Why aren't there many custom cars any more?
Discussion
When i first started driving, early and mid eighties I loved them. Bought all the mags, used to go to the show at Alexandra Palace with my brother in his Cortina. Some great stuff, Bedford CF's with lovely interiors and murals, Roof chopped saloons, Side pipes, Wolfrace wheels, Jacked up rear ends. Did youngsters in those days have more imagination compared to the max power of later years or does it still go on?
That's the way things are going, cars are seen as something you take a loan out for, cars older than 3-4 years are old and always break down, so more people buy new hatchbacks at £300 a month.
These cars end up being kept standard, less people work on their own cars, and there is little individuality left.
These cars end up being kept standard, less people work on their own cars, and there is little individuality left.
Thankyou4calling said:
When i first started driving, early and mid eighties I loved them. Bought all the mags, used to go to the show at Alexandra Palace with my brother in his Cortina. Some great stuff, Bedford CF's with lovely interiors and murals, Roof chopped saloons, Side pipes, Wolfrace wheels, Jacked up rear ends. Did youngsters in those days have more imagination compared to the max power of later years or does it still go on?
I think it still exists. Remember for each show car you mention back in the day. There were probably 10 home built ones by oiks using Hammerite.
Today there are still plenty of well built and modified cars. Although different mods. No point jacking up the back of a FWD hatch and slapping dragster style wheels on the rear axle is there. The "chavs" in the chav chariots are no different. For every 10 bad examples there is probably a very well customised vehicle rolling about.
On a different note, insurance costs, SVA/IVA constraints and keeping a cars identity have maybe had an impact on certain customisations. Also the social unacceptability of something truly wild and outrageous.
Defo down to insurance these days.
Insurance is bad enough for younguns on a standard car, let alone anything thats been fettled with. Modders these days tend to be either kids with more money than sense (or just not delaring mods) or older people with a passion for it. To me it seems the quality of modded cars is far, far higher than it used to be because of this. Far less younguns throwing money at halfords to get the latest ripspeed crap.
The scenes have drastically died down. I rarely see anything more modded than a set of alloys these days.
Insurance is bad enough for younguns on a standard car, let alone anything thats been fettled with. Modders these days tend to be either kids with more money than sense (or just not delaring mods) or older people with a passion for it. To me it seems the quality of modded cars is far, far higher than it used to be because of this. Far less younguns throwing money at halfords to get the latest ripspeed crap.
The scenes have drastically died down. I rarely see anything more modded than a set of alloys these days.
Deluded said:
The scenes have drastically died down. I rarely see anything more modded than a set of alloys these days.
Odd I see a lot, quite varied too. I admit nothing quite in the realm like that jacked up Vauxhall. But engine, suspension, interior, exterior mods. Some off the shelf custom items, some home made.It's hugely popular to customise 4x4's these days - proper 4x4's Defender's, Disco's SJ's and Jimny's.
The 'scene' is abit quite divided at the moment.. Theres either full on show cars, or theres shockingly bad 'modified' cars. I use the term modified lightly as some really should have been left alone.
It's died alot since 2005-2008, but is still going.
You used to be able to go to a car meet in a carpark and the Police would just sit at the entrance and stop any trouble.. These days you get kicked out of the carparks, even if you're only sat with mates and no music, not causing trouble.. Rather than driving around the town being a
. If the Police worked with the organisers and found suitable locations, had a few cars at the meet to make sure nothing stupid was going on, the 'scene' would be far better and there would be alot more respect for the BiB.
It's died alot since 2005-2008, but is still going.
You used to be able to go to a car meet in a carpark and the Police would just sit at the entrance and stop any trouble.. These days you get kicked out of the carparks, even if you're only sat with mates and no music, not causing trouble.. Rather than driving around the town being a
. If the Police worked with the organisers and found suitable locations, had a few cars at the meet to make sure nothing stupid was going on, the 'scene' would be far better and there would be alot more respect for the BiB.There is a thriving scene for old cars.
If you look in the right places you'll find that jacked up Cortinas are still being built. The scene has progressed tho' and you've got to remember that this style was as much of a fashion statement as an afro, loon pants, roller disco or Abba. After the jack up kits came pro street, Cal look, etc. now an awful lot of the same guys are into rat rods/nostalgia rods.
There's also a thriving scene for "Retro rides", which is arguably more accessible and attractive to the younger lads - '70s cars, often Japanese and often with modern running gear - think '78 Celica/'90s Celica running gear.
Among my little group of mates and folk I know, we have my 4.2 Jag' powered '36 Austin ('70s built show rod), a pro street V8 '57 Popular, a V8 FA Victor gasser, tuned Triumph Herald, TR7 V8, Cosworth Capri, 350bhp Impreza powered Subaru MV, 2.5l VW splitty rat, and loads of other stuff inc. a Mk3 Cortina with a jacked rear, sidepipes, Wolfies, an Essex V6 and metallic purple paint, owned by a lad in his early twenties...
If you look in the right places you'll find that jacked up Cortinas are still being built. The scene has progressed tho' and you've got to remember that this style was as much of a fashion statement as an afro, loon pants, roller disco or Abba. After the jack up kits came pro street, Cal look, etc. now an awful lot of the same guys are into rat rods/nostalgia rods.
There's also a thriving scene for "Retro rides", which is arguably more accessible and attractive to the younger lads - '70s cars, often Japanese and often with modern running gear - think '78 Celica/'90s Celica running gear.
Among my little group of mates and folk I know, we have my 4.2 Jag' powered '36 Austin ('70s built show rod), a pro street V8 '57 Popular, a V8 FA Victor gasser, tuned Triumph Herald, TR7 V8, Cosworth Capri, 350bhp Impreza powered Subaru MV, 2.5l VW splitty rat, and loads of other stuff inc. a Mk3 Cortina with a jacked rear, sidepipes, Wolfies, an Essex V6 and metallic purple paint, owned by a lad in his early twenties...
The Hotrod and Custom car scene are very much alive and kicking. You just have to look at the number of very successful custom shops that are doing a roaring trade.
The thing is the people who are involved are the same people that like me were involved 30 years ago. We all learned are skills on cars from the 50's and 60's which compared to cars of today’s you could happily modify with your junior tool kit from Halfords.
Today due to the internet and the huge aftermarket (Currently worth multiply billions) that has built up in the States you can now build a brand new 55 Chevy replica without a single part produced in 1955, and this can be done with a huge number of desirable cars now
The Scene as I said is in great shape, the modders on the other hand of Saxo's etc seem to be on the wane
The thing is the people who are involved are the same people that like me were involved 30 years ago. We all learned are skills on cars from the 50's and 60's which compared to cars of today’s you could happily modify with your junior tool kit from Halfords.
Today due to the internet and the huge aftermarket (Currently worth multiply billions) that has built up in the States you can now build a brand new 55 Chevy replica without a single part produced in 1955, and this can be done with a huge number of desirable cars now
The Scene as I said is in great shape, the modders on the other hand of Saxo's etc seem to be on the wane
Really? I think the scenes have just changed a little - look at the VAG scene now. The whole slammed brand new Golfs with rusty looking bodywork is a recent thing and seems to be massive if you're into that.
Look at shows like Fast show and USC, there's still plenty of a following. It's just the mainstream Max Power type scene has died down, probably since the people who bought into that are all grown up to fast-out-of-the-box cars these days and todays younglings either aren't into cars because of prohibitive insurance costs or just buy boggo hatches on finance.
Look at shows like Fast show and USC, there's still plenty of a following. It's just the mainstream Max Power type scene has died down, probably since the people who bought into that are all grown up to fast-out-of-the-box cars these days and todays younglings either aren't into cars because of prohibitive insurance costs or just buy boggo hatches on finance.
Forums | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff