I had a long talk with some people about the pyschological underpinnings of owning a 40 year old Mustang.
We all know we could have transporation that is cheaper and more reliable. Then why do we devote all this time, attention, and money to these machines?
One person suggested ownership was a way of overcompensating for a lack of self-worth
Another suggested that, for us middle aged guys, it signals an identity crisis. They "joked" about many Mustang owners being close to twice the age of their cars
One of the wives thought owning an "aged" car meant I couldn't let go of the past and it was sad attempt to be "cool" like Steve McQueen!
I simply said it was great fun and a very special conncetion with the past. And I do feel "oh-so-cool" when driving it!
Am I the only one that is surrounded by idiots (who dive new BMW/Lexus/Mercedes) who don't get it!!!
no, unfortunately youre not the only one. no other kids around here have old cars, they all have new BMWs, mercedez, lexus'..all that stuff, they dont get it. all they care about is a nice ACd ride with a huge ass sound system.
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ORIGINAL: GidyupGo I'm a gentleman. I never check oil and tell.
My response to that question is simple: Look at the Mustangs and all other classics from that time, now look at the cars nowadays. There is no way in hell that the cars from now are going to be classics in 40 years.
We are indeed a rare breed. "THEY" only wish they could be as cool as us. But, since they don't have the wherewithall, they'll just have to stand in the shadows and envy the lucky ones, us. Yes, we are intellegent, savvy, and mechanically inclined. They are the dreamers and we are the do'ers.
I own my 1970 Mach 1 because I fell in love with a brand new1969 Mach 1 that I would walk past on my way home from the 6th grade. My first vehicle was a 1973 F100 Ranger. When I was 18 I looked at multiple 1969 fastbacks but was always outbid. I only had about $1200 and most of the others had Mom or Dad as their bank roll. I finally found my 1970 Mach 1 and paid a whopping $600. I never even drove the car. I started it up, and told the owner I'd buy it. He wanted $900. I've had it ever since. I simply own the car because it looks beautiful. I sit in my garage sometimes and just admire the lines. If I really dig deep for some profound reason, I can say that it remains proof that I set a goal and I achieve that goal. The reason your friends don't "get it" is exactly why they "drive" the cars you mentioned. They never open a knuckle while wrenching on the car. They don't have floor jacks and jack stands and air compressors in their garages. I bet if you looked into it you'd find that people who own classic cars generally own the same home for a long time. In comparison, folks who own Beemers, and Lexus, Toy and Hon's move. They like there cars can't find their way because they have forgotten their past.
I still remember the smell of the air when we would leave my grandparents on a summer night and my Dad would turn on the headlights of the 1964 Galaxie 500 to see if any rabbits were under the apple trees. The glow of the dashboard was magical. The smell of the interior. Standing on the transmission hump while hanging on to the front seat. A time when we as a people and country were free. Something I'm sad to say we no longer are.
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2006 Red Fire GT Convertible. 1970 Medium Lime Metallic Mach 1 1997 Pacific green/silver F 150 ext cab 4x4 2002 Navy Blue Escape 4x4 [image][image]
Posts: 1891
Joined: 9/5/2006 From: Barossa Valley, South Australia Status: offline
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ORIGINAL: Timelockmind I had a long talk with some people about the pyschological underpinnings of owning a 40 year old Mustang.
We all know we could have transporation that is cheaper and more reliable. Then why do we devote all this time, attention, and money to these machines?
One person suggested ownership was a way of overcompensating for a lack of self-worth
Another suggested that, for us middle aged guys, it signals an identity crisis. They "joked" about many Mustang owners being close to twice the age of their cars
One of the wives thought owning an "aged" car meant I couldn't let go of the past and it was sad attempt to be "cool" like Steve McQueen!
I simply said it was great fun and a very special conncetion with the past. And I do feel "oh-so-cool" when driving it!
Am I the only one that is surrounded by idiots (who dive new BMW/Lexus/Mercedes) who don't get it!!!
Yeh, and apparently the red ones compensate for small penis size
I like the stang because I cant get past the sound of a V8 and the car has to be driven.
The modern cars do most of the driving for you. This is not a bad thing especially considering that 50% of the population is below average intelligence and 50% below average coordination. The subset of the 2 are the kind of drivers who got their licence from inside a box of Weeties.
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A 2007 study found on average Australians walk 900 miles a year. We drink 26 gallons of beer. That means, on average, Australians get about 34 miles per gallon. Not bad hey!
Well, I'm not a middle-aged guy, I'm not twice the age of my car, and I'm not ashamed by the size of my penis.
I'm cool whether I drive my Mustang or not.
I like classics, be it classic cars or classic rock. I like learning about my car, I like the way the older cars look with their square corners. Every car I see today has that rounded look and they all look like Toyotas from the front to me.
Well, I'm not a middle-aged guy, I'm not twice the age of my car, and I'm not ashamed by the size of my penis.
I'm cool whether I drive my Mustang or not.
I like classics, be it classic cars or classic rock. I like learning about my car, I like the way the older cars look with their square corners. Every car I see today has that rounded look and they all look like Toyotas from the front to me.
Chicks with muscle cars rock, it's that simple.
I hate to inform you Pammie, but you don't own a muscle car. You have a very nice looking pony car, but it is certainly not a muscle car.
Ive been doing a lot of thinking about this subject lately.I turn 40 in a couple of days and Though Ive had my car for a long time,I feel it becoming more important to me.Ive always been a bit of a show off.My car isnt the best,Its not even what I started off wanting(69 fastback).I ve grown to love the damn thing even though its cost me a lot of nights sleep trying to troubleshoot things.It seems to always have at least 1 thing wrong with it. Yesterday I had it parked in front of the barber shop and while waiting for my boys to get a cut,I watched people crowd around it a few times.I said to the barber "look at that,I could park a $50 000 new car there and nobody would even turn their head to look at it."My car is worth probably 10 grand or less and its priceless when youre driving around and everyone stares,yells out 'nice car' or tries to race you.Its all about driving around with a big smile and a proud feeling inside.
I'm impressed - all these critics have Ph(u)d's in Psychology? You got analized (did I spell it correctly) at a social event? A long social event? You survived? Do 'they' have hobbies? Fishing? Knitting? Bitching? The bottom line is you need a different set of friends - somewhere closer to earth. Jim
hey, im 16 and i love classic mustangs, ive worked my azz off and i have purchased a 1966 coupe and a 1972 mach1, i am restoring the 66 and i hope one day ill get it done, it seems like its sooooooooo far away and i think i need some encouragement, lol
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"Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today"
I own my 1970 Mach 1 because I fell in love with a brand new1969 Mach 1 that I would walk past on my way home from the 6th grade. My first vehicle was a 1973 F100 Ranger. When I was 18 I looked at multiple 1969 fastbacks but was always outbid. I only had about $1200 and most of the others had Mom or Dad as their bank roll. I finally found my 1970 Mach 1 and paid a whopping $600. I never even drove the car. I started it up, and told the owner I'd buy it. He wanted $900. I've had it ever since. I simply own the car because it looks beautiful. I sit in my garage sometimes and just admire the lines. If I really dig deep for some profound reason, I can say that it remains proof that I set a goal and I achieve that goal. The reason your friends don't "get it" is exactly why they "drive" the cars you mentioned. They never open a knuckle while wrenching on the car. They don't have floor jacks and jack stands and air compressors in their garages. I bet if you looked into it you'd find that people who own classic cars generally own the same home for a long time. In comparison, folks who own Beemers, and Lexus, Toy and Hon's move. They like there cars can't find their way because they have forgotten their past.
I still remember the smell of the air when we would leave my grandparents on a summer night and my Dad would turn on the headlights of the 1964 Galaxie 500 to see if any rabbits were under the apple trees. The glow of the dashboard was magical. The smell of the interior. Standing on the transmission hump while hanging on to the front seat. A time when we as a people and country were free. Something I'm sad to say we no longer are.
That was absolutely amazing dude. My generation doesnt have stories like that. We can't say that our dad would turn on the headlights to see if rabbits were there, we can say that he did, but the feeling just isn't the same.
Team MF Member #068 Posts: 875
Joined: 10/29/2006 Status: offline
I must have a really small one, I keep asking my wife, "does this look OK to you", she says yes.....She must be lying.....Oh boy, where is she, dear.........look over here...........I'll get back to you ...
Glen, Not all Pontiacs were muscle cars and not all Mustangs were either. In general, Pontiacs were a family car (seats six), with a couple of exceptions. Mustangs were a 'Sporty' car, with a couple of exceptions - well, actually a lot more exceptions. So Pam, welcome to the world of Mustang Muscle. Jim (Chicopee High)
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A Psychological Assessment of Classic Mustang Owners - 
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