A Pick Up In Collector Trucks

A couple of years ago my son, Josh, and I were at a medium sized show and he made the comment that there were an unusually large number of pick-up trucks on display. I went back through my files and noticed that, indeed, that year we had seen more pick up trucks at shows than in many previous years. Since then both he and I have been paying attention and have seen the number of pick ups increase at shows that we've attended.

Now this may be a local thing or just one of those instances that since we're paying attention to this detail, we're more aware of them but I don't think so. I've managed to speak to a number of folks who are out showing their trucks and, in each case, asked them why they were inclined to become care takers of old trucks rather than old cars.

There were several reasons given for this seeming increase. Keep in mind that none of this is scientific in the least. This is just what I've learned by speaking to truck owners who I have met over the past couple of years.

The main reason, I've been told, is that over the past decade or so, pick up trucks have gotten a reputation "face lift" in this country. It used to be that pick ups were associated with farming and certain types of blue collar jobs. But in recent years more and more people have been choosing pick ups for their regular daily drivers. It's true that pick ups have become roomier and more luxurious and that has drawn owners toward purchasing them.

Another major reason that people have said to me is that collector pick ups continue to be much more affordable than similar makes and years of traditional cars. Go check out the car valuation tools on Hagerty (https://www.hagerty.com/) and pick a brand and a year and see some of the differences. As the collector car hobby becomes more expensive it's easy to see why more people are moving toward less costly entry level machines.

The third major reason I have been told that people are turning to pick ups is that, until I began to notice it, there just simply weren't that many. Go to any collector car show and you're apt to see multiple Vettes and Mustangs and Camaros and MoPars. What you rarely see are six Ford pick ups sitting side by side. There is a certain group of folks who enjoy not blending in with the rest of the crowd.

It really doesn't matter what the reason, the fact that more and more old trucks are being preserved is wonderful. The more old vehicles we keep moving, the more old history we continue to show off, the better. Bring on the pick ups!