With the cost of classic car restorations running as high as $60,000, why are these vehicles so popular among automotive fanatics? For starters, many collectors are willing (and able) to fix it up themselves, considerably decreasing the required budget. But that still doesn’t explain the entire allure of old cars.
Cory Fitch of Minnesota explains that to run-of-the-mill drivers, the thought of spending any money or time on their vehicle fills them with dread. Thus, they would never wish to own a classic car, which tend to come with a myriad of hidden problems. However, plenty of people have caught the classic car bug — and it isn’t a new phenomenon, either. Despite the expense, old car collecting has been a popular passion for decades.
While everybody has their personal reasons for buying and restoring classic vehicles, experts share a few common denominators that make these cars irresistible to many.
The Powerful Pull of Nostalgia
Nostalgia can be brought on by many things. For some, it’s the tune of their favorite childhood nursery rhyme. For others, it’s the smell of their mother’s cooking. And for the rest, it’s four-wheeled classics.
Most car enthusiasts start the hobby when they’re a child because their parent, grandparent, or sibling did it beforehand. This love stays with them throughout adulthood, with numerous people searching for a car their dad owned or one driven by their favorite singer, like the BMW 507 Series II Roadster sported by Elvis Presley, to buy and restore.
Certain models can transport individuals to a different time and place in their lives, and it’s hard to say no to the allure of intense nostalgia.
The Unignorably Beautiful Design
Modern cars just don’t look as good as their classic cousins. Representing a time when designers were willing to try out new, never-seen-before aesthetics, old vehicles have that special something that not even Elon Musk’s Tesla could replicate.
Those who love automobiles for their beauty won’t find any car more alluring than those built in previous eras. Collectors gaze upon classic cars like they’re paintings hanging in The Louvre. After all, they showcase many features the world won’t see again (like pop-up headlamps).
The Yearning to Hold a Place in History
Today’s automotive design and technology originated from classic vehicles, with some models holding a more significant place in history than others. And people want a part of that in their garages.
Those who collect cars for this reason are celebrating the impact a particular model had on the industry. The most popular classics boast unique features that shifted the sector’s direction. Take the Mercedes 300SL, for instance — not only is it deemed the world’s most aerodynamically innovative design, it’s also the first car powered by gasoline to have a fuel-injected engine. What’s not to love?
The Innate Desire to Be Part of a Community
Last but not least, buying a classic car fosters relationships with the small yet tight-knit community of vintage auto enthusiasts. With multiple clubs devoted to restoring old cars, it fulfils human’s animalistic need to be a part of something greater.
