What do you predict for the future of the classic movement? I think it’s in a better position regarding younger blood, compared with say the steam railways. At least lorries are still on the road (maybe a bit of unnecessary electrics here and there), whereas steam I think is becoming less relevant as there are getting less and less of those who remember it.
i think the younger ones like the old trucks.myself have no intrest in steam.but a lot in the old lorries so i think it will just be the ■■■■■■■■■ who will keep steam engines and so on.the steam trains will still be going for many years yet 
The only change will be in the types of trucks as people will restore trucks they remember from there youth or early driving days. We have started to see this with people restoring things like f12s and scania 142s etc.
The only problem is certain members of the more traditional classic scene won’t want to let them on to the circuit but there will be always some kind of movement for older vehicles.
Restrictions on what is deemed an “old” vehicle doesn’t help matters; Ie Gaydon apparently had a restriction this year, yet MANs badged as ERFs were on display. What about the lorries too old for Blingfest but too young for Gaydon etc? Showing them at Dibley parish fete alongside guess the number of conkers in the jar wouldn’t interest potential buyers/restorers.
This is something that Truckfest seems to have cottoned onto as they seem to be trying to encourage more older trucks to come along to their shows.
The ‘newer classics’ also have their own show this year at Gaydon in September, the Retro truck show will hopefully show the future for truck preservation.
In a way, I feel sorry for the restorers of the near future. The lorries of today, the ones that they will be seeking to restore in 20 or 30 years time, will be so technologically complex and obsolete that they will be so very difficult to source electronic parts for. There is also so much moulded plastic panelwork and trim inside and outside a modern wagon that will be very hard to reproduce in the future. Ash frames and aluminium panelling, a bit of blacksmithing, welding and upholstery stitching will still be the way to go, revitalising some of today’s top-class restorations or repatriating old favourites from kinder climates. Let’s hope the government doesn’t come up with any more daft schemes encouraging wholesale destruction of our transport heritage, like the car scrappage scheme which killed off thousands of potential classics by tempting their owners with a couple of grand towards a brand new, usually foreign-built car.
Prices of “restorable” vehicles must put people off; it certainly has with me. An old wreck say a Ford Cargo 7.5t tipper that’s fit for the breakers, only £stupid 000 or nearest offer is often the sort of thing seen in classic mag classifieds. Rivet counters who stand and cry about using unauthentic liveries at rallies irritate the hell out of me. I’d love an old TK tipper or similar to repaint and signwrite with “A.■■■■■, Driveway Contractor. Ask driver for details” 
I know what you mean about prices scania 143s go for massive money even if they are dogs
The trouble is that as scrap metal prices have soared, so have the prices of ‘project’ vehicles.
Any derelict 8 wheeler is now worth about £1000 weighed in, more if it’s a tipper, but a couple of years ago it could be bought for just a few hundred quid making it far more viable to restore.
Also, the main sources of project vehicles are disappearing, the old time scrapyards, the showmen’s yards etc, all being cleared to cash in on the metal price - and they won’t be keeping ‘new’ vehicles in the corner any more.
Spares will be another problem, the British MOD stocks have inadvertently saved old AEC’s and Leyland’s (and others that share components), but what of the future?. Vehicles are obsolete at 4 years old now, the days of the same chassis staying in production 10+ years are long gone.
And then there is the problem of how to motivate the next generation of youngsters…
hiya …there was a S21 Foden at kelsall on a 1958ish plate no windows no paint on the chassis
which is for restoration (loads of work)must have been worth £1000 scrap and it dose make you think
hears 3 or4 years hard work and possibly 10k to make a nice truck. thats dedication
John
I think gaydon had a date up to1985 which brings modern classics in muckaway, I do one or two shows a yr with me old transit & like to see them all steam ,old 50 & 60`s moters & the modern classics a lot of which I have driven over the yrs theres room for them all.
i think the restoration scene will have problems in the future due to the nature of todays trucks i can see things leveling out and the likes of the 143 and f12 early magnums etc being the last of the so called modern trucks being restored,gaydon needs to imo cater for the younger generation of enthusiast i think theres alot of snobbery in the preservation scene if its built after 1960 and not british its looked down on
I think the main problem is the younger generation arent interested in saving the trucks (yet).
The price of scrap doesnt help, a wrecked 8 leg foden S39 tipper is worth £4000 plus to the scrappy, but who would pay that to restore it?
that and a lot of “classic” trucks from say 1970’s and 80’s have all gone to africa or the bahamas, Leylands in particular.
Why save a truck when you can send it abroad for another 50% more cash.
Another thing, speaking out of experience (attempting to sell my Roadtrain to someone sensible), when you are trying to sell a classic motor, WHY oh WHY do dreamers keep asking,
“Can i drive it on a car licence?”
No you bloody can’t, either pass a test or downplate it IF you can, mr VOSA might say something about a change from 38t to 7.5t though.
GRRRR
Selling a classic lorry is certainly a experience, when we sold our B series it took at least 3 test pilots, 10 emails with photos that never got replied to and loads of stupid phone calls. Then just as we gave up two guys came from North Wales (phoned at 12, cash in hand by 7) so don’t give up.
We noticed that a for sale sign seems to make some people believe they have the right to climb all over your vehicle (which you spend ages preparing) like a monkey.
I can identify with some of the above comments about attitudes, there are those in the movement who are snobby towards anything from the late 70’s and 80’s but things do seem to be changing. More and more people stop and look at Roadtrains, E Series, F10’s and say that was their first motor. It’s all a question of personal taste I guess, anything from before 1970 doesn’t really bother me as it’s not something I can identify with but one mans 10 pinter is another mans babe!
In my opinion the main threat to the preservation scene has got to be the price of fuel. Restorers dont have bottomless pockets and after spending time and money on the vehicles putting fuel in it now is a very expensive item. This means they are very circumspect about how far away they will travel to show the vehicle.
Carl:
i think the restoration scene will have problems in the future due to the nature of todays trucks i can see things leveling out and the likes of the 143 and f12 early magnums etc being the last of the so called modern trucks being restored,gaydon needs to imo cater for the younger generation of enthusiast i think theres alot of snobbery in the preservation scene if its built after 1960 and not british its looked down on
That’s my feeling on the subject too Carl, the later stuff is far too ‘electronic’ and (to me) lacking in any real presence. This is why I bought my F16 with a view to a ‘lick of paint’ & a re-trim and here we go a showing!! (prob next year)
Good luck to anyone who takes on a real rust bucket without windows & bits missing everywhere, my hat comes off to you & all real truck restorers because mine only needs a tiny bit of work as it’s almost completely rust free.
See you all out there in 2012. (hopefully)
Ross.