20 year old cars likely to be most numerous as historics
20 year old cars likely to be most numerous as historics
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Discussion

Gemaeden

Original Poster:

304 posts

144 months

Wednesday 13th July 2022
quotequote all
As the title goes.

Which cars that are halfway to being historic are likely to survive in the greatest numbers?

Lotus Elise or Nissan Micra would get my vote after about 30 seconds deliberation.

Rotary Potato

600 posts

125 months

Wednesday 13th July 2022
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BMW Mini.

They sold them by the bucketload and they are considered trendy/fashionable so attract a premium over a comparable Fiesta/Corsa.

The high sales mean there are a lot of them floating around, and the high retained value means they're more likely to be repaired than scrapped when something breaks.

I'd also have nominated the Fiat 500 (it might have a few more years to go before it hits 20 - not certain when they released it) for the same reasons except for the fact they appear to be made out of chocolate and bolted together by semi-trained orangutans. They seem to command a truly crazy premium for being 'cute' compared to similar cars, and other than a mild facelift at some point, are basically identical to what Fiat will sell you today. As a result a cheapo private plate and the average punter can't tell whether a car is 6 months or 16 years old! smile However, I think the quality (or lack thereof) will eventually be their downfall and they'll disappear off the roads in what feels like the blink of an eye.

OutInTheShed

14,331 posts

55 months

Thursday 14th July 2022
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The second 20 years of a car's life is quite tough.

A lot of cars will hit the ""significant bill exceeds value"" problem.

Plus once there are more used EVs on the market, the world of banger-o-nomics will change.

It's a complicated question. Some models will suffer high attrition because they tend to rack up the miles. Most diesel estates seem to do 10k miles a year?
Not many will survive 30 years at that rate.
It will be the cars which don't do the miles, second cars, 'her' cars? Old people's cars?

//j17

5,056 posts

252 months

Friday 15th July 2022
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OutInTheShed said:
Old people's cars?
Ughghgh! The thought of people walking around looking at fields full of poverty spec Honda Jazz and Toyota Yaris...

RazerSauber

2,887 posts

89 months

Friday 15th July 2022
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Anything that was desirable at the time and still has some draw now. Reachable performance cars for example, VXR's, ST's, RS' will be kept. Less so Astra and Corsa models (We'll pretend Zafira and Meriva VXR's didn't exist) but Insignia and Vectra VXR's demand good money, as do the Astra GTC VXR. They're approaching 20 now and will probably be around for quite some time. Rare editions of cars like the Mini will probably demand good value too. Park Lane, 7, JCW models, ones with rare and interesting options. I can't see my mums 150k Cooper with eBay bonnet stripes and scuffs all over being worth any more than scrap money!

DodgyGeezer

48,815 posts

219 months

Friday 15th July 2022
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if we're talking world wide then the Mustang has to be in with a shout

Stuart70

4,152 posts

212 months

Friday 15th July 2022
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Aston, Ferrari and Porsche will form a disproportionately large portion of the pool relative to numbers originally sold.

Fords and VAG because cult following.

Others - will be interesting to see.

Will anyone ever desire an original Tesla as a classic?

Panamax

9,519 posts

63 months

Friday 15th July 2022
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The small number of convertible Range Rover Evoques sold is likely to assure them of long life - although many people think they should be destroyed by fire!

SpeckledJim

33,850 posts

282 months

Monday 18th July 2022
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MX-5.

Millions out there, and plenty are held in much higher esteem by their sentimental owners than their book value today would suggest.

They'll continually reappear in great condition in estate sales over the next 30 years.

Dogwatch

6,379 posts

251 months

Monday 18th July 2022
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Mk1 Focus

ChocolateFrog

34,954 posts

202 months

Monday 18th July 2022
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Dogwatch said:
Mk1 Focus
They're a rare sight already and the newest ones are well under 20 years old.

In the spirit of picking your own car I'll nominate the Chimaera. Literally 1000's made, most are cherished in garages doing next to no miles. Body is fibreglass, chassis is bits of box section that are relatively easily replaced and the rest of it isn't exactly complicated either.


MrGTI6

3,303 posts

159 months

Monday 18th July 2022
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The most common car I see over 20 years old (02-plate or older) is probably the Peugeot 206.

OutInTheShed

14,331 posts

55 months

Monday 18th July 2022
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I'm told the rarest 'modern' car in the UK is now the Yugo?

lowdrag

13,181 posts

242 months

Tuesday 19th July 2022
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Fashion is what will dictate the cars that remain I guess. There are so many cars that we took for granted and just - disappeared. Take the Ford Ka for example; at the end of the nineties they were everywhere, but where have you seen one recently? And the oldest of them is only 26 years old now. I suppose the answer to the OP will be those that rust the least in the end.

Jules Sunley

5,418 posts

122 months

Tuesday 19th July 2022
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Stuart70 said:
Aston, Ferrari and Porsche will form a disproportionately large portion of the pool relative to numbers originally sold.

Fords and VAG because cult following.

Others - will be interesting to see.

Will anyone ever desire an original Tesla as a classic?
Many of us wouldn't want a new Tesla, let alone a second hand one. Can't see anyone feeling nostalgia for a white good.

Jules Sunley

5,418 posts

122 months

Tuesday 19th July 2022
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The original Ford Puma, but already rare now due to rust. The 1.7 was a good car, and the Racing versions even rarer.

FHCNICK

1,376 posts

260 months

Tuesday 19th July 2022
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ChocolateFrog said:
ticking your own car I'll nominate the Chimaera. Literally 1000's made, most are cherished in garages doing next to no miles. Body is fibreglass, chassis is bits of box section that are relatively easily replaced and the rest of it isn't exactly complicated either.
I think that is a good shout actually, values have risen to the point where current owner's can spend the money to keep them in good condition without it costing more than the car is worth and there are still enough 'specialists' operating to do the work that owner's can't.

PositronicRay

28,932 posts

212 months

Tuesday 19th July 2022
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I'm surprised Jones had the mk 1 TT yet.

Plenty about, cheap, generic vw bits, owners club, ground breaking styling when new.