomad?

Paying $5500 for a Chevelle is considered the norm today, since pre-1973 classics are approaching the glass ceiling. SSuper Dave (one of my Houston-area associates) paid $3900 for a mint-condition 1968 Chevelle Malibu, and Alan F (another of my Houston-area associates) located a 1970 SS396 -350 horses ragtop and paid $15,000 for one.
The only thing is that I have a $2000 budget, which is typical of the working class that earns a low paid income. There are other alternatives out there, and this is why I created the Disco-Era Vehicles page.

If my dad hadn't sold off his 1969 Chevelle hardtop in 1978, I would have become a second-generation Chevelle owner, but was denied this chance. I ended up with a Disco-Era Nova, which is post-muscle and overlooked.

What about the owners of 1973-77 A-bodies? They have been the shadows of their earlier cousins, but these cars are still out there.
The downside of anything post-1972? They are treated like AMC products. Rice burners? They have ruined the automotive industry, and lured buyers of traditional USA iron into alternative transportation.

When the downsizing trend (Jenny Craig Era) took place in 1977, this event led to the growing SUV market, and RWDs and station wagons became extinct. Go to www.vehiclechoice.org/ and have a look around.

------------------
Weyoun X (the tenth clone)
descendant of a former Chevelle owner

http://www.angelfire.com/tx/lonestarclassics/acar.html

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

in my opinion history is simply repeating itself. how many of you out there(who are over 30) can remember your parents and elders bit*hin at you because you were doing something out of the ordinary? Now keep in mind that i am only 18 but do own a 68 chevelle(and i do get bit*hed at quite often from the old man http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif ) and i do like to burn the hondas etc.. as much as the next guy, But give these kids a break. Ya there doing things a little bit differently, but so were you guys in your time

------------------

True, my parents thought I had some stupid ideas, but I think that the general attitude of youth has taken a turn for the worse lately.

There is very little work ethic, respect for elders/parents, very little care for anything at all. The 'norm' in america is shying away from strict discipline and teaching kids to respect authority.

Sure, everyone has rebelled when they were teenagers, but we outgrew out (most of us anyway). It seems that yesterday's rebellion is now today's norm.

I think the clothes, music, cars, everything is indicative of it. Everything about it says
"I'm lazy and don't give a d^&#n about anything"

stepping down from the soapbox...

Of course, there are exceptions. Particularly our young aspiring Chevelle owners who posted above... http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif

I don't want to get too off topcic but, on the subject of today's youth,and keep in mind I'm not lumping all the kids in one catagory . The fact that each generation is getting worse is very true in some ways. In order for today's kids to show a little rebellion they have to P--s Off the grow ups, Ok fair enough, We all went through it. The problem today is It takes more to shock today's society. Back in the fifties we saw Elvis shake his hips.Oh my Goodness, the end of civilization as we know it! Geez, leather jackets and slicked back hair!!!No good kids. Now that doesn't shock us anymore so, the next generation has to get a little wilder than their parents did. Now here we are today, the kids doing things we never saw before just to have their own identity.I think by the time we see what the millenium generation is doing for kicks, the kids of today won't seem that bad.Each generation will push the limits a little further. Just my opinion

i being 17, i too do not quite understand what most teens today find so fascinating about these imports, my god, why in the world would anyone want a car that sounded like a pissed off mosquito. Fortunately, there are a few of us that are not intrigued by the new, along with my 79 malibu, there are 2 72 nova SS's, an older barracuda (factory original, under 50k miles), a 68 chevelle, 2 67 camaro's, and an 87 monte carlo aerocoupe

Joe454's comment reminds me of my favorite line from Shakespeare's "King Lear" -
"The younger rises when the old doth fall."
(admittedly, when this is said, Edmund is talking about killing his father Gloucester, IIRC)
The young (us) have to sweep away what our elders have done in order to make a place for ourselves in society and our culture. For some this is cars - they don't want to do what their parents did or their grandparents.
Me, I'm going with politics and policy (looking into the USC and UT-Austin schools of public policy) - I like old music (and new music), old cars, classic literature (give me Hemingway!). (I dress like a cross between a punk, a skateboarder and a surfer anyway...)

I am 16 and am restoring a 66 chevelle. i would never buy a import i would drive a rust bucket made in canada/us before i would drive something from japan made of plastic. but as i read on one fourm before if everyone was wanting to restore a classic the price would raise alot and only the rich ass people would be able to restore and own em. my dad has always loved em but we really had no where to put a car so i asked my grandma if i could use part of her garage to store my car work on it ect and like 2 weeks later some guy was selling a 66 about 3 streets over so i coned my dad to comming with me to check it out (older people sometimes thing young people have to values and would only use it like an idiot) so looked better with him with me and as they say the rest is history, my dad had road runners, camaros, 67 chevelle convertable, and the list goes on...... my 2 pennys

[This message has been edited by 66 bowtie (edited 09-11-99).]

I'm 27 when I was in high school it wasn't the jap cars as the enemy it was the mustang gt's it seemed like a pair of flowmasters and a clutch made these idiots think they had the fastest thing on 4 wheels. As time went on and I got outta of school The Vanilla Ice Mustang crowd grew bigger and bigger,But then the blue oval pulled the plug on these cats and went to the 4.6L terd. HA HA suckers. Now ME I love old cars I'm the kid who had dirty finger nails ate slept cars. Went to wrecking yards in the 80's and lusted over the iron being ripped apart for money. I remember the last regular gas pump in town. I remember $20. fenders for my chevelles and old trucks. I find a chevelle in a junk yard nowadays the guy thinks the stuff is gold plated. I remember double hump heads for $75 a pair before every dirt tracker in Texas started using em. The real problem is the rarity of early iron the cost of early iron and the EPA. If you go buy a 99 ss camaro you got a nice car but hell its made in Canada,. so how is a honda any different. I owned a 82 280zx for awhile it was a fun little car paid $1800 bucks for it. It had 180k on it ran the devil outta of it went toawrecking yard there was a ton of parts cars there. Basically Money runs the show when you go to a swap meet and some guy wants over half the price for a part that it costs new at ausleys
come on! Greed, and the EPA killed the old car business Period. I love gutsy fast cars and a wound up 4 banger won't do it for me.
The thought of paying someone to install hop up parts on my car because I cannot and refuse to learn how to work on a modern technology car makes me love my old chevys and mopars. Thats all it boils down to my dad was a mechanic. I'm a computer geek because the old timers told use your head not your back. M-f i'm a white collar worker
but Saturday-Sunday i'm a gearhead wrench turning fool. I've thought of working as a mechanic but the money I need to keep my old boo running requires me to work in this puter industry. I say let the Honda crowd do there thing I'm to busy doing mine. I don't care for stickers and wings unless its a superbird either but is there thing not mine. I get more disgusted when I go to a swap meet and ask the price from a fellow gearhead and he almost makes me rethink my interest in old cars. Thank GOD for the aftermarket!!! they have undercut alot of these retirement fund making swap meet fools.

This thread is close to my heart. My father has always been into fast cars. When I was growing up it was '55 Chevy, '68 Firebird, '57 Chevy, '76 Trans Am 455, another '57 Chevy, '58 'vette, '68 Camaro, '66 'stang, '70 'stang 428 CJ, '72 Cuda, the list goes on (he never kept one for very long). All had 4-speeds.

He always brought me along to the junkyards to help track down and remove parts. He let me help work on his cars when most other fathers would tell their kids to leave them alone. He was always there (and still is) for me when I ran into an engine problem that I couldn't figure out (but now he calls me for help).

When I was in high school (early eighties) I had a few hot rods. My favorite was my '68 SS396 Chevelle. I went through several clutches and transmissions and my dad was always there to help me out. He knew I was racing it and he was proud. Today I love many cars from all eras of the 20th century. But the cars of the "musclecar era" will always be my favorites.

I can only hope that my son (9 months old now) enjoys riding around with me and helping me with my cars as much as I did with my father.

A note to parents: If you don't lead your children, someone else will.

Chad Landry
'68 El Camino
Baton Rouge, LA

I guess I'm one of the youth of the group so I'll try to explain this to all the older guys.I've got a '70 with a wussy 307.I have paid EVERY cent of everything on this car.Thanks to my grandfather I grew up around old chevies(57 bel air and 57 pick up.This influenced me to buy an older car.My mom said she would buy me a car but as long as she got to pick it and she picked a '93 civic.I didn't go for this.She said if I wanted an old hunk of junk I would have to buy it my self.So I did.I bought the frame,body,and suspension for $1,000.My grand father gave me a 307 and a turbo 350(bad engine but it was free).He let me use his shop and most of his tools for a summer.I put the car together with a little help from him when he could.There is nothing in the world I am more proud of or love more(than my grandfather) than my chevelle.It may not be faster than those weed eaters but it shows what is a true part of this country and not a piece of crap.
Chevelles should be the oficial car of America.I'm tearful right now!J/K.Sorry this is so long but not every kid follows the crowd or has someone else do everything for them.

Guess I'm an old guy, 52, who just never got rid of his first new car..my '70 Malibu. In May of 1970 I was out of the Army for about 7 months and still driving my '57 Chevy 283 that I was my Dad's car. One day, after working on it every day, the fuel pump took a hike and I had to push the car a quarter mile or so to get it off the road. Had to call my girlfriend (now my wife) to go pick me up a fuel pump during her lunch hour because I was stuck no where close to an auto store. That night, I went to my local Chevy dealer and ordered a brand new '70 Chevelle. My girlfriend had bought one a month or so before and I really liked the way they looked. So, for 3000 dollars, plus tax, I bought my first, and only, new car. I never imagined I would still be driving it 30 years later! But, I was able to afford a REAL car with what I was making working in a TV shop. My car payments were 54 dollars a month, low because I was able to put half down. AND, the loan was only for three years back then, not five like today. With that, you had yourself a real honest to God car which could actually carry 5 or 6 adults comfortably, and a little performance to boot. Oh, yeah, gas was 31 cents a gallon for regular. You could order the car almost any way you wanted it, without all the extras or, if you wanted, with "the works". Guess what I'm trying to say is back then, just about all of us drove old pieces of crap, but with enough saving, we were able to buy a new car that just that, A NEW CAR. Not a performance car, per se, but a car that WE paid for, not Mom and Dad. Guess that's why alot of us appreciate these cars so much. For alot of us, it was the first BIG purchase of our lives, the result of alot of sweat and saving. I suppose that's why I still have mine, and if my wife's didn't get rear ended and totaled in '85, she'd still have hers.(alot of her parts live on in mine, though!) So, all you young guys out there, keep those Chevelles running...they have a history, and they'll never build anything like them again. After driving mine for over 500,000 miles I should know! http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by H5O:
Wes (Colby) is right about the imports, since these vehicles are of no purpose, and from what I have known from personal experience, rice burners/Oriental imports are of no place in the classic car culture.

I currently do not own a Chevelle or classic muscle car yet, but plan to purchase one in the next few years. I own a disco-era Nova, which is in the same predicament as a modern-day Oriental import, and another thing is that disco era classics were once shyed away by traditionalists, like the modern day Oriental imports.

Classics are appreciated more, in which they are of an era that is long gone. Because of the glass ceiling pricing of modern automobiles and restored classics, this is why some choose their pasttime wisely.
http://homepages.infoseek.com/~55498/hooptie.htm[/QUOTE] (http://homepages.infoseek.com/~55498/hooptie.htm[/B]<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>)
hi my name is mark and i am only 18 i have a 68 chevelle and wouldnt trade it for anything (except an SS) i love the look and style and most of all the history of older cars not just chevys thanks for your time

the breeds not dying in oklahoma i am currently restoring a 70 chevelle for my 14 year old son its his dream car. and he has older friends 16 17 years old that drive chevelles. looks like okc is OK

I just sold one of my 4 Chevelles (a 70 coupe) to an 18-year-old kid this weekend, after he and his dad looked at it earlier in the week. The kid was in heaven, and it was great to see it go to someone who appreciated a classic. About a third of the calls I received in response to my ad were from father/son or mother/son parties looking for a car for the kid. The torch is being passed in the Northwest!

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Rainer Seitz
Vancouver, WA
Team Chevelle Gold #50

'68 SS396 (soon to be for sale!)
'70 LS3 400 Malibu
'70 Malibu convertible 350/300hp
rseitz@chevelles.com

long live CHEVELLES! (and american muscle)

I may not like all the rice burners running down the road these days, but when it comes down to it these kids are only doing what we did when we were young. Getting whats popular at the time. Unfortunately I am having to drive one http://www.chevelles.com/forum/redface.gif(Toyo pickup) while my '68 El Co is waiting for it's resurection. http://www.chevelles.com/forum/biggrin.gif They may be dumping good money into something that will NEVER be worth anything, but at least they are out there trying to make nothing into something. At least they can smoke pedestrians, schwinn's & Huffy's and the occasional other rice burner. http://www.chevelles.com/forum/rolleyes.gif They could be out there smoking crack http://www.chevelles.com/forum/eek.gif instead and killing all of us because they are out of their minds. http://www.chevelles.com/forum/mad.gif At least they have a hobby and are showing an interest in something and trying to show some pride in something, albeit soooooo misplaced. If they knew what it was like to own and build up their own american classic like ours they would be much better off. To each his own. Live and let live, and when you see one at an intersection, pull up slowly, and when the light turns green, grin http://www.chevelles.com/forum/biggrin.gif and SMOKE 'EM http://www.chevelles.com/forum/biggrin.gif and as their little bowl of rice gets smaller in your rear view mirror, LAUGH OUT LOUD. http://www.chevelles.com/forum/biggrin.gif http://www.chevelles.com/forum/biggrin.gif http://www.chevelles.com/forum/biggrin.gif http://www.chevelles.com/forum/cool.gif Laughter is the best medicine, and just be glad you grew up when you did with an appreciation for true power and happiness, and not now where the popular stuff is such crap. Just my opinion all my cents are tied up in the El Co. If and when you can, find a classic and save it from the crusher. Good luck to all our Chevelle/El Camino lovers, keep the shiny sides up and the black marks growing.

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"When the job gets you down, and life's a drag,..........RACE!!"

O.K., here is the explanation for what is happening in the apparent "changing" of automotive trends today vs years long past.

In simple economic terms the rate/percentage of car ownership (against non-ownership of cars by eligible citizens) in society has been steadily climbing with the passage of time. The further back into the past you go, the less likely it would be that any particular individual would have a car (remember one car families?). Now we have a very mature marketplace in the U.S. where there is a glut of cars, so much so that the rate of multiple car ownership has never been higher. In the past car ownership was a bigger deal than it is now - younger people growing up in an era of automotive overabundance have a hard time understanding why anyone would want to go through the time intensive effort of building a car, when so many newer (not in need of total restoration) and easily financed cars exist. Cars, like it or not, don't capture most peoples imaginations the way that they once did.

Now, having said that, I do have an interesting observation to share about my recently acquired '67 Elky. The mind blowing part for me is that I have had several people ask me to let them help me modify and restore the old '67, that they "love these old muscle cars". It would probably make you all happy to know that these are young people asking me to include them in these "wrenching sessions". The simple reality is that most young people drive their fart piped specials for practical reasons - purchase/finacing (just try to finance a young person on a muscle car) ,insurance and fuel costs, and the general reliability of owning a newer lower mileage car. Most of their parents are probably thrilled that their son/daughter is driving a slow car.

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"Bomber" '67 El Camino
Beater comes back to life
350/TH350 14.90 @ 93mph!

We have a car culture in the US and that makes me happy. I had a 71elkss in HS (79) which I worked on constantly but I was cool. I have a 71elkss now (age 38) that is even more cool. Kids stare, men point, ladies smile.

Kids today are also into cars. They put (IMHO dumb) after market chrome wipers, small blue lights, blinking plates, .... Hey that's all part of the culture.

Wouldn't it suck if they only bought econo cars ignored them. I can't judge what lies in the eye of the beholder. In my HS days, we stuck holley, STP, and other stickers on our back windows like nascar. I cringe thinking about that now. (I put them on my toolbox instead http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif)

knipe
71elkss

Let me begin by saying that I got pretty tuckered out reading this lengthy post. I am just turned 17 about 2 weeks ago, so maybe I can offer some insight into how us "young people" think. As someone stated earlier, most kids in highschool dont have a choice as to what car they drive. Most are stuck with the five to ten year old cars there parents give them, and they do the best modifications they can to make them faster, or look better, or go boom boom with loud stereos. There just isnt much a young kid can do with a nissan or a honda to make it go fast on that kind of budget. Most of the modifications for foriegn "rice burners" are limited to how the car looks, and not its performance, and these are also the cheapest modifications. Back in the 60's, i bet performance parts for muscle cars were a dime a dosen, because they were as common as hondas are today. I was very fortunate to be able to purchase my '72 chevelle. I went from driving a 93 nissan pickup to this classic, and its just not something every kid can own working at Kroger bagging groceries. AND, most kids dont have very good mechanical skills to modify their cars these days, because cars today dont REQUIRE the mantinence they used to, so kids today didnt grow up watching their dad change ignition points on the family car. Most of my friends are not intersted in sinking $3000 in a car and then have to do a buttload of work on it just for it to be reliable and look respectable when they could by a similarly priced used honda thats already runnin good. I can tell you one thing though, most kids today have great respect for classic cars, and believe me, they would own one too if they had the money or could find one, OR had developed the skills growing up to this point to work on one. Fortunately for me I have always been very mechanically inclined (I took apart just about every appliance in the house just to see what was inside, and sometimes wasnt able to put it back together http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif) so working on an old car didnt seem so hard. The respect kids my age have for these cars was extremely evident the first day I drove my chevelle to school, there was a crowd gathered around me in seconds, and every time I pass a kid who is out playing in their yard, they stop and watch in amazement as piece of history rolls by, or flys by in my case http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif.

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Joe Scott
72 Chevelle 350/TH350
Red w/black int
Black vinyl top

beeing from the older genaration. 52. and around in the Muscle car area. ALot of the guys in the late 60's, bad mouthed the GTO
442 GS and Chevelle owners. Saying whats this younger generation cominng to. WE BUILD our hot rods. Not run down to your local dealer and buy one . Where we hung out at the Allentown Fair Grounds ( The Ritz)
there was a Chevy row and every nite we would badger the GM factory iron and tell tail of how we built our 327's and stuffed 427 in our 55's Mybe I was jelious. because I could not afford a new ride ?

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I think you guys are all hinting at a main reason for why younger people like the imports--they don't work on cars anymore. Look at what most of the modifications are--just bolt-on cosmetics. Even the suspension mods--I bet most of them don't actually do the work.

Much of this has to do w/ the new car technology--it's a real pain to rod an engine w/ computers/sensors controlling the thing--plus many states have emmissions laws that make it harder for a novice to do much of the kind of work we like.

And money is the other issue--as someone said, even if a kid is willing to do the work, getting a classic in reasonably good shape is going to cost 5+K (minimum) probably more. So, it's small wonder buying a beater Honda for a few grand and bolting on another $1500 in parts is the way they go.

Anyway, who cares. If you got a classic, it just makes you all the more unique on the road--I live near NYC, and I can tell you, I almost never see a classic--mine is about half restored--all mechanics--still looks like hell--and yet it's an incredible head turner.

I think it boils down to your association.I'm 34,grew up in an old neighborhood with a great mix of people.When I was 14-15-16-17 my influence was the musclecars of guys my present age back then...i kinda got into it and associated with people who had them..it was the thing to do.My friends and I were into these things heavily (luckily in retrospect).I cant speak for the import crowd BUT i surmise that they too are influenced by people of a different automotive taste and they are carrying it on.To each his own.I'm just thankful Detroit produced ALL of the iron and we are privelaged to enjoy what we CHOOSE to here in the USA.I agree with those who dont see the thrill of those boring/ugly/ imports BUT it's their choice too...just my .02 worth ! Shawn

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First of all, if you ask me the scariest thing about this thread was Rod, the high school teacher who wrote: "There friends have a newer car and that is what they want to."
No wonder schoolkids can't spell.

Besides that, I'm the proud, proud owner of a '72 Malibu (she's beautiful, I'm getting a picture for my wallet), but I really can't fault someone equally proud of his or her '98 Nissan. It's just a matter of preference and aesthetics. Different people like different things, and I'm not quite sure why it bothers some of you so much. I'm 28, by the way, which I guess puts me right in the middle of the young kids and the old timers.

People who write "but I'd kick their a$$ off the line" make me wonder, too -- at the import nationals some time last year, those slammed Hondas etc. were busting mid 9's, which is pretty d@mn fast. Just more pennies for the two-cent pile.

--Rookie

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'72 350 Malibu
Team Chevelle #528

i just turned 16 so i guess i am the youth of america. i cant stand these new cars. they just dont look mean/brutal like a chevelle or el camino. one thing that angers me about my gen is the trendyness that goes with it. i tell kids my age about my car and they say that stupid why not buy a beamer or a toyota or something like that half the time im not even paying attention. but anyways all im trying to say is, most of the grapes may be sour but there are still some good ones in the bunch.

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Steve

hey its not done but check out its progress.
http://stevelaser_1.tripod.com/

i just turned 16 so i guess i am the youth of america. i cant stand these new cars. they just dont look mean/brutal like a chevelle or el camino. one thing that angers me about my gen is the trendyness that goes with it. i tell kids my age about my car and they say that stupid why not buy a beamer or a toyota or something like that half the time im not even paying attention. but anyways all im trying to say is, most of the grapes may be sour but there are still some good ones in the bunch.

ps
one othe thing, you all prolly know this but i know that when this thing my car is done it will be cherished...i mean it was rebuilt hands off by me. i just dont understand how someone could get that attatched to a new car. i suppose it could happen but i just can wrap my head around it. im not taking a jab at you but rstoltz i found that remark a bit uncalled for...that just not true to everyone.


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Steve

hey its not done but check out its progress. http://stevelaser_1.tripod.com/

[This message has been edited by feeblerboy (edited 09-01-2002).]

sorry went on a clicking rampage. http://www.chevelles.com/forum/eek.gif

by the way Wes Colbyi hope you didnt click on the email notification box http://www.chevelles.com/forum/biggrin.gif
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Steve

hey its not done but check out its progress. http://stevelaser_1.tripod.com/

[This message has been edited by feeblerboy (edited 09-01-2002).]

those lowered imports with the wings, shaved door handles, neon lites and crap are what is referred to as ricers. they mostly have stock engines and fancy paint...inspired by Hollywod. u can blame The Fast & The Furious for the proliferation of ricers. there actually is a mindset out there that is purist with this type of machine. they drive sleepers where the performance comes first and Hollywood isn't even on the radar scope. some of those little dohc engines like the nissan sr20de(t) will rock when done right. of course, don't get me wrong, there's nothing like a big block.

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ACES# 05217
TC# 1682
1969 SS396
Slowtalker's Website (http://members.cox.net/rscott94)
My Chevelle (http://members.cox.net/rscott94/chevelle)

I just wanted to say that I am 19 years old and love well-made attractive cars no matter what country of origin, era, or whatever. I am in the process of restoring a 1967 chevelle malibu and I am very excited about it. I disagree that these imports are completely and wholly a fad because that scene has been around years before this fast and the furious phase its in now. while i do believe that for the everyday run of the mill joe it is very impractical to hop up an import considering youd probably have to pump a good 20k+ into it to get anything above 300 hp as opposed to a classic car. however ruling out import racing is pointless and kind of odd to ridicule when this whole car thing is a matter of preference and taste. i myself respect completely muscle, classic, etc. cars for their history, design, and nostalgia, but i also see the appeal in newer designs and in imports as well. i dont like all of these 75 billion honda civics that look and sound the same but i do think there are some very well designed and well built cars out there other than american made. anyway this is primarily a note to show that it is not "ignorance" of the younger generation simply a matter of taste. while it would be nice if more of the younger generation did at least respect more of the history of such things as classic and muscle cars, classical, jazz and various other forms of music, art, etc. but they dont. just as not everyone from your generations do either. i know that not everyone in the 30's 40's 50's and so on love or even respect older cars as maybe they should but thats life and like several have said the best way the instill this quality is to teach it to your children or grandchildren. and not only about cars but other things as well. thank you for your time.

well written ineed.. 19? you are mature beyond your years.

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ACES# 05217
TC# 1682
1969 SS396
Slowtalker's Website (http://members.cox.net/rscott94)
My Chevelle (http://members.cox.net/rscott94/chevelle)

well wes i am 18 adn from hosuton adn drive a 72 chevelle =) my freiends drive old cars i.e. 76 trans am 64 nova convertable,70 nova, 70 camaro ss,69 nova,73 charger, i hate imports slow and sound like bee's having sex in a coffe can, and i got my friend away from imports and now wants a chevelle. i dun think kids, like imports more, they just lack will power or knowledge to work on older cars. i also think they are caught up in the "hollywood" scene like fast adn furious all ricer, partyin, racin. it's a fad. they want that image, but imports sux i will never own one.

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72' Chevelle SS (Clone)
TC Member#1417

Well I am 16 years of age and am proud to say I am completely addicted to the Chevelle!

Oh, say about two years ago I discovered the wonders of muscle cars. Not only did my father reminiscences of his good times with his cars indulge me, but muscle cars are just unlike any other! Just recently though I discovered how awsome Chevelles were. They are just...just are great! That is the only way to describe it.

One day I will own my own Chevelle, and that will be a great day. http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif