Year One History, Muscle Cars & Market Trends - CHP Insider

Year One Cup
"The Year One Cup was our take on the traditional Best of Show award given at most car events," Kevin says. "As usual, we had some ideas about how to make it special. First off, we wanted a trophy that someone would be proud to display in their home, nothing cheap. To do that, we commissioned an Italian glass firm to make a beautiful lead crystal cup for us. We have a larger version of the cup on display in our Braselton show room, with all the past winners engraved on the base. The winners themselves receive a smaller version of the cup, but of course it's still quite large and made from Italian crystal. Another way we reward the winner is by inviting him or her to attend a number of events with us during the year, and we also feature the vehicle in some of our advertising. Fortunately, the winning cars have all been of such high quality that they are typically featured in a number of magazines and TV shows. It's to the point now where some people are building vehicles just to win the award. We think that's great. Additionally, the winner gets a $5,000 Year One gift certificate, an amenities package that includes all kinds of goodies from several of our vendors, and an invitation to be on the VIP judging panel for subsequent Year One Cup competitions."

Books
"There's simply no substitute for knowledge," says Kevin. "Books are knowledge. Get as many of them as you can. The more you know about your project, the better it will turn out. It's just that simple. While you may not actually replace the quarters or floors on your particular car, you should still learn as much as you can about the process. This makes you a better negotiator when it comes time to talk price, and it means you can tell the difference between good work and so-so work. At the very least, we recommend a service manual covering your particular model, along with an assembly manual if one is available."

Deja VU?
Just like the 1970s, gas prices are sky-rocketing, the economy is weakening, and the Feds are tightening up fuel economy and emissions standards. Many portend that the high-performance market will take a hit, but Kevin isn't convinced. "The high-performance new car market will probably feel the effects much more than the classic car market will, since most muscle cars aren't driven very often, and paying more for gas probably won't be a deal-breaker for enthusiasts," he opines. "People building projects are a very stubborn lot, and they're going to build the car they want regardless of the cost of fuel. If the economy slows down it may take them a little longer, but these cars are toys, not primary transportation sources. They're a way of life for most of us, so it's going to take more than $4-per-gallon gas and the inevitable economic cycles to get people to give up on something that means so much to them."