The thread about 70's and 80's collectible cars got me thinking that there aren't anymore collectibles around these days.

The late 90's and 2000's do not seem to have any reasonably priced cars that would ever be considered collectible--besides the fbody and maybe the Eldorado and GTO. None of these are realy common cars except the fbody. I'm talking about cars around $30,000 and less that everyone can afford.

The only last collectible cars that I can think of are from the early to mid 90's--the Riviera, Coupe Deville, Toronado, Typhoon, Syclone, impala ss.

This just shows how cars are becoming more and more boring and I guess this reflects on the buyers. Everyone wants a "Camry" type car. Too bad there isn't the enthusiasm for cars (American cars) like there used to be 30-50 years ago.

Everyone but Chrysler is too scared to do some hot styling like cars had before the 90's. The 50's-70's had loads of average everyday cars that were beautiful to look at with outrageous styling. That's why they're collectible today, they're works of art.

You can put every accord, camry, malibu, etc. in a crusher and no one would care because they are no more than a means to get around.

 

I think there are a couple Corvette's that could be had for around $30k that might rise in value over time...

Corvette ZR-1's, and even more so 96 Grand Sports come to mind...

Bullit Mustang's could become something down the road, though they never did much for me personally...

I think the biggest issue about these cars (and 80's cars too) becoming truely "collectible" will be the ability of the enthusiasts to properly maintain them.

It's not exactly the ame thing as a 69 Corvette, where you can do all the work yourself with know-how and a wrench.

If you have a 96 Grand Sport in 2035... will it be easy to maintain the then antique computer systems... and how much $$ is the specialty equipment going to cost... and is the Average Joe who turned the wrench in the past going to be able to handle all the computer and electronics on the cars from this era?

 

IMO the new cars in 2004/05 that sell for under $30,000 (even under $25,000)and will most likely become collectibles 20 years from now (not in any particular order):


1. Miata
2. Mini Cooper
3. Solstice
4. Mustang
5. Mitsu Evo RS (the more affordable strippy race version)

Sure there are more cars like the HEMI Magnum and 300C, Subie WRX STI, 350z, and Rx8 that have a base price around $30,000 but most of those cars sell closer to the mid-30's. OF course if you get into $40,000's you can get into Corvettes, Lotus Elise's, and other luxury cars.

 

Real collectables have to be either rare or historic, so the type of cars I think you are thinking about weren't typically $30,000 (in constant dollars) cars that everyone bought. In the event they were, it's going to take many, many years for them to become rare enough to be collectable.

Collectable cars that once were Hemi Roadrunners & Cudas, LS6 Chevelle SS, LT1 COPO Camaros & Corvettes (extremely expensive in their day) are CTSvs, 300 SRT-8, and GTOs today.

As far as cars that will become collectable because of designs, you'll most certainly include the current Thunderbird, the new Beetle, the new Mini, the new Mustang.

As far as near collectables like a 70s era Trans Am, Chrysler's 80s Turbo cars, or an SVO Mustang, I'd say the current Grand Prix GTP, any SVO Ford, and if history is a yardstick, the current Silverado SS (remember the SS 454 of the early 90s?).

 

I don't know what your definition of "normal" is, but the cars listed below can be had for under 30k, especially the used examples.

*C/E T/A...especially if the Firebird name is permanently laid to rest
*2003 10th anniv SVT Cobra coupe and convertible
*2004 Mystichrome SVT Cobra coue and convetible
*Supra TT
*FD rx7

I think the above 5 have good collectors potential imo.

Other cars that might have potential 20+ years down the line
*EVO RS and EVO MR
*Wrx STi
*Mitsu 3000GT Vr4
*03-04 SVT Cobra
*03-04 Mach-1 depending on how far Ford wants to limit or take production
*35th Anniv SS...especially if 5th gen isnt even called Camaro.
*Ls2 GTO. Seems like production will be fairly limited.
*300zx TT

 

The Lotus Elise will definately be a collectors item sometime in the future.

Some others I think that may become collectors...

'96/'97/'02 (With special paint/interior) Camaro SS's
'03/'04 Ford Cobra
Some version of the Mini Cooper
Some of these AMG Mercedes
The new M5
Some M3's
350Z with their yearly special paints
Ram SRT-10
SSR
Aztek?

 

The problem with alot of cars you guys are mentioning is that they cost more then $30,000.

The best way to insure that your car will appreciate in value some where in the future is to purchase cars that have an annual production of less then 1500 units (which usually translates into ultra expensive performance and/or luxury cars).

Unfortunately most "special editions" of "normal cars" that are sold today are nothing more then the same-spec car with special stickers, wheels, and custom leather seats that are embroidered. These cosmetic things are hardly enough to really make a car and instant classic or a collectible even though were were produced in very limited numbers that collectors tend to like.

 

Aztek

seriously though...94-96 Impala SS
Syclone/typhoons
89 TTA
02 WS6 Collectors ed. (the yellow one)
any Formula WS6's(dont see to many of those)
and all the other mentioned ones

 

Bullitt Mustangs. Only 5582 produced and only one year.

 

And especially the VERY small handful of WS6 formula 1LE's . They were available thru 2000 when the WS6 option dissappeared on the formula . only a small handful were built each year . High Performance Pontiac did a article on a Pontiac dealer that has 2 of them they purchased to put away , a white 96 1LE and a red 97 1LE . Droooooool .

97 LT4 Firehawk / 97 LT4 SS

I think the 1 year only Hugger Orange 99 Camaro's will have some desireablity . As well as the super rare sport gold SS's and WS6's only offered in 98 .

Grand Prix GTX supercharged - not many of these out there at all

All of the R-trim mustangs . I think it was 93 ( had black wheels if I remember right) , 95 & 2000

The big $$$$$$ collectors imo are gonna be the Berger F-bodies in all trim levels . How much desireablity you think a 2002 427 supercar ZL1 Camaro is gonna have 50 years down the road if its preserved ? Also the Dealer sold Saleen s281's and s351's

All that to add to the already long list

 

You guys gotta ask yourself what age group is going to be the main collectors 20-30 years from now? 40-year-olds 50-year-old?

Just a say a future car collector 20 years from now (2025) is 45-years old, that would mean he is 25 right now.

I doubt a 25 year old today is going to want a 70's or 80's car in 2025 . I would say this 25 year old most likely would want to buy either a more expensive car that he couldnt afford when he was young like a classic 1996 Dodge Viper (in the year 2025 of course) or a car he actually owned and had great youthful memories of and wants to buy something just like it to relive his youth.

So you got to look at what cars guys 16-26 years old want or dream about today and those casr will be the ones those same people will want to buy 20-25 years from now.

 

Some collectable cars from the 1990's 30 years from now:

C5 Corvettes(especially Z06's), ZR-1's, Grand Sports, LT-4 Vettes, Lingefelter Vettes will be real hot items.
Any Dodge Viper
Any Ferria
Any Lamborignihi
Last generation BMW 5's, 7's, X5's(maybe), and 3 series(both last gen and current one) M5's and M3's
Any AMG Mercedes(did they make AMG models in the 1990's)
Supras(hell, those are collectible now, and the best Toyota EVER!!!)
300ZX
RX-7 TT(not sure, since all of them turned out to be very unreliable)
Lexus LS400(remeber this car completely blew away the competiton back in 1990 and set Lexus to be one of the top luxury makes)
Plymoth Prowler



More affordable cars:
4th gen V8 fbody's
Any Berger Camaro
Mustang Cobras, R models, Bullet, and Mach 1's, and maybe GT's
Any Saleen Mustang
Grand Prix GTP
Ford Lighting
454 SS
Impala SS(especially 96's)
Riverias(last car Buick made with any style)
Miatas
Eclipses and Talons, especially the Turbo and AWD models
240SX
Long shots:
Civics(espeically hatchbacks and Si's) and Accords
Celicas and Camrys
Maximas(the 4 door sports car models)


If you don't like my choices, just remeber that nobody ever thought that 57 Chevys, old Cadillacs, or muscle cars would be worth anything.

Also, I predict that orginal 1998 Bright Purple Metallic Camaros, Firebirds, and Trans Ams will be really hot, maybe like a Hemi powered muscle car.

 

I mean they are about 30k or less when new and they're not a rare car.

 

I don't think there will be many....

 

Nah as already listed there will be plenty. Just look at the stuff from the 80s who would have thought the SS Monte Carlos would start to become desireable as a "collector" car. It's just a matter of time really attitrition of time slowly will erode the numbers and memories of cars that we take for granted as common today. A few years back nobody wanted those late 70s and early 80s Vettes but now the prices on those are starting to slowly creep back up again.

I think you can probably add the current Mercury Maurauder to the list as well.