how do you know what a future classic car will be?

[stegomon]

how do you tell if a modern day car will be a classic car in lets say 20 or 30 years?


for example in the late 70s my father had few 65 fast backs with 289s nothing special. and he jumped them and took them wheeling. now he kicks him self in the but for doing that to them. he said he only paid $50 for all 3 of them.
now people will give there left nut for one in ok shape.

 

[martin]

None of the new vehicles will be. As soon as the electronics dies, spares will be unobtainable and they will just become driveway ornaments.

 

[ragajungle]

I dunno I think in 20 years if I saw an FX4 Level II with low miles I might be all about it. Not everything has touch screen nav and sync

 

[stegomon]

well i have a zx2 with an s/r package. an i am wondering if i should "restore" it and put it away for a wile. or but it on a bronco 2 frame

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

None of the new vehicles will be. As soon as the electronics dies, spares will be unobtainable and they will just become driveway ornaments.

But the value of running examples will skyrocket because of the people wanting to recreate their youth in a riced out Honda Civic.

If there is a demand, someone will make the parts.

 

[JohnnyO]

A few tips:
Limited production
High performance
First year of a model or bodystyle
Last year of a model or bodystyle
Desirable for whatever reason, fanbase, etc.

Case in point.... A couple years ago I went to the Ford Nationals in Carlisle. Saw an old dude unloading a 1970 Falcon in the car sale area. He bought it new and stashed it away. Totally cherry with 1800 original miles. Original window sticker, had a V8, auto, AM radio, whitewalls, that's about it.
He's asking $15,000, which he will never see because it just isn't that desirable a car. Now you take a 1970 Mustang, even a base model will probably bring $50k with miles that low.

 

[straycat]

I have a buddy who has a 69 Boss, low vin number and the big 429 motor and it has about 28,000 original miles on it. He bought it years ago from the first owner. It is worth about $100,00 today and he won't let it got. I drove it three times and it is just wicked. These cars are the one that were destined to be a collectors item when they were built. This is what you would look for today in a new car. I don't this any car on the market today is going to be a collectors item unless it is a one off car or truck or a limited amount are being built.

 

[stegomon]

A few tips:
Limited production
High performance
First year of a model or bodystyle
Last year of a model or bodystyle
Desirable for whatever reason, fanbase, etc.

Case in point.... A couple years ago I went to the Ford Nationals in Carlisle. Saw an old dude unloading a 1970 Falcon in the car sale area. He bought it new and stashed it away. Totally cherry with 1800 original miles. Original window sticker, had a V8, auto, AM radio, whitewalls, that's about it.
He's asking $15,000, which he will never see because it just isn't that desirable a car. Now you take a 1970 Mustang, even a base model will probably bring $50k with miles that low.

well the s/r package of the zx2 was only made in the year 2000 and only made 2000 units of that package. 1000 yellow 500 red and 500 black. i do have one of the yellow units. lowered 1 or 2 inches from stock. disc all the way around. b&m shorty shifter, ice man intake with hand laid glass. borla cat back, 150 mph speedo with a 150 h.p. computer.....how does that sound

 

[strvger]

hmmm... original will carry the higher collector value for sure. after market mods and you will just have to find the right buyer and probably will still not get as much as original. for true collectors, original is the only way.

 

[stegomon]

keeping her stock!

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

keeping her stock!

Keep the stock stuff on a shelf and have fun with it.

Life is too short to worry about what the resale of your vehicle will be that far down the road. There is no way to know what will be popular... for all we know gas powered vehicles might only worth scrap.

 

[gribly]

Keep the stock stuff on a shelf and have fun with it.

Life is too short to worry about what the resale of your vehicle will be that far down the road. There is no way to know what will be popular... for all we know gas powered vehicles might only worth scrap.

No, those parts he listed are what makes up the S/R package. I do believe his car is 100% stock. The S/R Escorts are pretty sweet little cars, they'll embarass the crap out of most sport compacts, especially when the roads get really twisty. I don't like that body style of Escort, I'm a fan of the '91-'96 Escort GT's, but I would drive an S/R.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

No, those parts he listed are what makes up the S/R package. I do believe his car is 100% stock. The S/R Escorts are pretty sweet little cars, they'll embarass the crap out of most sport compacts, especially when the roads get really twisty. I don't like that body style of Escort, I'm a fan of the '91-'96 Escort GT's, but I would drive an S/R.

I meant even if he wants to have fun with it, go ahead.

 

[Spdrcer34]

Modern Desireable car in 20-30 years....only a couple come to mind....and for obvious reasons I would say a `11 Mustang GT or better.....(SMS, Roush, Cobra) Or a SVT Raptor...as for other brands, only the Caddy CTS-V......

Ryan

 

[superds]

There are some very good points on here. High performance, limited availability, people wanting to recreate their youth, stock from the factory, etc. I agree the '11 Mustang GT or GT500 will be collectible.

I think a car being stock is very important for collectibility. I can make a modded car in my garage, it's much more difficult to make a factory spec car in my garage. Parts are harder to find, the details can really get you. Keeping this stock point in mind, I personally wouldn't pay for a Roush, Saleen, etc. anything more than I would pay for a production version (in fact, probably less). If it didn't come from the factory, I really don't care about it (keep in mind that I would consider Shelby cars to be considered "from the factory" because of his working relationship with Ford).