future classic

Mr_Toad

Personally I don't think it's about trying to work out what we think is worth saving or what will be popular, with perhaps a few notable exceptions.

It's about how many of a certain model will be left in 30 years time. I was at a classic car show earlier in the summer and there were a couple of Hillman Avengers on show.

They were made in their thousands and were pretty much hated by everyone, a dreadful car and most were scrapped or dissolved in the rain, now they have a cult following. I looked at them and despite being pristine I couldn't help thinking that if I was mega rich an Avenger would be the last car I'd restore but each to their own.

Look at the Triumph Stag, or Snag as it was known. Owners couldn't wait to get rid of the unreliable V8 and install the more reliable 2.5 straight 6 now decades on people are desperately looking for a V8 to put back in.

The most unlikely cars become classics but you only make a fortune if they are rare and loads of people want one so badly that they'll pay a small fortune.

Personally I'd love to get my hands on my first car, a 1968 Honda S800 Coupe. I bought one in 1974 when I was 17 for £175 getting a decent one now would cost a lot more. :rotfl:

westwood68

I can see these retaining future values:-

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fiat-Coupe-2-0-20v-Spares-or-Repairs-only-/181480183832?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item2a410fd818

MX5huggy

westwood68 wrote: »

I can see these retaining future values:-

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fiat-Coupe-2-0-20v-Spares-or-Repairs-only-/181480183832?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item2a410fd818

I was just about to say Fiat Coupe, has to be an unmolested model. MX5's and MR2's will never be rare enough.

secret.squirrel

Bantex wrote: »

Mk1 MX5 may appreciate over the years.

+1 to this. They were sold and made in such high numbers, but already those numbers that havent been eaten by tinworm, or broken for parts are starting to dwindle. And their simplicity and popularity still stays, and already they are starting to creep up in value!

droopsnoot

Mr_Toad wrote: »

I looked at them and despite being pristine I couldn't help thinking that if I was mega rich an Avenger would be the last car I'd restore but each to their own.

True, but they probably haven't been restored by someone who is mega rich. I've been to a lot of classic car shows, over more than twenty years now, and I must say it's quite refreshing to see some of the different stuff that has been appearing over the last five or six years as peoples attitudes to classics alters. Back when I started going, it was mainly MGs and Triumphs, and while I have nothing against these cars, it was a bit boring sometimes. Now most shows have a mix of different things, and you can often come across and genuinely think "now, when did I last see one of those?" a few times. Sure, the Avenger (or the Viva, or the Escort, or whatever) was nothing special it it's day, but then neither was the Morris Minor or a lot of other things that are viewed as "proper" classics.

Almillar had a good point earlier - you've got to look after more modern stuff if you don't want serious trouble later on. I've considered an Aston Martin DB7 as they can be found at reasonable prices and if they go like other older AMs have, will appreciate in 10-15 years. But I'll have to keep it serviced, would probably be foolish to not insure it (I have some space, but it's not a barn in the middle of nowhere where I can rely on no-one finding it) and so on, so it's probably going to cost at least £500 a year.

pulliptears

I always thought PT Cruisers would appear at shows given twenty years or so. So much love/hate divide and such a quirky looking car on UK roads. I'd go with the convertible, not a huge amount over here.

sparkychris

Mmmmm fiat coupe! Always wanted one of those!

The plan is to buy a car, drive it until it doesn't work any more then just leave it in a barn for twenty years or so... That way, I have had my fun so it doesn't owe me anything, and see what happens over time...
I am now going to drool over fiat coupes on eBay.
I make no apologies..... I just like them!

OnanTheBarbarian

Gotta be the 20V Turbo for that 5 pot warble.

E30 BMW values are already only going one way. If your budget is £100's then you are unlikely going to get a 6 pot car in decent condition, but think like the 4 pot touring models like 318i Lux are often in not too bad fettle and, like most other stuff, once they become more scarce, they increase in value.

I wish I had put £5k into an E30 M3 5 years ago!

motorguy

Ford Puma - and you could probably still get one for £300

Lots being allowed to go to scrap, few good ones left.

1.7 model

motorguy

BMW e36 328i coupes - Can be picked up for under a grand, but most are being bought up for diffing and get abused then scrapped.

BMW 330Ci coupes - can be bought for under £1500, will go up at some point soon.