Every human has fears / concerns at varying degrees in their life. Ups and downs, love and fears make a person human. Here are my own views on the top fears / concerns of a classic car owner.
1. Inheritance
If a person owns a classic car for investment, this person will be thinking of selling it some time in the future to realize his/her investment. This person may be very knowledgeable about classic cars or may have deep interest in classic cars but the bottom line is still profit. The car will be sold eventually.
There are some classic car owners who keep their car because they have an emotional attachment to the car. It may be because they were intrigued by a certain classic car model (fell in love with it) or they have built up life experiences with the car or they identify their personalities with that of the car. This group of classic car owners will want to keep their car as long as they possibly can.
However, most of the time, the children of these classic car owners rarely share the same love or enthusiasm in the car as the parent. What will happen to the car when the classic car owner becomes too old and frail to maintain a classic car? Will the car end up in a museum (...a good ending actually)? Or will it be reluctantly sold/auctioned off to a stranger? The older a person gets, the more urgent this becomes.
There are some classic car owners who keep their car because they have an emotional attachment to the car. It may be because they were intrigued by a certain classic car model (fell in love with it) or they have built up life experiences with the car or they identify their personalities with that of the car. This group of classic car owners will want to keep their car as long as they possibly can.
However, most of the time, the children of these classic car owners rarely share the same love or enthusiasm in the car as the parent. What will happen to the car when the classic car owner becomes too old and frail to maintain a classic car? Will the car end up in a museum (...a good ending actually)? Or will it be reluctantly sold/auctioned off to a stranger? The older a person gets, the more urgent this becomes.
2. Continuity
While peak oil has been discussed numerous times and it may still be a number of years away, technology advances very quickly. Every other car on the road is a hybrid car and electric cars are getting their share of the tarmac as well.
Eventually petrol stations will be replaced by charging stations. Reliance on fuel will be reduced and petrol-based automobiles will become economically unattractive. It will be harder and harder for the classic car owner to find fuel to run their car.
While one may argue that petrol will still be available for several decades, a fuel less future is approaching very quickly. This makes it harder to maintain a classic car and keep it running on the road. A big part of owning a classic car is to drive it and driving a classic car requires fuel.
Eventually petrol stations will be replaced by charging stations. Reliance on fuel will be reduced and petrol-based automobiles will become economically unattractive. It will be harder and harder for the classic car owner to find fuel to run their car.
While one may argue that petrol will still be available for several decades, a fuel less future is approaching very quickly. This makes it harder to maintain a classic car and keep it running on the road. A big part of owning a classic car is to drive it and driving a classic car requires fuel.
3. Function
Unlike other collector items like art, jewelry or coins, a classic car is more valuable when it can still be driven. Who can take their eyes off the classic car touring down the road? A classic car rumbling to life can easily capture anyone's attention and wonder.
At the same time, a fully functional classic car is also subjected to various stress with wear and tear, similar to any mechanical moving parts. Over time, these parts will have to be strengthened, repaired or replaced.
The older the car, the harder it is to find replacement parts. It will continue to get harder and harder to drive off in a classic car.
On the other hand, technology can also help with this. With current advances in 3D printing, it will be possible in the future to scan an existing automobile part and print it out. Perhaps in the future, we can even print out a whole piece of Alfa Romeo Alfasud carburetor choke plate in metal.
At the same time, a fully functional classic car is also subjected to various stress with wear and tear, similar to any mechanical moving parts. Over time, these parts will have to be strengthened, repaired or replaced.
The older the car, the harder it is to find replacement parts. It will continue to get harder and harder to drive off in a classic car.
On the other hand, technology can also help with this. With current advances in 3D printing, it will be possible in the future to scan an existing automobile part and print it out. Perhaps in the future, we can even print out a whole piece of Alfa Romeo Alfasud carburetor choke plate in metal.
4. Regulation
Governments will continue to get non-environmental friendly automobiles off the road. Incentives will be given for manufacturing / owning environmentally friendly automobiles and tougher regulations for non-environmentally friendly ones. Most classic cars fall under the non-environmentally friendly ones.
In general, this is what the public wants and classic car owners should support this as well. It is the responsibility of every human to take care of mother earth for future generations.
At the same time, governments need to ensure safety of the public. Older cars most likely do not meet today's safety standards and this is considered a risk to the public. Of course, the last thing any classic car owner wants to do is to hurt someone or get the car damaged in an accident. Classic car owners will maintain the car to the best of their ability and avoid driving dangerously or driving at high risk locations.
But governments may still pass laws that are detrimental to classic car owners. The last thing a classic car owner wants to hear is a blanket ban for any cars older than 15 years. Hope this does not happen here in Malaysia.
In general, this is what the public wants and classic car owners should support this as well. It is the responsibility of every human to take care of mother earth for future generations.
At the same time, governments need to ensure safety of the public. Older cars most likely do not meet today's safety standards and this is considered a risk to the public. Of course, the last thing any classic car owner wants to do is to hurt someone or get the car damaged in an accident. Classic car owners will maintain the car to the best of their ability and avoid driving dangerously or driving at high risk locations.
But governments may still pass laws that are detrimental to classic car owners. The last thing a classic car owner wants to hear is a blanket ban for any cars older than 15 years. Hope this does not happen here in Malaysia.
5. UnOriginal
It will get harder and harder to maintain originality of a classic car. Sometimes the reasons are unavoidable. A 'similar' part is used instead of original since the original parts are rare or no longer in production.
The previous owner may have modified the car, perhaps for aesthetic or performance reasons. Maybe it is just necessary to install air conditioning for comfort, especially here in tropical Malaysia.
A classic car is most valuable in the original form. Every classic car owner will want to know that their classic car is the most valuable car in town, don't they?
The previous owner may have modified the car, perhaps for aesthetic or performance reasons. Maybe it is just necessary to install air conditioning for comfort, especially here in tropical Malaysia.
A classic car is most valuable in the original form. Every classic car owner will want to know that their classic car is the most valuable car in town, don't they?
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