I've seen a few ads now for a website called carsponsorships.com. Sheesh. I hate to sound so incredibly old-school, although frankly, I probably am, but it's always been the case as far as I know, that if you wanted a really cool car, you went out, got a job, and busted your hump to get there. You didn't secure financing, and walk around to aftermarket manufacturers and shops like a kid in a candy store. Have the parts really gotten that expensive for these tuner rides? Or are the kids these days just so incredibly lazy and ill-advised that they'd actually buy into something like this? Building a show car is a different thing, and always has been, because on the show car scene, there actually are cash prizes to be won in the big shows. It's a return-on-investment deal. But still, every guy I know even in these circumstances puts their own, hard-earned money into building their rides. Never mind the unbearable stigma in the mind of every car guy that labels your car a "trailer queen;" one that's more show than go, and barely, if ever, gets driven. I know guys who would hang their head in shame over their car having such a label. Hell, even some of the million-dollar restorations displayed at the Pebble Beach Concours D'Elegance are credited more if they run in the rally associated with the event; in the event of a tie in the judging of the cars at the event, if one car ran in the rally, and it's nearest competitor didn't, the car that ran wins.
On the flipside, I realize how expensive some of these parts are getting, even outside the tuner car market. It's basically now possible to build a totally aftermarket '69 Camaro, or something similar; the parts, including reproduction body shells, are all there. And the way you can make these things brake and handle, and yes, go with new-age parts is nothing short of unbelievable. But there's still pride associated with building a great car with your own two hands. I talked about Ed Roth, and the incredible creations he built; I doubt sincerely that he ever contemplated the money he was going to make on any given car until he sold it. I'm sure he did think about the shows he would win, and what he could do to outdo himself, but it still works out to be not really "new-age" as philosophies go. There I go thinkin' old-school again.