Classic cars as investments: £50,000 - £100,000.

[AdvocatusD]

If you had these figures available and wanted to invest in a classic car with a view to using it gently whilst hoping for decent appreciation over a decade, what would you choose and why?

I've been looking around and this budget does seem problematic, as the more obvious Italians are now over the £100,000 mark. Perhaps a Dino that needs some TLC is the right call?

No capital gains on cars of a certain vintage, so it's all gravy if you get it right.

Pictures and links only please!

Happy 2013 all.

[SLacKer]

For me a C1 Corvette



Get an original rust free numbers matching example, as described below

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C340069

[TKH]

Based on a 10 year strategy my thoughts are

Early 80's Aston Vantage creeping up nicely following DB 5/6
Ferrari 330 Colombo V12 nice
Pantera
Ferrari 550 /575

All good to drive and enjoy whilst protecting your £££'s

[Dusty964]

A 996 Gt3 Rs

[CampDavid]

http://www.hiltonandmoss.com/cardesc/bmw-30-csl-17

All the makings of a great classic, it even rusts properly to keep numbers down

[GreigM]

Ferrari 512TR - has the correct lineage (Enzo approved flat 12 Ferrari), low build numbers (only 50 brought into UK) and is maturing nicely from under-appreciated to very much in demand.

[ClaphamGT3]

A notoriously difficult bet to place as fashion plays such a huge part - type 2 VW campers are a case in point; 10 years ago people didn't want them to keep chickens in, now they make up to £60k. On the other hand, Jag XKs and E types have never really delivered on appreciation expectations.

I would say, either take a punt on something quite modern like a Ferrari Testarossa/Porsche 993 Turbo or, h
Going the other way, a VVSC eligible car will always be in demand and £50k seems to be the minimum entry fee to the club

[Jasandjules]

I'd rather spend the money on a DB9 or F430 and use it now.

[Strawman]

Maserati Bora for £75k http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C187024



But obviously you are best to buy something that you would enjoy driving/owning.

I think anything from a well respected name built in low numbers from the 70's has a good chance of continuing to rise in value. Unlike the bubble in the early 90's there is now a pool of global interest in these cars and they are only found in any significant numbers in Europe and the US really.

[Welshbeef]

SLacKer said:

For me a C1 Corvette



Get an original rust free numbers matching example, as described below

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C340069

I like that a lot.

However I'd question the appreciation of IS cars in general in the UK as such selling would be harder - would that be the case ?

[Robert Elise]

OP's garage is already a collection...except the 997?

I think TVRs deserve to be classics and may well keep solid in the UK, but i fear they don't have global appeal. Shocking when you think some lesser American Muscle might do well. The company and the cars represent so much passion, belief and individualism. But that's not necessarily relevant to the classic market.

Lotus will fair much better in decades to come, but maybe only as firm as the E-Type?

Air cooled 911s are iconic and i intend to invest here myself. From investment pov it's the heritage, global awareness and dwindling supply. (That's the VW camper logic too). Same should have been true for the E-Type though... Yet it is the DB5s et al which have accelerated away over the last decade.

Ferrari is its own Fiat currency (boom boom). The market values all Ferraris, eventually.

It's a great question, but classic car market is no more rational than the stock market.
MY punt to the OP: 80s 911 or Alvis. and keep your current fleet!
http://www.classiccarsforsale.co.uk/classic-car-pa...

[9mm]

What goes up must come down. I had up to 14 cars in store until last year and I've sold nearly all of them because I think the market is hopelessly overheated. Here's an old story with a couple of eye-watering figures to reinforce the point that bubbles don't deflate slowly, they burst with a vengeance.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/4473442/Hooked-...

[LaurasOtherHalf]

AdvocatusD said:

Perhaps a Dino that needs some TLC is the right call?

I'd look into just how much that tlc will cost, they're epically expensive to restore.

For me it would have to be a Porsche 993RS with that budget if I wanted something to use

[Strawman]

9mm said:

What goes up must come down.

Not true in all markets, I'll never see a cheap Van Gogh painting in my lifetime.

[Robert Elise]

@9MM
i agree with your general point, totally. I can't disagree with you taking good profit and waiting for the next opportunity to acquire some lovely toys and investments.
The Hagi index looks awfully peaky.
However, without 'pumping the stock' i reckon this bubble has a way to go. Financial crisis is anything but behind us, the problem is still ahead of us. In this environment hard assets will appreciate in real terms and keep up with inflation. It will burst sometime for sure.

I can guarantee markets will rise, then fall and rise again. i'm just not too certain on the timing!

[JJ 170]

Dusty964 said:

A 996 Gt3 Rs

I cant help thinking these are a good investment. Anybody know production numbers.

My rule of thumb is to look at cars made by manufacturers that are still making cars !

Or anything that might be able to compete at goodwood, then get some competiotion under its belt. Helps values.

[Scrimper]

Aston Martin Vantage, ideally V600, last of the real Astons.


http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/use...

[vixen1700]

http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/use...

http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/use...

http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/use...

Modern cars, these have great classic investment potential, but who knows when you're talking ten years. I'd be looking at real classics like Austin Healeys, 2.4 911s, E-Types which are sure to increase over a decade.

Edited by vixen1700 on Tuesday 1st January 11:07

[Du1point8]

I just looked at the 3 classics that were abused for top gear in the £10k supercar challenge.

Maserati Merak
Lamborghini Urraco
308 GT4

All seem to be appreciating quite well now.

[Welshbeef]

Du1point8 said:

I just looked at the 3 classics that were abused for top gear in the £10k supercar challenge.

Maserati Merak
Lamborghini Urraco
308 GT4

All seem to be appreciating quite well now.

Didn't Hammond keep his (buy it from the beeb) and has fully renovated it. Think the other two cars were trash at the end shame.