Classic Car Qualification

Gents,

Repetitiously Redundant!

CCCA has the Chrysler Town & Country, a continuation of the Chrysler Windsor (a low cost introductory level auto), as a Full Classic.

That had to do with a number of the CCCA National Board Members owning these wood-bodied cars.

It is NOT a FINE automobile.

After the the CCCA passed the rule, and the prices of the T&C skyrocketed, most of the voting Board Members owning the Town & Country cars resigned from the Board.

The CCCA is populated with snobs, and I know because I was on the Board of Directors of the New England Region.

During my tenure, they would not tolerate Pierce-Arrow cars and when I asked one Super Snoot; “George, don’t you own a Pierce-Arrow,” he replied; “I would NEVER own a Pierce-Arrow.”

Shortly thereafter, I resigned from the Board.

Some nice Buick people, but mostly Packard Snobs.

ACCA is a better, more inviting and inclusive Car Club.

Of course, the Pierce-Arrow Motor Car Club is a SOCIETY and what more can you say?

Are we snobs? That is an open question, but I don’t look down on other vintage marques.

It is only the bastards (hot rodded vintage cars) that I disdain.

Peter

http://www.americancars-for-sale.com/5795/1934-pierce-arrow

Great news Dave, as we all expected.

Thanks!

Peter, I thought your BIMMER was a 5 series and you drove it all the way to Kalamazoo in 2012.

You must have picked up another one–nice, low mile choice indeed!

I think you’re going to find snobbery in any club. I see it in brass Model T’s all the time. I own a 1932 Packard and although I like the car and am proud to own it, I don’t consider myself a snob. I drive it to the grocery store with regularity and everyone loves to see it. I continue to look for an open Pierce.

I was a CCCA member many years ago but when they sent out a survey asking what your net worth was, I dropped my membership. I felt that was far too invasive and just an attempt at creating a who’s who among snobs. I have not rejoined even though a friend who is a wheel in the club assures me they are now friendly and inclusive.

I was told that many years ago the Lincoln Owners Club nearly went out of existence when they became so insular they did not welcome new members.

I was told that at one time even Stanleys were such a nepotistic group of people it was very hard to find a good car to get “in”.

The Franklin Club is alleged to be inclusive, family oriented and welcoming but I’ve had people tell me they received the cold shoulder at the national meet when they confessed that they did not own a Franklin, only a Model A.

So it happens and all it takes is one or two people to create a bad name for a whole organization. I’ve not encountered that in the Pierce Society yet and hope I never will, but I’m sure there are a few who think they sit at God’s left hand because they own a Pierce. It happens.

I can only add my experiences, so here goes.

Back in the early 70’s my grandfather heard of a brass era car meet happening in the area.

My grandfather, my father and I jumped in the Pierce to go have a look.

Of course we didn’t park inside the blocked off area with the brass cars but a few owners did come over and look at the Pierce.

Not a single one said a word to any of us.

They just looked at the car then walked away.

That really soured my grandfather on joining an antique car club and he never even thought about joining the PAS even though he purcahsed the car in the early 60’s.

I joined the PAS once my grandfather passed and my father took possession of the car hoping to learn more about the car and to broaden my resources.

I am very, very pleased to have found such a great Society of members that are never hesitant to offer advice or even their last spare part to help a fellow member get going.

As for the Franklin Club, one of my uncles is a very active member (having owned various Franklins since the early 60’s) and he says there are a few members that are not so nice but for the most part they seem to be a very welcoming and helpful group.

I’ve met a few and can confirm his assessment.

When it comes to the Rickenbacker Car Club there are so few of us that we have to depend on each other.

Milton Schilde and his son are the only other members of the club I have met in person although I have corresponded with other members.

I love the PAS and wish all enthusiast’s clubs were like this.

>> At the end of the day we all love cars. While we can still enjoy the pleasure of driving and showing our old cars we should realize that the

less critical we are, the less others will see faults in us.

Amen to that.

Especially with pre-War cars it’s so necessary that we recognize, accept, tolerate and support each other in the face of declining interest in this era. Around here there are no “antique” car shows anymore. Seriously. . . Any old car gathering has, I’d say, cars I’d find in the parking lot at Walmart. Guys who like that modern stuff can have all the fun they want and I’m happy for them, but you must admit that keeping 80, 90, 100 year and older cars on the road requires a bit more effort than a ’68 Camero or ’92 Honda CRV .

I posted a “gripe” on the AACA website that at a local Hemmings Cruise-In, I showed up with my 1932 Packard 902 Victoria Coupe and had to turn around and go home because all the available spaces were taken up with “modern” cars. There were even a few cars from the 21st Century, but if the owner called it a “collector car”, it was allowed in. And I had to go home.

I was miffed, but I can’t begrudge anyone from enjoying cars as a hobby. But what this experience taught me is that the big tent approach that AACA and Hemmings might use doesn’t really work when those of us with antiques are not welcome. (Of course I was welcome, but you know. . . . It still was disappointing to have to leave and go home after driving the distance to get there. . . )

That’s why I like the single marque clubs like Franklin and Pierce Arrow. No Pierces made after 1938. No Franklins after 1934. Even HCCA gets my nod of approval.