I have noticed over the last many odd years that all cars go through a period when no one wants them. They sit on the lot and the used guys can't give them away. They were slow sellers when new and lost half their value the day they rolled off the lot. When they are about 20 years old they sell for a fraction of their value.

Then, 15 years later, they are 'Collector Items'.

A good example is the Plymouth Superbird. I remember looking at one in 1969 with a price tag of $7,500. You could buy a Hemi Roadrunner then for $3,800. As they aged no one wanted them since they got poor mileage, the clutch would crack your left knee when you used it and A/C was not available. Now they bring about $100,000.

So what is out there today that would fit this formula? Low initial sales, one or two real drawbacks to ownership when new and a number of drawbacks now that are keeping values low.

Perhaps a SAAB 900 Convertible? A Porsche 944 Turbo? A mid 80's Mercedes 560 S? A Datsun 240 Z?

Would a Maybach be a car like this in 20 years?

People are always trying to predict the next collector car. Top Gear did an episode some years back highlighting the 190E 16V and the VW Corrado as possible candidates. It really comes down to bringing back memories - now that baby boomers are old and wealthy enough to buy back a slice of their teenage years (the good ol' days), they are doing just that. The most iconic muscle cars are now blue chip investments.

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TC
Current stable:
- 2004 Mazda RALLYWANKEL
- 2007 Saturn sky redline
- 2004 Explorer...under surgery.

Past: 135i, GTI, 300E, 300SD, 300SD, Stealth

Nothing you listed will compare to a super bird.

A mercedes mcclaren might be in the same catagory. The american mfgrs are so litigation sensitive they don't make anything that radical any more.

Maybe a countach or an audi lambo (R8?).

The Maybach maybe too.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Mercedes SL models have a 30 year depreciation curve, before they start to climb in value. The 60's and 70's models have the advantage of care taking owners and simplicity compared to the later more mechanized versions that are not owned, but leased.

i see the early 80's chevy citation as the next big collectable.just think when was the last time you saw one.actually driving down the road??

That or the 80s Lebaron Convertible Turbo...

-J

Dodge 600 convertible with the wood panel package, maybe?

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1979 Black on Black, 300CD (sold), 1990 Black 300SE, Silver 1989 Volvo 780, 1988 300CE (vanished by the hands of a girlfriend), 1992 300CE (Rescue).

For an American car, I'd say the Ford GT is a good candidate for "Superbird" status. Its short production run and high cost has made it an instant classic.

I'm sure Mustangs, the higher end ones, Mach1, Cobra, the new Boss. will keep their status as the ages go. they have the same target audience, and they will get killed off by young men driving like fools, making their numbers scares, and endearing them to the same men when they are old. The same can be said for the new Challenger, and the higher end Camaros.

Lower end Mustangs and Camaros will just end up in trailer parks.

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As for cars from the 80s becoming classics, your starting to see people putting effort into the Fox Body mustangs. seen the other day I think it was Year One offering a Fox Body catalog. Haven't seen any love in respect of restoring the IROC Camaros, but give it time. Sorry Mopar, don't see anyone wanting to fix up their Shelby - Omni, Charger, Rampage... but you never know.

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Nobody wanted the '85 500SL. My family suggested my grandmother, the original owner, donate it away since it had issues and had not been driven much in a few years. The other grand kids were embarrassed to be seen in it with the yellowed paint and peeling bundts. Its been quite a journey since I got a hold of her nearly 10 years ago. Now everyone in the family appreciates it much more. I'm happy to remind them they wanted to discard it. Just some polish, vintage AMGs, and pretty much every mechanical part rebuilt or replaced shy of the bottom end, transmission, and rear-end.

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1985 500SL Euro w/ AMG bits 130k
1984 300SD Turbodiesel 192k
1980 240D Stick China 188k
2001 CLK55 AMG 101k
2007 S600 Biturbo 149k Overheated Project, IT'S ALIVE!!!

That is a sweet looking 107!

Good work, Tyler!

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Citations were poor cars when new. They do not become great cars as they age; they simply became old, poor cars.
Low production, high performance, niche-marketed cars are the ones that might appreciate. Old economy cars will not appreciate nearly as strongly. For instance, compare early Mustangs, with their Falcon siblings. Under the skin, the cars are similar. They offer similar performance, but the Falcon has a useable back seat. The Mustangs are always worth more; maybe 2-3 times more, maybe even more. The difference was then and still is the sporty image of the Mustang compared to the dowdy image of the Falcon. I say this as a former owner of 2 and restorer of one Falcon Sprint convertible V8.

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1982 300SD " Wotan" ..On the road as of Jan 8, 2007 with Historic Tags

The collector car market as any collector market, is quirky. Its not just about rareity. The rise in prices stated in the late 80's. I think a Superbird was about $20K and a Daytona was $30K. A nice Ferrari 246 Dino was $30K. I haven't kept track of Superbird prices. I have heard $250K. I think Dinos are $100K. A Superbird does have a race history. That adds to the price. A lot of those muscle cars took a dive in price, when the gas prices went up.
There are a lot of cars that don't command a huge price, but not a lot were made. Two that I own, '75 Bricklin, 3,000 and Saab Sonetts 10K. I think a Bricklin is $20K in nice shape. A Sonett $15K in real nice shape. The Sonett sold for $4K, the same as a Jag or Vette. A Bricklin $12K in '75.
I am not sure what from the late '70s to the mid '90s will grab collector status. I think the Buick GN or GNX is already there. Some Ferraris, the BMW M1 and some other exotics. I could see some of the Mustangs, the SVO, Mystic, Cobra etc. I could see the mid 70's Cobra gaining some type of following, but not huge price increase. I am also thinking the Jeep Comanche. OK, I own one. Still, it is starting to have a following. Again, not a huge price increase. I don't see X-body cars as a collectors cars. Then again there is the Ford Edsal.
Some I could see minor colletor status, Fiat X-19, TR-7 and TR-8s.
Tom

I agree that the new ford gt will be a future collectible. I believe they already are holding their purchase value.

Vipers also seem to hold value very well. Probably too many built to reach super colletibility though.

A Dino is from 140 to 250K now. 100K might buy a basket case.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Most of the stuff you covet during your raging years will become collectible when you have the money. A nice example of a Schwinn Predator BMX can be had for a mere $1,000 these days.

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You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows - Robert A. Zimmerman

That's pretty funny considering the experience I had at the local Pic'N'Pull yesterday. I was wandering down the G.M. aisle in search of a "Caddy hat" for a fuel injection conversion project when I stumbled on a row (8-10) of Citations. With the exception of some minor trim pieces they were complete! Every other car in the lot had been cannibalized to the point you had to do some serious looking just to be sure what year/model it was but it looked as though people had been ADDING parts to the Citations!

Oh yeah, the old Falcon Sprints. My first car was a '63 Sprint convertible with the 260. What a fun car. Too bad I got it from my father who worked for the IH foundry and all the paint and external metal work was shot due to the smelter's smoke. Shucks, who says we need the EPA?