Looking into the future

Imagine that its 2030. The Datsun 240z is 60 years old and the 370z is now over 20 years old. Will we have a different attitude towards collecting cars and which cars will be most significant. While it is almost certainly accepted that the s30 will always feature as an important part of Japanese automobile history, what about everything since then. Will the 80's be forgotten in preference for the 90's (z32,mx5, GTR, supra, gto, rx7, boxter, 911 etc) or will the 350/370 feature more as the younger generation become more prominent in society consciousness. Will cars like the 240z become a museum piece that rarely goes out on the road. I would love to get responses from a variety of ages if possible. As a person in his 40's my interest and knowledge in cars doesn't go back further than the 60's. What about all you younger drivers in your 20's, how do you see it.

I think that you ask a lot of random questions to create conversation, on a car forum.

Where's your build thread? 

I think that in the year 2030, the people of the future will be worshiping the most dominant of all the Z series.

The 280ZX 2 seaters!

You don't believe me? I've just come from there and I still have my Z.

I also brought back a Sports Alminac 

You writing some sort of book?

Asking plenty random questions, going on your older threads!

I'll tell you one thing, in 2030 there will still be groups of people who will race their old historic collectable cars, and, sure as horse doo doo stinks, there will still be an anti Japanese car contingent amongst the racing fraternity.

You can put that in the book!

In future there will be no books! Everyone will just be reading PDF files on tablets!

No plans to write a book, but your responses are most appreciated. I think future perspectives can be valuable in terms of what decisons one makes.

I think that you ask a lot of random questions to create conversation, on a car forum.

Where's your build thread? 

I think that in the year 2030, the people of the future will be worshiping the most dominant of all the Z series.

The 280ZX 2 seaters!

 

You don't believe me? I've just come from there and I still have my Z.

I also brought back a Sports Alminac 

Agree, why not let us know what you drive atm, what your interests are, your aspirations, a little about ypurself, maybe in the introduction section.

Going over your 28 posts so far, you dont strike me as what one may term a forum junkie.

You posted a Wtd to buy, and then wer're all into some deep and meaningfulls! Its almost research stuff?

Ive had girlfriends that didnt get that deep!

No problems, I will post in the, "Intro", section.

I think the real decider on how classic cars are viewed will depend largely on what happens with oil production.

If it remains steady, i would expect to still see historic racing groups in regular (4-5 times a year?) outings, people will still collect them and show them at events, ect.

i would see the icon cars of the 70's being around still, although in very limited numbers, and almost all in origional appearance.

90's cars seem a bit hard to pick, i think it'll be the same deal, the icon cars will be prevalent, with quite a few modified examples.

Anything from about now-2020 onwards will be a predominant vehicle of choice for mods, racing, individualisation ect ect, like what we see now with the current range of 30 year and younger cars.

If oil production becomes reduced, and the world finally turns towards a green power supply, i think that will spell the end of the car scene as we know it, but on the other side, cement it into a history that wont be forgotten for a loooooooong time.

If fuel were to cost $15 a litre (figure out my bunghole) the few passionate people will still collect and show thier cars, but it'll be a less common occasion when it happens, as such, there will be a better turn out, a bigger wow factor ect.

Im sure some collectors will still drive occasionally, and maybe there will still be a 'historic style' lap of a track.

I have no doubts that no matter the state of oil production, there will allways be vehicle racing, man allways wants to compete and go fast, its instinct. It'll just use the power source of the day. (off topic, mandate that F1 has to be powered by Electric or Hydrogen fuel cell and watch the tech become massively advanced)

The cars of our time will simply become part of that scene, similar to when you go to a car show these days and see 70-80-90yr old blokes with thier 1900-1950's pride of joy sitting, looking like it just rolled of the assembly line.

If you get the chance, you should ask some of them the same question, to get their perspective as people who have actually lived that longer period, watching everything change.

no matter what happens though, my concern is that valuable skills and knowledge is being lost as time progresses.

The repair industry has become a 'replacement' industry, its uncommon to find a younger person who has the skills of his predecesor in seamless panel repairs, or even fabrication from scratch.

In another 30 years, will that person with those skills be 1 in 1000? 1 in 10,000? more?

I remember having a discussion with an old fella, he owned a vintage range rover from the 30's (there abouts) and was in the process of a long restoration on a Model T ford.

He was saying he would donate his cars to a museum when he passed on, as he didnt know anyone (including his kids) who knew how to maintain vehicles from back then.

Me being a bit roostery said it couldnt be that hard, any mechanicly minded person should be able to do it.

Do you know how to De-coke an engine? i dont, as he pointed out to me and that was a regular maintenance item of the era.

It seems that alot of the knowledge we have may be lost over the years unless we find and encourage people to carry on our passion.

I think the curvey and rounded lines of the 90s and early 2000s will continue to age very quickly.

Cars like mx-5s, supras, rx7s with the flowing body shape will age fast and not become collectible, whereas more gutsy, angular, and boxy edged cars like Skyline GTR will hold their value, maybe increase.

240z will increase in status as people catch on to how good they look. And as more people irreversibly molest them, eventually every Zed will have flares, dish, and spoilers, and the price will go through the roof!

Thats my opinion.

Interest in and the era of cars are a generational thing. Although I believe cars now are just a commodity and a tool we all work with but there will always be that special "one car" we will remember. I can't see that changing even if it is petrol, hybrid, electric or whatever.

Unless a new world mode of transport is introduced the inheriting family members may keep the old clankers a while but will eventually cash them in as they are too old, they deteriorate and most people are not time free to maintain them plus being lazy that is just the way society is going, we are a disposable society and modern cars are no longer a piece of art, cars are more of a world bland car and not very unique and besides every one has one just part of the wardrobe to get around in. But they do have a place in history. These days in Australia it is especially Australian muscle cars and Rice Burners which will have the attraction in 20 years time.

By the way I like your philosophical thoughts just provides out of the sqquare thinking to the forum.

Lynton

You are forgetting 1 thing though when you mention loosing certain skills to time. We have the "Internets" and this is a great way to find out how to do things. Although it's one thing to watch and another doing. At least this is 1 way the skills can be documented for future generations.

Its interesting you mention the internet as a reference, I did consider that when i was writing my wall of text.

Seeing as your in IT, perhaps you can give me your opinion on this? I have allways wondered but never really found an accurate answer.

"What is the average lifespan of something on the internet?"

I remember things that i have seen myself 8-10 years ago on the net, but do you think i can find them again? nope. dissapeared into the ether...

There is also a LOT of info on the net from 'experts' who bang on about things with little to no practical knowledge.

That will help to dilute the knowledge we may be losing.

Mostly though, the guys that do have that knowledge of forming beautiful panels by hand, de-coking engines, knowing the quriks of a 50's studebaker, ect ect, dont post on the internet. They arent the 'computer generation'

I know some adapt and add their knowlede, and its immensly valuable, but i think a lot of it will be lost over the next few generations.

My other concern with the up and coming generation of 'modifiers' is the click and play mentality of modifying.

In the video games you just click the next stage and race. i have seen (and heard) plenty of them act like thats real life, coming into Autobarn (when i worked there) and asking for a stage 3 cam kit and stage 2 aero mods.

uh, what?

These 'Artists' that do have the passion and carry on the knowledge are going to be able to name thier own price, and good for them, they are carrying on a legacy and keeping what we know of the car scene alive.

It's called an " English" wheel, it turns a flat piece of metal into a 3 dimensional (curved both ways) item, ie a boot lid for a MG Magnette, or a front guard for a Austin A40.

You use heat played on the outside and some chemical powder on inside to de- coke an exhaust, a quick fix also was to slowly pour a particular fluid down a carburrettor ( remember them!) throat, this would partially de-carbonise a cylinder head.

A Studebaker Hawk Gt, or. Lark, had a central pitman arm, linked to wheel hubs by two very long arms, the pitman was linked to a steer box, that could be mounted on eitjer chassis rail, by a drag link.

The police were sold 292 cubic inch Larks, fitted with Paxton Superchargers.

Is old fellers dont like computers, we cant roll them into shape, they dont take kindly to applications of heat and diesoleum, and we cant fit Paxton blowers. I have issues with them.

^^

Brilliant reply!

Buy that (old) man a beer! 

Gav from an older persons perspective stay in IT and use it to fund your passions, always do what you know.

Lynton

I refer to the episode of Top Gear where they test drive a fast electric car around their track.  It ran out of power very quickly and took a long time to re charge.  Until corporations have a reason to develop long lasting, fast recharging electric cars, it simply wont happen.  The other problem that exists with electric cars, is the batteries are worse for the environment than oil.  So as far as I am concerned, electric cars should not be the way of the future.

Hydrogen is too unstable in our current storage forms and considering how much roll cage exists in V8 supercars and they still manage to explode every season, we don't have a safe method yet. 

To produce bio diesel is relatively easy, but there isn't enough used veggie oil etc in the world to keep it going for ever.

In Canberra, recently, public transport and bike riding have been encouraged and it has become a lot more popular.  Going back before cars were mass produced, most people used public transport or horse and cart.  We have been spoiled with cars and prices for so long, I believe if public transport was improved for major cities, this would be a great way to reduce emissions.  I believe in the Netherlands, push bikes have right of way at all times, so this would reduce obesity and carbon emissions.

I personally don't believe humans have increased global warming beyond what was already happening, but considering cancer is now a lot more common, something is wrong with what we are doing...

"what I find funny is we needed a study to tell us Fruit and Veg was so good at preventing cancer."

haha, so true, all this duty of care crap has turned people into robots waiting to be told what to do, instead of using common sense.

Latest study to hand on 'fruit and veg' in preventing cancer has confirmed that it directly does not reduce cancer. Its the fact that fruit and veg may prevent obesity which prevents some types of cancer. The benefits of red wine are now in doubt as previously thought, and the use of mobile phones in causing brain tumours is still unclear. I hope microwave cooking is still safe.

I started this post because I wanted to see how people will view, use and value things in the future. For example how would you feel if you bought a Falcon GTHO for 750k in the 90's but in 2030 nobody wants one and you need the money. Should you have invested in gold instead. Nobody really knows for sure. You can do a study of future demographics to predict (Are there any demographers on this forum that can help)  what people will want,  a study on future government policy, which I guess what car companies do when they hire a marketing company. Hence there has been talk of the 2013 zed being hybred based with Mercedes technology (Is this true)

You can disregard the future and enjoy the present and go out and buy what you like, isn't that what classic cars are all about. Depending on ones financial situation this will be a determining factor. Would you buy a an s30 for 100g's in 2030?

Another factor is all about performance values and consumer expectations. The 240z in standard form is a fun car and style statement that will perform roughly 0-100 in around 8-9.2 seconds, a z31 turbo is slightly quicker has fuel injection and power everything in a heavier lounge room package, it has some features found in modern cars. A 370z will do 0-100 in 5.8 seconds, does it make everything before suffer from what one magazine quoted as, " the worst case of performance decay or," seen as heavyweight dullards".

I don't know, it is car forums and car clubs that need to plan ahead for the future.

if in 2030 i was in the financial position to blow $100k on a zed just for shits and giggles, yea, i would.

Coz if i could get that money together to blow it on nothing much in particular, chances are id be stupidly rich 

Here's dreaming....

...Would you buy a an s30 for 100g's in 2030?...

Tell him he's dreamin'.

I would support the idea made earlier that car values are a generational thing and add the economic climate as a major factor. I would predict FJ Holdens will be as valuable, if not more, than a GTHO in 2030 because of their historical significance.

Car desires are mostly linked to the testosterone fuelled psyche in our teens and from there it's largely a matter of finance. I grew up with my father talking about cars of his youth (1920-30s) and he would always stop and look at them. Veteran cars were big in my youth but today you can pick them up for a song, blokes like my father have passed on and thus so has the market. My teen years in the 60s links me to that era, hence my 250 GTO, and my interest in European cars and motor sport of that era. The 90s-00s strong interest in muscle cars was fuelled by cashed up blokes fulfilling the desires of their 70s youth, but after the GFC they are much tighter with their money. I attended the auction where that GTHO sold for +$700k but I also notice they are struggling for $400k these days. When the youth of the 70s moves to a 70+ age bracket the price of muscle cars will plummet. 

By my generational reckoning, buying and restoring a WRX would be the go in 2030 but with the credit available in the 90s most desires were probably fulfilled at the time - but the nightmare of repaying the loan probably remains!

I very much lament the loss of crafts and trades that started with the industrial revolution (and also enhanced by it) but they have suffered exponential decline with the introduction of automation and the invention of the microchip, however, I'm pragmatic enough not to give up my lifestyle for their return.

Gav - I like the adage ‘work to live’; do what gives you the best financial return but make sure you spend it on what gives you the most pleasure. Like you, I've always longed to form up an aluminium panel on an English wheel but take it from me it's not a skill you pick up by going one night a week to TAFE.

PS. I'll be in Ireland for a few weeks in Aug-Sept – a trade-off with the other half allowing me to attend the Goodwood Revival in September, perhaps we could catch up for a Guinness or two.

So

Best guess?

What will the current series of Z's from 240 to 370 be worth in 2030?

I was present at Nissan QLD in 1990 for the launch of the Z32. I would never of guessed what today's prices would have been.