For those who like data and statistics

[Timd]

Unfortunately, I'll be selling my Midget in the spring after having purchased a new (to me) British car. However, I was curious to see if the car's popularity had changed since I bought it in 2004. My findings are both sad and interesting:

As you can see, average annual searches have dropped every year. However, I find it very interesting that there is an obvious trend related to the season.

I always knew it was a better idea to sell in the summer rather than winter, but here is the data to prove it. Looks like I'll be waiting for the first show to sell.

Happy Holidays, and for the record, there will still be one Midget in the garage.
Tim

 

[JodyFKerr]

I love google trends. It's such a cool data mine.

What I've been wondering is what will happen when the boomers start retiring en masse? Suddenly there's going to be a huge market of people who are healthy, looking to do new things with their lives and simultaneously reminiscing about the past.

I'm thinking that we'll have a signifiantly renewed interest in 60's, 70's and 50's vintage cars. But, I believe there will be a bit of a difference, I think this demographic will be more interested in acquiring restored vehicles rather than doing frame up restorations.

Jody

 

[mightymidget]

My Brother (65) just bought a real nice Model A for 10K. Soon they will be less as people who knew them get older. Young people are not want a car that need attention alll the time as the MGs, If they have no connection to the car.

Not many that kids are buying to comute in...............

If you don't love these cars, you won't keep it long.

 

[Timd]

My Brother (65) just bought a real nice Model A for 10K. Soon they will be less as people who knew them get older. Young people are not want a car that need attention alll the time as the MGs, If they have no connection to the car.

Not many that kids are buying to comute in...............

If you don't love these cars, you won't keep it long.

FYI when I bought mine in 2004, I was 17 and it was my only car for 4 years. It was nice when school and work did not require reliable means of transportation... Although I made it on time, everytime.

My thought at the time was .. I can spend $3500 on a Neon, or $3500 on a MG. :confuse:

 

[JodyFKerr]

A couple things to keep in mind when looking at Google Trends.

Google trends is a relative scaled analysis tool. So each data point is related to the total relative number of searches within a time frame. As use of the search engine progressively grows over time, outside of the hot searches, what also occurs is that there is a progressive relative growth of search terms. It's entirely possible for there to be exactly the same number of searches for the term "mg midget" in 2004 and 2010, but it shows as a much lower relative number in 2010.

In 2004 google processed an average of 200 million searches a day.
In 2008 google processed an average of 2 billion searches a day.
(which is a mindboggling statistic in an of itself)

 

[bigjones]

Thanks for pointing that out, Jody.

Hey! I love the Christmassy look Basil!!!!

Cheers!

 

[Hap Waldrop]

Also something to keep in mind, those are UK stats, most of the Midgets and MGBs came to the US. I the mid 70s nader and the feds, starting convincing car maker that convirtibles were killer, and in 1976, US made their last convetible car (at that time) with the Cadillac EldeRodo (spelling escapes at the momment). At tha point the BL was doomed in the US, and as we all know quit US production in 1980, since BL relied mostly on US sales, this was the blow they could not survive. Also at this time Japanese cars were becoming hugley popular in the US, Midgets and MGBs were being repalced with Celicas, Z cars, and other Japanese sports cars.

Now we seen time pass and of course now the US car makers have no issue with convertible cars these days, and the classic MG market is the strongest in the world for classic sports cars, MGB being the monster market of them all, while everyone crushed their Japanese cars, so finding Z car parts, Datsun roadster parts is like looking for a needle in the haystack, while you can buy anything you want for a Midget or MGB. The next 10 years will be the last of hay-day for our beloved MGs, but they will survive for awhile longer through the younger generation that like these cars, MGBs and Midget will do Ok for some time to coame while less praxctical MG like the T series will fade away, because people will want a classic they can drive, and Midget, MGB, and then the TR6s, Spitfires will still be around. Sure the hobby is somewhat declining, but at fairley slow rate, so not like these car are going to disappear anytime soon.

Do a study on Austin Minis in the UK and I think you'll find a different story for that market, that is the car they clung onto, not the few roadsters that were sold in the home market.