Collecting cars

[Quadry]

I am about to buy my first collector car and I was needing some advice. I have my desired cars narrowed down to a Ford Mustang Fastback or Mach1, Chevy Camaro RS/SS or an 82-88 Porsche 911. I know that two are muscle cars and one is an exotic, but I have just always wanted a 911.

My question is does anyone know if the Porsche is appreciating in value like muscle cars? The Porsche's before 1975 are gaining value, but I have not seen any data on the 80 models. I am not trying to make a profit, but have a car that will gain value. I will drive it every now and then and it will be used for shows.

Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[hornimal]

get hagerty insurance for your collectibles.

I don't know much about exotics outside of ferraris. but I can tell you that muscle cars are hot right now, and have been for the past 2-3 years. especially mopars and limited/special production runs (shelbys, yenkos, ss).

if you want something that is going to hold and accrue value, get an all original and parts matching vehicle that has meticulous records. for a muscle car get one with a very detailed build sheet if a restoration was made.

I have observed that cars shoot up in value when people that were in their mid to late teens when the car was released near retirement age. they have more disposable income and look for ways to regain their youth, or purchase cars they once owned or wished they had. so the 80s porsches won't be a good value candidate for a few more years. that's all I can think of for now.

 

[SuperHero]

If you have time, pose the same question on the Miata.net Car Talk forum. It is one of the best automotive forums, anti-GM and anti-SUV sentiments aside.

 

[Quadry]

I work for an insurance agency in the claims department, so I will be using Hagerty. They do a great job on cars.

What you are saying on the 911 has been my concern. I am wanting to spend 15 to 25k on my first car. I do not want to pour a ton of money in to it, so I want it finished. A Mach 1 with everything in order is out of my price range, but this is the one I am considering. Even though I am fairly young, 27, I plan on using this vehicle as an investment and selling it in a year or two and bumping up in price on my car. Or keeping it and buying something else. Here are two links to two cars that I am debating between. The Ford is not a Mach 1, but a fastback that I like the color scheme on.

Fastback

Camaro

911

 

[wannawinit]

ok the only car you mentioned I have any idea about are Mustangs so thats what I'll talk about. The type of car most people look for are the ones that aren't the everyday production cars. I'm talking about you 65 K cars whick had a 289 Hi-po engine, your Shelby's and all of those types but someone has generally already done all the work on those and they go for top $$$. To get one of those that go for a lesser price is a crapshoot cuase people have picked them over. Beware of the people that will try and sell you something that isn't what it appears. I had to go the cheap route and do my own fixing but i was lucky enough to find a 67 with a big block engine(390). That was first big block they dropped in the Mustang. I paid like $2300 for mine.

 

[Horn_Spanker]

Do the Camaro, but only a 69.

 

[WooHorn]

I think the collector cars on e-bay are way overpriced. If you are a lazy playboy and want to spend top dollar for a hot car, that is the place. It is way too tough to make any money on an investment if you are paying top, top dollar to begin with. I am not saying that you have to do all of the restoration work yourself, but you would be better off looking around town for a diamond in the rough, hooking up with a quality restoration guy and general contracting the restoration yourself if you really consider it an investment. It is like buying a new finished out custom home to try and take advantage of the real estate market. Find the tear-down on a nice lot and get all fo the work done as cheaply as possible, without a markup at every stage. Good luck, though. I would love to own any of those cars you linked to of course!

 

[TxStHorn]

I'm kind of on the fence about buying cars as an investment - To each his own, but I'm from the camp that these cars were made to be driven, and buying a car just to leave it in the garage is kind of a travesty.

I have '65 Stingray with matching numbers, but still drive it weekly. While I try to keep it meticulously clean, driving it is going to inevitably cause some paint chips, etc. - but I figure I'll let my kids worry about it's value when I'm gone.

I've also had a TON of classic car owners tell me that you never get out of it what you put into it. Of course, try telling that to the guy that paid $4,500 new for a 427 Sting Ray or Shelby Mustang, and sells it at auction foir $150,000...

Buy 'em and drive, I say...

 

[Quadry]

It will be driven, I just am trying to avoid buying something and then it going way down in value. I will not own a trailer queen. I want a car that will throw your head back against the seat and make you think about it night and day. I have owned a couple of those and I miss the feeling of waxing it 10 times over a weekend and waking up during the middle of the night for a drive.

 

[Luke Duke]

MUSTANG

 

[hornimal]

unless you inherit a car from granps that is all original, or stumble on a duesenberg. you will most likely take a bath if you flip the car. cars are just bad investments for the most part. I know a guy that dropped $60k to have a mopar convertible restored from the ground up. he sold it at barrett-jackson for a little under $40k.