“Kids these days just don’t care about cars,” says Grist. While USA Today states “Today's teens in no rush to start driving.” There are various other titles like this and even statistics to prove that driving rates among younger generations declined.
According to various sources, Generation Z prefers scooters, electric bikes, and car sharing models, but this trend is hardly surprising if we consider that Gen. Z is the most environmental conscious generation in history. But it’s not just growing environmental awareness that pushes these teens towards scooters and e-bikes.
“One of Gen Z’s main traits is the desire to have the freedom to decide where they want to work, study or relax,” says Trafi. “Owning a car does not fit with Gen Z’s typically transient lifestyle, which is often defined by travel or having the ability to move somewhere else relatively spontaneously.”
In the United Kingdom, the number of driving licenses gained by young adults has declined by 40 percent. Meanwhile, data collected from the Federal Highway Administration and analyzed by Green Car Congress showed that in 2018 around 61 percent of 18-year-olds in the U.S. acquired a driver's license, compared to 80 percent in 1983.
On the positive side, not all kids and teens are against driving or owning cars. In fact, in one of his appearances in “Jay Leno’s Garage,” the popular American television host featured a 1965 Ford Mustang owned by a teen. Now 17-years-old, Jack Mintz is our "young Jay Leno," and he met the television personality at a car-and-coffee event at 16, where his classic car caught the attention of Leno.
The 1965 Ford Mustang
The legendary automobile was introduced at the World's Fair on April 17, 1964, and soon after, it became the sporty dream car that conquered the American market. In fact, dealers sold over 22,000 Mustangs on the first day and an impressive 559,451 units were manufactured for the 1965 model year.
The famous pony car attracted the younger generations thanks to its stylish exterior, unique cabin features, versatile body styles and ton of cool options. Naturally, it didn’t hurt that the iconic vehicle was featured in James Bond.
Let’s not forget that the most famous British spy, Mr. Bond, was picked up by a 1965 Mustang in the Bahamas in Thunderball. In the end, marketers know that there is no better (and pricier) advertising campaign than a feature in a blockbuster movie. More recently, a new wave of stars and starlets have rediscovered the iconic 1965 Mustang. Apart from car aficionado and our favorite neurosurgeon in Grey’s Anatomy, Patrick Dempsey, a younger generation of people are falling for Mustang’s charm. Take, for example, teen heartthrob Zac Efron and actor Cameron Mathison, who drive the 1965 Ford Mustang.
Jay Leno Meets A Young Mustang Fan
At this point, it is evident that not all teens and young adults don’t care about cars. Some like Zac Efron and Jack Mintz have proven to be real car connoisseurs. And while Efron might be the more popular figure, it is Mintz who caught the attention of Leno thanks to the car he drives.
According to the Motor Authority, Mintz got the legendary car when he was 14 years old because he always wanted a classic car. Mintz's passion for classic cars seems to come from his grandparents, who owned both a 1971 DeTomaso Pantera and a 1968 Chevrolet Camaro.
Upon buying the car, Mintz took the task on himself to restructure it. The youngster spent approximately $12,000 to refurbish the Mustang. According to him, the pony didn’t need too much work, but he still changed the speedometer, radiator, air cleaner and radio. Mintz maintained the beautiful exterior color, but he fixed the rusting beforehand. The teen also re-did the ignition system himself; this shows that the kid is not only a car connoisseur, but also a natural talent.
The Mustang has been enhanced thanks to the “sport” steering wheel and air conditioning, which is very useful considering the heat wave of the past years.
The Engine Powerful Enough For A Teen
Under the hood, Mintz’s Mustang has a 200-cc inline 6-cylinder that during its heyday generated 120 horsepower and 190 lb-ft (257 Nm) of torque. The car came with a 3-speed automatic transmission.
The 120 horsepower can give Mintz some thrills while driving, but let’s hope he is a responsible driver.
Probably many older Americans can relate to Mintz’s story and his passion for iconic cars. Jay Leno for sure can as he pointed out that he got his own 1934 Ford pickup when he was only 14 years old.
It’s worth noting that in the past, Jay Leno featured another young car fan. Brandon Fay, the youngster who refurbished a 1927 Ford Model T, also caught the presenter’s attention. Fay found the automobile in a Wisconsin field, where it was abandoned for two- three decades, and he acquired and refurbished it.