As the 2014 show season trudges further towards the lull of fall Rod Authority has cataloged yet another year of beautiful classic cars. From hot rods and street rods to kustoms and decked out bombs–it’s safe to say that the second decade of the 21st century maintains a bustling climate and ever-expanding passion for the hobby.

Yet, one issue has come to mind time and time again. There is a clear stratification between the younger and older demographic of enthusiasts. I like to think that this magazine sets itself apart from many other publications dedicated to the classic car in that we have tasked ourselves with making sure to equally represent them all.

Whether it’s a street rod that has been meticulously built by the industry’s leading names with build costs rivaling half a payment of a new house, or a traditionally aesthetic kustom that’s backyard-resurrected through the collaborative efforts of younger car clubs–I feel that it is our mission to portray the entire scope of classic car culture in equal and unbiased light.

The topic in question–what is the essence of this separation of older and younger crowds? Why is it that the younger guys are, not entirely, but safe to say, not generally in attendance at the bigger nationals such as Goodguys and NSRA events? Likewise, while there are certainly older veterans and car clubs present at shows rooted in traditional hot rod and custom builds, events that cater to the street rod–a classic outfitted with modern updates such as EFI, amenities, and newer-styled wheels, generally cater to the older guys.

This question is not arbitrary and has come up in many conversations with the older crowd and aftermarket individuals alike. It is a subtle, but looming fear that the hobby will eventually fade with the older generation due to this apparent lack of participation from the teens to those in their twenties and thirties.

I have my own opinions as an enthusiast within his mid-twenties. I also have opinions that I’ve formed from having some heartfelt conversations with individuals on both sides of the spectrum while at respective shows that attract each. Let’s take a look and see if we can boil down the eccentricities of this truly beautiful sect of car culture, but at the same time one that is clearly splintered.

The Rite Of Passage Vs. Been There Done That

There are three very impactful quotes from three very important people in the industry that I feel hit home the very essence of this apparent disconnect between young and old:

“Cars are what we all have in common, but hot rodders and customizers embrace them in a way that nobody else does. They use their cars not only as transportation, but as a means of creating something almost from scratch that they can call their own.” – Leslie M. Kendall, Curator at Petersen Automotive Museum

This speaks volumes about one aspect that sets enthusiasts part–those who build, or rebuild (a majority if not the entire project) versus those who PAY to have it built. The one thing I need to stress is that there isn’t one method that qualifies an individual to be deemed a “better enthusiast” over their counterpart, but there are certainly different emotions that are evoked when you talk to someone who worked hard for the money to create something versus someone who broke their body to resurrect something.

Both require work ethic, dedication, and discipline, so we should be able to put aside any defensive thoughts brewing inside our heads. The point is to understand that events and certain aspects of purchasing trends (rebuilding and restoring a part versus relying on the aftermarket) speak to these specific types of car owners. In turn, they are drawn to those who share the same sense of pride and what it takes to really claim ownership of a build.

Couple that with years of socioeconomic expectations that the individual has developed based on their personal interactions, experiences, and milestones in life and you have a community that becomes naturally stratified based on a blue-collar versus white collar aesthetic.

“The car represents an art form and the only difference between us and people that put it on paper is we do our art and then we drive it around.” – Pete Chapouris, President of SO-CAL Speed Shop

One of the biggest issues is the perception of how one shows respect to a piece of history such as a classic car. There are those who seek to preserve the classic by isolating it from activities such as daily driving, modifying, or letting people touch, poke or prod the vehicle out of curiosity.

On the other hand, there are those who believe that the best way to honor a classic car is to keep it in its natural habitat–in motion, driven hard and fast until the wheels fall off and the vehicle has to be rebuilt again.

There is obviously common sense and etiquette involved when it comes to interacting with someone else’s vehicle, but that goes for older and newer vehicles alike. Where you get the divide is between the owners and their sentiments–those who preserve through isolation and treating their automobile like a museum exhibit versus preservation through letting a car live by allowing it to feel the road, go places, and let new generations of youngsters admire the craftsmanship with their curious hands.

Again, neither way of thinking is right or wrong, but it’s human nature for people to gravitate towards those who are like-minded. Both methods of honoring a classic car are beautiful and necessary in my opinion and they each have their benefits as well as their downside when it comes to ensuring the longevity of this culture.

“You didn’t go buy your parts you just took the existing parts and made them better. Or made a manifold like my dad did. He had knack of looking at something in an engine and figuring what was wrong, what it needed, and to go from there.” – Vic Edelbrock Jr.

The irony here is that Edelbrock has become one of the largest and most successful aftermarket automotive companies in this day and age. But there was a point where the aftermarket didn’t exist. Those who would become the aftermarket’s forefathers exhibited a spark for innovation and creativity that led to this bustling and ever-expanding industry.

My heartfelt opinion to our aftermarket friends is this, can you blame the new generation for wanting to emulate that same spark that Vic Edelbrock Senior, Alex Xydias, Bill Hines, Dick Dean, Gene Winfield, and other big name originals exhibit or still exhibit to this day?

In terms of our aftermarket friends’ thinking about the longevity of their hot rod and custom directed product lines, see it this way–the pride in youth is forged in the fires of proving ones metal–one’s worth. While the younger guys are still purchasing aftermarket cams and intake manifolds, there is a part within us that feels the importance of honoring tradition, moreover proving our dedication by subjecting ourselves to the same challenges icons went through in the 40s, 50s, and 60s.

It is this reverence and personal expectation of ourselves that I believe is one of the best forecasts for what the future of hot rodding and customizing will be in the next couple of decades. And naturally, as a younger guy gets older they tend to find themselves in a better position in life with a little more purchasing power–they will invest more in the aftermarket when they are in an economically stable position.

My hopeful view for the entirety of this culture and what it’s become in the 21st century looks like this–we develop our communities that are STILL die-hard for their code, their locale’s traditions, and are also prideful in supporting aftermarket companies, shops, and craftsmanship that they believe in. Even if it’s still a splintered culture, one that is divided because of loyalty to its set of beliefs is the perfect representation of what it is to be a free and uninhibited human being, represented through our love for the classic automobile.