Car show disapointment :(

[Sandy]

Our town held a large car show this past Wednesday eve 6-9PM
I took the Silver 1990 ascMcLaren. From 6:00 to 7:30 I displayed with top up. At 7:30PM I put the top down. there were 104 cars present. There were around 325 people (includes those that showed a car).

During the 3 hours, I had less than 6 persons stop, admire, look and / or ask questions. 3 people were actually all over it with hoards of questions, but the vast majority, did not even turn their head to look from afar.

One middle aged woman in pink shorts really annoyed me. She spent a good amount of time looking at the 1966 Jaguar Saloon on my right and then at the 1969 GTO Convert on my left, and did not even look at my McLaren. Later on she returned for another look-see at the JAG and paused again at th GTO. Finally I said to her "Did you even see mine"? She smiled and went away.
My wife says it's because it's silver & silver doesn't show well.....
She said, next week (It's every Wednesday 6-9 from 3rd week in June to 1st week in September) that I should take the Azura Blue one and compare the reaction of the crowd.

What you all think ? I think I need a Coral Red (Pink) example !!!

[negusm]

Here's a novel idea...why don't you take the COUPE???

Honestly, the 87+ cars are just too modern looking still to get a lot of attention.

-Mike

[mustangjim]

Sandy-
Hi, I am really glad to hear that you are taking your cars out to shows.
If I may offer some advice, you may find it of use:

#1 - When you show a McLaren, do it ONLY for the educational value aspect, you are the key person (as well as many other members on this site) to the collector heritage/preservation of our beloved cars. That is most important.

#2 - Understand that most people attending shows are casual lookers looking for cars with "POP" i.e- foolish paint schemes, wheels, chrome, etc. and as such have no comprehension on what you are doing there.

#3 - Never show for the "Hardware" trophies are no more than junk plastic and base metal, they collect dust and clutter your home/garage.

#4 - Cater to the young kids, these little people will eventually become "us". I speak to so many clowns that already know everything about my car. I laugh with them, correct them, then send them on their way.

#5 - Consider only showing your car at shows that are for charity. I have really throttled back the number of shows we attend that are "Club Shows", way too much politics. For several years, my Eurocoupe got classified with brand new Saleens/Cobras (yeah most of them are still making $800 monthly payments on them).
I only show 2-3 times a year now due to my policy. I attend Bob Chandlers (BIGFOOT fame) show at his shop, all of the proceeds generated there goes to the Childrens Miracle Network, I have even won the 50/50 drawings there and then donated it back to CMN. You will find it gives you a good feeling inside as it should.

#6 - Enjoy your cars!!! Drive your cars!!! As you have said before, with your age & state of health, a couple of miles put on your MSO quality cars will not delineate from their value, the market is atrocious and does not look to improve much.

9 years ago, when I got my ASC, I bought it as an investment. Although I will never lose money on that purchase, it will not make me rich! Some of you may see me as hypocritical because my car has been on/off the selling block, please try to understand why though, it is an financial asset, I have been out of work since December 2007 and have had many health issues (bad heart), I am also in the process of launching 2 new business ventures. 9 months of unemployment has certainly taken its toll financially and I am not in a position to go get another job due to my health.

If I ever sold my car, I would ensure it would go to an enthusiast who would preserve it. I have denied selling it to buyers that I felt would not. You may ask why I have my ASC listed with Gatewayclassiccars.com? Simple, they offer a safe/secure storage option for us (costs me $1 a day!), but they require that my car be offered on consignment.

There is nothing more gratifying than to take my Eurocoupe out on the twisty backroads of America and let it do what ASC intended. You will experience a rush of adrenaline and pride when you return that did not hurt your car (it actually needs it) and it will renew your perspective of ownership.

Life is too short........ The U.S.A is in dire straits, from health to the economy....... The only control over this situation is how you perceive it to be and what you do today........ So go enjoy it, you deserve it!!!!

Have a great day & holiday weekend!!!!

Jim

[1985 Motorsport Capri]

in my opinion, the 87-93 mustangs are bland looking. always have been & always will be because
so many of them were built.
even your 90, which is about as rare as 87-93 mustangs come, is still just another 87-93 mustang in most peoples eyes.
79-93 mustangs just dont interest most people at a car show. people want to see really old/uniqe cars at shows.
even an enthusiast like myself will skip over those cars at shows.


now if you want to get attention next week, bring the 86 coupe up there.
most people will ask "what is it?"

[n20capri]

I'm a Mustang and Ford guy through and through but a GTO and a Jag are always going to get more looks than a Mustang...

Just the way it is...

[rlyons13]

New Jersey was the epicenter of the Fox Body movement, with the car magazines out of Saddlebrook NJ, the racing at Englishtown and Atco, and the illegal racing scene in Newark, Bronx, Brooklyn, etc. Foxes were a dime a dozen, everybody had one.....

Now, you rarely see one out here. Go to a Mustang show in NJ. Maybe a 93 CObra, a Saleen a GT or two and that's it.

I've been in the hobby since the early 80's, and my 1966 Coupe got the same reaction as your car Sandy, right through the late 80's. Fox body show people are just a little ahead of the curve right now.

WHat does bode well is the reaction of the "pre-driver" set and the new driver set to my 93 CObra and 88 ASC. These were the hot cars that their fathers & uncles took them out in. The ones memmories were made in. ANd the cars they buy and restore, just like people like me did with the 66-70 Mustangs.

Now, that said, even at Mustang shows the ASC will get no respect and little love. People will drool on my CObra, but the ASC...not so much. Why, I don't know. I loved the car since 1987, but I guess it only appeals to a limited audience.

I say drive 'em, keep 'em clean and enjoy the top down driving. Because these things will never be the next Boss 302/Mach I/Boss 429, etc. Maybe they'll achieve Grande status, but that may be it. At least the bunch of us seem to have more taste.

[ProTouringASC]

I agree that it has two things going against it when it comes to the general public. 1) it's silver and 2) it looks two new.

Shiny Side Up!
Bill

[1985 Motorsport Capri]

I agree that it has two things going against it when it comes to the general public. 1) it's silver and 2) it looks two new.

Shiny Side Up!
Bill

i dont think it is the silver. its the silver with RED interior.
the red/silver combo doesnt really match up imho.

[capriman86]

i have noticed the only thing people pick up on with the ASC stang is it has 2 seats....other then that they all think its another common 87-93 Aeronose.

[Sandy]

Nope. I do not agree with most of the above comments.
Nobody has hit upon it, yet...
SOOoooo.....................................

The #1 business in the USA is ADVERTISING ! More $$$ is spent on advertising than even on Medical !!

ASC / Mclaren never ever ADVERTISED these cars ! FORD advertised the heck outta their COBRA and SALEEN advertised a ton and sponsored th eir prepped cars at race tracks, and shows. ASC/McLaren spent next to nothing promoting these cars! THEREFORE when NEW, there was little interest in them. So, if there was little interest in them when NEW, as ya all know, interest wanes - so how much interest can there be 20 years later ?

Plus, 85% of the people that were there, are not Car-People, but rather people who came out to see what was going on. Have something put in front of their face, for them to look at.

The owners showing cars - many came over to look at my car, and talk. Most, once I explained how it was made, appreciated the car.

It's really not the car, not the color, nor the interior. It was the "Car-Dumb" crowd, that is more used coming out to look at art works or pocketbooks and shoes for sale crowd.

When it was over, they climed into their Altimas & Accords and went home.

[88-254]

Yes, the silver would look really spectacular with Snowball's interior. I think Sandy told me that and he would know. Have not taken it anywhere yet. Not ready, detailed enough, etc. Have taken the 88 to a local cruise night and had two people know what it was and a few others express interest.

I actually also took it to work one day, as I was dropping it off to have something done to it after work. My boss, just looked at it out the window and thought I had a little Mercedes. (no raise for me.) That was the point of the conversion wasn't it? The top was up that day, and I think that is what it makes it look more like a Mercedes.

Sandy, yes Coral Red (Pink) or if you drove one of the Seafoam , you would be noticed, too.

[1985 Motorsport Capri]

[quote="Sandy"]Nope. I do not agree with most of the above comments.
Nobody has hit upon it, yet...
SOOoooo.....................................

The #1 business in the USA is ADVERTISING ! More $$$ is spent on advertising than even on Medical !!

ASC / Mclaren never ever ADVERTISED these cars ! FORD advertised the heck outta their COBRA and SALEEN advertised a ton and sponsored th eir prepped cars at race tracks, and shows. ASC/McLaren spent next to nothing promoting these cars! THEREFORE when NEW, there was little interest in them. So, if there was little interest in them when NEW, as ya all know, interest wanes - so how much interest can there be 20 years later ?
quote]

I disagree.
there was never any interest in the superbirds and daytonas back in the day & look how much interest those have now.
back when new, mopar couldnt give these cars away. lots of dealers scrapped the wing & nose, put regular noses on and sold them as regular roadrunners.
the problem is 87-93 mustangs just dont have a big interest in the classic car world right now.
and they probably wont in the near future due to there mass production.
the 79-86 are starting to gain collectablity, but they were more uniqe than the 87-93. the 79-93 will never come close to the 64-74 era muscle cars in value or interest.

[ckj]

Here's a novel idea...why don't you take the COUPE???

Honestly, the 87+ cars are just too modern looking still to get a lot of attention.

-Mike

I couldn't agree more. I love the mustangs but to the common public, the vert looks similar to the standard convertible mustangs. Before I was an enthusiast on this site I had long admired the coupes, but never paid attention to the difference between a mclaren mustang convertible and a 92 mustang gt convertible.

[mustang marty]

Sometimes it has to do with your audience. About two weeks ago, I took my Mac to local annual gathering/BBQ that is held for 79-86 Mustangs and Capris. When I rolled up in the Mac, I became an instant curiosity. Some had heard of them, but none had ever seen one in person. Even though my car is fairly rough, most were happy that I brought it. The experience actually has given me second thoughts at to selling it.

Like had been mentioned, the GTO and Jag were vintage (I was in diapers when they were built) and our Macs look more like a modern car (my son was in diapers when yours was built) hence less interest since 87-93 Mustangs are still seen on the street daily. It may be another 10 years before 80's & 90's cars become 'interesting' to the general car show crowd.

[86capriasc]

I would have to agree with the interest in the coupes. Any and all shows I take mine to, I can't count how many people want to know what it is. They will stand and ask many q's to the point I finally stop sitting by it and go wander around. I also have noticed most people want to know what body style it is. Very few people have ever even seen a Capri.

I think I will make a sign that says, NO IT IS NOT A MUSTANG!


Mike