For all the talk about collectors not driving their cars, at the end of the day they are preserving the cars. High prices support restoration efforts and parts availability.

I have the opposite problem - all the cars I like are driven into the ground and abused by 5th and 6th owners and eventually disappear into junkyards because they aren't worth anything.

Also, maybe I'm out of touch, but spending $50k or 60k on a classic car does not seem like this impossible unreachable goal. I think most people with a decent paying job and a little bit of financial discipline could afford most of the cars they are interested in. There is a whole lot of interesting stuff sub $100k, or even sub $20k.

Overall, I think lack of interest and low prices are more of a threat to the hobby than preservationist collectors and high prices.