Classic cars are snapshots of our automotive past. They are technologically inferior to the vehicles that we have on the road today. They have no safety gear, no concept of fuel efficiency. They are essentially dinosaurs in the modern sense of cars.

The entire classic car culture has risen around these old vehicles because of a sense of nostalgia and an appreciation of automotive history and American Pop Culture. Even though the cost to maintain, insure and fuel these antiques rises every year we continue to bite the bullet and do whatever is necessary to enjoy our hobby.

But the recent money crisis threatens the foundations of the hobby. Detroit must change their focus and begin to focus on highly efficient non-gas burning vehicles or they may face the same type of extinction those old dinosaurs faced. And in that conversion we’ll see a change in attitude about the gas-burning classic cars. Instead of being chic they’ll simply represent the largesse that Americans have grown accustomed to that is rapidly dwindling. Wives will grumble more about that “old car in the garage” and insurance rates will surely climb.

Gas prices will surely climb again back above $4 a gallon at some point in the future. Old Mustangs and Bel Airs never were concerned about their fuel consumption when they were built. But now spending $100 to fill the tank is a jarring reminder of the different world we live in today.

Is it time to retire these classic cars to the status of showpieces instead of drivers? I surely hope not. As long as there are people who enjoy these cars and are responsible in their maintenance and insurance there will be a place on the modern highway for the classic hot rod or cruiser. It’s vitally important to realize every time you take out your old Ford that you’re representing the hobby as a whole. Be sure to leave a favorable taste in the mouth of those you pass.

In other words, get your vehicle tuned. The smell of unburnt gasoline used to be the sign of a vintage car, now it’s the signature of waste. Poor tires and squirrely suspension systems should be addressed. Don’t swerve about the road! And always drive with adequate insurance coverage. Make sure your liability and collision insurance is able to cover the cost of replacing your vehicle in the instance it’s too far gone to repair.

Remember, the future of classic cars will lay in the hands of the youth of today. We have to show them the wonders as well as the warts of collecting old muscle cars. It’s a modern world we’re living in, scary and changing must too fast for my tastes. But I love my old cars as much as the next gearhead; let’s just ensure they stay around for a long time to come.