Future collectible cars... (an op-ed)

Topic: Future collectible cars... (an op-ed) (Read 3664 times) previous topic - next topic

Future collectible cars... (an op-ed)

Reply #15 – November 28, 2010, 06:46:51 PM

Quote from: Thunder Chicken;343534

50tbird88: The only reason people stare at your '72 Chevelle is that it's old. In 1972 it was no more special than a V6 Malibu is now. In 2050, when everyone's driving Apple iCars (or just riding them while they drive themselves), people will look at a 40-year-old 2010 Accord Coupe the same way they look at your Chevelle now.

I hate to disagree...but I am going to anyway. lol, this is an interesting thread. In my opinon, Detroit was kicking out some timeless and awesome designs in the late 60's. No Honda anything will ever have the curb appeal of the original muscle cars. Sure there will always be Honda fanboys or Chevette fanboys or whatever who will drool over their rice rockets or econopods..but the muscle car era will always be the high point of American automobile history, IMO. That is why the 'retro' movement is so strong...the original reciepe was just that good. lol.

I'll say it again, the 'soul' just isn't there on these newer cars. As much as I enjoy driving it, I've considered selling my S197 Mustang and so I could try to find a nice '69 Chevelle with a 4 spd for that reason. Its just hard to explain...

Future collectible cars... (an op-ed)

Reply #16 – November 28, 2010, 06:55:19 PM

It depends on what you mean by valuable I guess. I think average cars like a Chevette or Escort will be more valuable than they currently are, but only a small fraction of the more desirable cars.

A current example:

An average car, a 1972 Ford Torino 4 door with a 302 is worth ~$4000 with very low miles and great condition. Basically a time capsule.

I could see a similar car such as a Fox LTD (Non LX) going for that money when it's 38 years old AEHC.

Future collectible cars... (an op-ed)

Reply #17 – November 28, 2010, 08:17:01 PM

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No Honda anything will ever have the curb appeal of the original muscle cars.

That statement is rather ethnocentric.....

http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2009/12/07/2009-puppiesanese-classic-car-show/

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stop and take a look around. These cars are all but gone now. The parts supply is drying up big time; yards are crushing the cars for s money, taking out our best chance at restoration parts. Nobody is really making any significant parts that we need. And rust continues to claim car after car.

If I had t do it again I'd have taken the drivetrain and suspension from my car and put those parts in a better example (and willingly paid the asking price if it was a rust free car that needed no body work at all) -- and my car was in much better shape than 95% of the ones that are left floating around....

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Detroit was kicking out some timeless and awesome designs in the late 60's.

...and they've kicked out a lot of great looking designs since. So have other countries as well. I believe a major difference today is the inability to separate options the way it used to be done. THings are bundled together as packages as far as vehicle options are concerned nowadays......

Gone is the era where you could order a one of one car through the dealer's normal channels....

Future collectible cars... (an op-ed)

Reply #18 – November 28, 2010, 08:28:39 PM

I've said it before, and I'll say it again.... Look for a first generation Honda Accord.

Future collectible cars... (an op-ed)

Reply #19 – November 28, 2010, 08:48:00 PM

Or a 70's Civic.

Future collectible cars... (an op-ed)

Reply #20 – November 28, 2010, 11:55:53 PM

I have seen cars like older chevettes and pintos go for a few thousand. I wasn't around when they were made, but its probably close to what the cost new. I don't think thats bad for a 30 year old car. the volkswagon beetle is now going for $6-7,000, for a non-baja in my area as well. I don't know about the omni, I'm not sure I have seen more then one. Other then that, I think many "square" and "economy" cars will be worth a pretty penny by the time I hit 40.

Future collectible cars... (an op-ed)

Reply #21 – November 29, 2010, 09:19:34 AM

Quote from: Thunder Chicken;343588

Or a 70's Civic.

Add to the list any stock, unmodified CRX Si.
These are very difficult to find even now.

Future collectible cars... (an op-ed)

Reply #22 – November 29, 2010, 09:50:25 AM

To be honest, I didn't even know they made Civics back that far. lol.

Future collectible cars... (an op-ed)

Reply #23 – November 29, 2010, 10:01:26 AM

Well, we were on the subject of cars of the late 70's and 80's were we not?

Future collectible cars... (an op-ed)

Reply #24 – November 29, 2010, 10:07:43 AM

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Well, we were on the subject of cars of the late 70's and 80's were we not?

Huh??? All I meant was that I personally didn't know they made Civics back then. I thought they came out in the 80's. I'm not saying he's wrong at all, I just don't really follow puppiesanese cars or know much about them. Not a fan of them.

Future collectible cars... (an op-ed)

Reply #25 – November 29, 2010, 10:31:20 AM

Quote from: 50tbrd88;343656

Huh??? All I meant was that I personally didn't know they made Civics back then. I thought they came out in the 80's. I'm not saying he's wrong at all, I just don't really follow puppiesanese cars or know much about them. Not a fan of them.

No biggie, I don't follow Korean cars. To each his own.

I think Carmen is spot on for his reasoning that something like a Chevette can have a chance at being a future collectable simply for nostalgic reasons. My first car was a 1982 Escort, the base model with no options. By today’s standards, it is slow and noisy and would probably be straining to keep up with the 75mph highway traffic of today with its 69 hp and 4-speed transaxle.
Do I ever want to have another one? Absolutely, in a heartbeat! And it would be a purchased strictly for nostalgia reasons. The only thing is that I would want to have GT model instead so I suppose that would support those that have said only the higher level performance cars will be the collectable ones.

Future collectible cars... (an op-ed)

Reply #26 – November 29, 2010, 10:51:18 AM

I think that any car which is seen today as just "a car" has potential as a collectible.

Think about it, why would a chevette ever be worth anything more than $200? Because 3/4 of them missed the rust dip at the factory, and half of those were bought by my family for $25 and wrecked in a field derby.

Explorers have potential too, probably not in my lifetime, but they changed the way the world saw the SUV. and after C4C, how many nice explorers are you seeing now?

I used to see a handful of 4-door explorers to every one 2 door like mine, now you CANT hardly find a nice used 4-door without a $5000 price tag.

I put my vote down for the aztek. Seriously, who could love that car unless it was the only one left standing in mint condition?

Future collectible cars... (an op-ed)

Reply #27 – November 29, 2010, 01:18:06 PM

My first car was a '78 Volare slant six with a half vinyl roof. I got me through college, but I had no love for it then and no nostalgia for it today. Its rare to see a Volare or Aspen on the road so they do turn my head, but I have no desire to own one again.

I think a lot of the collectable market has been driven by the boomer generation as cars were a big part of their youth. Today, many kids aren't interested in cars and some 16 year olds don't even want a drivers' license! Maybe they'll collect other stuff instead of cars.

Future collectible cars... (an op-ed)

Reply #28 – November 29, 2010, 03:31:49 PM

I dunno if I can even comment on this as my first car was a 66 mustang with a 289.
I had a Chevette ,and an Omni , both as winter beaters and I have no lost love for either

Future collectible cars... (an op-ed)

Reply #29 – November 29, 2010, 03:31:54 PM

Quote from: BCA;343657

No biggie, I don't follow Korean cars. To each his own.

I think Carmen is spot on for his reasoning that something like a Chevette can have a chance at being a future collectable simply for nostalgic reasons. My first car was a 1982 Escort, the base model with no options. By today’s standards, it is slow and noisy and would probably be straining to keep up with the 75mph highway traffic of today with its 69 hp and 4-speed transaxle.
Do I ever want to have another one? Absolutely, in a heartbeat! And it would be a purchased strictly for nostalgia reasons. The only thing is that I would want to have GT model instead so I suppose that would support those that have said only the higher level performance cars will be the collectable ones.

That's cool...sometimes its hard to get your point across when not talking face-to-face. Darn interwebz, lol.

My uncle had a diesel Escort when I was a kid (not sure of the year)...and it got insanely high fuel mileage. He actually ended up trading it in on a '85 or '86 Turbocoupe. The guy that ended up with the Escort used it for rural mail delivery and racked up a boatload of miles on that little diesel before it finally ped out.