Vintage Cars Collecting

They say they don't make them like they used to. That may be true, but to the thousands of America's antique auto collectors, that is fine with them. They enjoy taking care of their vintage cars, rolling treasures of automotive history.

Since the antique car hobby was started by the popular Ford Model T, The Ford Motor company's products have propelled the hobby ever since. The original Thunderbird two seat coupe, made only for three years in the mid fifties, now commands prices only for the very wealthy. The infamous Edsel, also produced for only three years in the late fifties, commands far lower old auto prices. Thus, they can still be had by a beginner collector. Vintage cars of the fifties are still plentiful, and they are modern enough for everyday driving.

The first wave of compact cars which began in the late fifties are economical, easy to drive and work on. For those will limited funds and limited space, they are ideal collector cars. The common Ford Falcon four door sedan is still plentiful, but the Ford Ranchero pickup with the same design is a rarity

The revolutionary and much maligned Chevrolet Corvair, with an innovative air cooled rear engine, is still abundant. Over two million of these vintage cars were built, most in the early sixties. Thus Corvairs are reasonably priced. The top of the line Corvair Monza coupe and convertible, some with supercharged engines, are becoming a rarity. The peculiar air cooled engine had oil leakage problems early on, but that was resolved.

Every weekend, there is a vintage cars show somewhere in America, and everyone is invited. You may well enjoy being a part of this fascinating hobby.