TMCP #653: Ask Rick – Leno’s Law, The Future of the Collector Car Hobby, and Rick’s Summer Car Challenge

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Ask Rick: Fourth of July Memories, Protecting Collector Cars & The Future of the Hobby

July means Independence Day, backyard cookouts, and finding any excuse to get an old car out on the road. Rick and I kicked off this month’s Ask Rick by swapping Fourth of July memories—from fireworks on the beach in St. Augustine to childhood trips aboard America’s Bicentennial Freedom Train. Before long, though, our conversation shifted from celebrating automotive history to asking an important question: what does the future of the collector car hobby actually look like?

Along the way we covered California’s proposed Leno’s Law, the challenges of restoring increasingly electronic vehicles, why collector car insurance still makes perfect sense for enthusiasts, and wrapped everything up with not one—but two—collector car buying challenges. As always, Rick didn’t just give answers…he explained the reasoning behind every decision.

Rick’s Take: Leno’s Law and Common Sense

California’s proposed Leno’s Law has generated plenty of discussion throughout the hobby, but Rick looks at it from a practical perspective rather than a political one. Decades ago, seeing classic cars serving daily-driver duty throughout California wasn’t unusual. Today, those same vehicles are primarily weekend cruisers, show cars, and hobby vehicles that represent an incredibly small percentage of what’s actually traveling California’s roads.

Rick believes that’s the key point. If collector vehicles account for only a tiny fraction of the miles being driven, does continuing to require emissions testing for cars that are rarely used really accomplish anything meaningful? Whether listeners agree with the legislation or not, Rick makes a compelling argument that today’s collector car hobby is very different from the one those regulations were originally written to address.

Will the Next Generation of Classics Be Restorable?

As our hobby continues moving into vehicles from the late 1980s, 1990s, and early 2000s, replacing sheet metal may become the easy part. Rick shared a recent experience with his low-mile Mercedes-Benz SL55 AMG that quickly turned into an expensive search for one of the last remaining new-old-stock instrument clusters in the country. It’s a perfect example of the challenge facing tomorrow’s restorers. Mechanical parts can often be rebuilt or reproduced. Specialized electronics and proprietary computer systems are another story entirely.

It’s a fascinating conversation because it raises a question many enthusiasts haven’t seriously considered: what happens when replacement parts aren’t sheet metal or engines—but obsolete computers and proprietary electronics? Rick isn’t convinced every modern performance car will enjoy the same restoration future as a first-generation Camaro or Mustang, and after hearing his reasoning, you may find yourself looking at today’s high-tech performance cars in an entirely different light.

Collector Car Insurance Still Makes Sense

We also spent a few minutes talking about collector car insurance compared to a traditional auto policy. Rick has insured his collection this way for years, and his reasoning is straightforward. Collector policies recognize how hobby cars are actually used. They’re driven occasionally, stored carefully, and rarely accumulate the mileage of a daily driver.

Just as important is agreed-value coverage. Instead of debating what a collector car is worth after something happens, you establish that value ahead of time. For enthusiasts who have invested time, money, and passion into a vehicle, that’s a significant advantage over a traditional insurance policy.

Summer Garage Challenge: Three Fun Cars Under $25,000

To wrap things up, I challenged Rick with one of our favorite games. If you had $25,000 to spend on a fun collector car, had to enjoy it for the next year, and then sell it without losing a dime, which one would you choose? It’s a fun exercise because Rick isn’t simply picking the coolest car—he’s weighing rarity, condition, maintenance costs, collector demand, and long-term market trends all at the same time.

After weighing all three, Rick ultimately sided with the B4C Camaro. While the Thunderbird impressed him as an honest, enjoyable driver and the Hurst/Olds carried plenty of collector appeal, the Camaro’s factory police-package pedigree, rarity, and upward market trend made it the one he’d feel most comfortable buying, enjoying, and eventually selling without taking a loss.

Dream Garage Challenge: Money No Object

Of course, once the budget disappeared, so did the compromises.

For the second half of the challenge, I presented Rick with three very different collector cars: a Galen Govier-certified 1966 Plymouth Belvedere II Hemi, an original-paint 1969 AMC AMX 390 Go Pack, and a Shelby 289 Continuation Cobra. Each represented a different philosophy of collecting—from documented muscle car pedigree, to preserved originality, to modern craftsmanship built by Shelby American.

1966 Plymouth Belvedere II Hemi

https://www.hemmings.com/listing/1966-plymouth-belvedere-2-roxboro-nc-760431

1969 AMC AMX 390 Go Pack

https://www.hemmings.com/listing/1969-amc-amx-melbourne-fl-719481

50th anniversary of the original 1962 Shelby Cobra 289

bringatrailer.com/listing/shelby-cobra-csx8000-50th-anniversary/

In the end, Rick surprised no one by choosing the Shelby Continuation Cobra. While he admired the rarity and investment potential of the Hemi Belvedere and appreciated the originality of the AMX, the Shelby checked every box. Built by Shelby American, beautifully finished, and remarkably faithful to the original 289 Cobra, Rick saw it as the perfect combination of driving enjoyment, pedigree, and long-term value. As he summed it up: buy quality, and you’ll rarely regret it.

Listen and Join the Conversation

Every month, Ask Rick gives us the opportunity to tap into decades of real-world experience from someone who’s spent a lifetime buying, restoring, collecting, and preserving the cars that keep this hobby alive. If you’ve got a question you’d like us to tackle on a future episode—or a collector car you’d like Rick to evaluate—send it our way. Chances are it’ll make for another great conversation on the next Ask Rick.