Car-lovers Associations and Clubs

Since the first car rolled out of the factory in the early days, people have been fascinated with the contraption. We Americans love our cars, and for every car made, you can bet there is a group of people who are obsessed with that particular model's styling and features.

Today, you can find a car appreciation club for almost any type of vehicle. The clubs offer a way for like-minded fans to network, share information, find parts and collectible items, and just band together in support of a unique automobile perhaps forgotten by many.

Types of vehicles aren't the only subjects of car appreciation clubs. You can find clubs dedicated to hemi engines, or clubs devoted to the low-rider, or even organizations that revere a particular manufacturer from the past, like Nash or Delahaye.

Most clubs offer online resources, and many also host live festivals and events throughout the year. Some clubs have a membership fee, and others are strictly for online discussion. One thing these clubs share, however, is the requirement of true passion and interest in the vehicle.

Car Club Listings

Listed below is a sampling of sites that offers a variety of car club links for your information:

• Hosted by Berea Automotive Engineering, Car Clubs Worldwide features a list of clubs in a wide range of topics, including specific makes and models (like Camaros and Edsels) and even broader topics like vans and show cars. You can also enter your own club information, list upcoming events, and search for car parts.

• Car Stuff's Web site features car club links to various organizations and chapters around the country. Some of what you'll find there: The American Station Wagon Owners Association, Volvo Nation, and the Model T Ford Club of America.

• Search for classic car-related clubs on ClassicCar.com's Web site. The site features a classic car club of the week, and also allows you to enter your own club into the main database.

• The Forums page of CarSpace's Web site offers a list of online forums for various car makes and models. You can also find forums by theme, including hybrid cars and future vehicles.

• Yahoo Groups has a huge listing of automotive-related online forums and discussion groups, with topics ranging from dune buggies to electric cars. In addition to the browse feature, you can also type in keywords (such as "Corvette" or "muscle cars") to find specific topics.

• Classic Car Directory offers a comprehensive list of classic car clubs throughout the world. Find contact information or add your own club to the list.

These links will direct you to a sampling of specific clubs across the nation:

• The Sports Car Club of America features upcoming race events around the country, as well as volunteer opportunities for members. Included in the membership fee is a subscription to SportsCar Magazine.

• The Muscle Car Club offers membership to people interested in classic and modern muscle cars. The club is dedicated to the appreciation of muscle cars from all manufacturers.

• The Muscle Car Society provides a community driven Web site for collector car owners who have a specific interest in 1960s muscle cars. Car and owner profiles, local car clubs, and muscle car shows can all be found there.

• Eternal Rollerz Car Club offers fans of the traditional low-rider vehicle a place to call home. It has chapters throughout the U.S. and satellite groups in Australia, Germany, and Brazil.

• The Classic Hearse Register, based in the U.K., is a site dedicated to owners of vintage hearses across the world. Currently the club has 160 members.

• The Messerschmidt club offers membership options and information about international rallies and events.

• The National Woodie Club has many U.S. chapters and offers information on events as well as news and woodie merchandise.

• The National Kit Car Club serves those who are interested in building their own sporty models. Find cars for sale, kit information, and informative FAQs.

• The Super Coupe Club of America was founded in 1996. Its motto, "Dedicated to the Preservation and Performance of the Thunderbird Super Coupe, 1989-1995 and the '89/90 supercharged Cougar XR7" pretty well spells out who would be interested in checking out this club.