Instead of arguing the politics of why....why not look for solutions to not allow the hobby to diminish or die? I am always reminded when I read the problem of the future of car collecting a day years ago when I ran a car show that had 700+ cars attend. A very young teenage kid pulled in with a beautiful purple late '60's Dodge Challenger. I made sure he parked with the similar muscle cars of his car's period. But he could have not been seen as more "alien" than someone from Mars as he was at least 20+ years younger than every other car owner. So I decided instead of walking over to tell him I admired his car and thanking him for bringing it, I would stand back and watch what happened for a few minutes. To my amazement, but not my surprise, not a single owner or even a guest came over to ask him about his ride. It was easy to see why we have a problem with this issue. There is a disconnect between middle age and older car guys (probably less with women) and the teenagers growing up that he have not been inspiring to be a car collector/owner. Fathers are not getting their kid(s) hands greasy, they are not showing them the "buying process" and all it entails. They are telling them they don't like "their choice" instead of allowing them the independence of what they want. There are countless other things that have slowly been being lost or diminished it their kid(s) minds and eyes. Heck, has there ever even been a story about a kid (not father/son) who explains WHY he loves his old car in a Hagerty magazine or online? Well there should be, because all of the above and this will inspire his buddies and many other kids his age to become the next generation of old car loving adults someday which WILL continue the "Hobby" as we would want it to. ... View more

When I saw the first 944, in factvpretty much 924, 944, and turbo, they were always Guards Red in the magazine. Couple that with the fact they sold a ton of them to save the company back then and you have your numbers. So, I had to have one for myself a few years ago when I got older and still have an '84 with very low miles. Probably one of the best $ per car deals I ever made at $5k. It's easily doubled since. ... View more

I have loved old (and newer) Porsches for 40+ years and have read and watched all I could find about the 550's. I even considered a Beck version after seeing a couple at car shows. That was until I found out about the 2011-12 Boxster Spyder while reading about it on the auction site, Bring a Trailer years ago. I researched the car ALOT finding out that it was one of 2 vehicles supposedly most liked by the late Ferdinand Piech himself. This 987.2 Spyder was literally, the "re-incarnation" of the 550 and MANY owners past and present touted its "Porsche Minimalistic-ness" and how fantastic it was to drive. Low production numbers even too. So I had to have one and bought one back in 2018 and in the first mile, I knew I had found the "car of my lifetime". No wonder Mr. Piech liked it. I think James Dean would have had this car if he was still around as well. I think a great story would be the "before and after" of these two cars side by side in detail. One thing is for sure, I WILL NOT BE SELLING MINE. Thanks to Hagerty, who insures it, for this story. ... View more

The Quattro absolutely.  It started the 4x4 "car" revolution after all and was so insane in the World Rally Gruppe B series, they pretty much ended it because it dominated so well and the fools who lined the rally way too close to the cars going by at 120+ died.  But gotta agree with @Whiplash, I expected the Porsche 959 to be here and it's not?  That would be even more crazy to drive than the Quattro. ... View more

A new 400 HP Porsche Flat 6 behind the seats of a 914 or my 944.  Light weight, mid-engine, and the sound of normal aspiration.  Maybe not the fastest in a straight line, but on a twisty mountain road or the track, Fuggetaboutit. ... View more

It was 466 back then supposedly, then re-routed and re-named 46.  There are many accident recreations of this out there, but one I just saw on YT was pretty good: https://youtu.be/4wnxM1qg76Y where it is said pretty convincingly that Dean was driving much faster than was originally stated.  The picture of the Ford's damage (which was built like a tank) pretty much confirms it. ... View more

And yet, the Porsche 944 Turbo is not here.  A reasonable low mile, 80's could be had sub-15k, and it would surely hold its value better than these 3, along with be way more fun to drive. ... View more

Hmmm, am I the only one who believes you forgot the 2nd Gen Porsche Cayman S?  The '09, for only 100 pounds more than the S2000, you got 90hp, mid-engine balance, and a now highly sought after car.  A car that actually beat the 911 Carrara around Nurburgring.  Seem like worse than a mistake and no Acura NSX which is blowing up in the market these days? ... View more

As a little kid, I always envied other kids in the neighborhood who flew by on Ace 100's, Honda CT-70's, and Briggs & Stratton powered mini bikes.  These seemed to be the "learning bikes" to me at the time.  My older brother got a big tire, Honda 50 and that was a big deal.  But when it came time I was old enough to beg for a street bike like ones shown above, my mother said, "If you can come to my office and look at something, we can talk about it".  She worked as a secretary at a funeral home and when I got down there, she walked me into the chapel where a guy was in an open casket with a sheet over his head.  She said, "Ok, if you can look at this guy who died riding a motorcycle, we'll talk".  I ran.  My Sting Ray would suffice from that day forward.  My mom knew as crazy as I rode my bike and how my brother rode his Honda, that much more speed on the street would probably give me the same result as the "guy at work". ... View more

I have helped run a few car shows in recent years, from small 200ish Cars & Coffee monthly's to a 750+ County Fairgrounds one.  I have always been a car guy, but what I do not get is guys who show such disdain for a make or model because it's not the type "they" like.  I have had Pinto's/VW's to Porsches and Mercedes.  I have liked/loved them all.  I have seen old guys with their classics and hot rods to youngsters with their tuners.  What I often don't see, is a mixing of all of them.  If all of us do not relish and respect the "one man's trash is another man's treasure" philosophy, we may end up losing the younger gen's love of cars at all.  Fathers need to pique the interest in their sons/daughters like yesterday to keep them from losing what we grew up with.  Don't steer them away from what they like if it's not what you do, respect their interests and culture them. ... View more

These cars all look best going straight, at a car show or cruising your local main street.  But come up on a sharp corner too fast and you'll wish you had slowed down ALOT more because you have rear drum brakes, often  in front as well.  The body lean?  Ya better have your seat belt on tight.  My old '68 Mustang F/B GT 390 was even like that.  But that said, I love the styling that has made them more popular, albeit with most of us older crowd.  Unless it's a low mileage keep it original, it makes sense to redo the entire suspension to more modern parts, but think twice, because you may never get the return on your investment when sold. ... View more

VW should have taken a page from the Toyota and Nissan playbook by creating a new badge (aka Lexus/Infiniti).  They knew it would be difficult to sell upscale cars with names more closely associated with low priced ones.  I thought the Magnum was a great idea, maybe most didn't.   Still waiting for the re-design, modern version of the El Camino/Ranchero after all that's been done with Camaros/Mustangs. As for the Aztek, it was the styling that scared people away before even getting in one.  It was not designed by anyone under 60, but by a bunch of old farts sitting around a big long table.  I think the idea is sound, people like getting outdoors more now and and the right vehicle that could convert to a pseudo-camper might still work. ... View more