“They used to be everywhere, and then they were gone. Seriously, when was the last time you saw a nice (insert automotive brand, model, and trim level here)?”

Maybe it’s a function of my age, or my lucky exposure to a range of vehicles from all points on the specification and value scale, but the older cars and trucks that are catching my attention lately are the ones many people wouldn’t treat to a second glance.

These aren't cars that already enjoy collector-car status, and don't have a healthy aftermarket parts supply. They’re the ones that might have been run-of-the-mill when they were new- not necessarily expensive, sporty, luxurious, or exotic. And rather than being subjected to a vehicle’s typical lifespan of everyday use and exposure to damage, they somehow spent years sitting, protected, not being worn out and thrown away.

When they emerge on the market, they’re sometimes treated like curiosities, other times just like used cars, and more often than not, not considered valuable enough to maintain in their low-mileage, preserved state. That’s why we should start a museum to house and preserve them in perpetuity: a museum for ordinary and unexceptional cars.