Cars that grow on you as you get older.

[RSchnell]

I've noticed as I get older things that were once unappealing are now quite appealing and this holds true for cars. What are some cars that you once never cared for but find an appreciation for them now? 

Mine are in no particular order- '53-54 Chevrolet, late 70s/early 80's El Camino's, 4 door sedans- I used to consider these parts cars and still call them that sometimes. 1961-62 Mercs. Thought the 61-62 Fords looked better but I wouldn't kick a '62 Merc out of the garage now.

[TarheelRick]

I would never have thought of owning a station wagon, now if I could find the right one it would definitely follow me home.

[oldcarfan]

I was raised in a Ford family, not sure what family drama caused that. My dad's parents were Chevy folk but under my dad's influence I hated that brand. Nowadays I don't really dislike any brand except a certain electric brand.

[Rbray47]

When I was a kid I hated small economy cars. Probably because my parents were cheap and only bought tiny little 2 door cars, which they crammed me into the back of on trips. Now I'd love to have a Datsun B210 or a Beetle. I did compromise and get a BRZ. Small, but not too small. 

4 doors never appealed to me either, but for some reason I'm liking the looks of 68-up Nova sedans. 

[johnyrotten]

Stock 30's-40's anything. Used to think they needed to be radically custom, I find it cool now to check them out and see the craftsmanship and design that went into them. 

[NOBLNG]

I was just thinking about this today…but with regards to music. Songs that I didn’t like in the ‘80s and ‘90s are now sorta like classics.🙄

Edited December 25, 2024 by NOBLNG

[Shark]

Old Cadillacs

[JollySipper]

I used to not really care for a Corvette........... Never had anything against them, just took a while for me to appreciate them. They're the all-American sports car, and the early astronauts really liked them! I especially like the cove-side C1s and the C2s..........  

[Lunajammer]

Square body GM wagons. From ‘77 to ‘92 it seemed like there would be no end to them and I was ready to not see them anymore. Now they’ve all but vanished it’s nice to see them again.

[StevenGuthmiller]

2 hours ago, NOBLNG said:

I was just thinking about this today…but with regards to music. Songs that I didn’t like in the ‘80s and ‘90s are now sorta like classics.🙄

I agree.

I was never a Led Zeppelin or Rush fan when I was younger, but as I got older, I learned to appreciate them a lot more.

I think some of that might have had to do with discovering over time what kind of unmatched talent there was in those bands.

Was there ever a better drummer than Neil Peart or a better guitar player than Jimmy Page?

On the flip side of that coin, I have really become disillusioned with other bands that I may have at least somewhat enjoyed in the past, that I literally can’t stand to listen too anymore.

Bruce Springsteen is probably number one on that list.

 

 

 

Steve

[RSchnell]

38 minutes ago, StevenGuthmiller said:

 

Bruce Springsteen is probably number one on that list.

 

 

 

Steve

Never been a Springsteen fan, I always say "If Springsteen is the boss, consider me a disgruntled employee." With the exception of the Grateful Dead & a few others, bands I listened to even 10 years ago I seldom listen to now. Getting old is interesting. 

[StevenGuthmiller]

1 hour ago, RSchnell said:

Never been a Springsteen fan, I always say "If Springsteen is the boss, consider me a disgruntled employee." With the exception of the Grateful Dead & a few others, bands I listened to even 10 years ago I seldom listen to now. Getting old is interesting. 

I was never much of a Grateful Dead fan either.

 

It is interesting getting old.

I find myself enjoying listening to a number of bands now that I don't remember being big into in my younger days.

Badfinger, Little River Band, Supertramp, Atlanta Rhythm Section, etc.

 

 

 

Steve

[Tabbysdaddy]

I never really liked Springsteen. My father went to school with him and doesn't have nice stories about the guy either. 

[Bucky]

I never liked 4dr cars when I was a kid, but my first car when I turned 18 was a 1966 Dodge Coronet 4dr sedan. I kept it 6 months and traded it for a brand new 1974 Oldsmobile Omega S 2dr coupe. Since then I've owned several more 4dr sedans. Also, back in the day, just about any car painted green belonged in the scrap yard, as far as I was concerned. But, I ended up owning three different green cars, and even started to like a lot of the different shades of green that have been available down through the years. 

[TonyK]

Studebaker comes to mind. I hated them as a kid but as an adult I came to like the Commander, Hawk, and Starliner or whatever they are called. Other Studebakers are still ugly to me along with any Rambler and early 60's Thunderbirds.

[Shark]

4 hours ago, Bucky said:

Also, back in the day, just about any car painted green belonged in the scrap yard, as far as I was concerned. 

I always thought green cars were bad luck. But I wanted a late 60's-early 70's Nova and came across a green one and bought it. I painted it white, but it still knew it was green. Had more trouble with that car than anything else.

I mentioned old Cadillacs in an earlier reply. Like to add later model square body El Caminos to that list. Been keeping my eyes open for one, but the prices have become ridiculous for them.

[Mike 1017]

[LDO]

Sedans…in general. I was always interested in hot rods and sports cars, but I’ve never had the money for a really wild car. I’m older now, and I really like a nice, comfortable ride.  Three years ago I bought a 1987 Mercedes-Benz 190E with the idea of dropping in a boosted V-8. I found it’s just a great little car completely stock. I could see getting a pair of those Recaro seats that were so popular in the ‘80s, but that’s about it for mods. 

[Ace-Garageguy]

My tastes have changed a little over the years, including having developed a real liking for old wagons. I still have a '74 Malibu wagon in storage that I bought because it was so cheap ($100), and ended up going through mechanically before driving it all over the country way back in '95.

One I really wish I'd saved was a '66 Ford Country Squire with a 428 and front disc brakes. Just like this, but on stock rims. Man, I'd love to have that big ol' gashog today.

Of course, at the time I had neither the knowledge nor the desire to restore the "wood" (the vinyl was faded and peeling, and the fiberglass trim parts were turning to dust), hated anything fake, and was a sports-car snob to boot. Looking back, it would really be a cool old trailer puller now...and it was fast for a battleship.

 

[LDO]

3 hours ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

 

 

I love that wagon so much. 

[sfhess]

That's interesting, A 66 Country squire with a Galaxie/Country Sedan/Ranch Wagon Grille.
Most 66 Squires have the LTD/XL/7-Litre grille:

[Mike C.]

'58 Impala

[stavanzer]

On 12/24/2024 at 10:27 PM, StevenGuthmiller said:

I was never much of a Grateful Dead fan either.

I've always said, "We're Grateful, They're Dead"

I'm the right age to be a Fan, but I never liked them.

Edited January 5 by stavanzer
spelling

[RSchnell]

39 minutes ago, stavanzer said:

I've always said, "We're Grateful, They're Dead"

I'm the right age to be a Fan, but I never liked them.

I've been a fan of them for 30+ years. The Dead is certainly one of those bands you either love or hate.

Like Jerry Garcia said-

And to get this back on topic!

'55-56 Mercs. Always been more into the 55-56 Ford camp, but I've found myself somewhat seriously looking at a couple of '56 Mercurys for sale that are somewhat reasonably close to me. one of these I've looked at the ad twice. Not a good sign.

 

[The Junkman]

Dating myself but: station wagons.  Real legitimate stations wagons with acres of glass.  Easy to load, easy to unload, access is superior.  Heck the best ones had side facing seats that a passel of kids could play poker in with a bunch of distance from the front seat.  Lets be honest; this long term infatuation with SUV's is just a result of cultural bad vibes.  People didn't want to be seen driving the same cars their parents owned and which they grew up with.  What do you want?  A STATION wagon or a SPORT UTILITY vehicle.  Much panache:much sport.  A station wagon can carry more than a SUV without the dealing with lift heights.

Yes this is a case of "old man yelling at clouds".

Edited January 6 by The Junkman