Why Baby Boomers Embrace Classic Cars

Baby Boomers are realizing that they have some disposable income around now that they’re empty nesters, and classic cars are becoming popular again.  Baby Boomers are obviously the top buyers and affectionados of cars that were popular in our youth.

When I was 16 my first car was a brand new red 1965 Ford Mustang convertible with a black top.  My parents actually owned it, but I used to drive it to school, around town and then some on the weekends.  Usually, my gaggle of girlfriends were all packed in the 4-seater, top down, hair blowing in the wind.

Every summer my husband and I frequent classic old car shows.  Many often take place on Father’s Day.  Tuesday nights are “cruise nights” where you’ll find us at the local McDonald’s looking over the cars in the parking lot and listening to Oldies music – or at Lime Rock on Labor Day Weekend!

Once the children have been successfully launched, you’ll find you can finally manage to make a home and get a life for yourself.  Cars played such a huge important part of our youth.  My fondest memory is of one of my best friends who drove the old “Falcoon.” You may not have been able to afford your dream car on your ice cream shop wages then, but you may find you might be able to do so at this point in your life.

When it comes to classic car sales, muscle cars such as the Camero, GTO and Mustang  are the models currently leading the market and are very popular among Baby Boomers.  My husband was driving a Camero when we married in 1974, and believe it or not, we actually took that car through the car wash while he was still in his tux and I was still in my wedding dress!

The movies of the 1950s and 1960s popularized street rods, while the first James Bond movies popularized sports cars. The movie, The Great Gatsby (1974) romanticized old cars.

Do you know that the Baby Boomer generation, defined as those born between 1946-1964., were one of the first generations of youth to be influenced by these types of cars?  This was most likely a direct result of families moving from cities to the suburbs during the post WWII period.  

It’s time you started looking into what the classic car market has to offer, whether you previously owned one, lusted over one or love the idea of owning your very own personal pieces of history.

Because of personal responsibilities and commitments (i.e., mortgages, Parent-Plus loans, etc.) some Baby Boomers that still have pocket change hesitate to purchase a classic car.  My husband and I have come “this close” to buying one, and then chickened out at the last minute.  We held on to our 1973 Malibu for years and then sold it.  By definition, once a car is 25 years old, it’s considered an “antique.”

The insurance you get for a classic car will only cover it if it is driven in a limited capacity if it’s a “driver.” Compared to new cars, classics tend to have poor brakes, fewer safety features and some serious problems.  Experts will tell you otherwise, saying that classic cars are barely driven at all, or not meant to be drive on a daily basis.  

My brother-in-law is currently restoring a classic car as a hobby.  Ask any collector who has been doing this for awhile as well as those who are fledgling collectors and they’ll sing the praises of restoring cars back to their glory days.

The next time you see a notice tacked up at your local watering hole or sandwich shop advertising a classic car meet  – save the date!

Photo Credit: Stock.exchng: JHA

For More Information: On where you can find Classic Car Shows, Swap Meets, Auctions and Classic Car Cruises

Bio: Cindi is the author of Moomettesgram’s Musings where she offers WAHM tips, Moomette’s Magnificents Reviews, and Moomettesgram’s Favorite Recipes where she shares her personal musings and observations of a Baby Boomer Wife, Mom & Grandmother from New England.  Follow Cindi on Twitter

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