HVA's Economic Impact Study

 

Posted on Monday Jan 24, 2011 - 21:15

In 2010, the Historic Vehicle Association commissioned a landmark study into the behaviors and economic impacts of the historic vehicle community in the United States and Canada.

Everybody involved in the hobby knows that historic vehicle enthusiasts contribute greatly to the economy. But until now, no one could accurately tell you just how much.

Here’s a quick look at some of the key findings.

The ability to measure the economic impact associated with buying, restoring, and maintaining historic and collector vehicles provides a powerfully tool for persuading regulators and policy makers.

HVA’s economic impact study—the first comprehensive economic study of the U.S. and Canadian historic vehicle communities—was completed by Avenue ISR, a Michigan based research consulting firm with extensive experience in the historic-vehicle movement.

Research findings are based on survey data collected from more than 13,000 historic vehicle owners, enthusiasts, and representatives of businesses who serve this vast community.

Key findings are as follows:

• There are estimated 2.75 million historic vehicle owners in the United States and Canada (2.5 million in the U.S. and 250,000 in Canada), each who own an average of 2.0 vehicles. The number of historic vehicles in Canada and the U.S. is estimated to be 5.5 million.
• The average value of a historic vehicle is $25,000.
• Average annual spending (repairs, maintenance, storage, etc.) of each historic vehicle enthusiast is $12,500. Applying this figure to the 2.75 million historic vehicle owners in Canada and the United States reveals total spending of nearly $35 billion in 2009.
• More than 80 percent of participants indicated that they attended one or more historic vehicle events in 2009.
• Enthusiasts spent an average of 18 hours per month in 2009 watching TV, reading books and magazines, and reading online content related to historic vehicles.
• The average historic vehicle was driven just 484 miles in 2009 and the majority are driven 300 miles or less.

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We at All About Detail want to contribute to the preservation of these Historic Classic Cars. We consider these cars to be works of Art.

As our last article "An Article for Classic Car Women" acknowledges that this is more than a good ol' boys club.

An Article for Classic Car "Women"

I found this article on the internet and Mr. Edwards was kind and let me re-run it here on my blog.

FenderSkirt women no ol' boys' club

ByAlyn Edwards, Canwest News Service

The members have names for their cars like LowLita, Veronica, Cherriot and Hanna. They use personal handles like Trouble Galore, Rat Pink and Hot Rod Girl. And they drive their cars nearly every day from May to October. This is an 'all-girl' car club and they call themselves The FenderSkirts.


These women are very much a part of the classic car culture and they won't be parked on the sidelines. They build and improve their cars in winter months and attend dozens of car shows in the fair weather. Their dress is often as unique as their cars and, when they put on a car club display, it's all pink and parasols.


Krista Tjorhom doesn't remember when special interest cars weren't part of her life. Her father Carl, owned one of B.C.'s best known hot rods in the 1950s and is an inductee in the Greater Vancouver Motorsports Pioneers Society.


She graduated from a 1956 Ford pickup to a 1960 Oldsmobile Dynamic 88 that rides low and just oozes North American high style.


She and her boyfriend replaced the original 371-cubic-inch V8 engine with a rebuilt 394 and just completed reassembling the car after a new custom ice-blue paint job by her boyfriend, Kelly Newell, the day before the Fraser Valley World of Wheels Car Show in late February.


"Air ride is next," the employee of Costco Distribution, in Langley, says. The car club is her support group. "We help and encourage each other with work on the cars and put on joint displays at car shows."


Tjorhom and Melinda Neil worked together to install a new heater core in Neil's 1963 Ford Falcon.


"It didn't take us long, just a six pack," Neil quips. Then Neil changed the exhaust manifold on the six-cylinder engine herself. The sports marketing coordinator for Electronic Arts drives her car every day from spring to fall and attends car shows every weekend.


Belinda Kelly's father was a mechanic and her husband Lyle is handy with cars. The 'Valley Girl' from Chilliwack is a cosmetician by day at Shoppers Drug Mart in Walnut Grove and works on her 1961 Thunderbird in her spare time.


"I always had a love affair with cars but just couldn't find the right car for me until this car," she says of her black Thunderbird with its red metal flake roof and scalloped hood.


The car was custom painted by Aaron Wilson of EyeKandyKustoms. It has air ride suspension so it can be lowered to the ground when Kelly isn't cruising. She regularly drives it to work in good weather. "I'm proud to be a FenderSkirt," she says.


"The club is my resource centre and we really enjoy cruising, learning and working on our old rides."


For Sherrie Wilcox, her 1950 Mercury pickup was a 25th anniversary present from husband Tim. She had wanted her own customized vehicle for years. Wilcox found her truck in Maple Ridge two years ago and started collecting parts for it immediately. Since then, her husband has installed modern General Motors V8 running gear complete with power steering and disc brakes and chopped the top.


"I drive the truck all summer," she says. "I'm really involved with the car shows." To Wilcox, becoming a member of The FenderSkirts Car club will mean 'it's not always about the guys".


She says that each member knows a little bit about cars and they now have their own club to share their experiences.
"We sit around together and listen to the gal stories," she says.


FenderSkirt Car Club vehicles are restricted to pre-1973 domestic cars and trucks and it goes without saying that members have to be female. Any women looking for membership information are invited to send details on themselves and their car to: thefenderskirts@hotmail.com


Alyn Edwards is a classic car enthusiast and partner in Peak Communicators, a Vancouver-based public relations company. aedwards@peakco.com


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Thank you for that article Alyn and we look forward to your further contributions.
Well if you haven't had an opportunity to join us yet at our "Online Classic Cars for Sale Museum please do so. The admission is free, stay as long as you like and come often.


Our last Article  "Where can you get that piece of sheet metal that you are missing for your rare vintage car? Who you going to call? "

Where can you get that piece of sheet metal that you are missing for your rare vintage car? Who you going to call?

For many reasons I have not been a Facebook fan. I’m happy with my social life and do not need to meet people on the internet. At least that is what I thought.

I kept reading how you can promote your business by networking on facebook. So I tried it and it is true. Almost immediately I formed a group of Classic Car Lovers. And what a group they are. I will introduce them and new ones as they join.  

Victor Yody owns The Metal Works. If you review his site and you will shortly recognize that Victor is more than an owner of a business. He is a metalman, a real craftsman and artist. He doesn’t pound out metal for the run of the mill cars. He works on the very best. Take a look at some of his work:



1953 Maserati A6GCS Barchettad



In 1953, when Maserati upgraded the earlier A6GCS with a new aerodynamic body designed by Medardo Fantuzzi, they produced one of the most beautiful classic sports cars of the era.

As Adrian Monk says; "Here’s the thing", if you want to promote your business facebook will help you network.

If you need a piece of sheet metal to to fit that rare vintage car you now know who to call.


Please join us on facebook and network your business with us.

Not a Fan of Electric Cars? Me either. What are we going to do?

Did you ever notice what happened to Zippo Lighters? Have you seen one flipped out of pair jeans pocket, top flipped open, the striker flicked, and flame engaged, lately. Probably not and it will be the same way with the gas combustion car.

The Zippo Lighter gave way to cheap plastic throw away lighters called Bics. Who would try to repair one of those or better yet have a collection of them?

Electric cars are probably here to stay and they will likely replace the gas combustion engine someday. Who’s going to love a rusted out crinkled mess of an electric car? Who will restore it to a work of art? They will probably go the way of Bic lighters; they will become a throw away.

So what are we, Classic Car Lovers, lovers of the rumble of a 427 Big Block, the embodiment of wisdom, to do? We have to find the works of art where ever they may be. Look high, look low, and look in garages and scour the barns do not leave any behind. Take them apart, rotisserie them, rebuild the engines, re-chrome, re-paint them, and preserve them into the future.

Then maybe someday in the future our grandchild will take his son out for a ride in this:



1954 Cadillac El Dorado



All About Detail Classic Cars

Is that Car Classic, Vintage, Historic, Antique or Exotic?

The definitions of Classic, Vintage, Exotic, Historic, Antique cars is a well debated subject matter with no clear winner.


For example The Antique Automobile Club of America (AACA), one of the largest and probably the most stodgiest, noses in the air club, has proclaimed that an antique car is at least 25 years of age or older currently functioning and restored to comply with the manufacturers original specifications. Of course with passing years that definition has been refined to include several classifications of vehicles. So even they can’t make up their minds.


In most circles the term antique is most often used interchangeably with the term classic when talking about older vehicles but some like to point out what they consider to be differences. In some circles it is and in some it isn't.


The Department of Motor Vehicles in most states have their own terms for what they consider an antique vehicle. Most do not agree with AACA in that they issue antique or historic license plates to any vehicle more than 25 years old. The owners of these cars can purchase less expensive insurance than they pay on a new car with mileage limits of course.


Here at "All About Detail Classic Car News" we have our own opinion. We think that all cars are a form of art. Some like the Chevy Chevettes are more like pictures to put on Grandma’s refrigerator where as a Bugatti Type 51 should be on display at the Museum Of Modern Art Exhibits (MOMA). Anything that belongs in an art gallery, for reasons of pure beauty or due to their historical value, are to us  Masterpieces and therefore are Classics. 
 
Unlike AACA we include Exotic, Clones, and Custom within the definition of Classic Car:

1929 Pontiac



1991 Lamborghini Diablo

 Please visit our "On Line Classic Cars For Sale Museum" 

1934 Coupe 3 Window

Welcome to All About Detail Classic Car News

All About Detail Classic News Blog is devoted to owners of Classic, Vintage, Exotic Cars, Classic Trucks and Classic Project cars. We are hoping our little effort here will help preserve historic vehicles for the future.

Our mission is to keep those Gorgeous Cars rolling down our highways – by keeping our readers abreast of Classic Cars News and Events and hopefully perpetuating an interest in preserving the automobile of yester-years.

 It is our aim to have this News Blog an open forum. We invite your thoughts. We invite your articles and will publish them if they pertained to Classic cars and will help keep those Gorgeous Cars rolling down our highways.

Join us at ALL ABOUT DETAIL CLASSIC CARS.

A couple things for today:

Q. How do you double the value of a Yugo?
A. Fill the Tank

Can you identify this car?

**Always "Kick Tires" before buying a Classic Car**

What can happen when you don't "Kick Tires" when you are buying a Classic Car on Ebay ? It can steal your lunch money. Let me share my experience.

Ed Maitre, Partner of All About Detail and I decided to start a Detail Business in a most unlikely place, Clearfield, Pennsylvania. Clearfield absolutely fits the description “Not the end of the world, just close enough to see it”. We did not have high expectations concerning too much work. We knew that a population that is attached to Pick Up Trucks for the most part would not be clamoring to get those trucks washed. After all it takes a long time to get those trucks to the correct state of muddiness and who would want to wash out the evidences of the latest hunt or road kill.

Never-the-less we moved forward. Never did we expect that we would have to turn work away and we were absolutely correct. But we were a little too correct. More correct than was acceptable.

We thought we better figure out how to advertise on a shoe string budget. Two ideas struck us: 1.) We could purchase a Classic Car or Truck that we could place a business ad on, bring it to car shows and possibly use it for hauling mobile detail equipment and/or 2.) We could place strategic ads on the internet, Penny savers, the local newspaper classified ads, or billboards. Did I mention our shoe strings? All of these were too expensive and were without any assured results. We ended up using the idea but developed our own free website: All About Detail. 

With a lot of work that is starting to prove fruitful. But the first idea struck us in a different way; it took some of our shoestrings and did not give us a return on investment (ROI).

After months of bidding on vehicles on the internet we were not able to get the sellers of cars or trucks to move to our shoestring budget and we had become a bit disillusioned. Then all of sudden there she was. A dream, she was beautiful. She could draw attention; she could get someone to turn their heads. What fine lines. I had to have her.

She was a beautiful screaming Red 1975 Volvo 164 E. I read the description carefully. It had been owned by a fire chief, the mileage was extremely low (53K), the pictures indicated the seats and the carpet and the paint were excellent. The only problem was the heater fan switch was not working. That is minor, we could fix that in a few minutes and then she will be perfect, a 10.

As the eBay auction’s end drew near, I placed a bid, and I got ready for a snipe, a last minute bid that would make her mine. That’s when my wife interrupted with “we got to go now”. Ok then, I knew what I had to do; I would set my high bid to the end of the shoe string, punch it in, leave for my appointment and let fate take over.

The next three hours dragged on. Finally we arrived home; I rushed to my trusty computer, brought up eBay and found that I had won! I had won! She was mine (ours if you have been following the story) and all I had to do was pick her up.

I went to PayPal plunked down my $500.00 deposit and called the seller. I knew the deposit was non-refundable but why should I be concerned. After all, the car was perfect. Well perfect except a heater fan switch. Anybody with a little mechanically ability could have that fixed in a few minutes. The carpet was good, the seats were leather, and the paint was screaming red.

Any time I search for cars or trucks on eBay I always check the private seller’s button. I would never purchase a car or truck on eBay from a dealer. I called the private owner and a man answered the phone and announces “Ferati's Car Care Center”. That was the first indication that she, my beloved Volvo, may be wearing a lot of make up, she wasn’t a 10 after all. I spoke to Mr. Ferati and we made up some sketchy plan to get the car picked up by a Car Carrier but that conversation left me with a sinking feeling, I felt sick. What kind of Car Care business could not fix a heater fan switch prior to listing on eBay?

I had the Business and its owner’s Name and I started to do research on them. If my $500.00 was gone I did not want $5,000.00 to be gone. What I found was not good; for example look at these reviews found on Topix . In fact one review had complained about the same problem I was having. This business had held itself out as a private owner giving the would-be-buyer a false façade. I knew I had a problem.

I called and e-mailed Mr. Balkizf Ferati giving him an opportunity to explain the poor reviews and to return my $500.00 deposit back. He justified his holding himself out as a private owner saying that he had been using the car as his private vehicle.

So he has my $500 and I have a life lesson: Do not trust sellers on eBay and Always "Kick Tires"

Kicking Tires are one of the services All About Detail   provides. If you can't  “Kick Tires”  because of logistics or because you do not feel qualified,  we will "Kick Tires" for you.
 

As mentioned in our previous blog, our web site offers free classified listing for private Classic Car Owners. It is a great place to sell or buy a Classic Car.

We also offer Broker/Marketing Services and Inspection/Appraisal Services.

****Are Classic Cars Art?****

A lot of people look at cars as a vehicle that carries people from one place to another. They do not think of cars as an Art. They do not believe that cars can be a media for an artist to express themselves.So how can Car Artists and  Car Collectors defend their love for the Classic Car?

Like the man said, “pictures are worth a thousand words”. Please join us, “All About Detail” an “On Line Classic Cars for Sale Museum” for a slide show tour of our museum. We encourage you to take the tour and think about the artists behind the work.

.Unlike the art hanging in the Guggenheim, this art requires a Team. Foremost are the designers. These work with all types of media, sculptures, drawing, cad programming and more. Then there are the engineers who work with the designs and try to fit a mechanical working unit within the design’s parameters, no easy task. Many times the engineer’s and designers are forced into compromises. Lastly, the assembly team has to get all the pieces to fit and work.  

Isn’t it just wonderful when it all comes together? Did you notice the Ferrari 512T? If that is not art what is?

Cars do carry people from one place to another but when they do, they are "Moving Art". The Guggenheim will probably never hang a Classic Car on one of its walls. So if you want to view this art work you will need to visit a Car Museum or you can accept our invitation and visit our “On Line Classic Cars for Sale Museum”. 

If you are getting ready to sell your Classic Beauty please read my blog concerning proper pictures and properly worded details.

Web site offer free classified listing for private Classic Car Owners. It is a great place to sell or buy a Classic Car.

We also offer Broker/Marketing Services and Inspection/Appraisal Services.

1955 Packard Clipper Super





**Do You Have a Top of The Line Classic Car for sale?**

There are two major errors individuals make when trying to sell a Classic Car, or for that matter any car, on line. The Pictures that they post and the Description of their beautiful Car are sometimes less than adequate.

Let us review these two aspects and see how we can improve our presentations:

The first one, Pictures, is really and easily remedied. Good camera, nice setting, good pictures. If you need an example go to a out Classic Car site   and find what catches your eye and do your best to mimic it. At All About Detail  we have had some pictures of truly gorgeous cars where the owners have submitted some of the most unattractive pictures imaginable.

Two come to mind:

•First, a sleek looking Corvette, the picture had a water hose wandering
throughout and a garbage can overflowing with trash. We had to ask for a better picture.

•The other one was an eye catching 67 Malibu 396 SS. The picture was taken in a junk
 yard with hundreds of junk cars and a shamble of a garage in the background. That
 picture did not invoke confidence and that listing was turned downed. The lesson here is
 keep in mind what you want to stand out, The Car.

Make sure the picture’s setting, the background, has no distractions of any sort. We recommend that a setting extols confidence with nice buildings and/or nice scenery in the background.

The second error, Descriptions, is how the sellers describe their cut above, sleek, ultimate driving machine, impressive, eye catching, best of steed, top of fray, real looker, and great example of a Classic Car. This is not to suggest that you be disingenuous or less that truthful. For example do not describe your Volkswagen Bug as the ultimate driving machine. You could say it is a fun driving experience though.  

Do buzz words work? All you have to do is pay attention to car ads. Those companies pay a lot of money to marketing companies for just the right words.

Below you will find a list of buzz words that I pulled from a MSN article "2010 MSN Autos Editor's Choice Awards". Try to incorporate these and ones like these into your description.

If you give attention to these your car will sell faster and for more money then when someone ask you "Do you have a Classic Car for Sale, you will say no.

All About Detail is a website offering free listing to private owners of Classic Cars.

We also offer "Kick Tire" services, comprehensive car inspection and appraisal for would be buyers.
We also offer Broker/Marketing services cor Classic cars.

 Larry