Will our cars ever be classics? Will they be remembered like we remember muscle cars?

[i like rice]

MKI Golf GTI
E30 M3

The base Miata won't be but Mazda released several special editions, such as the sunburst yellow NA, Shinsen Edition NB, Mazdaspeed, etc These were manufactured in quantites of 500-1000 except for the MSM, which is approx 5428 (4000 '04, 1428 in '05). These are versions that are already being collecting currently and will be collected over the next 20 years for the 40+ crowd.

[TROLL]

They'll all be classics, generally speaking, but only the very limited and well maintained cars will be valuable.

[RSbeast]

USDM hands down.

Ws6 trans Ams, SS camaros, Z06 and FRC Corvettes, Cobra/Mach/Bullit Mustangs, SRT-8 produced cars, run of the mill muscle that's always JUST out of reach. Those are what's going to appeal to the blue collar working man. America is all about badass V8s and heritage.


Imports will have a following like the british/german cars of today. They will have their own segment. They will be worth certain amounts to collectors whom desire such cars, but I think only orignal copies will really pull in coin.

Standouts in my eye: (in no real order)

Dodge SRT-4
Honda S2000 (I feel the NSX is already off in wonder and isn't a mainstream enough goal car to be desirable)
Subaru STi WRX will fade away, sans 1st year cars.
Late model EVO's VIII/VIX style, all models
Nissan 350z, maaaaaaybe, def the Nismo and Anniv cars
Honda 'R' model cars

Cars we have now, civics, dsms etc, are all attainable. Sure there will be SOME floating around, but not like now. People always want what was just out of reach at youth. Those will command $. The stocker the better.

Current older 'cult' cars like the fox mustang are already going up......its driven by generations and deterioration. By 2045, there won't be a running DSM on the road :P.....and I like DSMs

If you want to invest in today, buy top notch american muscle. Otherwise, take a chance.

$.02

[blueheavenwrx]

I better hold on to at least 1 stock 02 WRX or 04 STi then

[arkadyzv]

Originally Posted by JET02WRX

In order for a car to be desirable to a collector, there has to be 'something' about it. Something that makes it a piece of automotive history. What that something is, well thats debatable. One persons trash is anothers treasure as they say.

The "first" of any series of car can make it valuable. Even fully restored, the first year Honda Civic could be collectable to someone. But in most instances...its got to have a history. The GTO, Charger, Challenger, Mustang, had a lot of firsts. Thats what makes them so collectable. The problem with these cars is their future generations were "contaminated" in the late 70's and early 80's by oil prices, poor designs, and lack of devotion from their respective manufacturers.
I think certian Supras, 300zx's, STi's, Evo's will also be collectiable, even when this fad dies. There are a lot of "firsts" in those cars as well. But just like someone else stated...mass production kills collectability...even when there are only a few left.

Thats my take.

Right on the money, the car has to be something. As far as the muscle car, one they had special options and packages, everyone that was young back in those days and couldn't afford one, is in their 40's now. and have the money to play. They want to relive their earlier days or atleast have a piece of it, thus the staggering values these cars bring in. Its all about supply and demand, if theres not that many left and a lot of people want them you have to pay to play.

I honestly dont see anything massed produced, having a collector car status unless it was a special edition or for whatever reason was made in small numbers. Because even if their is a demand, the supply will still be a lot better than anything that was produced in limited qualities. In the end it depends on whats left in 30 years.

IMO the next thing to hit the auction block hard is the 70's. More specifically the earlier japanese sports cars, ie the Datsun 510, the 240z's, 1st gen rx7s, toyota celica's, maybe corollas, bmw 2002's. Not too many of them were made and they were something completely different compared to what was being offered by the bigger companies such as GM, Ford, Chrysler. You can actually see how the nice examples are starting to climb now, even though you can still get the beat examples for cheap. If someones wants one, and they want a nice one, they are going to have to shell out or restore it themselves.

And also disagree with the previously mentioned rx8, it lacks what the 7 was, the cheap alternative to a porsche, quick, agile and good looking, it just doesen't look as cool, its not a timeless design.

[SpEcRv9]

i honestly dont know what will be considered classics...anxious to find out though, minus the being 50 part....

oh and i 100% dont believe in 30 years we'll be seeing a craze over some miatas...but im sure theyll have their CULT following still (alex)...

[sean3]

It will be interesting to see what is a "classic" in xx years, but I'm perfectly content with waiting

I think cars that were both radical in styling and performance will be the ones people want. Things like the RX7, mk4 supra, terminator cobra, TA WS6, NSX, Z06, maybe the e36 m3. Cars that any true car enthusiast can appreciate for what they were in their day.

[CleanNeon98]

This is my last post here, but I really think there will be a following for pretty much every car and those enthusiasts will consider those cars classics in their minds. Anytihng from the T/A WS6 mentioned above to a Jeep Wrangler

[240sxDann]

See that was the thing though, a lot of the muscle cars were "special options" type of cars Charger had the 426, the 440, the 440 6 pack, etc etc etc the list goes on. BUT, even the base model muscle cars go for a pretty hefty price now also. That being said, look at the popularity of some of the "normal" cars. I bring up the 240 again just because it is an easy example, so dont call me alex lol. The 240 has such a huge following. Why wouldn't that, in 30-40 years, be worth something? I mean....it is kind of the opposite of what some of you are saying. You guys are talking about cars that were too expensive in youth to afford, but they can afford it now so they buy it. What about the cars that people COULD afford, and "had the best time of their lives" in? The people that want to relive their youth with a car that they DID have. I bet a lot of people will look back in xx years and say "man I had SO much fun when I had my ---, I wish I could find one again". (240, wrx, evos, all the "regular" base model type of cars)

[OBEEWON]

Lol, some of the classics posted are laughable.

Alot of classics are cars that didn't do well initially. Over engineered and ahead of thier time.

Classics:

Cosworth 190E
VW Corrado turbo
VW Golf MK1
MKIV Supra TT
Any SPG SAAB
FC turboII
FD turbo
240z-280z turbo
E30 M3
R32-R34 GTR

I personally believe EG SI will be a classic (many don't agree but by sheer popularity it probably will)

[JET02WRX]

Dan, designating a car classic and it being a piece of nostalgia from your youth, aren't necessarily the same thing. The 240 is a 'niche' car right now. Whether it becomes a classic or not depends really on if drifting 'sticks' in america. If its still around in 20 years...then yeah, I could see it being considered a classic. Drag racing, track racing, heck even rally has been around for a long time. Cars associated with those sports tend to become classic. Cars with very distinct styling tend to become classic as well. They may make no power at all off the showroom floor, but due to their distinctive physical attributes, they become classics.

[240sxDann]

Originally Posted by JET02WRX

Dan, designating a car classic and it being a piece of nostalgia from your youth, aren't necessarily the same thing. The 240 is a 'niche' car right now. Whether it becomes a classic or not depends really on if drifting 'sticks' in america. If its still around in 20 years...then yeah, I could see it being considered a classic. Drag racing, track racing, heck even rally has been around for a long time. Cars associated with those sports tend to become classic. Cars with very distinct styling tend to become classic as well. They may make no power at all off the showroom floor, but due to their distinctive physical attributes, they become classics.

thats true, I guess what I really mean to ask is do you think there will be a demand for any of these cars and will they be of any value. Your right, a "classic" is totally different.

[arkadyzv]

Originally Posted by SpEcRv9

......
oh and i 100% dont believe in 30 years we'll be seeing a craze over some miatas...but im sure theyll have their CULT following still (alex)...

Ditto, the car has to be "cool" to the masses, and made in small quantities. Perfect example is the MKIV Supra, they became super cool and everyone wanted one and they didnt make that many, so the prices shot up like crazy, limited quantity, high demand. Where lets say the 300zx and the FD while having a huge cult following and being in the same class are not considered all that cool by the masses and thus dont bring in that much compared to the Supra. TFATF came out and everyone regardless of being an enthusiast or not wanted one, thus bingo bango soaring prices, instant collector status.

[Schepis]

Originally Posted by marshallpre1

There are a lot of factors to consider. However, here is my list of "tuner" cars that I think will definitely be "classic":

1. Supra TT
2. NSX
3. RX7 TT
4. Terminator Cobra

Might be classics:

1. Evo VIII
2. 3000GT
3. 300ZX
4. RX-8
5. GSX
6. MR2 T
7. STi (not sure which gen)
8. new GTO
9. E46 M3

A correct list would minus that Cobra, and add on that 300ZX to more than a 'might'

[OBEEWON]

Cars tend to be classics in thier domestic country. There are not many import classics from the 70's.

And like Jet said cars that had success in a form of motorsport tend to get into that category.

Instant classic, what I've wanted for 3 years now

190E cosworth, already worth a pretty penny.

[arkadyzv]

Originally Posted by OBEEWON

.....
190E cosworth, already worth a pretty penny.....

Sex, that and the e30 M3, two of my favorite things from the 80's from germany, the Audi Ur Quattro too.

[240sxDann]

Originally Posted by Schepis

A correct list would minus that Cobra, and add on that 300ZX to more than a 'might'

I HIGHLY disagree about taking the cobra off the list. I think that will be one of the very high demand muscle cars in the future. Pretty limited run, only made in 2003-2004, 390hp stock supercharged v8 goodness, sexy as all hell, and are currently bringing in $30k+ for a low mileage one. A low mileage one in 20 years is going to be THROUGH THE ROOF! Especially if its a rare color like mystichrome. *drool*

[jrdellecker21]

i think the msp will be sought after only bc there were a few thousand made

[Vypurr]

And in America thanks to Rally America and WRC, that Subaru WRX and STi are going to be popular because of their part they play in modern Rally. (Subaru may not be doing that well in the last 5 years...But their cars are still the face of Rally in the USA)

[240sxDann]

I'm curious to see if drifting will actually be around in 10 or more years from now. I guess we'll see!