Appreciating Classics in 20 years?

[Pat H]

Not all that long ago (alright, twenty odd years ago) I remember reading an article in Kitcars and Specials magazine about a chap who built a Dutton Phaeton.

His donor car was a Mk1 Escort Twin Cam....

But in those days you could pick up a rough two door Mk2 Escort for about fifty quid.

Today some people are prepared to pay the thick end of ten grand for an RS2000 or even a Mexico.

I know that RWD Escorts are the historic rally weapon of choice and have appreciated far more than a comparable V6 Capri, but the prices they seem to command are ludicrous.

Anyway.

Suppose you had a large shed and a few quid to spare. What would you fill it with that is about to appreciate like an old Escort and finance your retirement?

Half a dozen Subaru Imprezas?
A couple of BMW E36 M3s?
Maybe a Ford Puma Racing?

Suggestions on a postcard to the usual address.

[deveng]

if it was that easy I'd have made an absolute mint on the stock market, sod your 'classic' cars

[VeeFour]

Alfa 156. Probably a GTA Sportwagon, as they're just about the rarest variety.
Alfa GTV
Alfa GTV Spider
Alfa GT
(Yes, there's a pattern, but just about every Alfa bar the 116 series cars of the late 70s / early 80s and Arna has appreciated significantly)
MkI MX-5
MkIV Escort XR3i and cabriolet - getting rare, but still very cheap.
Definitely the Puma - Racing Pumas still quite expensive, so just a 1.7
Also with you on the Impreza - an early, totally unabused 'classic' is what you're looking for, I reckon.
Fiat Coupe 20v Turbo
Citroen XM
Possibly a Citroen C6, too
Peugeot 406 Coupe
Peugeot 306 Cabrio

I'm sure there are more.

[robsco]

Without meaning to sound like a fanboy, and without a hint of bias, the Alfa GTV V6. Only 1100 or so made, one of the all time great engines (coming towards the end of its life too) under the bonnet and probably one of the last Alfas that utterly encompassed everything that's great about the brand.

The Fiat Coupe 20VT. I can see a good, straight example being worth an absolute fortune in years to come. They're already difficult to come by.

The Citroen C6. An absolute sales disaster, completely overshadowed by German rivals and probably a car 10 years ahead of its time, certainly from a design perspective. One day, people will understand these cars.

[hornetrider]

robsco said:

Alfa GTV V6. Only 1100 or so made

Huh?

[Snails]

Renault Clio V6 Ph1 and Ph2

[robsco]

hornetrider said:

Huh?

Alfa Romeo sold around 6000 GTVs, of which only 1100 or so were powered by the V6. A rare beast.

[Motorrad]

Looking at all the previous 'rally bred' cars that have become iconic classics I reckon unmolested Impreza 22B, P1 and (to a lesser extent) RB5 with all the gubbins are going to be up there. Likewise a Mitsubishi EVO Tommi Makinen.

[98elise]

robsco said:

hornetrider said:

Huh?

Alfa Romeo sold around 6000 GTVs, of which only 1100 or so were powered by the V6. A rare beast.

This is the key, good car but sold in small numbers (especially factory specials).

[george h]

Lupo GTI
Corado VR6
147 GTA
Z3 M Coupe
Mk 1 Focus RS
Merc 190E and C43 AMG

[robsco]

Motorrad said:

Looking at all the previous 'rally bred' cars that have become iconic classics I reckon unmolested Impreza 22B, P1 and (to a lesser extent) RB5 with all the gubbins are going to be up there. Likewise a Mitsubishi EVO Tommi Makinen.

Erm, Motorrad. You forgot the C4 by Loeb.

[V88Dicky]

98elise said:

This is the key, good car but sold in small numbers (especially factory specials).

On that note, I'd vote for the Monaro. Only around 300 left from the ones imported from Oz between 2004-6. Assuming V8s aren't banned in 20 years time

Yes, I'm biased

[BDR529]

Escort MK4 XR3i/RS Turbo and the classic Impreza get my votes.

[Motorrad]

robsco said:

Erm, Motorrad. You forgot the C4 by Loeb.

sadly they didn't make a high performance road car variant or you might be right.

[55allgold]

MB 190E 16V
Peugeot 205 GTI
Honda Integra Type R DC2

[CarlT]

Renault Megane R26.R...

[Blim_bug]

Mine (hopefully) - at least what I tell myself whenever I get another huge service bill!

Beetle RSi

[insanojackson]

vx220??

[robsco]

Motorrad said:

sadly they didn't make a high performance road car variant or you might be right.

Missed the wink smiley off my post!

[K87]

55allgold said:

Peugeot 205 GTI

This! Likely to go a similar way to the escort due to rallying!