The Unexpected

I appreciate the unexpected. Girls with green hair, or good vegetarian food, or an Audi not tailgating are all somewhat unexpected, but happen from time to time. Of course stepping in dog poo is also unexpected, but I have less appreciation for that. Many things in life are necessarily predictable. Hot water from the left tap, gas pumps that shut off automatically when the tank is full, and working WIFI at Starbucks are all things we can count on. The world would be a frightening, hostile place if, for instance, McDonalds ran out of french fries. Sometimes, though, it is refreshing to experience something different.

I especially like it when cars are unexpectedly neat some way. Like a Volvo Amazon wagon that is faster than a Ferrari, or a rat rod made from various parts, including old tractors and home appliances. In every case somebody has taken something mundane and changed it into something unique. It is usually at great financial peril to the craftsman, generally his investment will never have a return. This kind of thing it is hardly ever done for the ROI, however. Rare and original cars have fiscal value, common modified cars have none, usually because the people that like cars like this are able to build it themselves. Lifted jeeps, Cafe racer motorcycles, SR20 powered Nissan 240SX, or Honda hatches with monster VTEC motors spring immediately to mind. Nobody would buy a JDM swapped 240SX, but a decent original car with no modifications is almost impossible to find.

Those more common of uncommon vehicles are neat, and are easy enough to accomplish, considering it has all been done before and is well documented on the internet. I tend to look for the more unique projects. Cars where the accepted use of the vehicle has been changed. Lifted, off road all wheel drive Golfs, or Smart Cars with Hyabusa engines, or Volvo C303 motorhomes. Cars that make you question what is possible.

Lately, people have even taken to making even the rare, valuable cars into something more. Old Mustangs and Camaros with autocross quality suspension. Muscle cars that can also go 'round corners. Instead of reducing the value, these cars tend to sale for hundreds of thousands of dollars. That's six figures before the decimal. And I am not even going to talk about the Singer Porsche or Eagle Jaguars. That is in a whole other universe.

The point is that as we move away from the automotive age and cars become less interesting, people are starting to find interest in old or unique cars, and not just as an investment. There is a growing interest in cars that are inherently more attractive than new cars fitted with mechanicals that allow them to rival new car performance. It is not inexpensive or easy, but it sure makes the world more interesting.