Dave,
A separate thought about relative values and West Coast cars that should
be said.
1) Is it true that all West Coast cars are rust free?
No! Not all of the West Coast is subject to a snow-free, salt-free
environment. Especially mountain
areas and northern areas, where salt is used. Even desert based cars do
go skiing, so it is only a matter of
a major difference in the extent and breadth of exposure that increases
your probability.
2) If there is no road salt exposure, does that mean rust free?
No! Those living near the ocean are constantly being bathed in
moisture that is salt laden, and can
cause significant rusting, usually starting from the outside surface,
inwards.
3) Then why the fuss?
Sheer numbers. The percentage of cars in these conditions is low, in
relation to the total environment.
Much of Southern California is reclaimed desert with water from the
mountains and Colorado river. Rainy
season lasts just about a month or two, and even then is infrequent.
Again, less exposure even to water.
They see more water from a car wash than a rain fall or wet streets. Not
true of Northern elevations, or
Seattle, where sometimes it is NOT raining. (Sorry, TIGEROOTES (Jim)
(9-)
4) Do West Coasters take better care of their cars, making them in
better condition?
No! The number of people who lube, change oil, or even wash their
car does not significantly differ
from anywhere else. The smaller range of the environmental changes,
however, lessen the damage of the
negligence. didn't change your anti-freeze, not to worry, it won't
freeze anyway and water is a better
coolant. Watch out for the water pump lube additive, though. Even
batteries last longer without large
environmental temperature changes, and the additional starting load
changes that come with that.
5) Why are there more sports cars out there than elsewhere, including
clubs and collectors?
Easy. California has always been in love with automobiles. One of
the major reasons is the lack of any
good public transportation, and the long distances between living areas
and working areas. Unlike other
cities, Downtown Los Angeles is NOT the center of commerce and industry.
It is spread across many
adjacent COUNTIES. Even within L.A., people have not lived in the
downtown area in great numbers since
the '20's , and jobs are spread all over the place - VERY large area,
and large domicile areas have few
industrial jobs. Basically, you don't own a car, you aren't going
anywhere. Secondly,the area is always
been a trend setter, and this environment is perfect for the sport car.
Always has been, even before the
soldiers brought MG-TC's back from the war. The Hollywood stars drove
Dusenbergs and Cords, so that's
what others aspired to. Of course the nuts out here started the SUV
craze as well (relegate the popularity
of pickups to other states, though there are plenty here.) Not only do
the Japanese maintain car design
centers in Los Angeles, but Detroit has done so as well.
6) Last question. How do I know that what you are saying is accurate?
You don't. And you don't have to take my word for my experience.
Just ask any Midwesterners or
Eastern traveler to this area, who is an auto enthusiast, what struck
him the most. Many will answer: "I
couldn't believe how many old cars are still on the road. These are not
collector's cars, just everyday
vehicles that have even disappeared from our junk yards into piles of
rust many years ago. They are
owned by ordinary people and not restored, and they are cheap
transportation cars."
I just passed a '52 De Soto whose hood was rusty. It was running in
traffic, like all the others, but the paint
had gone from the top of the hood (probably baked off by the sun) and
the surface had rusted. I'll bet it
could be cleaned off, wire or bead blasted, and a solid hood, ready for
new paint, would be underneath.
Bottom line, your probability is greater as the population of better
condition cars is greater. The market
sets the prices based on car and condition.
My observations and $.02
Steve
--
Steve Laifman
Editor
http://www.TigersUnited.com
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