age of current vintage VW collector. |
Birth to 25 |
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3% |
[ 7 ] |
age 26 to 35 |
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11% |
[ 26 ] |
age 36 to 45 |
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23% |
[ 51 ] |
age 46 to 55 |
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27% |
[ 60 ] |
age 56 to 65 |
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24% |
[ 54 ] |
age over 66 |
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10% |
[ 22 ] |
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Total Votes : 220 |
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mukluk Samba Member
Joined: October 18, 2012 Posts: 7028 Location: Clyde, TX
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Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2018 3:09 pm Post subject: Re: age group of current VW hobbiest |
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Current poll stats are showing slightly better than 10% are under the age of 36 years... our hobby obviously isn't doing very well getting newer generations interested and involved. _________________ 1960 Ragtop w/Semaphores "Inga" |
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Zundfolge1432 Samba Member
Joined: June 13, 2004 Posts: 12468
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Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2018 4:22 pm Post subject: Re: age group of current VW hobbiest |
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mukluk wrote: |
Current poll stats are showing slightly better than 10% are under the age of 36 years... our hobby obviously isn't doing very well getting newer generations interested and involved. |
Maybe it’s more of a snapshot of who Samba members are instead. I see many younger folks at the shows. |
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60ragtop Bonneville Belt Bitch
Joined: March 13, 2006 Posts: 7800 Location: Big Wonderful WYO 82401
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Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2018 6:12 pm Post subject: Re: age group of current VW hobbiest |
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yes, I see younger people at the shows, they just don't mingle with the gray beards on the samba _________________ Rick
Certified Mechanic by the State of Michigan in 1977
ASA certified in 1987
Certified Hunter Wheel Alignment Master Technician 1986
tasb wrote: |
I've restored a large number too, but I don't toot my horn quite as loud.
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sb001 wrote: |
maybe he just snapped cause his car sucked |
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static Samba Member
Joined: March 22, 2002 Posts: 1831 Location: The High Desert
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Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2018 6:27 pm Post subject: Re: age group of current VW hobbiest |
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60ragtop wrote: |
yes, I see younger people at the shows also so the poll is of no use in the real world only here on the samba. |
While you are absolutely correct that what we see on the Samba does not necessarily correlate to who we see at shows, I think that it is pretty dang close.
(After all, it's not like the younger people are exactly unfamiliar with the internet!)
In time, we will be very similar to (for example) the Studebaker and Packard clubs: a bunch of grumpy, old men with white hair and unkempt beards who have little patience for those that use the wrong motor oil. In many ways, we already are. |
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ZENVWDRIVER Samba Member
Joined: November 07, 2008 Posts: 3340 Location: N.E. Oklahoma
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Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2018 6:55 pm Post subject: Re: age group of current VW hobbiest |
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mukluk wrote: |
Current poll stats are showing slightly better than 10% are under the age of 36 years... our hobby obviously isn't doing very well getting newer generations interested and involved. |
I had to twist my 25 year old son's arm to take my Mercedes convertible for a drive same for my 1955 bug..,. he thinks they are ugly and funny looking cars - he likes big 4x4 F250 super dutys, BMW 3 series and Honda Accord.
I think most of the kids (under driving age) at shows are the offspring of the show participants and the others, 18 to 25 might be the same or like the mystique of VWs and the old hippie scene...
the poll is well received with a surprising result... many more older members than not. My kid loves my old busses and we have included hem in his trust fund along with our farm and everything else ... he loves old busses - So we're covered, but sure would like to see more youngsters get involved in the VW scene, but prices will have to come down, I fear. _________________ 5/50, pastel green 11G - SOLD
8/50, gray 11A Beetle
6/52, pastel green 11C - SOLD
11/4/52, black Zwitter - SOLD to my little bro.
1954 Porsche, pre A, with VW 36 horse- SOLD
1/54, black 11C Beetle - TRADED
2/55 Iceland green Beetle, on a 1965 pan
3/55 113 Beetle, stratos silver
1955 Messerschmitt KR175 - SOLD, sadly
1960 single cab
1962 SO33, with SO 42 interior
9/63 Pacific blue, Ghia
'87 Toyota MR2
'02 WestFORDia E-150, GAVE TO OUR SON
All super-heroes, wear a MASK |
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mukluk Samba Member
Joined: October 18, 2012 Posts: 7028 Location: Clyde, TX
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Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2018 7:54 pm Post subject: Re: age group of current VW hobbiest |
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I agree there are a decent number of young folks at shows, but it seems very few actually own an aircooler, so the interest is somewhat there but the involvement is lacking. Lack of involvement will most likely eventually end up killing off their interest. _________________ 1960 Ragtop w/Semaphores "Inga" |
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60ragtop Bonneville Belt Bitch
Joined: March 13, 2006 Posts: 7800 Location: Big Wonderful WYO 82401
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Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2018 8:20 pm Post subject: Re: age group of current VW hobbiest |
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static wrote: |
(After all, it's not like the younger people are exactly unfamiliar with the internet!) |
True but they don't necessarily frequent here not to many of the younger ones I know anyway. and I can see why lately .
rcroane wrote: |
And the thread was barely an hour old before the jabs started flying! |
_________________ Rick
Certified Mechanic by the State of Michigan in 1977
ASA certified in 1987
Certified Hunter Wheel Alignment Master Technician 1986
tasb wrote: |
I've restored a large number too, but I don't toot my horn quite as loud.
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sb001 wrote: |
maybe he just snapped cause his car sucked |
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AlmostHeavenWV_VW Samba Member
Joined: October 12, 2017 Posts: 1966 Location: WV
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Posted: Sun Jul 01, 2018 2:21 pm Post subject: Re: age group of current VW hobbiest |
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The tides ebb and flow with everything. To be precise there's an entire thread dedicated to this phenomenon of cyclic increase/decrease of activity on this very forum:
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=691884&highlight=declining
Also there is currently a large group of people who own very very nice ACVWs, but are adamant on keeping them (I am included in this group of 'holders'). This creates a larger demand than supply of ACVWs, since all of these surviving examples currently have dedicated owners who typically respond to any inquiry for sale with
"You can buy it off of my widow/kids/estate when I'm gone."
Everything has it's thing. Currently solid, near-perfect, running and driving Mopar cars of the same vintage as my Bug can be had for $2k or less. If a some person is looking to begin their indulgence in 'classic motoring' there is of course a financial aspect. Currently, ACVWs are not the cheapest 'entry point' into classic car ownership, because demand for solid ACVWs is currently high and supply is low (it's currently a 'seller's market' as it's known in Realty circles). Therefore, whether or not there is interest- many people are not able to enter into the ACVW hobby financially.
Just look at the condition of ACVWs you can buy today for $1600. Then consider that last week, I know someone who bought a 1987 Dodge Diplomat from the original owner which has been garage kept for its entire life, is peerless in form and function, has nearly every 'bell and whistle' available at the time of production, and has required no work/additional investment to enjoy immediately for that same $1600.
For new classic car enthusiasts, it comes down to money. ACVWs are not 'cost-effective' currently.
I think prices on the ACVWs as a whole are just too high currently to allow for any 'new guys on the block' to enter into the aircooled world. Not when running, driving water cooled cars are the same price as an ACVW 'roller project' without an engine.
Just my look at it. _________________ 1973 Standard Beetle
1600DP AK case
Solex 34PICT3 Carb
Bosch DVDA 205AJ Distributor |
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ZENVWDRIVER Samba Member
Joined: November 07, 2008 Posts: 3340 Location: N.E. Oklahoma
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Posted: Sun Jul 01, 2018 2:40 pm Post subject: Re: age group of current VW hobbiest |
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AlmostHeavenWV said, "I think prices on the ACVWs as a whole are just too high currently to allow for any 'new guys on the block' to enter into the aircooled world. Not when running, driving water cooled cars are the same price as an ACVW 'roller project' without an engine. "
... very valid point. VWs are silly-high prices - I recently looked at an engineless, title less rolling1960 bug shell for $2K - even though I have 95% of the parts in my stash, it's not worth that to me.
... have to say, sorry, younger guys. Wish we old timers weren't so greedy. _________________ 5/50, pastel green 11G - SOLD
8/50, gray 11A Beetle
6/52, pastel green 11C - SOLD
11/4/52, black Zwitter - SOLD to my little bro.
1954 Porsche, pre A, with VW 36 horse- SOLD
1/54, black 11C Beetle - TRADED
2/55 Iceland green Beetle, on a 1965 pan
3/55 113 Beetle, stratos silver
1955 Messerschmitt KR175 - SOLD, sadly
1960 single cab
1962 SO33, with SO 42 interior
9/63 Pacific blue, Ghia
'87 Toyota MR2
'02 WestFORDia E-150, GAVE TO OUR SON
All super-heroes, wear a MASK |
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Zundfolge1432 Samba Member
Joined: June 13, 2004 Posts: 12468
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Posted: Sun Jul 01, 2018 2:55 pm Post subject: Re: age group of current VW hobbiest |
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[quote="mukluk"]I agree there are a decent number of young folks at shows, but it seems very few actually own an aircooler, so the interest is somewhat there but the involvement is lacking. Lack of involvement will most likely eventually end up killing off their interest]
Agreed
Last edited by Zundfolge1432 on Mon Jul 02, 2018 4:53 am; edited 1 time in total |
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APPLEGREENVW Samba Member
Joined: November 30, 2003 Posts: 2388 Location: Seekonk,Massachusetts USA
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Posted: Sun Jul 01, 2018 7:06 pm Post subject: Re: age group of current VW hobbiest |
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ZENVWDRIVER wrote: |
AlmostHeavenWV said, "I think prices on the ACVWs as a whole are just too high currently to allow for any 'new guys on the block' to enter into the aircooled world. Not when running, driving water cooled cars are the same price as an ACVW 'roller project' without an engine. "
... very valid point. VWs are silly-high prices - I recently looked at an engineless, title less rolling1960 bug shell for $2K - even though I have 95% of the parts in my stash, it's not worth that to me.
... have to say, sorry, younger guys. Wish we old timers weren't so greedy. |
I blame the folks, who keep this guy busy for the silly-high prices VW's today.
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1081156 _________________ Parts for sale https://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/search.php?username=APPLEGREENVW
02/76 Beetle sedan |
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VWAdam Samba Member
Joined: February 14, 2002 Posts: 3331 Location: Birmingham, Alabama
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Posted: Mon Jul 02, 2018 3:55 pm Post subject: Re: age group of current VW hobbiest |
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60ragtop wrote: |
static wrote: |
(After all, it's not like the younger people are exactly unfamiliar with the internet!) |
True but they don't necessarily frequent here not to many of the younger ones I know anyway. and I can see why lately .
rcroane wrote: |
And the thread was barely an hour old before the jabs started flying! |
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That basically says it.
Like I said before, I'm 32 and I have VW friends much older than me, so it's not all, but I certainly encounter the grumpy, irritable older people. They're so contradictory. They'll bitch about the damn kids ruining VWs by putting narrowed beams on them, complain about how they look with their piercings and tattoos but then bitch about how there aren't any younger people show up at their meets. Well, duh. I left the local VW club because of that reason. Didn't hamper my enthusiasm a bit. In fact, when they disbanded and cancelled their show, I and my group of young hoodlums took it over and made it more successful.
People like me typically avoid thesamba forums. Browse classifieds and make use of the plethora of information but not so much the forums. _________________ All he needed was a wheel in his hand and four on the road.
'59 Euro Beetle ragtop
'63 Standard Microbus
Come to my show! www.volksjam.com
Looking for badge/sticker/frame from Western Motors in Great Falls, Montana |
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ZENVWDRIVER Samba Member
Joined: November 07, 2008 Posts: 3340 Location: N.E. Oklahoma
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Posted: Mon Jul 02, 2018 4:59 pm Post subject: Re: age group of current VW hobbiest |
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VWAdam wrote: |
60ragtop wrote: |
static wrote: |
(After all, it's not like the younger people are exactly unfamiliar with the internet!) |
True but they don't necessarily frequent here not to many of the younger ones I know anyway. and I can see why lately .
rcroane wrote: |
And the thread was barely an hour old before the jabs started flying! |
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That basically says it.
Like I said before, I'm 32 and I have VW friends much older than me, so it's not all, but I certainly encounter the grumpy, irritable older people. They're so contradictory. They'll bitch about the damn kids ruining VWs by putting narrowed beams on them, complain about how they look with their piercings and tattoos but then bitch about how there aren't any younger people show up at their meets. Well, duh. I left the local VW club because of that reason. Didn't hamper my enthusiasm a bit. In fact, when they disbanded and cancelled their show, I and my group of young hoodlums took it over and made it more successful.
People like me typically avoid thesamba forums. Browse classifieds and make use of the plethora of information but not so much the forums. |
... TOO BAD, YOU SOUND EXACTLY LIKE A GREAT CONTRIBUTOR to these forums...
The old bunch who had the Tulsa VW club ceased having their show too... And a bunch of youngins' started another, more successful group - FoulAir
I don't belong to any clubs - not a big fan of all the silly politics, with elections and all that baloney... wish FoulAir was called SweetAir... but i'm not a member and they can be who they wanna' be.
... also, have no skin-ink or lowered car, but I sure appreciate those expressions... come visit us once in a while and thanks for your contribution, to this thread VWADAM.
... side note - grumpy people need the help of us excited people... couldn't care less about "the jabs" - I feed on positive expressions and kindness and block out all the negativity... try that sometime. _________________ 5/50, pastel green 11G - SOLD
8/50, gray 11A Beetle
6/52, pastel green 11C - SOLD
11/4/52, black Zwitter - SOLD to my little bro.
1954 Porsche, pre A, with VW 36 horse- SOLD
1/54, black 11C Beetle - TRADED
2/55 Iceland green Beetle, on a 1965 pan
3/55 113 Beetle, stratos silver
1955 Messerschmitt KR175 - SOLD, sadly
1960 single cab
1962 SO33, with SO 42 interior
9/63 Pacific blue, Ghia
'87 Toyota MR2
'02 WestFORDia E-150, GAVE TO OUR SON
All super-heroes, wear a MASK |
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static Samba Member
Joined: March 22, 2002 Posts: 1831 Location: The High Desert
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Posted: Mon Jul 02, 2018 5:16 pm Post subject: Re: age group of current VW hobbiest |
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VWAdam wrote: |
Like I said before, I'm 32 and I have VW friends much older than me, so it's not all, but I certainly encounter the grumpy, irritable older people. They're so contradictory. They'll bitch about the damn kids ruining VWs by putting narrowed beams on them, complain about how they look with their piercings and tattoos but then bitch about how there aren't any younger people show up at their meets. |
There might be a regional/geographic reason for this. Out here in California, the piercings and tattoos are pretty much standard; nobody gives it a second thought.
(and I am envious over the current trend of dying hair blue. I really wish that had been a style when I was in my 20's. Now, in my 60's, I wish only that I still had hair)
On the narrowed beams, etc...speaking only for myself, this comes from hindsight. During my salad years, we butchered up perfectly good Beetles and Buses by turning them into dune buggies, cutting off their back ends (on an Oval Window!) and wish that we had not done that. I personally cut up a perfectly good 1960 Beetle's fenders with a hacksaw and put stupid wide M/S tires on it. (I chalk it up to the mandatory ignorance that comes with being a Teenager)
The only constant is that us old farts will be dead soon enough and those younger will get promoted to oldfartness and will become grumpy and irritable too. |
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VWAdam Samba Member
Joined: February 14, 2002 Posts: 3331 Location: Birmingham, Alabama
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Posted: Mon Jul 02, 2018 5:35 pm Post subject: Re: age group of current VW hobbiest |
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It was meant as sort of tongue-in-cheek phrase. My tattoos are covered up if I'm wearing a shirt and long pants anyway.
One VW friend of mine, who is in his 60s, saw a group of younger guys pulling up in the hammered, narrowed beam ratty cars and said "I wouldn't be caught dead in something like that. Damn those are ugly. But it get the kids into VWs so I'm glad to see it." I liked that sentiment. _________________ All he needed was a wheel in his hand and four on the road.
'59 Euro Beetle ragtop
'63 Standard Microbus
Come to my show! www.volksjam.com
Looking for badge/sticker/frame from Western Motors in Great Falls, Montana |
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type2rescuemaine Samba Member
Joined: March 04, 2016 Posts: 336 Location: Maine
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Posted: Mon Jul 02, 2018 8:26 pm Post subject: Re: age group of current VW hobbiest |
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Hi all,
I guess here on thesamba I'm considered an outlier in terms of age at 15 years old. I joined when I was 13, and I've logged on at least every other day since I joined. You might recognize my screen name from burlyhammer's 15 window thread (I'm his son). I help him as much as I can on it and I've got to say, through the work I've seen him put in and the work I've put in, comparing what it looks like now to how it looked even a month ago can be described by no words other than insane.
Undoubtedly, I've got the vw bug (never heard that pun before ).
As for owning a 'collector car' at an age under 25, I guess I sorta fit into that category. A few years ago, my dad dragged a 63 double cab and a 62 kombi out of a junkyard about 30 minutes from our house. It's been his dream to get that double cab going, and we intend to do that right after we get the 15 window running and driving. As for the 62 kombi, my dad, as of last year when I decided a 72 bay was a little too normal for me, 'gave' the kombi to me to make my own. It's pretty rough, but if I'm able to tackle this as a first time learning experience, I figure I'll feel like I'm able to tackle almost anything!
As for interest within people my age in air-cooled vw's or vw's in general, it is there, just not in the way many of you would like. When my friends see my dad cruising in our '79 Westy, they always say how cool it was to see us and how they'd 'like to travel the country and see the world' in an 'old hippie bus' when they're older. I don't have a problem with that! I've also got a few of them looking out for me; whenever they see an old vw somewhere they send a pic to me and tell me how much they want it and how much they think I should try to buy it! Super cool.
Of course, my generation is much different than most of yours, and many of my friends and the other people my age in general these days do not have the means to get into the hobby, whether it is enough interest, money, or knowledge (I can't say I have much of either of those last two things but if I have enough of the first what can go wrong??) People are just different these days, in and out of the car hobby and that's understandably difficult to grasp.
Not that any of you asked for a perspective from someone as young as I, but my point is, I don't think the hobby is dying, I just think it's taking a turn! For the better, for the worse, who knows? We'll just have to wait and see. |
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wcfvw69 Samba Purist
Joined: June 10, 2004 Posts: 13389 Location: Arizona
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Posted: Mon Jul 02, 2018 8:51 pm Post subject: Re: age group of current VW hobbiest |
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I think the poll verifies what us long time Samba members already knew. It's for the most part a 50+ year old crowd. These are 40 plus year old cars. We've seen a LOT of the older generation on this site with tremendous VW knowledge pass on over the past 15 years that I've been on here because they were the first generation to own these cars in the 50's and 60's.
I think there's still more folks out there with disposable income that will join the air cooled VW scene. Many will be in the 40 plus year old range and will have memories and nostalgia for these cars from their youth.
As far as teenagers getting the air cooled fever, I don't see it at all. Kids today just don't seem to be into cars like the earlier generation. Hell, many don't even get their drivers license when they are eligible. To everyone else's point, these are not the cheap beater cars of today like they were in the 70's, 80's and even the 90's. I do get many teen and early 20 something girls telling me "they sooo want a VW bus". Unless their parents have deep pockets, it's not happening for them.
It will be interesting to see what transpires in the next 20-30 years with these old classics. _________________ Contact me at [email protected]
Follow me on instagram @sparxwerksllc
Decades of VW and VW parts restoration experience.
The Samba member since 2004.
**Now rebuilding throttle bodies for VW's and Porsche's**
**Restored German Bosch distributors for sale or I can restore yours**
**Restored German Pierburg fuel pumps for sale or I can restore yours**
**Restored Porsche fuel pumps or I can restore yours**
**Restored Porsche distributors or I can restore yours** |
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type2rescuemaine Samba Member
Joined: March 04, 2016 Posts: 336 Location: Maine
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Posted: Mon Jul 02, 2018 9:23 pm Post subject: Re: age group of current VW hobbiest |
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wcfvw69 wrote: |
Kids today just don't seem to be into cars like the earlier generation. Hell, many don't even get their drivers license when they are eligible. |
Up here in Maine, drivers' ed costs about $500 which makes it much harder than it needs to be for people to get their license |
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Zundfolge1432 Samba Member
Joined: June 13, 2004 Posts: 12468
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Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2018 9:51 am Post subject: Re: age group of current VW hobbiest |
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The world of VW is not unlike car collecting in general and I read an interesting piece just a few moments ago. Hagerty recently surveyed a cross section of American drivers and here are the findings. 37% of those polled said they loved driving, they’re passionate about it. Over half said driving is a hobby for them, not just a means of getting from point A to point B.
Millennials appreciate driving for same reasons as older drivers: freedom of movement, sense of adventure and satisfaction of doing things for yourself.
I would tend to think an insurance company would have pretty good stats and especially if they were a collector car insurance company. More than a few here have Hagerty insurance and now they put out an excellent magazine six times a year that is great in content. Regular contributors include Jay Leno and Wayne Carini and several others. Some might like this because it covers trends in the car hobby as an ongoing topic. More often than not VWs get covered too.
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VWAdam Samba Member
Joined: February 14, 2002 Posts: 3331 Location: Birmingham, Alabama
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Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2018 12:11 pm Post subject: Re: age group of current VW hobbiest |
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d who liked old Volkswagens. Sure I was a typical elementary school kid of the early 90’s. I watched Ninja Turtles and loved playing my Sega Genesis. In high school in the early 2000’s I was the only air-cooled VW in the parking lot. Being the minority doesn’t phase me much. When I started traveling to shows and meeting others, it was a revelation. There were others like me! _________________ All he needed was a wheel in his hand and four on the road.
'59 Euro Beetle ragtop
'63 Standard Microbus
Come to my show! www.volksjam.com
Looking for badge/sticker/frame from Western Motors in Great Falls, Montana |
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