The MV Hobby, De-Mob

[chris vickery]

Hanno, your reply with the indication of a museum making the collection "younger" and "recognizable" is exactly what I am alluding to;
It seems that most collectables, whatever they are, revolve around the generation that most appreciates and can afford them. Typically this is the age group which hovers between 40 and 60, those whos children are grown and gone, have stability and have the financial freedom to pursue the hobby.
In our market for example, it is not quite the same as collecting match book covers or coins. Heavy machinery which was made for young man's sport becomes more and more of a challenge even to the most able bodied among us.

[Phil Waterman]

Hi All

I have read a number of studies about the antique car hobby over the last few years and yes the average age of collectors is getting older. I'll try and find my notes on the studies and post the links.

The MV club I belong to is very concerned about this issue and has been for a number of years the core of the club are now all my age about 65. Very recently though we started to see an influx of younger late 20s and mid 30s some ten in the last year which we are seeing as being a really good thing.

Cheers Phil

[Lynn Eades]

Chris, Phil etc. The "baby boomers", that "bubble" in the population, the "pig in the python" The people born between 1946 and 1964 are the bulge in the post war population that determines most trends in our lives from real estate prices to old vehicle prices.
What you guys are saying is pretty much right.
When I was at high school with no $ (still the same) It was Twin cam Escorts or Mini Cooper S's (English) Valiant Chargers or GT Falcons (Australia) or Mustangs, Corvettes and Camaros (top spec ones) (State side) You might have hankered something different from that era,(Ferarri Dinos, Lancia Stratos, Alpine Renaults, or what ever, but what ever it was as we grew older and locked the kids out, we now have a spare $ to spend on the dreams of our youth. How much would you pay for any of those cars now? There is more demand for, than there are of those vehicles, so they are almost un procurable unless you made lots of money.
My son -in-law likes the early Japanese cars (these kids are sick!)The military vehicle thing is the same for us.
Yes Chris I agree the WWII M.Vs. appeal to mostly older people, and yes there are a smaller group coming through who will chase them. This is due mostly to the lower birth rate. However there are always those few who have picked up the dream from their father, uncle, or neighbour. (Some really sick ones are into Landrovers!)
I was pleased to meet a few young guys and see many others at War and Peace in the U.K. recently who have, or are developing the disease.
I don't think the majority of people get into this for the money (a few do) because it is a "love" or "passion" (for you hard arses that can't use the L word)
I think the hobby is healthy enough.
As we fall off the perch and our patient and long suffering wives flog our stuff off for peanuts, younger blokes will snap it up. (her words, not mine) At which point they become the custodian, most of who will not look after our cherished treasures as well, know as much about them, or drive them as well as we did (in our humble opinions) I won't care because I will be busy trying to put out the fire!

[rob love]

Originally Posted by Lynn Eades

When I was at high school with no $ (still the same) It was Twin cam Escorts or Mini Cooper S's (English) Valiant Chargers or GT Falcons (Australia) or Mustangs, Corvettes and Camaros (top spec ones) (State side) You might have hankered something different from that era,(Ferarri Dinos, Lancia Stratos, Alpine Renaults, or what ever, but what ever it was as we grew older and locked the kids out, we now have a spare $ to spend on the dreams of our youth. How much would you pay for any of those cars now? There is more demand for, than there are of those vehicles, so they are almost un procurable unless you made lots of money.

Now that you mention it, there is a 1975 sting-ray out in the garage. It is truly an American icon of decadence and style. 8 feet of hood, 4 feet of cockpit, and 3 feet of tail. It is like driving the batmobile with it's never-ending hood. It actually belongs to the wife.....I just get to do the repairs like the frame replacement I did a couple years back.

Come fall, it looks very out of place in the shed between the MVs and howitzers.

They are actually very reasonably priced, although one should really read up before heading out with the cheque book to buy one.

[Bob Carriere]

...after a spin in the cab 11 I feel like 19 again....... getting out of it I feel like 70......

Temporary custodian concept is very accurate...........
Personally I hope to be buried in it.

Cheers

[David Dunlop]

Interesting thread. Not sure there is any simple answer, but there are a number of constants worth looking at when it comes to collecting (of any kind).

Interests change over time. What was in demand yesterday, may not be at all today and may or may not be tomorrow.

For the vast majority of collectors of anything, there is always a base, personal connection motivating them to collect whatever it is. This does not have to be a direct connection, but can be through contact with a close family member who had a direct personal contact. If this connection does not exist, these collectors will not exist.

Unless you are extremely well financed, and have a keen eye for the best (or someone in your employe with such an eye) most collectors are not doing so as a means of investment.

Ford's museum action does not surprise me. If they cannot keep the crowds coming, they close their doors. 20 years ago, a local radio station promoted itself as the home of Classic Rock from the 50's, 60's and 70's. They are still around today, but guess what, they are now the home of Classic Rock from the 70's, 80's and 90's.

If any one thing concerns me about the future of military vehicle collections, it would be indifference. The largest pool of MV's still belong to World War Two and there are still a lot of people alive today that directly connect to that point in time. When those generations are gone…

What could happen to those of us with large collections? Take a look at the Littlefield Collection. Did it stay together? Did all the pieces get top dollar? Will they all be looked after as well as the original owner looked after them?

David

[Ryan]

Wow, just voted and I can see I'm the youngest so far. And I'm 40!

[jdmcm]

My two cents is that I see some hope out there...in a few weeks Fury will hit theaters and like Brad Pitt or not he is going to do a lot to raise the profile of our hobby...a major Hollywood film with real tanks, including an actual Tiger running amok? Fantastic I say! This will spark the imagination of a lot of kids who only have a passing interest in WW2 or military vehicles. As well the online computer game World of a Tanks has over 70 million registered players....that is a lot of interest in tanks...from a crowd I'm guessing is a touch younger than all of us! (45 here)

I think we as a group need to capitalize on these kind of events and do our part to help get the younger people interested...I'm going to tell you having crotchety old guys tell me my jeep was wrong because of a non-period shovel or that an in progress restoration should not be shown in public with primer spots, didn't really do much for my enthusiasm for the hobby when I was younger..sometimes we are our own worst enemies...I know out where I live there is no shortage of infighting amongst collectors clubs and groups that only serves to turn off newcomers, really of all ages.

And I'm really not sure we should look at the eventual drop in value of the vehicles as a negative either, I mean the prices as they are today are almost ridiculous, a drop in prices will allow those non-billionaire types to get into the market and help perpetuate the hobby...I see that as a positive outcome of the eventual price decline predicted.

One final aspect is that governments, certainly in North America, are no longer selling off the vehicles to the public like in years past...there will be no M1 Abrams to replace the Sherman's and Stuarts in collectors hearts as there is in other hobbies...our own government won't even allow worn out tank tracks to be sold to the public, they are all controlled goods that must be destroyed...if the current service vehicles are reset or shredded...what will spark the interest of a new generation?

[rob love]

My own personal belief is that some vehicles are timeless, like the Jeeps, while the demand for more unique stuff like our CMPs will fade as time goes on. How many young guys even own a timing light these days, or enjoy the purr of a flathead V8?

My own club seems to lose about 2 or 3 old members for every new member that gets involved in the hobby. Mind you, it could well be that in today's world of internet, the necessity of joining a club is not as great as in the past.

Anyway, time to go vote in the poll and see where I stand in the rankings.

[Phil Waterman]

Hi Rob

I just came back today from an end of the season cruise day, 123 vehicles attending I took my HUP along with lots of display information about the history of the truck in particular its restoration and CMPs in general. Drew a continual stream of people over the 5 hours I was there. Some casual interest people and some read every page of information I had posted.

So there is hope.

Cheers Phil

[Robin Craig]

I am 52 but still think I am 19 but after two failed marriages everything I buy is either on the line of credit or it is invisible cash from small flips, I don't have a fat wallet but we do have a couple of Ferrets and a Land Rover 101 but no garage as yet, maybe my priorities are wrong.

R