VCCA Home Forums GENERAL DISCUSSION General Discussions Modern car/ classic look

does any one else ever want to have Chevrolet take a new look at what they are making for cars that the people want ? I would like to see a new car that would look somewhat like one of the classics from the 1930's to the 1950's I know of a lot of guys up in my area talk about this at car shows and other places. think of how nice it would be to have a real daily driver . I thought about making one myself but not sure if I would want the stress of the complete job on modifying both cars. to keep the old look but to have the modern drive

That's what I call a street rod, I built my 41 Master Deluxe two door the way I thought Chevy should have. All stock on the outside except wheel and tires, with a 91 350 Tuned Port bored and stroked to 383 700 trans 2000 Silverado seats and 97 S-10 console. Also has air power steering cruise control power disc brakes. Its my daily driver, except in the winter. I know most of you think they should be left stock and all off my other cars are, but the 41 is my favorite plus the fact I built it.

It is a known fact that retro sells. Mustang, VW bug and Charger. It is also ,in my opinion, the most economical way to "change" a model without retooling. Using existing plat forms, manufacturers are able to produce cars that everyone wants at an attractive price. Some currently do, but as in the cases of the T-Bird, not always. I would like to see some sort of "50's" or "60's" style retros but any year style would be nice!
:vcca:

They have been doing it:
Chevrolet HHR - kind of looks like a 1948 Chevy
Chevrolet SSR - looked like a 1953 Chevy pick-up
Chevrolet Camaro for 2010, kind of looks like 1967-1969.

If you stretch your imagination a little and also have a few beers first the vehicles listed above might kinda sorta look like the original cars they are supposed to represent.

I agree, also the price would not be comparable even adjusting for inflation.

Glyn,
I don't know about that. My son bought a 2008 Mustang GT last year and it was only $31,000 out the door with NYS 8.25 sales tax, all and all it really is not a lot of money. What did a 1968 GT sell for? $6-$7,000? So if it increased 4 times in 40 years it is not that bad. I know I make more that 4 times of what my father earned in 1968, and I know houses cost almost 10 times than they did in 1968 around here.

John

I have an 2006 HHR spring edition and we love the car and plan on keeping it. if GM would not retool every year this would save them alot. The cars listed above are somewhat a retro but they could do a lot better in body styling to mach some of the older cars that were built with steel and not plastic Maybe someone from GM will read what we are posting and do something about it made with pride in the USA

glyn, Prices are a bit more than they should be. Prices need to be more in line with the current economic down turn.

I sort of agree with findoctr.

The 2010 Camaro entry price of 22,300 for the LS seems a little high in comparison to other kid cars out there. When you consider that most kids would prefer an RS or SS, they will probably look elseware.

I'm not sure, but I thought the cost of a base level 1967 Camaro was more in line with the rest of the fleet to get the kids (us!) to buy them. Yes, the rs and SS cost a little more, but they were still within reach. Not like today at 30-35K. I'm not so sure, given the economy today, that the kids are able to afford a new RS/SS Camaro.

It's BIG Business!

What else is out there for that money? 5K down payments are less than three hundred......
John

RGwiz,

As I said before,the price spread between different mdls. back then seemed to be much less than mdls. of today. Some,(especially younger kids)get use to and accept these large #'s that they think it is normal. It is all they have seen! I had a very "lean" childhood and grew up knowing the true VALUE of a $!!!!!
But being one of those "Helicopter" parents my kids unfortunately fall into "Who cares about the price" category. Prices are to high on just about everything and you don't have to have a degree to know that.

I also grew up with an appreciation of the value of work and $$$. My first job paid $ 0.50 per hour and I was glad to get it. New cars at that time were in the $ 1500-2000 range for entry level vehicles. Could buy a driveable car for $ 50.

Today entry level wages are more that ten times my first job and new vehicles are less than 10 times. Besides the new cars have air conditioning, air bags, are expected to go 100k miles before major repairs, tires and brakes last more than 10-20k miles, etc. So in my mind cars are much cheaper on a relative basis than they were 50+ years ago.

My first job, I was a kid so I can't really compare that to what supports my family now. Both of us work, always have, but still can't seem to get ahead.?

True cars sold for $1500-$2700. Now $10,000-$48,000 and that's conservative. (Difference in the spread between mdls.)

Wages have gone up but how many people can you find to agree that it has kept pace with the coast of living?

Cars ARE much safer, last longer, and offer many more appointments but that's the way technology works. Advancements always get cheaper over time.

Now try to get a driver for under $5000.(One that runs)!

You can still find a bunch of drivable vehicles around here for less than $ 5K that will even pass inspection.

I guess that's the reason for the difference of opinion. Around here a good used car is at a premium. Good used cars in the classified adds disappear before you can even inquire. If you know someone with a dealers license and pay them to find one @ an auction, then you have a good chance. If you take a chance on a fixer-upper, You've got-price,$2000.,then possibly a trany. $3000.,exhaust-$300.,and a host of other problems that could make it very unpleasantly expensive.

John, I agree, $5k down and $300 a month! (for the LS)

My 19 year old daughter is in her second year of college with no real savings that she can use for a car. It all must be used for school. (Templeton Account)

She would love to have a nicer car but can not afford it on the two part time jobs she juggles between classes.

I could give her a down payment but she would still have a tough time making payments. Besides, I bought her a $6K Jetta two years ago and it's in great shape.

If she is not a "typical 19 year old" then I admit that I don't know what the kid market is today. That is what makes me think Chevy's real target for the Camaro is the "baby boomers" (us again) with the extra cash or a 19 year old with rich parents.