Heinz I think what you describe is the process where something changes from being dated or unfashionable to becoming 'classic' The same applies to clothing and music which define an era or period of a persons life hence the appeal of 80's to 2000's cars to some people but to me it would be 60's and 70's cars that appeal most.
Interesting point Rob. I guess we all get locked into a rose tinted, age related period early in our lives when we start discovering the world. For me it had to be pre-60's though. After that we had Fablon, chipboard, orange kitchens and avocado bathroom suites. On the auto front a succession of awful BL offerings Mini and convertibles aside. Ford didn't escape this indifferent era either with ugly US inspired bodywork hanging over skinny tyres, thinking Zephyr, Zodiac, Consul Capri etc. Thankfully most big Vauxhall's of the era have rusted into oblivion.
I thought things had reached an all time low though when I first saw a Marina at a classic car rally, carefully restored to all its ex factory ingloriousness.
