OPEN DISCUSSION TOPIC VIII
Cars of Today, Restore or Recycle?
Do you think you will ever pursue the full restoration of a 1993 Ford Escort? Wait a minute, never mind, we really don’t restore too many 1974 Chevrolet Vega’s either, we hot rod them. So, let’s try this, how about restoring a 1993 Ford Taurus (hot rod it – can’t you find a better candidate)? No, a 4-door family sedan, reserved for 1932-1948 fans only. The point…would you ever really consider restoring any vehicle built after say 1990? To translate, this is a vehicle with a transverse engine, subframe, an Electronic Control Module (ECM), and a straight rear axle, and lots of injected molded plastic inside. What if it was a 1996 Chevrolet Impala SS? Interesting, but still computer controlled and full of plastic – like it or not.
Have we been presented with a paradigm shift in classic cars? In 30 years will all of our favorite restoration parts suppliers be re-creating injection molds to re-produce parts and making older computer brains to replenish those that have died? Personally, I don’t think so. One man’s opinion but let’s look at the options to consider.
If you are lucky enough to find a company who has researched the computer module to develop a replacement and then to have it available for your 1990’s classic car in the year 2035 then lucky you, you can now restore your ‘classic car.’ Ron Francis, our future in modern day classic cars is on your shoulders. Electronics continually phase out and become obsolete. The only way to provide an adequate replacement in the future will be to reverse engineer the ECM and use modern day technology (whatever that will be in 2035) to reconstruct a working ECM. Then…..what do you have compared to an unrestored original? You really won’t be able to fully restore your ‘classic car’ to OEM specs with re-verse engineered electronics in use, they are just not the same. So how will the modern day re-classic cars (Camaro’s, Mustangs, and Chargers) compare to the original muscle cars? Fortunately by then, the wire harness will most likely be obsolete in the event wireless technology replaces everything from rear lights to ignition coils.
Plastic features. We have all seen the large plastic dashboards and center consoles. These are disposable in design compared to the older vinyl covered metal stampings. What are the chances of pulling out a large center console in the junkyards 20 years from now that is not damaged? Then again, who says there are going to be junkyards (topic for another day)? The EPA will probably have them all closed. It is not foreseeable that a reproduction company will spend the dollars to reproduce an injection mold that today costs $100,000 for only 1 car part – the large dash cover – extending from door to door and only made for one car model.
One and Done. That is what I see from the market. One represents the car as it came from the dealer lot. Done represents that as it came off the lot, it will not be able to be duplicated. I may be wrong, I hope I am for the sake of the future of our hobby.
“Hey fellas! Check out my full restored transverse mounted 4.3L V-6.” Did you ever think you would hear that line? “We had to pull the engine to replace those original spark plugs lined up against the firewall. But we were going to do it anyway, had to weld a new subframe under the Lumina as well.” All for what? The rights to brag about the nicest restored mid-1990’s car at the car show. An award for all your work and dedication although that guy with the restored 1970 Chevelle SS took home the hearts of all the fans at the show. “But my Lumina is a trailer queen, you can eat off the subframe!” On question…..why?
Alternatives? You bet, there are alternatives. Look at the number of reproduction steel bodies and modern chassis replacements we can put together to re-create the real classic cars. Maybe the real classics are never replaced and OEM performance will thrive under the One and Done concept. Beyond your own ‘hot rod in a box’ we are now seeing mass production type of hot rods coming to you with all new parts in a turn key configuration probably with a warranty. Imagine that, a warranty with your 1932 Roadster. 1932 by appearance only.
I am not knocking cars of any years. I love them all, always have, always will. The manufacturers continue to give us great styling and higher quality every year. They are great looking and have improved performance every year. What I am saying……I don’t see a market in classic car restoration after 1990 large enough to warranty the full reproduction of OEM parts. At the same time in 2035 parts and reproduction bodies as well as original steel will continually be available for our favorite cars produced pre-1987.
Where does that leave the future in car collecting? Think it through, you know the dreaded answer. Finance a new car and drive it from day one like it is a 35 year old collector car and never let it go. You will have something extremely rare when the time comes. This is reserved for the chosen few who can afford to do such an act of heroism in 2035.
Your thoughts?
J. Shelton
