[Steiny]

Okay...... here we go.

I have been reading a lot of bla bla bla about how collectible these cars (especially the sticker cars) will be. Having some experience in this market, my question would be, the only true high dollar collectible cars from the first Muscle car generation were very small run vehicles (that at the time) weren't deemed as future collectibles. How do you generate thousands of collectible vehicles in advance?

Don't get me wrong, I think these cars will have some (pizzaz, value, collectibility) in the future.... but we aren't talking 1of 4 Hemi Cuda convertibles here.....we are talking about vehicles that have been churned out in the thousands. (that didn't happen in the late 60's / early 70's)

Let the rage begin!

 

[furious70]

Value mostly comes from the memories people had at the time the thing was just a part of normal life. Cars, toys, furnishings that remind us of another time. People spend money to recreate.

And then you have speculation and marketing that something should be valuable.

And then fear of missing out.

High caliber 80's cars are now bringing money due to #1 above.

 

[775Cat]

They churned out tens of thousands Cameros in 3 years (67-69). Abeit many were 6cyl or base models, but any SS/RS or similar trim is collectable now. As will be any V8 hemi in the future. I feel lucky to have found a 67 no rust car with 87000 on the clock. If you can find a 80k mile v8 hemi in 40 years you will be looking at a sought after automobile. Demon and SS I think will be the most sought after, and certainly some SE's just due to their low production numbers. Then redeyes of any config just because they have the HO engine but any hellcat variant not driven into the ground will be desirable. Just like any Camero, Mustang, GT0 is today. Like previously said, they bring back memories.

 

[Steiny]

I agree with you...... but I doubt they will get the multipliers of gen 1 muscle cars that were in much lower production numbers.

I'm not talking SXT's and RT's here

 

[775Cat]

and only time will tell ultimately. My kid's problem lol. I am going to live the experience myself. Might be a lawn ornament in 40 years but I kinda doubt it.

We look at 1st generation muscle cars and what they have done. there are x number of capable buyers who can own these 1st gen muscle cars, afford to fix them, store them ect. When the challengers are 40 there will be 10x potential buyers so ones that get taken care of will do well IMO. Like I said, my kid's problem.

 

[2ndAmend]

With all the options and variations, everyone will have a 1 of 1!

 

[Michigander]

Desirable = Most SRT models
Future value = # 1 or 2 Condition (reasonably stock)
Value = highest factory performers
Highest value = lowest production, rarest color / combinations etc
Appreciation = Usually 20-30 years old

Most will never see the long term value of a classic or collectible car like these. Simply because in order to afford them your usually middle aged. Additionally most cars are going to be used and or wrecked. Restoring a pre 1980s car was easy, most could do it, many whom own these cars aren’t turning wrenches like the old days. I think 🤔 many of these cars are going to be garage queens, those are the cars to set the high watermark.

So essentially I’m buying a collector car which I going to enjoy, with the miles I intend to drive it will likely never have value like most hope. These cars are long game holds or short game fun. Without 4-5 of factors listed above your going to enjoy the same bad investment I’m making. Don’t get me wrong you can make a few bucks in the short term but same time capsule car could be jaw dropping later in life.

 

[Steiny]

1 of 1 doesn't equal collectible or valuable necessarily....

 

[Steiny]

Desirable = Most SRT models
Future value = # 1 or 2 Condition (reasonably stock)
Value = highest factory performers
Highest value = lowest production, rarest color / combinations etc
Appreciation = Usually 20-30 years old

Most will never see the long term value of a classic or collectible car like these. Simply because in order to afford them your usually middle aged. Additionally most cars are going to be used and or wrecked. Restoring a pre 1980s car was easy, most could do it, many whom own these cars aren’t turning wrenches like the old days. I think 🤔 many of these cars are going to be garage queens, those are the cars to set the high watermark.

So essentially I’m buying a collector car which I going to enjoy, with the miles I intend to drive it will likely never have value like most hope. These cars are long game holds or short game fun. Without 4-5 of factors listed above your going to enjoy the same bad investment I’m making. Don’t get me wrong you can make a few bucks in the short term but same time capsule car could be jaw dropping later in life.

That's a great point..... entry level for these cars is for more financially established owners, unlike cars of the 70's and 80's.

 

[furious70]

Well, only the rich boys had 6bbls and hemis. The average Joe had 340 and 383.
And those of us enjoying HC life now, just like those boys, are living the glory years and won't have to recreate at 10x cost.

 

[Ace1894]

^^ THIS

 

[Ace1894]

I bought a one-owner Camaro Sport Coupe 350 with air in 1990. 5k. The car was 4K new. I drove it for years and then parked it with the intention of improving some things. I took it apart and life things got in the way of putting it back together. Then it sat for 15 or so years. Apart. A few months ago we sold it. In one day. For 29k. It wasn’t an SS or RS. What it was though was a rust free body with all the original stuff. Challengers of today will be just like this in future years. In good shape, any of them will be desirable and command a premium

 

[rcrisafulli]

1 of 1 doesn't equal collectible or valuable necessarily....

Exactly. Well said. I recall a yellow 1967 or 68 Shelby GT500 KR, not commanding dollars and the owner just ranting 1 of 1. What something is worth is what someone is willing to pay for it period and that changes.

 

[Ace1894]

We sold the Camaro btw to fund other projects that had been sitting too long. Time just gets away. The Camaro went to a good guy and it jump started two long overdue projects. The first one here, a 1973 I bought my son when he graduated high school.
Before he started:

And where she is now:

318 to WARM 440, Shaker, rewired, suspension, steering, wheels/tires, etc

Next project:

 

[Ace1894]

Exactly. Well said. I recall a yellow 1967 or 68 Shelby GT500 KR, not commanding dollars and the owner just ranting 1 of 1. What something is worth is what someone is willing to pay for it period and that changes.

I don’t care what color it was, that car commanded plenty.

 

[Ace1894]

And say what you want about 1 of 1. I’ll guarantee you one thing. It never HURTS the potential value of a vehicle either.

 

[Steiny]

I hope you're right.... mine is a documented 1of 1 for 2021..... but it won't do me much good..... all my cars will get handed down to junior. I wish my father had kept some of /any of his muscle cars of old....I would be riiiiiiich.

 

[Michigander]

I have a few Camaros, the 69 is a tribute Car owned 27 years, 70 Z was a basket case owned 21 years, 87 was my high school owned 33 years and 12 ZL1 bought new owned 11 years. I have 1/2 of what I paid for the ZL1 into the other 3 cars which still have original panels/floors etc. yet they are worth so much more today. For example I paid 3k for the 69 many years ago

 

[south_paw]

Value hard to judge. Example; i have a 70 Buick Lesabre convertible, one of only 2480 built. Value under 20k in mint shape.I have owned it 7 years and haven't seen another one in person. I have a 79 T/A, they made over 100k of them, see 2 to 3 at every event. Value over 40k. Rare doesnt always equate. Old timer once told me, cow manure on the subway is rare, that doesn't make it valuable.

 

[njsteve]

The key to collector car status is this: If a manufacturer uses the term "Collectors Item" to describe it when it is new, it will not be a collectors item when it is older.

See 1978 Indy Pace Car Corvette, 1976 Cadillac Eldorado convertible.

If the car was stupidly expensive to buy or own, insanely overpowered, or ugly as hell but with a really unique feature, it may be a collectors item later down the line.

Like the 1971 hemicuda convertible. Total production was 11. And that was beocasue no one wanted it. It was not limited in any way other than potential buyers hating the car and the price. It was very expensive when new (close to $6,000 when you get a Corvette for much less than that), all the car magazines called it ugly when compared to the 1970 Cuda, not at all practical to drive (really hard to keep in tune) and VERY expensive to insure (over 100% surcharges for the horsepower rating).

The one I owned back in the 1980's stickered around $5,700. Current value around $4,000,000. (and it was the only yellow 71 built)