Street scene not like it used to be

[Carls2SS]

My Signature pic says it all!

[GNVenom]

Well, I'm doing my share to keep the cult alive. Living in the Chicago area, I drive my Shelby Cobra replica every day (except in the rain). Then I'll drive the SS when the weather gets too cold to go topless - and with snow tires, all winter long.

In my neighborhood, it's probably 90% SUV's. Boring.

Life is too short to be concerned about MPG's.

[shrinkdoc]

Went to a car show yesterday which proved my point. Lots of oldies but goodies from the early 30s on up to the 70s. The only modern entried were new camaros mustangs and challengers. The only foreign was an old MG, a mazda rx7 with a chevy v8 and a restore rolls royce. No toyotas or other similar cars.

[linc400]

Car culture is simply not the same now as it was in the 1950's - 1970's. A car was freedom and prosperity. You were encouraged to buy a car to express your personality. Everything revolved around cars. Not just gas stations and specific car related things. But there would be no drive in movies or diners or even drive thru prescriptions without cars. No suburbs, motels, malls, supermarkets, or even campgrounds. A cross country road trip was a vacation and big thrill.

Today all these things that came about because of cars are taken for granted, and the car's role in their existence forgotten. Now the car is simply a point A to B appliance. All positive things are forgotten. Manufacturers focus on gas mileage and safety instead of the thrill and freedom of driving. And the media targets cars as the enemy.

So cars are simply not the same. Manufacturers no longer produce stylish individual designs. Everybody copies everybody because they are afraid something too different will be rejected, and they will lose sales. Even a 1957 Chevy, Plymouth or Ford were unique, stylish, and colorful even though they were the bottom of the line mass produced cars. Now everything is the same basic 4 door appliance in your choice of shades of gray.

[shrinkdoc]

Originally Posted by linc400

Car culture is simply not the same now as it was in the 1950's - 1970's. A car was freedom and prosperity. You were encouraged to buy a car to express your personality. Everything revolved around cars. Not just gas stations and specific car related things. But there would be no drive in movies or diners or even drive thru prescriptions without cars. No suburbs, motels, malls, supermarkets, or even campgrounds. A cross country road trip was a vacation and big thrill.

Today all these things that came about because of cars are taken for granted, and the car's role in their existence forgotten. Now the car is simply a point A to B appliance. All positive things are forgotten. Manufacturers focus on gas mileage and safety instead of the thrill and freedom of driving. And the media targets cars as the enemy.

So cars are simply not the same. Manufacturers no longer produce stylish individual designs. Everybody copies everybody because they are afraid something too different will be rejected, and they will lose sales. Even a 1957 Chevy, Plymouth or Ford were unique, stylish, and colorful even though they were the bottom of the line mass produced cars. Now everything is the same basic 4 door appliance in your choice of shades of gray.

Exactly.

[Mersades]

Originally Posted by linc400

Car culture is simply not the same now as it was in the 1950's - 1970's. A car was freedom and prosperity. You were encouraged to buy a car to express your personality. Everything revolved around cars. Not just gas stations and specific car related things. But there would be no drive in movies or diners or even drive thru prescriptions without cars. No suburbs, motels, malls, supermarkets, or even campgrounds. A cross country road trip was a vacation and big thrill.

Today all these things that came about because of cars are taken for granted, and the car's role in their existence forgotten. Now the car is simply a point A to B appliance. All positive things are forgotten. Manufacturers focus on gas mileage and safety instead of the thrill and freedom of driving. And the media targets cars as the enemy.

So cars are simply not the same. Manufacturers no longer produce stylish individual designs. Everybody copies everybody because they are afraid something too different will be rejected, and they will lose sales. Even a 1957 Chevy, Plymouth or Ford were unique, stylish, and colorful even though they were the bottom of the line mass produced cars. Now everything is the same basic 4 door appliance in your choice of shades of gray.

It's so true. Car culture was already going to the wayside when I was going up... My parents and uncles were alive to see the golden days, and they are the reason have a passion for vehicles and aeronautics. I crave car shows and car museums because I am envious that those beautiful works of art used to be commonplace on the streets of America. The amount of detail to the old designs amazes me.

I always go through a few days of mild depression when Hot August Nights ends in Reno and the roads go back to looking bland and vanilla.

[JOHNSONROD]

my beater . . . its not numbers matching big money but i did it ALL myself. i screwed up/learned a lot.

[SIXJAK]

Kids are being taught that cars destroy the environment. We need to drive Smart cars and Priuses....hey did y'all know there are 4 of them now...one to fit everybody's need as long as its not needing a car that turns heads or goes fast...those are wasteful and ruin the environent and hoard our recources that WE can't use while we send aid to Brazil so THEY can drill baby drill. That way when unrest breaks out in the middle east we get to pay 4.00/gallon at the pump. I'm waiting for a solar powered dream machine that runs on the beautiful warm sun rays and unicorn flatulence.

Sorry, I'll stop now.

[Fraxum]

The "scene" is way better today than back in the day. The cars are way faster and handle too. Car people are generally more knowledgeable.

There is less real street racing, but that's good. The roads are too crowded today. The best old cars now are the one's treated to modern technology. The stock oldsters are fun to drive around on a sunny Sunday, but try living with them 24x7.

Not knocking them but putting nostalgia in perspective. Rose colored glasses to me.

[newmoon]

Originally Posted by shrinkdoc

I stopped today and I took look around me. I noticed how boring the strEets looked of car...ugly boring cars. Sure cars are better today but extremly boring, even the 4 bangers running turbos are quick but boring even if they are 150 mph. Sure I grew up as a kid in 60s and 70s cars were not as good because tech is always evolving but the streets were really cool back then. Cars had style they were quick and they left a legacy. People knew cars were cool. Today most cars seem to be built for soccer moms and stuckup yuppies. Even cars from the 50s were cool back then. Today there are just the camaro mustang challenger and charger the rest are run of the mill cookie cutters. Am I really so wrong to feel this way?

Exactly why I bought a 12 SRT8 Challenger, I prefer the look of old muscle.

[linc400]

Originally Posted by Fraxum

The "scene" is way better today than back in the day. The cars are way faster and handle too. Car people are generally more knowledgeable.

There is less real street racing, but that's good. The roads are too crowded today. The best old cars now are the one's treated to modern technology. The stock oldsters are fun to drive around on a sunny Sunday, but try living with them 24x7.

Not knocking them but putting nostalgia in perspective. Rose colored glasses to me.

Sorry, I couldn't disagree more. Look at some postcards from the 1950's showing parking lots. Even though they were just average cars when new, they now look like works of art. Hard to believe something like a 1959 Cadillac was built just to drive to the store and work and not specifically made to be shown at car shows. Compare that to any parking lot today. Mostly bland 4 door and SUV's in shades of gray. Nothing to get excited about there.

Also, it is a complete myth that all old cars need to be modernized in order to be driven practically. I had a 1979 Lincoln that was used as a daily driver for 16 years. Absolutely nothing needed to be done to it other that normal maintainence and repairs. No it did not handle like a Porsche. But with a 6.6 liter V8 it got 13 mpg compared to my 3.6 liter V6 Camaro that gets 16 with half the weight and engine. Anything 1955-1980 can be driven daily with no problem. Only 1930's and earlier might not be practical.

[shrinkdoc]

Originally Posted by DarkneSS

I'm going to have to disagree entirely. The internet has connected those of similar interests. Before the internet it would have been 10x harder to do anything enthusiast related. Checking out other cars, seeking help/advice, researching and learning new modifications/fixes, all of this stuff is much more involved thanks to the internet.

Look at this site for example!

I say the street scene is bigger, and more widespread. It may just appear smaller because small, local car groups have been replaced by much larger, more regional car clubs. Meaning, instead of having a small group for your town, its more like your entire state or county or whatever.

It is a more mature scene as well, because car ownership costs have dramatically increased. This is a good thing. It means less kids can afford to get on the road and be irresponsible. Its better than they must wait until late teens/early 20s to be more financially sound, then they can afford a car.

It keeps the whole scene more mature.

Today its just easier to relay info and buy parts on line. Thats about it. In the 60s and 70s there were street machines and and wanna be street racers all over the streets not online. Plus in my area there were speed shops all over the place. Don't see many speed shops around much now.

[shrinkdoc]

Originally Posted by Fraxum

The "scene" is way better today than back in the day. The cars are way faster and handle too. Car people are generally more knowledgeable.

There is less real street racing, but that's good. The roads are too crowded today. The best old cars now are the one's treated to modern technology. The stock oldsters are fun to drive around on a sunny Sunday, but try living with them 24x7.

Not knocking them but putting nostalgia in perspective. Rose colored glasses to me.

I disagree. Actually the cars from the 60s and 70s rode really nice. They were smooth and comfortable, at least the big luxury cars or personal luxury sports like a Grand Prix, T-bird etc. No you could race them into a tight corner because they were highway cruisers.