future classic sports cars
Discussion
Hitherto my main hobby has been yachting but as the years pile on and unable to do what I once could I am contemplating selling the boat, together with my Lotus Elise and buying myself an exotic future classic. But I have a perfect record of judging future classics wrongly - I bought a GT6 when I could have had a big Healey. I bought a Stag when I could have had an E type.
So what makes for a classic and by that I mean something that might even appreciate rather than just hold its own. For example, what makes the E type more of a lusted after classic than either the XK150 that went before it or the XJS that followed it? Why is the Dino a classic and the 430 not one? Why are early air cooled 911s more sought after than younger water cooled ones? Why the DB6 rather than the DBS?
Is it just volume? I think not - I reckon a classic has to have something indefineably special about it. Question is what?
I would like a Ferrari. So which out of the recent and current range will really be classics or are Ferrari now making so many that none will be?
So what makes for a classic and by that I mean something that might even appreciate rather than just hold its own. For example, what makes the E type more of a lusted after classic than either the XK150 that went before it or the XJS that followed it? Why is the Dino a classic and the 430 not one? Why are early air cooled 911s more sought after than younger water cooled ones? Why the DB6 rather than the DBS?
Is it just volume? I think not - I reckon a classic has to have something indefineably special about it. Question is what?
I would like a Ferrari. So which out of the recent and current range will really be classics or are Ferrari now making so many that none will be?
In some cases a classic is universally viewed as valuable and therefore a safe bet if you have some money you want to keep safe. i.e. buy the car, put it in the garage and sell it when the economy straightens out.
Similar to art, gold and other safe assets. Although whether gold is safe is debatable.
Similar to art, gold and other safe assets. Although whether gold is safe is debatable.
bordseye said:
So what makes for a classic?
Mainly it's nothing but fashion, and you can never tell in advance what will become fashionable.Take for instance the Ford Mustang. For decades nobody cared about just another big, thirsty, rusting Ford. Except a handful of hard-core enthusiasts. The Mustangs in production became less and less interesting and by the end of the 1980s were truly dire. Then in the 1990s Ford launched a new model which was a little warmer but still didn't set the world alight.
Then Ford did the Ford GT (GT 40 lookalike) which enhanced the company's performance profile enormously.
Then around 2005 Ford suddenly got the Mustang right, launching a brand new car which was bang on target.
And hey presto! Suddenly old 1960s Mustangs are some of the most valuable classic cars around.
I think it's about looks, the profile of the car and if it was an epoch making moment for the manufacturer. For example the 360 stradale has very firm values as it was the first of the ballistic race for the road modern Ferraris. I think that will be a solid car for years to come. In terms of looks I think the Aston DB9 widely acknowledged as a thing of beauty and was the genesis for most of the design language on Astons since 2003. Lastly for profile I think the GT86 will be remembered as a turning point for Toyota and remain collectable as I would imagine the majority will be thrashed/crashed/trashed a la Pug 205/mk1 GTI etc so will be rare in the future.
mikal83 said:
I read that the mx5 might become a classic................
Mk1 and limited editions ones yes prices have started to rise slightly for mk1 very few under 500 quid cars about. A lot are being used for kit cars as the sierra have dried out, a lot are being broken for parts and a lot are being bought for racing. My local mx5 race teams turns over 20-30 mx5 throughout the year most end up being stripped for there cars are being turned into race cars.Ive stripped 3 turned 1 into a kit car so that's 4 less straight away only take 100 people doing the same sort of thing and that 400 cars out of the market, that over a few years is a huge amount of cars gone.
Give it 5 years and mk1 prices will increase big time specially rust free ones and limited editions, the demand for rust free ones is rising and a few companies are starting to import mx5 from japan due to lack of nice cars around.
The TVR idea has to be one to follow up, with recent British owners looking to start building new models in the near future, all the previous cars will be in the spotlight and increase in value , pretty much the entire range, but a good idea to keep in mind is You have to Love the car yourself, this isnt just a money making exercise, it must thrill you as well !!!!
S2Mike said:
The TVR idea has to be one to follow up, with recent British owners looking to start building new models in the near future, all the previous cars will be in the spotlight and increase in value , pretty much the entire range, but a good idea to keep in mind is You have to Love the car yourself, this isnt just a money making exercise, it must thrill you as well !!!!
Hmmmm. Can any shed-builder really launch a sportscar to compete with Porsche and Corvette? I suspect TVR and Bristol will be of little interest to anyone except a few hardcore fans. See also Jensen and Noble.Several people have mentioned Ferraris. I'm not so sure.
Perhaps that very expensive McLaren Mercedes SLR? Or even the Mercedes SLS?
seeby said:
From your post ,I would go for an XK150 over an E-Type.
FWIW I would too. But as I said at the start I have a good record of getting it wrong.Interesting comments on the Ferraris. 308,348,355,360 and 550. Thats every model during the period albeit different usually special versions. Yet on another forum the same question got the retort that it has to be a 12 cylinder - the 8s are simply too common.
As for Corvette ( shudder) and Mustang
- I would like something exotic not American.Edited by bordseye on Sunday 26th January 20:45
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