Have Classic Car values found a new level?

[Lowtimer]

I can certainly believe that the population of UK 550 Maranellos has not declined significently in that time but there are a lot fewer Integrales and impact bumper 911s .Lots of old cars continue to rust out, get crashed and generally die, and a lot of RHD cars have been exported. Add to that people appreciating that the writing is on the wall for the non-electronic driving experience and there is a rising demand coupled with a declining supply.

"Investment" thinking is obviously a real factor, but so is fashion. I like to buy cars at the point where they are so unfashionable that everyone thinks you;re mad to buy one, and that no-one with any sense would spend proper money on putting in a clutch or rebuilding the suspension when the car is basically worthless. Almost everything goes through that phase, lots disappear and then the survivors eventually stabilise and come off rock bottom again.

Edited by Lowtimer on Friday 24th November 18:16

[mph]

LimaDelta said:

That and I wish I hadn't sold my immaculate 1979 2-door RR for 2k when I was a student

I sold my Vincent Black Shadow for £450 when I was 17 so I could buy my first car - a Vauxhall Victor. That was in 1972.

[lowdrag]

What does concern me more than any values attributed to my cars, or anyone else's for that matter, is the significant decline in interesting threads on this forum. The first page at the moment goes back to Tuesday for heaven's sake yet a few years back several pages in a day weren't unusual with numerous comments on many threads. Are people no longer doing builds/restorations/modifications, or are less people interested in the classic car scene and is it dying with us older members? (I am considering a new project by the way). I have noticed a considerable decline in the willingness of people to open the garage door and take the jalopy for a spin and see few classics about in the winter now. For 20 years I went to Hartley Wintney for the New Year but the VSCC upped and left and then people started arriving at 9am to get pole parking so I quit and went elsewhere, but that too has declined. Use it or lose it folks, and let's be hearing from you!

[V8 Fettler]

The mechanical / electrical skills required to maintain and refurbish classic cars are undoubtedly in decline; the days of Joe in the garage down the road fettling the twin SUs are nearly gone. The internet provides knowledge but not necessarily the hands-on expertise.

[Horsetan]

lowdrag said:

..... Are people no longer doing builds/restorations/modifications, or are less people interested in the classic car scene and is it dying with us older members?...

Lack of spare cash?

[aeropilot]

lowdrag said:

What does concern me more than any values attributed to my cars, or anyone else's for that matter, is the significant decline in interesting threads on this forum. The first page at the moment goes back to Tuesday for heaven's sake yet a few years back several pages in a day weren't unusual with numerous comments on many threads. Are people no longer doing builds/restorations/modifications, or are less people interested in the classic car scene and is it dying with us older members? (I am considering a new project by the way). I have noticed a considerable decline in the willingness of people to open the garage door and take the jalopy for a spin and see few classics about in the winter now. For 20 years I went to Hartley Wintney for the New Year but the VSCC upped and left and then people started arriving at 9am to get pole parking so I quit and went elsewhere, but that too has declined. Use it or lose it folks, and let's be hearing from you!

The New Year Bicester Heritage Sunday Scramble last year was pretty well supported, and an interesting event to attend.

[bloomen]

Creating petrol and diesel requires a genuinely epic amount of infrastructure which requires a similarly epic level of demand to keep it maintained. As fossil fuels are becoming ever harder to find I wonder where the cutoff is where it stops making economic sense to cater to retail level if it's nothing more than a handful of enthusiasts.

And if self driving becomes ubiquitous there's no point in people owning a car, just as there's no point in someone owning a train. I don't know how it'll work in rural areas, but car ownership anywhere urban will be a thing of the past.

Many people seem to be declaring 'new paradigms' along with 'this time it's different'. No it isn't but it's certainly taking its time compared to the late 80s.

I was checking Ferrari prices today. Once you've taken inflation into account even at these prices you're still a long, long, long way underwater with a lot of cars.

[Yertis]

lowdrag said:

What does concern me more than any values attributed to my cars, or anyone else's for that matter, is the significant decline in interesting threads on this forum. The first page at the moment goes back to Tuesday for heaven's sake yet a few years back several pages in a day weren't unusual with numerous comments on many threads. Are people no longer doing builds/restorations/modifications, or are less people interested in the classic car scene and is it dying with us older members? (I am considering a new project by the way). I have noticed a considerable decline in the willingness of people to open the garage door and take the jalopy for a spin and see few classics about in the winter now. For 20 years I went to Hartley Wintney for the New Year but the VSCC upped and left and then people started arriving at 9am to get pole parking so I quit and went elsewhere, but that too has declined. Use it or lose it folks, and let's be hearing from you!

I think a lot of people are using the more focussed groups on Facebook. If I want to engage with TR6 experience I’ll use the TR Register forums, and if I want specific Quattro experience I’ll head for quattroforum. But I like this place foe general natter and also its broader appeal.