What cars from the last 20 years will be collectibles?

[G.Irish]

I disagree, I think that what is 'collectible' is a function of what cars people loved, and got excited about when they were young. In the 90's that was largely Japanese cars. When Generation X and & are in their 50's and 60's they're going to be looking back with rose-tinted glasses at RX-7s and ITR's.

I mean think about it. Japan wasn't making anything cool when all of those cars that are Barrett Jackson today were being made. Other than the Toyota 2000GT (which is insanely expensive now) and cars like the S800 or 510, the Japanese didn't really make anything to stir the loins until the 80's and 90's. Just looking at how insane people are about ITR's, RX-7's, and uhh...Supras, I know there'll be old guys in 30 years willing to pay big bucks for them.

[Goodspeed]

I guess we'll just have to see what happens in the next few decades. I'm sure they will be collectible; I'm not saying they won't be seen at auctions, but I wouldn't equate them with Yenko Camaros and Hemicudas.

The 90's imports have had a strange timeline in the US, IMO. I think a lot of people who wanted them back in the 90's were twenty-somethings who couldn't afford the 40/50-somethings price tag...well today they are nearer to that age and they've been snapping them up for the last several years as they gained careers and higher disposable income. The cars soared in popularity and became non-traditional (sit in garage and polish) collectibles in less than a decade after their introduction; they were and are user collectibles. People have and are already doing something about buying the car they wanted, and it didn't take them 30 years like the muscle car crowd.

The Supra (just as an example I know) just crested its boom-time in the used-car market and yet you didn't see low mile showroom cars at auction on SpeedTV along pace car C5 Corvettes. There are certainly collectors now that both store and drive their cars, but I'm skeptical about whether or not they'll become "mature" collector cars to the masses, outside of the current high-end/big money import enthusiast culture that is dwarfed by the decades-establish muscle car/hot rod crowd.

I guess what I'm saying is that they will increase in value, but I don't think they'll become, barring a few instances, collectibles for collectible sake. People largely didn't buy these cars with the intention of collecting them; most have been driven and modified. The current crop of collectibles are so far removed from their origins...'69 Camaros going for stupid prices just "because"...I don't see the imports becoming a part of that.

At least...they better not become million dollar collectibles before I can buy one.

[Jake]

I think Leno makes a good point with the Miata. It's going to be collectable (or at least highly admired) for its simplicity. I'm talking the 90-97 NA cars, not the later NB/NC. The NB is mostly the same mechanicals, but not as 'classic' of a body IMO, and the NC is a completely new car.

I would say the Taurus could get there, not as a big-bucks collectable but more like the Miata. A pristine SHO, even these days, is rare.

It's not about how many cars were produced. As Leno says, the Mustang displaces that theory. It's just going to take more time for some cars to become iconic.

Sad thing is, I don't know of any 'commonplace' cars currently in production that would be sought after 30 years from now. There's no radical leap forward as there was with the Miata (reliable roadster) and Taurus ('radical' styling at the time, NOT reliable, hah).

[fiveoh2go]

A couple that came to mind:

1993 Mustang Cobra R - only 107 built, sold for mid twenties new back in '93 with "wrapper" cars currently selling for $60k+. It is the reason the '95 and '00 Cobra R's were built. This car has already earned collector status.

1987-1993 5.0 Mustang LX Coupe in like new/mint condition - This was the cheapest way to get into a 5.0 and it was also the fastest 5.0 from the factory due to its light weight. Almost all of these cars have been drag raced to death in the last 20 years so good luck finding one that's still stock, you can't. It will at least have Flowmasters on it...

Mid 90's Impala SS - GM's first use of the SS badges since the very early 70's that actually meant something. A throwback to old school full size muscle.

3rd Gen F-bodies with a Tuned Port 5.7 (extra points if it's 5-spd) - This is the ponycar that GM built that was finally able to catch up with Ford's 5.0 Mustang. These two cars pretty much reignited the horsepower wars in Detroit that are still ongoing.

Dodge Viper - Raw, unrefined brute power at it's best. This car is the direct descendant of the 427 Shelby Cobra. 'Nuff said.

New Dodge Challenger - Retro good looks, lots of power (SRT), and comfy interior. Only problem: The first muscle car era ended right around the time the original Challenger debuted. Hopefully history doesn't repeat its self with the new Challenger.

And oh yeah, the Ford GT - Because it took GM 5 years to build anything that could come close.....................this car is just BAD ASS!

[BLINGMW]

so am I alone when I think a civic or neon might be worth considering? Both very important cars as far as an entire generation of FWD goes? I mean, if Leno considers the Escalade as a vehicle that "old" folks will look back on as something they had fun in, and you agree on the Miata, imagine a simple car everyone had. Or think of how rare an unmolested civic SI or Neon ACR would be?

I also like to think the E30 will outlast the E36 and maybe the E46...
I hope Nathan's first car is an '85 318i :lol:

[Jake]

Or think of how rare an unmolested civic SI or Neon ACR would be?

I also like to think the E30 will outlast the E36 and maybe the E46...
I hope Nathan's first car is an '85 318i :lol:

Unmolested is the key word. I'd rock a late 90s Civic Si in that electric blue color.

As far as BMWs go... any of the E30/36/46 could be good. I think BMW has lost their focus as of recent. From a "classic" standpoint, give me a really clean, Alpine White E30 sedan or coupe. Nom nom nom.

[Goodspeed]

so am I alone when I think a civic or neon might be worth considering?

Ooo...good point. I don't think DX's with hyper JDM B16 swaps and such will be collectible, but I definitely see clean, unmolested CRX and Civic Si's going for a pretty penny.

What I'm really curious to know is when all cars of the future are whirring, floating electric gadgets, I guess every gasoline powered car will be collectible to some extent...I wonder if people will be paying out the ass for Hyundai Elantras in the year 2350?

[Ryan T]

I'm gonna say MKIV Supra, FD RX-7, 90s Impala SS, ITR. I think the big key to cars from the last 20 years becoming collectible will be ones that haven't saturated the market. Is the miata awesome and will be admired? Yes. Will it be a 'collectible'? No. Because there are 10 trillion of them. Same with the C5 corvette and to a lesser extent the S2000 and the Civic Si. They are neat cars but there are so many of them around that I don't see them being collectibles.

[fiveoh2go]

I think the big key to cars from the last 20 years becoming collectible will be ones that haven't saturated the market. Is the miata awesome and will be admired? Yes. Will it be a 'collectible'? No. Because there are 10 trillion of them. Same with the C5 corvette and to a lesser extent the S2000 and the Civic Si. They are neat cars but there are so many of them around that I don't see them being collectibles.

I agree with you on the examples given but I don't agree that just because a billion of one certain car is built that it can't be collectible. Look at the '64 1/2 - '66 Mustangs. Ford sold over 1,000,000 units in the first 18 months of production and these cars are one of the most collectible cars built in the last 50 years.

[Jake]

I think the big key to cars from the last 20 years becoming collectible will be ones that haven't saturated the market. Is the miata awesome and will be admired? Yes. Will it be a 'collectible'? No. Because there are 10 trillion of them. Same with the C5 corvette and to a lesser extent the S2000 and the Civic Si. They are neat cars but there are so many of them around that I don't see them being collectibles.

I agree with you on the examples given but I don't agree that just because a billion of one certain car is built that it can't be collectible. Look at the '64 1/2 - '66 Mustangs. Ford sold over 1,000,000 units in the first 18 months of production and these cars are one of the most collectible cars built in the last 50 years.

Given enough time, cars like the S2K, Civic, Miata, etc. will slowly disappear. This could take a while - the original 1964-1966 Mustangs are popular NOW, after 40+ years of being commonplace.

First Miata came out in July of 1989. That gives us until 2029ish before I can say "I told you so."

[DierwulfBL]

-unmolested original condition hondas (5spds already rare as hell)
-awd TT 3000gt(and variants), later years had very low production volumes
-88-94 gt4 celicas (very low production numbers, already collectors cars)

Given enough years, if the car is in original condition and unmolested with no rust (or restored fully), the years will drop the number in circulation and given enough demand will warrant high auction prices. Some cars will become collectors before others. I can still pick up a 66 mustang completely rusted out, nowhere near running for like 1000 bucks(more years=more work to restore). Look on the bright side, most of the cars on peoples lists are fairly small compared to the muscle cars people restore now, so we won't have to use as much bondo to get the body straight. :lol:

[WRXtranceformed]

Did anyone say SVT Lightnings? Cyclones?

[ViPER1313]

There are very few cars produced in the past 20 years which I would bet become actual collectors items that go for +100k (inflation adjusted) dollars 50 years from now. Really, I don't see the Miata, Taurus, Civic, S2000, etc becoming collectors items for the same reason the TR6, Chevy Nova, etc still aren't - they just really aren't that desirable except by 20-30 somethings who look at them as a bargain over a Corvette, M5, AMG Mercedes, etc. I think good condition examples will bring decent money, but not matching numbers muscle car money.

At this moment in time, with no budget constraint, would you rather drive a Z06 Vette or a Miata? Which makes more of a statement driving down the street (a main reason for paying big bucks for an older car.) Corvettes, 454 Chevelles, SS Camaros, Mach1/Shelby Mustangs were the baddest of the bad cars of that time period. And people are willing to pay big bucks later in life to catch a piece of that. While the S2000 might be a cool car, I would still rather have an Elise, Z06, Ford GT, if I could afford them.

Also, rare does not equal super expensive and collectible 30+ years down the road. Otherwise, Dodge Rampages and Pontiac Grand Prix Turbos would be worth tons already.

My picks for 30 years out:
-Specialty Corvette models (ZR1, Grand Sport, Z06)
-Ford GT
-Cobra Mustangs (especially R models) / last year of 5.0 Mustang
-Supra TT w/ 6-speed
-BMW M cars with racing histories, all late 80s M3s
-Dodge / Chrysler SRT8s - especially if the company dies

[G.Irish]

There are very few cars produced in the past 20 years which I would bet become actual collectors items that go for +100k (inflation adjusted) dollars 50 years from now. Really, I don't see the Miata, Taurus, Civic, S2000, etc becoming collectors items for the same reason the TR6, Chevy Nova, etc still aren't - they just really aren't that desirable except by 20-30 somethings who look at them as a bargain over a Corvette, M5, AMG Mercedes, etc. I think good condition examples will bring decent money, but not matching numbers muscle car money.

Maybe you'd be right in the cases of the Civic and Taurus but with the Miata and S2000 PLENTY of older people with money bought those cars. The S2000 alone sold for $10k over MSRP in the year it was introduced. You can't tell me a bunch of 20-year olds were the ones paying that kind of money for that car.

Honestly I don't think the AMG Mercedes will get that much attention at all. How many car enthusiasts lust after AMG cars? Maybe the big SLK's but that's about it. I think maybe the E60 M5 will be sought after because of the V10 but I don't see that so much with the E39, E34, or E28.

At this moment in time, with no budget constraint, would you rather drive a Z06 Vette or a Miata?

That is really irrelevant. You could have said in 1966, "Which would you rather drive, a Mustang or a Ferrari 275?" One costs way more than the other. If you asked me today whether I'd rather drive a 1966 Ferrari, or a 1966 Mustang it's a no-brainer. The question you have to be asking is, 'Would I rather be driving a Miata or Mustang?' since they cost about the same new. Well, just looking around here a lot more people are choosing the Miata.

My picks for 30 years out:
-Specialty Corvette models (ZR1, Grand Sport, Z06)
-Ford GT
-Cobra Mustangs (especially R models) / last year of 5.0 Mustang
-Supra TT w/ 6-speed
-BMW M cars with racing histories, all late 80s M3s
-Dodge / Chrysler SRT8s - especially if the company dies

I think all of those cars will be sought after in some fashion. However, I think really only the supercharged Cobra and the Cobra R's will be collector items. And ith the M3's I think the only E36 that people will want is the Lightweight. I don't know about the E46. Special edition Vettes are a given.

As far as the SRT8 vehicles, I can only see maybe the 300C and the Challenger maybe. The other ones don't seem to be very popular.

[CaptainHenreh]

G,

You'd seriously pick this:



Over this:



A no-brainer indeed, as apparently you have lost your goddamn mind! :lol:

[fiveoh2go]

I think the big key to cars from the last 20 years becoming collectible will be ones that haven't saturated the market. Is the miata awesome and will be admired? Yes. Will it be a 'collectible'? No. Because there are 10 trillion of them. Same with the C5 corvette and to a lesser extent the S2000 and the Civic Si. They are neat cars but there are so many of them around that I don't see them being collectibles.

I agree with you on the examples given but I don't agree that just because a billion of one certain car is built that it can't be collectible. Look at the '64 1/2 - '66 Mustangs. Ford sold over 1,000,000 units in the first 18 months of production and these cars are one of the most collectible cars built in the last 50 years.

Given enough time, cars like the S2K, Civic, Miata, etc. will slowly disappear. This could take a while - the original 1964-1966 Mustangs are popular NOW, after 40+ years of being commonplace.

Eh, I don't know about that.



I wouldn't restore a car that is so common that I could just go buy a nice example off a used car lot. Guys started restoring the original Mustangs and Shelbys back in the early to mid 70's when left over service parts (NOS) were still available from the dealerships, only 10 years out from when these cars were first built. The '74 Mustang II was the death of any performance Mustang for a while, so many turned their focus toward the 64-73 cars at that time.

Take a look at the Fox body 5.0 Mustangs. These cars have been around for roughly 20 years (SFI version) and have a complete aftermarket devoted to restoring them back to factory stock. Check out latemodelrestoration.com. All you need is a shell, you can buy everything else new from them.

I don't know if the Mustang is unique in that it bucks a lot of the trends other cars follow, but I wouldn't say that it takes X amount of years before something can become collectible. I think the car just has to have a broad appeal with the general public.

[ViPER1313]

G,

You'd seriously pick this:



Over this:



A no-brainer indeed, as apparently you have lost your goddamn mind! :lol:

Italian supercars almost always appreciate in value (there are exceptions) and prices usually stay in the stratosphere whether you bought it in 1969 or 2009. If you can't afford a F430 right now you probably won't be able to afford it in 2049. Not really a fair comparison.

[CaptainHenreh]

G's the one who made the comparison, not me.

[G.Irish]

Did you guys seriously not get it? You can't compare a Z06 to a Miata and then say, "Oh, which one would you rather drive?" One costs about 3 times as much as the other one. It would be just as unfair as comparing a Ferrari to a Mustang.

And no, not all Italian cars appreciate.

[Ken]

I would totally take an SRT8 Jeep 20 years from now.