80's hot hatch values

[Nikolai]

I know the general trend of old/retro/classic stuff is for prices to rise, numbers of available cars go down, newer 'old' cars gradually become more desirable as older stuff disappears or go sky high in value, etc but I've seen what looks to me like crazy money recently. I guess all it takes is for one well sorted example to make big money and the precedent is set.

This 205 GTi is £12k. There's nothing on eBay anywhere near that.

This Uno Turbo is £10k.

They are both good examples but surely there's got to be like 2 people in the world with the desire and cash to buy them at those prices.

Classic car value bandwagon in action? Or genuine desirable rare appreciating classics?

Edited by Nikolai on Tuesday 2nd June 18:17

[Dapster]

Mark 1 Golf GTI, how much do you think?



http://suchen.mobile.de/auto-inserat/vw-golf-i-gti...


Plenty more laughs here

http://suchen.mobile.de/auto/volkswagen-golf.html?...

[SpudLink]

I don't thing the price of the 1.9 Pug is that outlandish. However the Uno is another matter. And as for the Golf... WTF!!!

[alangtt]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_sa...

Renault 5's are going a bit crazy nowadays.

Edited by alangtt on Tuesday 2nd June 19:34

[Nikolai]

alangtt said:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_sa...

Renault 5's are going a bit craz nowadays.

Oh my god, had no idea the values of those had gone up that much. Ridiculous.

That golf is hilarious though. VW tax innit.

[uk66fastback]

There's not like two people, there are two people, simple! It hurts me when people say that, to see it written hurts even more, sorry.

The best cars will make top money, always have and always will although there are more and more cars slightly below the top ones, well below in some cases, trying to make the same money ...

[Terminator X]

Bought my first ever car in 93, a Mk 1 Golf GTi. Bought for £1,400 sold for £1,200 a few years later. Should have held on to it

TX.

[DBSV8]

I let a mk1 3000 GXL Capri go for £1,500 4 years ago .............car needed a fair bit of work but it was a runner

They are now advertised in the region of 15,000

Mk1 , mk2 Escorts are silly figures now ...............amazing how they all seem to be Mexico's or RS models ??

It wont be long before XR3, XR3I , sierra 4x4's all follow this trend

[stu67]

I've been looking at the prices of these 80's hot hatches, to be honest I've got a vested interest in that I've got a Mk1 GTI in the garage that needs restoring. I can't really fathom the prices being asked for certain cars. The survival rate of the Golfs is pretty good but even counting for "scene" tax I think they are getting over priced for what they are? some of the rarer stuff like the Renault 5's or Fiat 130TC's are more interesting, I mean when was the last time you saw a good one?
I'm in my late 40's so I suppose I'm the target for these cars, but now find myself more drawn to older stuff, might just cash in.

[Nikolai]

stu67 said:

I've been looking at the prices of these 80's hot hatches, to be honest I've got a vested interest in that I've got a Mk1 GTI in the garage that needs restoring.....
I'm in my late 40's so I suppose I'm the target for these cars, but now find myself more drawn to older stuff, might just cash in.

I'm in a similar position, I have an Uno Turbo that needs restoring, it's going to cost me at least £5k to restore and at the end of all the hard work I'm left with an Uno... Much as I love them its not an Alfa Spider, Lancia Montecarlo, Fiat 500 etc. But, if its going to start edging towards being worth £10k, maybe I should get in with the restoration.

Edited by Nikolai on Wednesday 3rd June 09:41

[niagra]

Sold my Sunbeam Lotus (just about a hatch) about 6 years ago for just over 4k I think. Considering the condition it was in, it'll be more than double that now.

[texaxile]

DBSV8 said:

I let a mk1 3000 GXL Capri go for £1,500 4 years ago .............car needed a fair bit of work but it was a runner

They are now advertised in the region of 15,000

Mk1 , mk2 Escorts are silly figures now ...............amazing how they all seem to be Mexico's or RS models ??

It wont be long before XR3, XR3I , sierra 4x4's all follow this trend

I feel your pain brother. 6 years ago I scrapped a genuine unwelded Lancer turbo rolling shell with axle, diff and gearbox. Had I kept it for just a few years until now I'd be sitting on 5 to 6 grand minimum.

[daytona365]

This absurdity reminds me of the London in particular property market.....10 years ago 'certain places' wouldn't even be considered by 'nice folks' but as town houses in say Bays water approach and even exceed 10 million, suddenly that basement flat in 'Ackney' looks a snip at just 450,000 gbp !!.....Likewise 911's going past 3-400,000 when we all know they're only really worth 30 grand tops ?!

[DeanR32]

I wanna see pics of Nikolai's Uno Turbo!

How big a project is it?

[Nikolai]

DeanR32 said:

I wanna see pics of Nikolai's Uno Turbo!

How big a project is it?

This is the only pic on the iPad at present. It's not tooooo bad. Definitely needs a full respray, new rear panel, door bottoms and some rust spots sorting. It runs but might as well be rebuilt while everything else is being done.

[DeanR32]

I love that! Once you get into it, I'll have to come and see it, seeing as you're in Essex (I'm near Rayleigh). I can't remember the last time I saw one in the flesh!

Or if you sell, and I've finished my project (goes a bit deeper than yours I reckon!), then I'd be interested in it.

[Dapster]

Nikolai said:

If you measure the ability of a car, as I did back in 1985 as a 15 year old boy, by the number of dials it has, then the Uno turbo is simply the greatest hot hatch in the history of Creation.

[Lowtimer]

Nikolai said:

They are both good examples but surely there's got to be like 2 people in the world with the desire and cash to buy them at those prices.

Classic car value bandwagon in action? Or genuine desirable rare appreciating classics?

The answer to that question will ultimately be determined by facts rather than opinions: it depends on whether they sell for that, or something close to it.

You mention two buyers.

Two buyers each prepared to pay the price is exactly the number of willing buyers it takes to set that price at auction.

One buyer prepared to pay the price is exactly the number of willing buyers it takes to set that price at a dealer.

If they don;t sell for anything like that, then it will be proven that it's an attempt at the bandwagon. Personally I will be surprised if they go for that, but all that really proves is that I'm not the right buyer for either of them.

Edited by Lowtimer on Tuesday 9th June 18:57

[Furyblade_Lee]

The thing is there are not many good hot hatches left in nice unrestored original condition, for obvious reasons. If you have one, lucky you and it may be worth a few bit.

What is the best investment? A brand new £10k Kia or a £10k 205 Gti??? Even if the Pug lost 50% in 5 years it would still be worth a whole lot more than the Kia. Which sells by the droves.

[Nikolai]

Furyblade_Lee said:

The thing is there are not many good hot hatches left in nice unrestored original condition, for obvious reasons. If you have one, lucky you and it may be worth a few bit.

This is a good point - 'nice unrestored condition' for 80's hot hatches is a dubious feature. By that I mean take a classic American or Italian car from the 60's, the age and use will have left the over-used word 'patina', with faded, worn leather and tarnished chromework, but an 80's hatch will look a bit... y'know, rubbish. Cheap plastics and feeble fabrics, etc. I know that mine is untouched as far as bad repairs goes, but my wife wouldn't set foot in it until it'd been restored because its generally a bit gross. My old 4dr mk1 Escort on the other hand smelt lovely inside and the vinyl and wood was much more pleasant even in its weathered state.

I must say having looked at things a bit more, the Uno resto is looking more promising. If I can keep the budget under £6k, the car was free so I should be alright. Just need to make sure I don't lose interest.

Edited by Nikolai on Wednesday 10th June 12:35