johnsocal

I guess there a few affordable collectibles for those decades after all so if any of you are looking for an early christmas gift and want to convince yourself its an investment, here ya go


from auto.com

December 16, 2004

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE '70s and '80s

Having trouble recalling those really desirable and affordable collectible cars of the mid-70s through the '80s?

Though the selection may be sparse, there are a few nuggets from those otherwise bleak times:

1985-86 DODGE SHELBY OMNI GLH: With tuning by Carroll Shelby, creator of the Cobra, the turbocharged four-cylinder of Dodge's economy sedan put out 146 horsepower and 0-60 times of 7.5 seconds. It's safe to assume that most have been used hard; survivors are rare. $2,500-$5,000.

1984-86 FORD MUSTANG SVO: Aside from the hood scoop and the dull gray color, this could be mistaken for any plain-Jane Mustang of the '80s. It handles well and has a high-strung turbocharged four-cylinder engine. But the car required fastidious maintenance. $6,000-$9,000.

1976 CADILLAC ELDORADO CONVERTIBLE: The front-drive Eldorado was (enormously) restyled in 1971 and stayed largely unchanged through '77. The '76 model was promoted as the "last convertible," which means that many were bought as investments and were rarely driven. $12,000-$22,000.

1987 BUICK REGAL GRAND NATIONAL: Named for the NASCAR series in which these brawny coupes ran, the squared-off Buicks used a turbocharged version of the company's 3.8-liter V6. The best of the breed were the limited-production GNX models, pumped up to 275 horsepower -- but the tweaks doubled the price to $29,290. Most people cannot tell the GNX from the cheaper Grand National. $14,000-$43,000.

1979 CHRYSLER 300: This gussied-up Chrysler Cordoba is probably the only one of the series that will ever be worth collecting. Most have been cosseted -- probably because they cost $1,500 extra when new. Figure on $5,000 to $8,000 -- and don't break its special grille.

1981-86 JAGUAR XJ6 SERIES III: The last update of the original 1969 design added some rear headroom to the classic British wood-and-leather interior. It handles beautifully, but the usual caveats about its unreliable Lucas electrical system apply. $3,500-$8,000.

1981-83 DeLOREAN: Owners who doggedly held on are getting their money back 20 years later. The DeLorean has a stainless-steel shell and gull-wing doors, but also an anemic 2.8-liter V6. Still, John Z. DeLorean's spectacular fall from grace means everybody recognizes the car. DeLorean built 8,583 cars in its three-year run. Some owners painted over the stainless body, which can look as dull as a dirty kitchen sink. $17,000-$26,000.

90 Z28SS

There needs to be a few select 3rd gens on that list

1989 Camaro Iroc-Z 1-LE - 5.0L/m5 230hp or 5.7/a4 245hp/350tq . 0 options , no A/C , avail. radio delete . Upgraded swaybars , shock and spring rates , 12" vette front brakes , baffled gas tank , aluminum driveshaft .

1992 Firehawk - under 25 made and one was a convertible trans am with a factory rollbar , aluminum engine and hood <--- quite possibly the rarest of ALL 3rd gens , seeing how its a 1 of 1 car , and was factory authorized .

ProudPony

Call me goofy (cause I guess I am sort of), but I think some of the cars of the '70's were pretty cool - styling-wise anyhow.
I think the Bandit Edition T/A's were awesome.
The 2nd-gen Camaros with the gaudy Z28 stickers that were half the size of the door were pretty cool looking too IMO.
The Mustang Cobra II and King Cobras were good looking cars, even if they didn't run so great (in stock configuration).

To me, the epitome of poor American Design came in the 1979-1983 time frame - for ALL makers. Quality was below zero, durability was non-existent, and styling was horrible. Cars were boxes... PERIOD. Square corners, flat lines, flat hoods and decks...
Examples you say?
K-car, Futura/Zephyr, Monte Carlo, Cutlass, LTD/Continental, Omni, Chevette, Citation, Escort, and on and on.
The Taurus broke the mold in a big way when introduced, having the eternal shape of a bubble. At least it got the trend moving away from squares.

I could run off at least 5 or so cars from the 70's that I wouldn't mind driving on the street today or collecting.

The 80's IMO had a lot more to offer, especially in the second half. The IROC's, the EFI 5.0 Mustangs, the GN and GNX cars, the Monte Carlo SS, Turbo Coupe T-Bird, etc.
In all fairness, I think the HP wars were just sprouting again in the late '80's, which brought passion back to the cars, and the imports were kicking **** in sales so quality was getting a front-seat again in the US to stop the leaking market shares. What's funny (actually it's NOT funny) is that I can name off more import "sports cars" in the late 80's than I can US ones...
Anybody remember the Isuzu Impulse? Celica GT? Supra? 280Z?
Thank heavens time seems to be favoring the return of the US companies to the top of the performance/value lineup.

Anyways, I kinda hate that people have to have a sub12-second car to consider it "cool". Some of the cars of yesteryear did look cool, at least to me.

Darth Xed

I can't believe the 1989 Turbo Trans Am is not on there.

And even to a lesser degree the 1990 Turbo Grand Prix...

1988 Fiero's as well.

80's Monte Carlo SS's, more specifically, the aero-coupes are rare, not to mention the extra-rare 1986 (I think it was 86) Grand Prix 2+2.

For the 70's, well, you can pick a LOT of them from the early 70's... heck, the musclecar era might have actually PEAKED in 1970, though some will argue 1969. 71-73 still have some nice cars, though down on the power... 74-79 is tough, but still some cool cars.

A 1978 4-speed L82 Corvette Pace Car can bring some decent money if they are low-mile cars, for example...

Bob Cosby

Idle thoughts...

89 TTA certainly should be there.

82 GT - back "in the day", given credit for restarting the "muscle car era".

77-79 T/A - "breaker one-nine". Whether you like the movie or not, it made a legend out of the T/A.

80/81 Z28 - it ruled the streets in its day.

Never did like the SVO Mustangs. Too expensive and under-powered.

86/87 Turbo Regal. Nothing else needs to be said.

NikiVee

I bought a brand new 1975 Hurst/Olds back in 1975. Paid a nice sum off If I remember around $8000.00 for it. 455ci, which I blew up after a year and promptly swapped it out for a true W30 455 out of a 70 442. I loved that car.

97z28/m6

you beat me to it.

guionM

No PP, you aren't goofy. Just propbally as old as me!

Any late 70s Trans Ams were cool. Even Mustang II's (Cobra IIs in particular) are even earning some notice if not respect. As for the Camaro, stylewise, I prefer the early 2nd gen with the RS front end or the last Z28s with the functional hood scoop (a very big deal at the time).

The 80s had far more performance variety than the 70s, but those were the dark days as far as quality at GM. If I were to limit myself to list just 6 highly desireable cars of the 70s & 80s, they would be (in no particular order):

Buick's GNX, any late 70s Trans Am with the T/A 6.6 & performance handling package, Any early 70s Super Duty 455 Trans Am, the Turbo Trans Am of '89, late 80s Lincoln Mark VII LSC, and the 1985 Ford Mustang LX coupe (the only year it had headers, roller cam, low restriction "semi dual" exhaust, and a holley 4 barrel carb and dual snorkel intake... plus they are as rare as hell!).

RobsWS6

For the '70's
75-76 Cosworth Vega
79 Monza Spyder 305/4 spd almost as fast as a 'Vette
77-79 Trans Am 400/4spd, not the Olds 403
78-80 Z28 L82
And the obvious 70 Chevelle and Camaro, although not that affordable

For the 80's
86-87 Turbo Regal
83-88 Monte Carlo SS
83-84 Hurst Olds
85-89 IROC Z
85-86 Mustang GT
86-87 Shebly GLHS
89 Shelby VNT Shadow
89 TTA, quite the bargain for the car it really is

I'm sure I'm forgetting a lot, but those are off the top of my head.

cook_dw

Thats cool.. I worked with a guy back in my home town that was in love with these cars and had three of them. White, blue and a black one (;oh he did have a 76 I think that was a rusty brown color that was his dd). Seems like the white and black cars were 350 cars (I could be wrong on this one) but I know the blue one had the 455 and with swivel front seats; it also seemed like this car was an all option car as well but I havent seen him or the cars in several years..

Omegalock

I was beaten to the punch on the SS Monte Carlo. Neighbor had one of those as a kid and I still love those things. I'm also a sucker for the 78 Corvette...year I was born 25th year anniversary. I WILL have one of those one day.

KillerTA

-70-88 2 door Monte Carlos, Regals, Cutlass Supremes

-Eldorado convertibles up to 84

-Coupe devilles up to 85 and the 89 ones

PacerX

1988 Fiero GT
Cadillac Allante (just give it some time...)
Buick Riviera (esp. the convertibles)

ANY Corvette. Even the mid-70's smog-choked slugs are rising in value.

Z284ever

X-11 (more specifically X-11 Club Coupe).

Worse build quality ever..or since... from GM. But when they ran, and weren't shedding parts....they were fast and fun for the day.

You don't see them anymore, since most Citations hit the junkyard, usually, 60-72 months after rolling off the assembly line.

guionM

Someone else who's a product of the 70s (or at least the early 80s)

I had a yellow '78 Spyder V8 then a '79 a few years later. Unfortunately, both were autmatics.

Strengths:
*Between it's small size (only 66" wide & about 50" tall if I remember) and it's quick steering ration, it handled like a go cart.
*The interior quality was outstanding.
*Those 2.73 axles (3.08s in manuals) put in for fuel economy and to keep them from outrunning Camaro Z28s (with 3.73s) were easily changeable.
*Fantastic looking car in the boxy, blocky 70s.

Weakness:
*You had to actually take the engine off it's mounts & jack the engine to change drivers side spark plugs (this was before 100,000 mile plugs...or even 50,000 mile ones).
*It used the same 2.5" diameter single exhaust and bead-type catalytic converter the 4 cylinders did.
*If you put a 4 barrell V8, the only aircleaner that would fit under the hood was off the G body Olds or Pontiac, which had a snorkel that was barely big enough to drink a soda through.

Still, a very fun car!