why are so many people fascinated by cars of the 1920s

[ericr]

and not just our Model "A"s, which are so plentiful in comparison to other makes.

it just might be my misperception, but the large exposed fenders, the running boards, the large headlights, the rumble seats, the folding windshields, the wire wheels etc. seem to attract a lot of attention and interest.

does anyone think the association with that decade itself causes an interest, or do you guys think we Model "A" owners are most of the fan base.

[Model A Ron]

I think your right about

the large exposed fenders, the running boards, the large headlights, the rumble seats, the folding windshields, the wire wheels etc.

As for the people who are interested its a lot more than just us owners. I cannot park my Model A without having someone come up and talk to me about it.

[al's28/33]

The styling of cars in the 20s and 30s was a transition period from the antique brass era horseless carriage cars and the streamline designs of the 40's.
They are simply beautiful.

[burner31]

It beckons us back in time, it's like finding an old silver coin in your change, the old cars, the old coins...they both touch people in that certain way

[ursus]

Growing up in the 1950's, there were many survivors of this earlier era still running around despite the emergence of the fashionable big-finned chrome bedecked monstrosities at every turn. A childhood friend, whose mother had been widowed and struggled financially, drove a '29 Ford coupe as a matter of necessity. It sported the originally paint and was otherwise all-original yet it carried Mom and her two kids everywhere they needed to go. Mr. Brown down the street had a late 20's era Dodge that he occasionally had to start with a crank. My Dad had a '35 LaSalle with seats so plush it was like riding on a cloud despite the smirks from folks passing by on vinyl-seated crap cars like the then current DeSotos and Pontiacs of the time. I could tells some stories...

[PC/SR]

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They each had an individual character, even the same make and model. Even our illegitimate cousins the hot rodders saw that, and went even further with their individual ideas.

[Oldbluoval]

The fascination depends on age of the beholder
To the older ….a reflection back
To the “not so old” beauty and craftsmanship?

[rfitzpatrick]

I enjoy the entire era: The Dodge Brothers, Flapper Girls, Stock Market, The Flapper Girls,
Buicks, Airplanes and The Flapper Girls!!

[Eccentric Old Guy]

Originally Posted by rfitzpatrick

I enjoy the entire era: The Dodge Brothers, Flapper Girls, Stock Market, The Flapper Girls,
Buicks, Airplanes and The Flapper Girls!!

Yep, the ladies of that era certainly had some style, didn't they?

This was my Grandmother's generation, and they knew how to own it!

[nkaminar]

This is just my opinion. When I was growing up a neighbor had a brass car and a 1930 true classic. I loved both. The brass car was fascinating from a historical and mechanical standpoint and just looked neat from the oversize wheels to the open front seat to all the brass and gas headlights and starting crank. I thought the classic car was just beautiful with the long hood, small windshield, fantastic grill, and cool wheels. Classic in this sense are the high end cars produced in late 1920's and early 1930's. I think these cars were the height of design and mechanical ingenuity. They generally cost about 10 times the cost of a new Model A or more.

In my post lottery winning world, I would own a nice brass car and a nice classic, plus a nice Model A, which I have, and perhaps an early Stanley without the condenser. I will buy a lottery ticket today.

[Tim Ayers]

Originally Posted by burner31

It beckons us back in time, it's like finding an old silver coin in your change, the old cars, the old coins...they both touch people in that certain way

Excellent point. Every now and then, you hear that particular silver quarter "clink" they make when you get change back. It's like hitting the lottery when that happens.

[kawagumby]

Originally Posted by burner31

It beckons us back in time, it's like finding an old silver coin in your change, the old cars, the old coins...they both touch people in that certain way

Exactly! Although several of my '60s decade high school friends had model A's, the 20's-30's era is really what beckons me. I'm a big Laurel and Hardy fan, and enjoy many of the silent movies from that time too. Every so often I pull the DVD's out and enjoy watching all the mostly skinny people (LOL) living in a simpler time. For me, it all comes together with a machine from that past.

[ronn]

funny, every time I trailer an antique, I get very little thumbs up or interest here in NJ.


Much more interest it seems in upstate NY. I think some of it is equally regional.

[rfitzpatrick]

The stock market crash of '29 ended the Flapper-Girl Era

[dean from bozeman]

Originally Posted by ericr

it just might be my misperception, but the large exposed fenders, the running boards, the large headlights, the rumble seats, the folding windshields, the wire wheels etc. seem to attract a lot of attention and interest.

ericr, not "misperception" but spot on perception! I believe that you hit the nails on their heads!

[hazelhoff]

Funny to watch different generations reacting on the Model A. I only have to blow the horn to awaken elderly people (I mean 70 plus and more), whereas youngsters (minus 30) don’t give a damn. Very young people even consider the Model A to be ugly !

Having said that, I cherish the ‘after WWII-generation”, at the same time fearing the ‘hobby’ will die with us …

[mhsprecher]

Whenever I drive any of my antiques, from my Model A to my 51 Ford, I get a lot of attention. The A's probably get the most because they are so different from what we see today. I look forward to getting my Model T on the road to see what the reaction to that is?

As a kid my father had a friend who had a 1920's Buick that was his daily driver. I was fascinated by it at an early age. I never got to ride in it, but I think it sparked my interest in old cars when I was 5 or 6 years old.

[Greg Jones]

For me, it is about the machine itself. I have no nostalgia for the period in which it was produced. I suppose there is a touch of nostalgia from my youthful days in the early 1960's when these cars were still around and being driven as regular cars versus collector cars. I fell in love with Model A's when our neighbor bought a 31 Tudor from an older woman and took me for a ride in it. The car was, to me anyway, in like new condition. It seemed so plush inside and exuded classiness.

[slatgrille]

I think it starts at an early age being exposed to things of the past. When I was a kid in the early 70's, we had an old guy approx. 3 miles from us with a barn where he kept his 'collection' of pre-20's original condition cars. It was his private museum that he let the public view for a nominal fee. My brother and I would ride our bikes over and he would let us sit in the cars. It was like a 'time machine'. No shiny, roped off areas that were overly lit up. Just somewhat a dusty and dingy building that had a feel of the 'early days'. Unfortunately, he passed away in the mid-70's and all his stuff was auctioned off. I'll never forget coming home from church with my parents one Sunday around that time and seeing cars lined up on the side of the road as his museum was being liquidated. No trace of any barn or cars remains today. That experience has always been the major factor why I love the era of 1900-30 (except for early Willys jeeps).

His name was Harry Muckler....an old timer with one eye whose dog saved him from a house fire at a younger age. His collection was in the little town of Woolwich, ME where I grew up.

[Redbird]

When you are at a car show let the younger generations sit behind the wheel. They will never forget it!