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Cars for future appreciation
- Thread starter pdplot
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There was a really nice 560sl not too far from me a couple years back, less than 10k, kind of wish I had bought it.
I agree with HealeyRick, I think most 50s and 60s British cars are at or near their peak as the age group with the most interest in these ages out.
I would try to find good, original, low mileage mid market european and Japanese Sports cars. Fiat x1/9, Mazda RX7, Porsche 924 Turbo, Saab Sonett, Alfa GTV6, early MR2s, Honda CRX, Isuzu Impulse Turbo, VW Corrado, early scirrocos, and late 16v scirrocos, maybe some JDM cars like the Mazda Cosmo three rotor turbo from the early 90s.
I agree with HealeyRick, I think most 50s and 60s British cars are at or near their peak as the age group with the most interest in these ages out.
I would try to find good, original, low mileage mid market european and Japanese Sports cars. Fiat x1/9, Mazda RX7, Porsche 924 Turbo, Saab Sonett, Alfa GTV6, early MR2s, Honda CRX, Isuzu Impulse Turbo, VW Corrado, early scirrocos, and late 16v scirrocos, maybe some JDM cars like the Mazda Cosmo three rotor turbo from the early 90s.
OK - some good suggestions there. I would lean towards a 280ZX having owned one for a couple of years bought used and sold because of rusty rockers. It was a 1979 2 + 2 and I loved driving it. Asking prices for a good one is in the teens now. Rust is a problem as it was in almost all cars of that era.1970s-80's SL Mercedes can be bought cheap - very cheap - but there is no market for them and they're pricey to fix. My brother had a 450 SL and it took him almost 3 years to sell it. My son paid just over $5K for his '92 Alfa and will put in $500 for tuneup, fluids and total going over by a shop, then $400 for a new interior to replace the alcantara seats. At that price, he'll make $$ when and if he decides to sell. Saturn Sky and Pontiac Solstice?? Who knows. What about Chrysler Crossfire? Anybody drive one? Terrible name - what were they thinking. I once drove a Buick Reatta - total disappointment. Cadillac Allante? Not very exciting. Dodge Stealth or Mitsubishi whatever they called it? Any left? RX-7 or RX-8? Any market? Weired engine. Another one of my son's clunkers. Drove it cross-country after he graduated college in L.A. with me as a passenger; it froze up and I sold it for $600.00. Maybe a Fiat Spider if you can find a non-rusty one. Decisions, decisions.
kennypinkerton
Yoda
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Where are you getting an Alfa interior for $400? 10 years ago I was quoted $2000 for just the leather seats.
Heck, just a cardboard and vinyl mgb interior kit runs $2000 and up.
Heck, just a cardboard and vinyl mgb interior kit runs $2000 and up.
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The BMW M Coupe never really hit the depreciation curve like a normal car, not saying it won't go up and certainly not saying I don't want one. **** I would even settle for a 3.0 manual. They are few and far between in my neck of the the woods, did look at a 2.8 auto, they are small as an LBC on the inside, not that I see that as a minus.
GregW
Yoda
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That maybe due to BMW only making about 2,800 of them for the US market.
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Yep, forgot to add that one to my list; I agree it has potential.
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Tell me about it; I wish I had my Giulietta Spider!
Ah the 190 SL. Another one that got away. A client offered me one about 30 years ago for about $4K. I never like the car particularly so I passed. It was pristine too. That one was second only to the 275 GTB Ferrari I could have bought for $3,900.00 at a local sheriff's sale. My limit was $3,500.00 and I was bidding against the creditor - a New Hampshire bank. We were the only two bidders at that point. After the auction, I asked him how far he was prepared to go. $3,800.00. You know what I should have done on the spot, but I was chicken. V12 engine, cost of insurance, and me with a young family. A year or so later, Enzo Ferrari died and the rest is history. In truth, I would have sold the car a year or so later for about Ten grand and considered myself a shrewd buyer. I often wonder what happened to that car but I never found out. If anyone has any information, I'd love to know.
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The only vehicle I ever made money on was a '59 Ford F-250. Bought for $250, fixed the brakes and sold for $1,000 after hauling gardening supplies for a new house. Ugliest thing on the road. I used to park across the street from the local car wash when I took the bus to commute. I would come back and find "abandoned vehicle" stickers on it from the local PD and notes from the car wash asking me to park elsewhere as it made the neighborhood look bad.
PC
Obi Wan
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Say that out loud, stocks are too risky so you're looking at "investing" in classic cars?
Isn't that like riding motorcycles across the country because you're worried about the safety of commercial airlines?
PC
Obi Wan
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Perfect example of a really fun, cool car that's pretty much guaranteed to be a really, really bad "investment."
As much fun as it would be,
Almost nobody knows what they are. They few who do, aren't the sort of folks to spend big money on anything, let alone an oddball, orphaned classic car.
They are nearly impossible to get parts for.
I've met a grand total of one person who's in a position to own one long term.
I have a friend with two of them, a coupe and a cabrio.
They're nice to drive, with performance that's decent but not exceptional. Although he has tracked them, they're GT cars, not sports cars.
They're pretty easy to get parts for because they're basically Mercedes SL's with different sheet metal. They're expensive when something breaks, but his have been reliable.
He bought them because they were dirt cheap. (They continue to be.)
OK, PC. Maybe a Crossfire is in my future?
Stocks? You don't want to know. I bought some Fannie Mae because it was "guaranteed by the US Government". Bought for about $10 a share as I recall, sold for 95 cents. I've got a few mutual funds in my retirement accounts - I'm still working at 82 11/12 - 83 next month. Can't afford to retire, can't afford not to.
Finally - re Alfa seats. Son advises vinyl covers will cost about $350-$400. Labor to install about $600.00 from upholstery shop.
Stocks? You don't want to know. I bought some Fannie Mae because it was "guaranteed by the US Government". Bought for about $10 a share as I recall, sold for 95 cents. I've got a few mutual funds in my retirement accounts - I'm still working at 82 11/12 - 83 next month. Can't afford to retire, can't afford not to.
Finally - re Alfa seats. Son advises vinyl covers will cost about $350-$400. Labor to install about $600.00 from upholstery shop.
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I'm not sure the Crossfire will appreciate a lot, only one with a shot would be the SRT6 with a 330 hp supercharged V6. I autocrossed one once at a Chrysler event. They come in automatic only and are a bit cramped for tall drivers. They handle well with a stiff ride.