Future Investments In Classic Cars

Brad Kline - May 08, 2024

The top things to consider when investing in classic cars are:

  1. Who is buying these items right now? What age group? Where is / who has the money to spend on toys?
  2. What were they driving in HS, or what was the hot new dream car of that era?
  3. Your budget
  4. How long you want to wait for a return on investment

 

So, for example the answer to those questions right now are:

  1. People in their late 30’s – 60 or so
  2. Cars from the 70s – early 90s
  3. ?
  4. ?

 

Right now cars from the 70s – 90s have caught up to or even passed the cars that were hot 10 years ago. A clean second generation Camaro is bringing as much or more than a first gen Camaro. The late 70s to early 80s Camaros are not far behind that, and the late 80s to early 90s are climbing rapidly!  5-10 years ago a nice 85-90 Camaro IROC could be had for $5,000 - $10,000. Now you’re not touching one for less than $15,000 and they can push $35,000+ for a low mileage, rare, unmolested survivor.  A nicely done restomod can bring even more, pushing into the $50,000+ range!  That was unheard of 5-10 years ago and is the norm today.

Fox Body Mustang, OBS Ford and Chevy trucks, full-size Broncos and Blazers, and even C4 Corvettes are climbing in value over the last 3-5 years.

So, it’s almost too late to get in on that market. Everyone knows what they are worth by now. What’s the next big market to explode over the next 5-10 years? Well, chronologically it would be vehicles from 1995 – 2005.   

Possibly:

Terminator Cobra

Mach 1 Mustang

Ford Lightning

SRT10 Ram Trucks

Vipers (but that has already started)

Camaro, Trans Am, Firehawk

Low production Corvettes like Pace Cars, ZR1, Callaway, Lingenfelter

2006 - Last year for Jeep Wrangler 4.0 Liter with 6-speed manual (low mileage)

Tahoe SS and Silverado SS

SSR – think rare colors and manual transmissions

Pontiac GTO?   - this is a big maybe!

Dakota R/T with the 5.9 liter V8

 

With this, I think the key is low mileage and originality. Good documentation also helps. Clean CarFax, original window sticker, owner’s manual, maintenance records, etc.

What else would you add to this list?

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