Are there any more 'collectible' American cars anymore?

[Accipiter22]

I was thinking the other day of cars from 20-40 years ago that are considered 'collectible' or 'classic' and most of them were cars that at the type an ordinary person could afford. But now are there any more cars like this? The only collectible/classic cars American manufacturers produce are things like Ford GT/Shelby Mustangs, etc. Is there such a thing anymore as an affordable car that might one day become classic?

 

[vshah]

if i could answer this question, i could see into the future, and i would be a very rich man

who knows? nothing comes to mind but only time will tell...

 

[Gillbot]

IMHO, not really. Now manufacturers are trying to dictate the collectible car market by remarking regular production vehicles, overpricing them and limiting production numbers. The Ford GT 500 Mustang comes to mind.

 

[LordMorpheus]

I think the recent GTO could become a collectible - poor sales and a short lifespan meant limited quantity, and the car is a fantastic performer.

Corvettes have always been collectibles, the new breed is on a new level of performance, I'm sure there will be people with '06 Z06's in 20 years.

I think at least a few large american RWD boat sedans will be interesting to people in the future, but there are so many of them it'll have to be after most of them have been junked - say in 2050, the guy who had a properly stored Grand Marquis in his garage he bought new in '05 and never drove might be able to get a pretty penny for it.

 

[exdeath]

What sucks is that really collectible cars from 50s-70s, you use to be able to find an old Plymouth, Charger, Challenger, Mustang, Camaro, GTO, etc, or something just sitting in some guys yard in the 80s-90s with mismatched paint and rotted tires and offer him $500 bucks for the shell, and start your restoration and be able to find parts in bone yards and swap meets.

Now even a total rust bucket would fetch $10,000 thanks to people with too much money to spend who don't know a thing about cars hoarding them up and sitting on them just for the value It causes a self fulfilling prophecy making the car expensive because of scarcity because everyone is buying them and parking them in garages, not because of any real historical value or limited quantity remaining in the world. It's the reason the GT500 is currently $20,000 over MSRP, it's PS3 syndrome.

As for new cars, unless John Coletti comes back and SVT comes back online again, I see the 03-04 Cobra being more collectible in the future than the Shelby GT500, especially one that is stock and low mileage. It was the first of it's kind and has way more background story and heart into it than the Shelby does (Iron Fist Lead Foot)

Anyhow my favorite two modern cars that I would consider collectors cars would be the 03-04 Cobra (especially in Mystic Chrome, Competition Orange, and Mineral/Dark Shadow Gray) and the '93-98 MKIV Supra TT 6 spd (esp. one of the limited edition 'Quick Silver' ones) Both can be had for $25-30k in good condition and unmolested. But the Supra isn't American so...

 

[MetalMat]

Only cars I want to collect are RX7s, any year. too bad I dont own any

 

[sniperruff]

Maybe the Hertz Mustang GT? How about the Camaro SS? The Prowler? Maybe an SRT-4? Ford Focus SVT? Contour SVT? Lightning F150?

You're not really looking hard enough. IMO if a car depreciates very very slowly, then I'd consider it to be collectible.... well of course, American cars in general depreciates faster than Japanese cars... 240SX, Prelude, Civic Si, Mazdaspeed Protege anyone?

 

[Accipiter22]

Originally posted by: LordMorpheus
I think the recent GTO could become a collectible - poor sales and a short lifespan meant limited quantity, and the car is a fantastic performer.

Corvettes have always been collectibles, the new breed is on a new level of performance, I'm sure there will be people with '06 Z06's in 20 years.

I think at least a few large american RWD boat sedans will be interesting to people in the future, but there are so many of them it'll have to be after most of them have been junked - say in 2050, the guy who had a properly stored Grand Marquis in his garage he bought new in '05 and never drove might be able to get a pretty penny for it.

It's funny, the Z06 came to my mind too...as a possibility.



Everyone brings up good points, especially about people 'hoarding' cars now, whereas past classics weren't really holed up like that

 

[redgtxdi]

Any model year, Ford Festiva????

:laugh:

 

[Gillbot]

Originally posted by: redgtxdi
Any model year, Ford Festiva????

:laugh:

HEY NOW!

www.festivamotorsport.com

I loved my festy when I had it. I would race anyone in that thing. Tricycles had to watch out!

 

[SuperSix]

Possibly 86/87 Buick Turbos. (Grand National, GNX, T-Type)

 

[Fenixgoon]

do vipers count? i know they're not the best performers, but they are still, IMO, the most badass american sports car. the Z06 may be better in EVERY aspect, but they just don't have the badass factor like the viper does. not that i'd turn either down

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

Look to the older MoPars, like a Dodge Dart with a 225 slant six or look at Hudson Hornets.

 

[jdoggg12]

Originally posted by: GalvanizedYankee
Look to the older MoPars, like a Dodge Dart with a 225 slant six or look at Hudson Hornets.

Wouldn't those already be in the semi-collectible stage as they're pretty old/rare.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

how about a civic stuffed full of beanie babies, cabbage patch dolls, baseball cards, g.i. joes, collector edition comic books, comemmorative elvis plates, dale earnhart clocks, Sept. 11 coins, singing bass, sports illustrated sneaker-phones, and anything with "limited" in it's name. i'll give you ten bux to get that pile of Wal-Mart out my sight.

/rant off

there are so many copies of a given model produced, i doubt anything made today will gain value. the Grand Nationals, especially GNX, are holding their value very well. as a bonus, most of the ones i've seen seem to be maintained pretty well. authentic Type R's and Skylines might hold up well, only because so many are destroyed every year. other than those, unless a model is produced in 100's, not 1000's, forget it.

 

[CurseTheSky]

I'd imagine if the SUV rash ever phases out, even simple things like Explorers, Excursions, and Escalades will become collectable. Eventually even Integras, Civics, Celicas, etc. will be worth something if they're in "near original" condition.

Think of what the younger group (I use it loosely, I'm only 21 myself) find appeasing today. Those will be collectible somehow, some day.

I still wouldn't be caught dead diving any of the above mentioned. I'll keep working on my '66 Mustang.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

I don't think any trucks outside of the Lightning, SRT10, and Syclone will be collectible UNLESS the owner was special (ie: Elvis's cars). Trucks have never gone anywhere on the collector car market. A friend of mine picked up a '49 Chevy flatbed with dump for $25. And it runs, and the dump works. No, I'm not missing zeros.

Cars that generally are worth more:
2 door sporty cars.

Cars from the '90s that I think will be collector's cars:
GMC Syclone/Typhoon
Impala SS
Camaro SS/Firebird WS6 or Firehawn
Mustang Cobras (esp the Cobra R)
Lightning
MAYBE the 454SS, but not likely.
Prowler

 

[AdamK47]

This this and this.

 

[exdeath]

Originally posted by: AdamK47
This this and this.

Sadly under appreciated car.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

The GTO SHOULD be a collectible, but I doubt it ever really will be for atleast 50 years.

 

[Ktulu]

I could see the Solstice and Sky being a future collectibles. Every time I see one of those on the streets they automatically get my attention.

 

[DougK62]

The old turbo FWD Dodge cars might do well. I'd love to have a nice Omni GLHS.

 

[exdeath]

F150 Lightning in one of the lower production colors. I imagine any REAL SVT vehicles will become collectors now that SVT is no more. The SVT dream team kinda fell apart after 2004 as key people left or retired.

Anything after 2004 with a SVT emblem on it isn't a real SVT (ie: the GT500) but more like marketing with the SVT legacy.

 

[GoatMonkey]

I'd also vote for...

GTO, Camaro SS, 2009 Camaro.

1999, 2001, 2003-04 Cobra, Mach 1, Roush, Saleen, or Foose edition Mustangs, convertibles are usually worth more in the long run also.

Prowler.

I didn't see anyone mention the Thunderbird. Could have been a hit if it was priced right.

Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 might be a collector's item for some people.

Chrysler 300 SRT8 maybe, along with the Charger.

Corvette ZR1, and Z06, or any convertible.

Viper.*

Buick GN & GNX.

Escalade.

The Dodge Ram with the Viper engine, don't remember the name. SRT10 maybe?

Vector.*

Saleen S7.*

DeLorean.

Taurus SHO.

Edit more:

Jeep Wrangler if it ever goes out of production.

Panoz.*

Dodge Steath maybe.

* These cars are on the exotic side. Not exactly what you're looking for, but still I couldn't resist.

 

[Dr. Detroit]

Corvette ZR1 - C4 bodystyle

1995 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme Convertible - last model year an Olds convertible was ever made. Made hemmings list of top ten future collectible cars, roughly 4000 sold that year.


GMC Typhoon/Syclone

Dodge Daytona IROC V6

3rd gen RX7

Camaro IROC's

Firebird Turbo's (same V6 as Grand National)

Firebird Anniversary Editions (25th, 30th)

2002 Camro SS and Firebird WS6's. Last model year made

Plymouth Prowler

Chrsyler Crossfire SRT-6

Mint condition Fox body Mustang GT's - very few have not been beat to crap or have been modded to hell. Rare to find a stock one. Even rarer to find a Mustang GT 5spd convertible

Saleen Mustangs - Pre 1998

1st gen Ford Lightning Pick-ups

Impalla SS from the mid 90's

Chevy 454SS pickup truck

996 Porsche 911 - last of the air-cooled. Getting more expensive by the day.

Porsche 928 S4 from 1992- last model year