The Means AND the Ends

When you stop to think about it, collecting automobiles requires a lot. Money, time, and good roads are the first few things that come to mind, and following the end of World War II, we in the United States happened to have just a bit more of each than almost any other Western nation.

Credit first and foremost our mighty manufacturing capability. Our ability to pivot in mere months from building automobiles, tractors, and refrigerators to war machinery was a primary reason we came out on top—and wound up winning the peace, as well. Since World War II was not fought on North American shores,

Source: Kings of the Road: 20th-Century American Enthusiasts Set the Stage for the Modern Collector’s World – Hagerty Media

It’s summer, and we’re halfway through the year. That means we’ve also just updated all the prices on Hagerty Valuation Tools, and things are as wild as the last time we checked in. The supercar boom continues to expand even as the rest of the collector car market cools and as our Hagerty Market Rating continues to edge its way down. Halo cars like the Ferrari F40 and 288 GTO continue to post up big increases, but that’s much of the same news we covered last quarter.

Some of our notable gainers of the collector car market this quarter made broad jumps, while others indicate a maturing and more nuanced

Source: 5 Cars Gaining Value in an Ever-Widening Market – Hagerty Media

With all due respect to Porgy and Bess, it’s “summertime and the cruisin’ is easy.” Said cruisin’ is certainly easier when the top goes down. And it’s practically effortless when you’ve got a V-8 to pull you along. 

Convertibles have always been the ultimate way to enjoy a warm-weather outing, and when they’ve got power to match their panache, at a price that won’t break the bank, few things are better. So this week we’ve rounded up 64 cylinders

Source: 8 Great V-8 Droptops for Under $30K – Hagerty Media

The launch of 5th generation F-series for the 1967 model year was going to be big for Ford Motor Co. Ford has seen tremendous growth in sales in the 4th generation and Ford wanted to see that growth continue. 

This growth came from buyers that were saw the pickup truck not only a work vehicle but a vehicle that could be used every day as transportation as well a work vehicle. In the 50s and early 60s pickup trucks were work only vehicles for a majority of owners. 

Source: Fifth Generation (1967-1972) Ford F-Series: Ford Trucks Go Mainstream