How is your VW received and perceived?

[Merlin]

This morning I experienced an all too familiar conversation...

I made the effort to visit a fairly distant car club gathering in one of my buses today. I know quite a few of the members there and was warmly welcomed by them, and once they'd introduced me to some of their friends there, I was concisely greeted by them too.

Split buses are far from a common sight around there and mine did stand out somewhat awkwardly amongst the miscellany of earlier, more 'classic' vehicles.

As is usually the case with affairs such as these, I was the youngest there, by quite a margin, until a young guy in a late bug arrived. Once we'd introduced ourselves, he made the same observation regarding age.

At one point soon after, I got chatting to an older chap about car stuff, as one does, and we then both studied a superb Ford Model A making its appearance. He remarked that it was sad, which caught me by surprise. When I asked him for an explanation, he shocked my by saying that, essentially, 'old car people' were getting older and that there was no new blood coming in to take over.

I found it VERY difficult to bite my tongue.

I am young, I arrived with a respectable looking car, albeit a 'common' VW "Koombi" and I am more than capable of holding my own, chatting about all things 'old car', yet hardly any of them inspected my bus, asked me about it or came to casually chat 'car' during my hours there.

There are a few of us trying our best, but it seems that VW is the wrong badge and that we haven't met some hidden set requirements.

Who of you experiences the same? What have your experiences been? I'd love to know, whether in a club environment or other.

To stay, more or less, within the lines, I'm referring to those who favour the more original vehicles over the pop culture-type big rims & sound with a flash paint job crowd. They're appealing to a different audience.

[Tony Z]

To stay, more or less, within the lines, I'm referring to those who favour the more original vehicles over the pop culture-type big rims & sound with a flash paint job crowd. They're appealing to a different audience.

Thanks Nic...
I hope I may comment on your post as your last comment seems to exclude me....

I think in all honesty, you miss the point.
While a few of us consider the VW as a classic, there is one common problem.
There were lots of them. Everybody had one.
There are still a lot on the road because of this.

So while it is as old and in a good condition as any other classic there, it isnt considered a classic because they are still everywhere.

I personally compare us and the current evolution of the SA VW scene to be similar to that in Germany in the 1980's.
Beetle were common and a hardcore few tweaked, restored and played with them, considering them classics.
Others laughed.
Today, it is a highly sought after classic in Germany.

We just have to ride out these next 10 to 15 years and you will see this whole mentality change.

And thats my opinion, big rims & sound with flash paint and all.....
and dont call me part of the pop culture

[Merlin]

I should have defined my last point better...

I associate with a lot of vintage collectors and a number of clubs and the people who frequent and form them are more interested in original classics than modified cars, for the most part. Of course anyone is welcome to comment, but knowing the different avenues many forum members go down, not all will have a lot of experience with the groups I'm talking about. Better?

Sure, VWs were common. My point is that a lot of these fuddy-duddys will bitch about the advancing age of their groups, but when a youngster does make the effort, the majority of them don't seem too interested in the new arrival or their cars, be it a late bug, a Golf, etc. I've met youngsters over the years who have sworn off the mass movements because they were glanced over or mistreated on their arrival. Some of those struggling 'common' cars were and are replaced with more special vehicles later on... Investment in the future.

[Tony Z]

true, but look at the common age of the old car collector... anyone under 40 is in a serious minority. Car collecting is mostly an old ballies hobby...
While there are a few of us keen younger people, 95% of the group is older. So his comment isnt entirely wrong. He piped up his comment in front of 1 young person. How many people were in the club and how many of them were "young".
Think about it like that.


*Waits for Herman to comment*

[Merlin]

true, but look at the common age of the old car collector... anyone under 40 is in a serious minority. Car collecting is mostly an old ballies hobby...

Which is exactly why comments like his are uncalled for and damaging. He is one of many that I've encountered over the years. It is a very complex issue with many fronts and whilst many clubs are doing something to try and combat it, there is still a dire lack of understanding and exchange between the youth and the elders. Enthusiasm, tolerance and communication from the old guard is a very necessary starting step to foster the next generation. After a decade of active interest in this game, by and large, it still feels somewhat lopsided in who's willing to try the most.

I've had the benefit of growing up in a classic and vintage car environment and happen to favour the same type of approach to the ballies, so I know better than many what's involved, who's involved and how things work. I can imagine how late-starters battle more so.

[retrovan]

......
*Waits for Herman to comment*

Old Ballie on duty......


Merlin, think your observation is 110 % correct. "Old Ballies" are very cynical towards "Young" classic car collectors, purely due to past experience.

Let me try to explain,
Most "Old Ballies" had a hard youth, no money, had to work at the age of 16, family had no funds for luxuries, such as studies, toys and 2nd cars.
This means that the young boy, had to beg, borough or steel the family's only form of transport, to find, and impress a girl, or get to the next jol.
This normally came at a large expense, as the cost would normally mean, extra hours, milking, mowing grass, doing the garden, ect.
This said, the transport, had a big value in his life, and the experience during the use of this car, even more.
Most of the young guys where conceived in these cars....
So, now you have a guy, that has made a few bucks, remembering the "Good old days", and finding these hard to find old memory's, ....sorry,.... cars to restore.
This now has a deep, deep value for this old car, and his buddy, the same for an other model.
Along comes a young, "Rich Kid", now likes the "Classic Car Thing, and buys a Restored old classic, drives it for a few days, gets bored with it, and converts the out of it. This is the same as taking this poor "Old Ballies" whole life, memory's and dreams, and tearing it up and tossing it back in his face.
But this young kid, can not have the same feelings for this car, as he has not "Lived" it.
To truly find a young guy that has the passion to preserve a classic for the sake of the classic, is hard to find.

If you take my case, as a child, our family 1st car was a Austin 10, I restored one, and sold it, Always wanted a DKW 1000s, after seeing them race as a kid, restored one and sold it.
My 1st car that I bought with my own hard earned cash, was a VW Fastback, dated my 1st girl in it, became a man in it, had my 1st holiday on my own in it.
Any guesses, what my favorite classic is........????
Yes, Tony is correct, as so many Beetles are still around, and the "Young" guys started their life in it, they too will become classics.
The Split bus, well they are seen as workhorses, with little memory's, or seen as "Love Vans" by "Old Ballie", so also not much good memory's.
As most had girls then.

Well that as I see it, the Classic Car thing is more a deep rooted emotional thing, then a commercial thing, a labour of love its called, now you can see why.


Herman
PS;-
Only the opinion of this "Old Ballie"

[sean]

I am a member of a few other car clubs and they filled with old people!!!!!!

I gave up with this lot, all they kept doing was organising Bingo evenings.

I personally couldn't care less what others think about my choice of car. I don't believe the youth of today are not interested in classics because its mostly old people that drive them.

[retrovan]

Hey Sean, send me their names, I am keen on a good Bingo Night out.....



No all jokes aside, It is refreshing to see more younger guys appreciate the the old crude technology from a time when Men where Men, and not dictated to by a nanny state.
and to live the short duration of the motor car as it once was, knowing what it now is.

Herman

[Sambabus]

Model A ford.......one cant just go to an online shop and order spares like you can with a Vdub. Those guys have entire machine shops to lathe parts, and metal working skills a tiny amount of "car collectors" posses...skills that are slowly getting forgotten and take years and years of practical application to master......so yes Nic,....I think the old balie was right. us young guns can barely pick out a lathe in a line up, never mind master the skills to fabricate body panels,

[Merlin]

Model A ford.......one cant just go to an online shop and order spares like you can with a Vdub. Those guys have entire machine shops to lathe parts, and metal working skills a tiny amount of "car collectors" posses...skills that are slowly getting forgotten and take years and years of practical application to master......so yes Nic,....I think the old balie was right. us young guns can barely pick out a lathe in a line up, never mind master the skills to fabricate body panels,

Don't be so sure of yourself.

I have a number of friends and acquaintances who collect vintage Fords. I've seen some of the catalogues...they make VW ones look silly.

You could quite literally build yourself a brand new Model T, should the desire and bank balance strike you so.

OT: A number of early Land-Rover people I associate with have recently clued me in on the prices of parts for their vehicles. We are being ripped a new one.

You want skills? Mate, I suggest you go and scope out a few barndoor builds...

[Sambabus]

Ah well,....when are you going to be back in town again

[Merlin]

Ah well,....when are you going to be back in town again

I'm not sure...

My list of things to do up there is growing though, so...foreseeable future. Will keep you posted.

[JamesD]

You looking at only one situation.

If you arrive at a ferrari day ,full of douchebags, in a Lotus you will get the same treatment or a lot worse. If you go to a Porsche day with an Audi what do you think will happen? what about a predominantly aircooled day and arriving in a golf 4? Or a Alfa day in a Renault.

I know we all want to show up and have our car steal the show, but once you are over that and you go more to look at other cars than have yours looked at then you should begin to enjoy it more. I have rocked up in the Elise but spoken to older guys for ages about beetles and everything else other than my car.

It is what you make of it.

[brianj]

Those type of old car clubs will die off.. forums like this will replace them. It's already started.

[JamesD]

Hopefully I will not be around when that happens. At least in person you can see if the guy is full of hot air or not and decide based on that if you want his advice or not, unlike half the googled and misguided posts you see on forums. Forums will never replace human interaction or allow you to go see that nice from far but far from nice hack job that somebody has put photos up of...