There are car shows in most major us cities featuring hundreds of tricked out, restored and modified cars.

The classic car market regularly appreciates. Just try to find an Alpha for a good price, or graph the price of a 1970 911 over the past 30 years. Also you can insure a classic for cheap since they see less road time, are garaged and generally well cared for. (see Hagerty)

As for getting hotrods and restored classics on the road. California has half a dozen classic car rallies where roadworthy classics get out on the road for a couple days.

I assure you the culture is alive and well.

I think car culture just takes different forms (In the 70s and 80s it was American hot rods, the 90s and 00s JDM and Euro, 2010s and 20s it’s all about trucks and diesels).

It's not to say that "nice cars" are disappearing though. When I was a literal child in rural Appalachia, the standard fare Dream Car was a Dodge Viper or a Corvette and I did indeed admire those cars. But tastes certainly change as you get older and while I still have a "nice car", it's of a different breed than the All-American Dream Car.

I'd dare say that demographic died off and hasn't been replaced due to cultural and economic shifts. Also, the whirl of a turbo is a more appealing sound than the roar of a supercharged V8, to me anyways.

Edit: and yeah those types of guys just drive a lifted diesel truck with giant wheels now. At least they can do work with them.