[Mike K]

This is a highly interesting thread . I guess everyone's opinion will vary , your views will depend on when you first came into the old vehicle scene .

The MV collecting hobby , has grown here in OZ during the last 20 years or so. Just look at the numbers turning up at Corowa, more and more each year . For years ( I joined the MV club here in 1976 ) it seemed that things were stagnant . Some people don't like clubs and there must be a large number who do their own thing , not bothering to get mixed up in internal club politics ( it always happens, inevitable ).

The high prices on Epay , reflect the supply demand thing .... more people wanting hard to get parts .. prices go up . I spotted a slatt grill Jeep air cleaner for $700 US .. to me that's an absurdly silly amount ,but its the going price . And people are paying that much for the accessories . 8 years ago, I had a half ton of WW2 Jeep parts here ,mostly castings , axle housings , transfer cases , gearboxes, heads manifolds , 2 radiators , engine block . etc. I advertised it all as one lot in the club newsletter ( very cheap too ), got one tentative reply . I ended up selling the lot for $100 to a dealer who offered to take it all away ...

The cost of basic materials like paint , is becoming prohibitive too . How many people in their 20's can afford to spend $10,000 on restoring an old car ? The club here is trying to attract younger people ,but how many young males want to hang around a bunch of middle aged cronies .

Mike