Chicago has become a hub for classic car enthusiasts and each year more and more of these passionate and enthusiastic car fanatics move to the city looking to get their fix.
Since their invention, cars have caused curiosity and adoration in a large part of the population. When autos were first invented they were basic transportation designed to get people from one destination to another. As time went on comfort became a focus and vehicle elegance was quickly found to be a major selling point. As a result cars moved upscale in their design and comfort.
If you look at the cars from 100 years ago you will find masterpieces that were built to transport people in comfort and elegance. This is because the market for an automobile was an upscale one and those who could afford one wanted to both show it off and ride in style. As the automobile became more popular. There were a range of price points and levels of quality available. Families could then look for basic transportation that were cost-effective and reliable.
Throughout the lifetime of the automobile there have been enthusiasts who have a love for the automobile. Th3y eventually formed groups who worship classic cars and immerse themselves in everything that has to do with these golden era automobiles.
Today in cities all over the world including Chicago, classic car hobbyists abound. They get together at conventions, form groups online and spend large amounts of time studying and getting involved with their favorite topics, the car. In Chicago there are two main groups who invest their time and energy in classic cars.
Classic Car Hobbyist
A classic car hobbyist like Eugene Bernshtam is someone who has a great interest in studying, learning more about, and viewing classic cars. This group has grown in size significantly over the last several decades and today there are classic car shows throughout the year and all around the world. Classic car enthusiast focus on the elegance and beauty of classic cars.
The cars that typically get the most attention from these Hobbyists or the ones that are unique, particularly elegant, or exceedingly rare. Classic car hobbyists learn every detail about an automobile from when it was manufactured, how many were sold, what the original sales price was, and every aspect about the car’s engine and interior. Many can even tell you the range of serial numbers on the engines of these cars. This hobby can easily become and addiction in a city like Chicago because there is so many car shows throughout the year creating so many opportunities to immerse oneself in classic car culture.
Classic Car Restorer
Sometimes classic car hobbyists take the next step and become classic car restorers. These fanatical car enthusiast have a fixation on restoring a classic car to its original production quality. Every big and small detail must be perfect or the car enthusiast is dissatisfied.. As one would imagine this undertaking is time-consuming, expensive, and very difficult.
Typically, the most sought after classic cars were originally sold decades in the past. In many cases the car companies that created these cars are no longer in business and in nearly every case the parts that were manufactured for these cars are no longer in production. In addition, techniques used in creating these cars from the types of paint used, the types of leather or cloth used in the Interiors, and even the tires on the cars are no longer available. For this reason the classic car restorer must be parts enthusiast and part detective, able to search around the world to find the particular original part for an automobile and then to recreate the techniques that created the original automobile.
If they can do both of these things and of course afford what they need to restore the car, then the time needed to restore the classic car is a small price to pay for the masterpiece they will get in the end.
