One good thing that can be said about those "obsolete" cars is that the cost to keep them running was quite low. If your alternator went, you could get a new one for about $25, and even someone with almost no mechanical skills could replace one in less than half an hour. Starters, too, ran only about $25. If the car didn't start, you replaced the points and condenser for about $3, or checked the butterfly on the carburetor.
Today a new alternator will cost around $300, and you need a diagnostic system to figure out why your car doesn't start. Granted, today's cars are much more reliable, but expensive when something goes wrong.
Also, it's much harder today to tell one brand from another. Aerodynamic styling has taken become more important than brand distinction. I can't tell a Mercedes from a BMW from a Honda from a Chevy until I get up close enough to see the emblem. There's only a few cars that really stand out.
