The MV Hobby, De-Mob

[Niels V]

Well I am one of the really odd one's out.
I am 29, and have a rather large collection of UK/Can vehicles. (Though selling a couple now)
I got interested in MV because one of my fathers friends bought a C60L Cab 13, and took the time to drag me with him to shows and told the history of the vehicles and the war, let me help out with the work on it, and then bought my own Austin Champ at age 16
I have some friends in my age groupe that have vehicles, but one problem I think many young people have is storage space, we cant afford big houses or having to rent a barn for the vehicles, when we just have begun to earn money and maybe are starting a familiy.
And most of the small, easy to handel, vehicles (jeeps etc.) are fare to expensive for us.
the only reson that I can have the vehicles I do is that my father 10 years ago bought a farm because he wanted to live in the countryside, and I therefore dont have to think about storage cost. I dont think the hobby will die out, and specially if people take the time to tell the history of the vehicles and so on when at shows I think new people can be attracted, and the MV do attracked attension when I bring my Scammell to a car show, there is a constant flow of people wanting to talk with me about it.

[Hans Mulder]

It is great be part of a community like MLU - I think the sheer amount of information readily available worldwide will grow the hobby, including younger guys like myself. We do need to balance the mortgage, wife and kids' needs, etc, but I work overtime and run little schemes to finance the carrier, the '78 Camaro, the gun and militaria collection. One day, when I'm old and fat, I'll be the one the young guys starting in the hobbies point to and say "He's got one, and its near mint - how did he ever accumulate/restore that?"

[Phil Waterman]

Hi Stuart

My vote is for Mystical, "old fart" who has three fully running restored CMP stashed in the barn. Of course I take them out and drive them every chance I get.

But I take your point, probably all of use have watched over the years as a once restore-able truck, or antique what ever, gradually is reclaimed into the earth as rust. All the while the owner turns down every inquiry from somebody that might restore it, saying I plan to restore that.

But there is some validity to idea of storing that old truck/car away in the corner of the garage until you have the time and to money to restore it. I'm working one now that has been hidden away since 1973 or so, and there are two more inline after that one. But then apparently, I like others who love CMPs are exceptions that prove the rule.

So raise your glass to the mystical old CMP restores.

Cheers Phil

[Bob Carriere]

...if I get rid of all my old stuff I will deeply disappointment my friends who are waiting for me to die so they can beat the scrappy.

I think there is enough "piss" left in me to complete the cab 11 and one more.... the rest is for my ( enter appropriate number) retirement fund.

Hoping to "Tip toe through the tulips with you...."

Bob C

Cheers

[chris vickery]

I am of the mindset that each vehicle rescued from the scrapper is at least in temporary custody of someone who actually cherishes it. Having said this, I think most of us collectors should also understand our limitations, both financially and physically, and to pass on workable projects when the right guy comes along.
There are simply to many hoarders among the community who prevent viable projects from ever being done as they continually rust away. I am not talking about the guy down the road who has a so and so that he's gonna fix one day, rather the collector who has way too much for the years and resources he actually has available. But I suppose thats what a free country is all about.
Help the hobby out and get more guys involved!
I agree wholeheartedly Stuart, too many classics are relegated to trailer queens or garage queens and should be used as intended...