The original hot rods were invented because young people could literally go to a junkyard and build them. They were practically free junk/trash. It was a totally different world. When built from junkyard parts became $100,000 it became a lot less popular.
Americans today are also a lot more stuck up/image conscious. Grandma thought it was cool/impressive grandpa built a car out of junk, the average date today would call that worse than a poverty wagon and make someone undateable. I have a stick shift Ford Focus ST. It's incredibly fun to drive, practical, good for the environment, but it definitely turns dates away because it's a poverty wagon.
Americans today are also a lot more stuck up/image conscious. Grandma thought it was cool/impressive grandpa built a car out of junk, the average date today would call that worse than a poverty wagon and make someone undateable. I have a stick shift Ford Focus ST. It's incredibly fun to drive, practical, good for the environment, but it definitely turns dates away because it's a poverty wagon.