Are there any cars that deserve to be restored, repaired and kept on the road forever? Not one specific car you or I may have, I mean a particular model that has some traits, characteristics or history that should have parts available for as long as possible. The original manufacturer would probably not want to do it, they have to sell new cars to their customers, constant turnover and replacement makes their business. Aftermarket companies could probably do it and some already have to an extent, companies like YearOne making sheet metal for lots of popular older cars and others remanufacturng engines, trim companies turning out upholstery and rubber seals, window glass and electrical items, … I wonder if there might be a call for this? One company makes the entire body for late sixties Camaros and once you have that, the rest is available in lots of places.
Restoration of originals often becomes a contest of originality and concours class perfection. The cars look and are perfect but then no one drives them which defeats the whole purpose of having a car in the first place. Wouldn’t it be nice if you could get parts for that 60 Chevy and keep it on the road in really good condition? Maybe that 56 Chrysler or 53 Ford, too.
With technology advancing as fast as it has, we should be able to get a lot closer to this idea, though the actual customers for any car might evolve over time as younger drivers have their old favorites which are a lot newer than the ones that come to our mind, it would still be nice. Replacement parts always available, interesting concept, nice to contemplate, will it ever happen? Hmm …