Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Rick]

Morning all,

How would you say the internet has affected your interest in older vehicles? has it been a good thing, or not?

RJ
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Rick - Admin
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[Tricky Dickie]

It has certainly been very helpful and I have managed to locate spares which I couldn't have found without the 'net. For instance, I have two 1922 Packard Six engines on the way from Australia and I could never have found these without the 'net
Tricky Dickie

[emmerson]

Rick, it hasn't directly affected my interest, as I was involved in old vehicles long before the internet, but it has certainly enhanced my sedentary enjoyment as health and years make it more difficult to enjoy physically messing about.
This forum helps to keep us armchair enthusiasts in touch with the world of classics. Keep up the good work.

[Rootes75]

I would say that in respect of spares etc it has been great and sites such as this and Flickr are great for help and examples.

[MikeEdwards]

I find it's a double-edged sword for spares - sure, it's easier to get some stuff, but it's also less easy to find a bargain. And a lot of the autojumbles at shows I attend are getting smaller, because it's easier, cheaper and reaches a wider audience for those people to just stick stuff on eBay. But I've bought loads of stuff because I just happened to see it on a table somewhere while browsing, but would never have thought of going out of my way to find, so in that way eBay isn't as good for those sellers.

As for information, I think the internet has been great. People scanning and uploading old photographs brings a whole set of opportunities to find an old photo of your car, or fill in model history, where before you might have had to order and buy a book only to find there's nothing new in there. And I think it benefits clubs too - my Vauxhall club has quite small membership spread across the country so it's hard to have actual meetings due to distance, but I can easily talk to other owners on the forum.

[Ashley]

It has made me loads of friends worldwide and meant my son can indulge his interest in Vintage American Hot Rods. American parts are just phone call away and suppliers so easy to locate.

[peter scott]

I agree totally with Mike's response. It has certainly leveled the playing field which lessens the chance of bargains but the ease of access to information and to publishing information has enhanced life immeasurably. And as Ashley says, increases your circle of friends world wide.

Peter
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https://www.nostalgiatech.co.uk
1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon

[Rick]

Does anyone think that the 'net has lessened the popularity of, or need for, "traditional" car clubs in any way?

RJ
_________________
Rick - Admin
Home:https://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk
Videos:https://www.youtube.com/user/oldclassiccarRJ/videos
OCC & classic car merchandise (Austin, Ford ++):
https://www.redbubble.com/people/OldClassicCar/shop

[peter scott]

I think that immediacy of forum communication absolutely trounces correspondence columns in club magazines. As to articles written for periodical car club magazines, again the web wins hands down and once the unconnected generation dies off then the paper mags should die too. It doesn't alter the need for clubs just their form of communication.

Peter
_________________
https://www.nostalgiatech.co.uk
1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon

[badhuis]

Agree with most of what has been said before.

As for club membership - the advantage of being in a club, to have information accessible has become much less because so much information is available on the net. There still is a place for clubs, mainly the social aspect and for the real nut-case in depth information. Which mainly is spread around in forums or email groups.

Where the internet has had a great effect (for me) is in the Classic Car magazines. I used to have a few subscriptions, but that need has now disappeared.
At the moment I am subscribed only to The Automobile. In the shops I tend to glance through the mags in the hope there might be an interesting article. But it has been many months since I bought a magazine.
_________________
a car stops being fun when it becomes an investment

[Peter_L]

The demise of my classic and the proliferation of the internet came about the same time so I never had the experience of them together. My first Ford Explorer required spares that I purchased over the net, usually from the U.S.

Joining OCC has increased my interest in Classic Cars, along with a lot of other machines, and the access to such a wealth of knowledge was never available before.

The club meetings, sharing a beer, and smelling each other's pride and joy, will likely survive but as Peter S remarks, the club magazine, in paper form has probably had its day.

One advantage of online Clubs and Forums, is not having to listen to some know it all old fart rambling on and on and on ... and .... an......a........ pht...

[Billf]

Yes the 'net is great for me, Having owned a couple of classics when living in the UK i find it interesting reading the forums on OC. I would still like to buy a classic car here. But and there is always a but eh. At the moment we live on an open plan resort/site. and we only have one small driveway. So where to park it. And lots of fussy (nosy neighbours) here. And the prices here are sometimes eye watering.

eg. Suzuki vitara 1993 for sale in White £5500.00. And it's 22 years old.

I have spotted an A40 Devon. on a small site near us, sitting in a open garage, but there is no one around to ask. they must be "Swallows" It looks as if it has sat for a quite a while, (Only live here in the summer) So will keep my eye on that one.

[Ray White]

We all seem to assume that the 'net will continue in the way it has. At the moment, we can all enjoy forum use free of charge and although the situation seems to work well I have a suspicion that once all other 'manual' methods of communication; magazines etc., have been replaced, we may find that, for whatever reason, charging to use forums etc. could become a reality. This could affect the way in which we use the service and what we take for granted today may be limited or even disappear altogether in the future.

If super computers become highly intelligent they might take over the 'net and use it for their own ends!

[Ellis]

I only bought and used a computer for the first time in April 2010 and I have to say that sourcing spare parts for my Land Rovers has been made immeasurably easier as well as obtaining. technical and general restoration advice.

My Mark 2 was restored largely in the early 1990's and I can remember the hours spent on the telephone or looking through printed parts lists.
All now part of the past.

I have a cynical view of EBay but I managed to buy a rust free bulkhead for my Series 2a Land Rover from there. Strangely enough it was being sold only 20 miles away from my home but because North Wales is regarded as a hinterland by Ebayers because of the distance from major population centres there were only two bidders for it, myself and one other. Had it been situated in Birmingham, London or the South East the bidding would have been keen.

I was an Internet sceptic, a doubting Thomas for years but, by heaven, I have found it useful and fascinating since my "enlightenment".
_________________
Starting Handle Expert

1964 Jaguar Mark 2 3.4 litre
1962 Land Rover Series 2a 88"
2002 BMW M3 E46 Cabriolet

[lowdrag]

At the JDC we had a spares day every year at Farnham Maltings. Over the years it was very successful until Ebay go the spares market in its deadly grip, the number of traders diminished, and it was terminated "due to lack of interest". That was from the trader's side, not the public who loved the event. But the traders saw no reason to get out of bed when sales were being made as they slept. I still miss it; the camaraderie, the bargains to be had, the pint of bitter with a burgher as we sat and chatted. Ah, the rare spares found at a pittance and now £300, the difficulty in finding anything rare as well. Sic transit Gloria, I guess. We are all of us just dinosaurs.