Male Midlife Crisis, “Bedroom Wall Syndrome??? Driving ’80s Classic Car Boom

Cars made in the 1980s are hitting classic status – and they’re in big demand right now, thanks what some are calling the “Bedroom Wall Syndrome.”

Lately, there’s been a surge in interest in classic cars from the 1980s. Yes – that’s right. The Classic Car Club of America defines classic cars as those between 30 and 49 years old. So your beloved 1984 ride is now a bona fide classic. And it’s in hot demand, thanks your midlife crisis and a little known condition known as Bedroom Wall Syndrome.

BWS refers to that longing in men who came of age during the ’80s to regain a bit of their youth by plunking down a few hard-earned paychecks for a 24″x36″ semigloss poster-worthy blast from the past. Says a recent article in the Financial Times

“The 1980s, often recalled as fashion’s ugliest decade, is back in favour when it comes to sports cars. Collectables such as the Ferrari 308, driven by Tom Selleck in the Magnum PI television crime drama, are rapidly rising in value as a new generation of buyers enters the classic car market to purchase the cult supercars of their youth. Average prices for signature wedge-shaped models including the Lamborghini Countach have doubled or tripled in the past year on both sides of the Atlantic. Even the cost of a humble Ford Capri Mk 3 has risen more than 80 percent.”

And that comes all the way from the UK, where the Financial Times is a top-selling and trusted daily publication. American classic car collectors and dealers too are seeing the phenomenon, driven by men who tacked posters of Farrah Fawcett, Tawny Kitaen and Kelly LeBrock in all her big-haired, crop-topped Weird Science glory to their walls when they were 16. Today, those pimpled, pubescent young guys largely are middle-aged businessmen with disposable income and a sneaking suspicion that their wildest, craziest and best years just might be behind them.

We here at E3 Spark plugs say that’s crazy talk! Your best years are right now, dude – RIGHT NOW! So go ahead. Buy that 1984 Pontiac Fiero, ’85 Chevy Camaro Iroc Z28 or ’83 Corvette Coupe with the 8-track cassette player. Pay no attention to what your financial advisor or your wife say (but don’t tell her we said so- We’ll deny it). Meanwhile, post pics of your 1980-something ride on the E3 Spark Plugs Facebook Fan Page and enjoy a little fast car-hot girl-hair band video glory in the meantime…

READ THIS NEXT...

An off-road truck sitting at the edge of a cliff, looking out into an open landscape. It is a sunny day with minimal clouds.
A blue car with the headlight on. There are icicles hanging from the bottom of the car and snowy conditions in the environment.
A close-up of a man with long sleeves holding a car steering wheel. The focus is on his hands gripping the wheel.
An over-the-shoulder view of a motorcycle rider following another motorcycle rider through a forest road.
PERFORMANCE TECHNOLOGY PERFORMANCE TECHNOLOGY