What cars are future classics?

[Win]

I don't think there is any way to predict what will be a "collectible" car in the future.

Quote:
Honda Civic.

Just kidding....


When I watch Barret Jackson, it mostly looks like old geezers paying stupid money for cars they couldn't buy when they were kids.

Maybe the "collectible" of the future will be ricey stuff like Civics, Integras, Mazda's, etc., three series BMW's, the things kids and young adults really seem to like nowadays; cars that wouldn't get a second glance from someone my age.

 

[yesthatsteve]

Jag XK8/XKR. Those cars stunned me when they first came out, absolutely beautiful.

As soon as I can get away with a back seat that tiny, or afford one as an extra car, I'm buying one. I only wonder whether that will be before or after kid #3 goes to college...

 

[addyguy]

WRX - any of them in original condition.

Miata - will become an 'affordable classic' like MGB's are.

1999-2002 Camaro SS, Trans-AM, and especially the Firehawk.

Mustang Cobra-R - the limited edition, race-prepped cars - they will be BIG money soon.

Prowler and Crossfire, for low production rarity.

Corvette ZR-1's and Z-06's.

Early Taurus SHO.

 

[silverrat]

 

[hattaresguy]

Originally Posted By: Win
I don't think there is any way to predict what will be a "collectible" car in the future.

Quote:
Honda Civic.

Just kidding....


When I watch Barret Jackson, it mostly looks like old geezers paying stupid money for cars they couldn't buy when they were kids.

Maybe the "collectible" of the future will be ricey stuff like Civics, Integras, Mazda's, etc., three series BMW's, the things kids and young adults really seem to like nowadays; cars that wouldn't get a second glance from someone my age.


Bingo, when a car guy finally gets to the age where they have spare cash, they tend to want to buy cars they couldn't have when they were younger.

This is why muscle cars have been so hot the past few years, its because that age group that grew up around those cars is in their peak earning years. This is also why a lot of pre war cars can be picked up for a song, because the generation that grew up in the 20's and 30's is dieing off.

What cars will be collectable in the future? They are the cars the 13 year old has up on his bedroom wall right now, or they play on Xbox, and read about in Car & Driver.

I suspect a lot of the Japanese cars will be very valuable. The GTR, will probably be worth a bundle 40 years from now, or a WRX STI. When that 13 year old is in his 50's and has a spare $200k to grab back at a bit of his youth.

 

[mpvue]

Originally Posted By: silverrat

I drove one of these once, a friend worked for BMW and brought one home one night. what a load of fun! real tight inside, but you rev it up, pop the clutch and the tail gets all loose, but still controllable.
can't stand to look at it though, SO ugly!

 

[Hokiefyd]

Originally Posted By: hattaresguy
Originally Posted By: Win
Maybe the "collectible" of the future will be ricey stuff like Civics, Integras, Mazda's, etc., three series BMW's, the things kids and young adults really seem to like nowadays; cars that wouldn't get a second glance from someone my age.


Bingo, when a car guy finally gets to the age where they have spare cash, they tend to want to buy cars they couldn't have when they were younger.

This is why muscle cars have been so hot the past few years, its because that age group that grew up around those cars is in their peak earning years. This is also why a lot of pre war cars can be picked up for a song, because the generation that grew up in the 20's and 30's is dieing off.


Interesting observations, and I suspect you guys are right. The hot classics of today (Chevelles, Novas, etc) were largely "disposable" family cars of their day (save for the obvious high-zoot trims like SS, 442, etc). Perhaps the disposable family cars of today, like Civics and Cruzes and 300s, the ones that have zero collectable value today, might be worth something down the road.

 

[PandaBear]

Supra Twin Turbo.

It has already gone up in value (way above blue book) since they were discontinued.

 

[Win]

Originally Posted By: mpvue
Originally Posted By: silverrat

.... can't stand to look at it though, SO ugly!


The curves on it are not bad, I think it looks pretty good, really. The color blows, though, I'm just not a blue person when it comes to cars.

 

[SLCraig]

Originally Posted By: mpvue
Originally Posted By: silverrat

I drove one of these once, a friend worked for BMW and brought one home one night. what a load of fun! real tight inside, but you rev it up, pop the clutch and the tail gets all loose, but still controllable.
can't stand to look at it though, SO ugly!


Really? I have always loved the M coupe. Very cool car. Not like the stupid [censored] BMW currently builds.

 

[MarkM66]

Close to zero will ever appreciate in value.

The post '72 muscle cars will always be THE classics. Most, if not all the cars listed so far are still depreciating in value.

4th gen F-body, Impala SS, late model GTO, G8, are still dropping in value.

Even the early C4 ZR-1s aren't even close to being worth what they originally sold for, and everyone thought they'd be a "good investment."

 

[OVERKILL]

Ford GT has gone up in value, so did the 2000 Cobra-R. Only recent ones I can think of however.

 

[Hokiefyd]

Originally Posted By: MarkM66
The post '72 muscle cars will always be THE classics. Most, if not all the cars listed so far are still depreciating in value.


That's because they're still too new. We're talking about what might be future classics. As in, 20 years from today.

Originally Posted By: MarkM66
4th gen F-body, Impala SS, late model GTO, G8, are still dropping in value.

Even the early C4 ZR-1s aren't even close to being worth what they originally sold for, and everyone thought they'd be a "good investment."


See above. These cars aren't old enough yet.

 

[MarkM66]

I guess time will tell. If they're still going down in value, I don't see how that's ever going to turn around.

 

[IndyIan]

Originally Posted By: MarkM66
I guess time will tell. If they're still going down in value, I don't see how that's ever going to turn around.

Inflation always helps and probably external forces as well. Probably alot of muscle car value increase was also because the cars in the decade or two after were so dang slow!
If something crazy happens to fuel prices in the next few years, and all we can buy new is 80mpg electric hybrids with 42hp, probably the last of the gas guzzling performance cars will start to go up in a few years of that market, once its clear you won't be able to buy 6.1L SRT-8 from Dodge in the forseeable future...
Depends too, in my scenario, if some electric cars are capacitor equiped monsters and can lay down 10 second 1/4 mile times, then maybe not as many people will want a 2013 Viper in 2033 as its slow and expensive to run compared to the new offerings?

 

[SS1970chrysler]

To the average classic car buyer, the lowest price cars from a given year are what they go for.
Example: way more restored Nova's out there than Caprice/Impala from a given year and a lot more Mustangs/Falcons than LTD's.
I expect the future to do the same.

 

[d00df00d]

Originally Posted By: MarkM66
I guess time will tell. If they're still going down in value, I don't see how that's ever going to turn around.

You do know that opinions and perspectives in society change over time, right?

 

[MarkM66]

Originally Posted By: d00df00d
Originally Posted By: MarkM66
I guess time will tell. If they're still going down in value, I don't see how that's ever going to turn around.

You do know that opinions and perspectives in society change over time, right?

And do you realize this is all opinions and speculation?

 

[d00df00d]

Some opinions and speculation are more valid than others.

An opinion or speculation that doesn't account for important facts is less valid than one that does.

Yours does not account for an important fact. I was just pointing that fact out.

 

[Hokiefyd]

Originally Posted By: MarkM66
I guess time will tell. If they're still going down in value, I don't see how that's ever going to turn around.


I'm willing to bet that values of cars like 442s and Grand Nationals and GSXes fell before they rose as well. There will always be a period in a vehicle model's lifetime where it's not appreciated as a "collector" item, but as any ol' daily driver. After so many years pass, and folks are able to afford those vehicles they have grown up with, they start to buy them up. They're not nearly as plentiful as they once were due to accidents, rust, Cash for Clunkers, etc. And at the same time, more folks are buying them with the intention of keeping them for a while or fixing them. Supply is down and demand is up; that means higher prices every time.

Some of the cars previously mentioned, like late model F-bodies, Impala SSes, etc...these are still too new for most folks to "restore" them. 20 year olds today who grew up with these don't have the money to buy or space or time to buy these and fix them up. But in 30 years, when the kids are off to college and that new garage behind the house just needs to get filled up, they'll be looking for that elusive Firehawk that Johnny's dad down the street had.