Agreed and it dies with them if they can't suck their kid into the same love affair of the car.

 

Think of it this way, the car was 5X what you drove at the time. Add up the value of the cars you own, has that relationship stayed fixed?

 

The shape of the true classics is what keeps them relevant. That's one huge thing the coupes have going for them although I've had folks say the overly rounded rear lamp area looks poorly designed.

 

Investment grade cars doesn't cover a lot of territory and typically doesn't get the money back to the restorer of the "investment" grade car. If you've got an unlimited pocket book, then maybe your chances are greater by getting into the exclusivity club. I have always purchased cars because I loved something about that car and I planned on keeping it forever. It has rarely worked out as an investment, but it has nearly always given me joy. But the other problem is that I would guess that most of us on the X150 forum are above the age of 50 if not 60. It may be that our kids or grandkids will enjoy the benefits of appreciation and our investments, but most likely, we won't be around long enough to see it happen. As others have said, you couldn't give away an XKE twenty years ago, and really only the Series 1 and 1.5 are very valuable. That means it has taken 50+ years to realize the investment potential. When I bought my Pantera about a dozen years ago, I paid about $35,000. Since that time I've spent at least $45,000 in repairs and partial restoration. And three years ago, a Pantera restoration specialist was selling fully nuts and bolts restored cars in the $40K range. I bought some parts from him a couple of months ago, and he told me he had just sold a fully restored car for $79K. So, while I'm not thinking of selling mine yet, at least they have doubled in price over the past few years, so that I'm not way "under water" any longer. And it certainly hasn't been a good investment. But I always loved the look, the growl, the idea, which is why I bought it.

We're coming into an era where the automobile doesn't seem to excite the younger generation, computer games do. I'm not sure who is going to buy classic cars in the future and if there will be enough enthusiasts to support healthy, elevated prices for those cars. I'll be gone by then, so my offsprings and their offsprings (if I ever get any) will be the ones to know.

I honestly think the X100 has a chance of becoming valuable in the next 10-20 years. And since decent examples were available over the past few years in the $6-10,000 range, maybe there will be some money made.
The X150 chance at that goal is too far out in the future for me to have to worry about it.

 

tberg I pretty much agree with your post. I usually attend a lot of car shows in our area and if you just take a quick scan at who the owners are it pretty much says whee car collection is going. They are old guys and very few young types. Also watching some of these auctions on TV it pretty much follows that line. My BIL is a Corvette guy and goes to a lot of those shows and pretty much says the same . He's 69 so he also fits the mold. The other theme is these guys have disposable cash where the young are living pay check to pay check. So as for our cars it will be a long time before any of them appreciate. Drive em and have fun

 

Heh-heh, pretty much.
Oh well, guess I should have followed my mother's advice, and become a doctor...
If I actually owned one, I'd probably be unhappy with it for some reason or other (like keeping it 'stock' to maintain the value), so why shatter the dream? I'll just continue to drool over pictures while someone else puts in the effort (and money) to maintain them.

 

I am somewhat pleased that the whole world does not know the formula to picking cars that go up in value.

I can give you the most important example that I am sure you dont know about and its one you know like the back of your hand....

(You will thank me for this if you play your cards right)

Go to Hemmings and do a search for Land Rover Defender 110. It will amaze you how many there are, and the sell for more with 90,000 miles than they did new.
for eg: https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds...0/1898581.html

We bought one about 6 years ago and sold it for more money than we paid for it. Here is the thing- the Jag dealers would beg me for that car. They said it bought more customers in than a billboard.

If we analyze all that went into making that car a money maker, we will have the secret.

Its better looking baby brother has not been discovered yet, and it was in the last Bond movie. (not that it has much bearing) I saw one pulling a landscaping trailer, belonging to a lawnboy.

 

The lust for cars has never been greater. You would not believe the kind of money folks are spending. We are getting work that other shops cant fit in.
The scene is so huge it will blow your mind. Many of them companies who take vintage cars and modernize them for over $100k- they cant keep up.

Look at all the tv channels like velocity, the number of custom shops, the number of small manufacturers. Its all exploded. You cant un-invent knowledge. During our time we only had Saleen, choo-choo customs, lingerfelter, and no tv shows. I believe Top Gear is the most popular show in the world.

Consider an example close to us. The Eagle speedster, was a $500k project for a customer, that others wanted more of.

 

David you have overlooked the most important aspect.
Cars are insured tangible assets you can use. Unlike other grades of investments .So the return on investment is not limited to appreciation in value or at time of resale.
In other words, if you use a 'good looking' car for 30 years- you got utility and vanity worth $8k a year, or $240,000. $8k is what we lose in depreciation on our cars.

Now compare this car, he got what we get and his money back.
https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds...0/1970089.html

 

This is a better example
33 years of joy- and he is selling it for more than he paid.
https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds...#&gid=1&pid=19

he made $300k on this investment.

 

I am not an accountant but I did take accounting 101 in college. There is a difference between ASSETS and INVESTMENTS. While investments are considered assets, all assets are NOT investments.

Most people, and the IRS, expect real money to be made on an investment. In your example you are confusing "Hobby" with "Investment". These cars are hobbies for 99%+ of the people on this website.

 

That's the difference between Academia and Horse-sense. That's why they cant make a Warren Buffet in academia.

A car is one of the biggest expense an average person has, because its recurring for life. So if you can drive a car for 33 years for free, and repeat 3 times in a lifetime, the gain is worth nearly a million inflation adjusted.

Also note the guy who had this LR for 33years, probably got a tax break that typical car buyers dont get. It was one of the best kept secrets to buying a Range Rover.

 

OK I get it now. The bums living in their cars downtown are actually quite wealthy. They are "homeless" and have no housing OR car expenses. After 30 or 40 years of living in their cars, if they don't OD first, they have "gained" a million dollars. This further justifies my refusal to give them handouts or feel the least bit sorry for them. They could even be some of President Trump's "rich friends".

I just hope the IRS steps in and makes them "pay their fair share" on that million dollar gain.

 

What can I say. All I can do provide actual evidence of someone having driven an exotic car for 33 years and 100,000 miles for free, got a tax deduction, and saved sales tax on 6 cars. In addition to having done it myself.

I guess ideology wins over reality. I lose.

 

Here is what Boomberg has to say:

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...ood-investment

As you can see, we are now in the bubble territory. Probably because interest rates are so low people are looking for alternative investments, creating speculative bubbles in some asset classes.

Value of classic cars and fine art tumble, while musical instruments become hottest collectors' item

Musical instruments are the next fad.

 

Here are some cars that never took off in 10 years :

Alpha Spider
Triumph TR3
MG MGB
Mercedes 380SL (R107)
Any Miata
Toyota Mk1
Cadillac Allante


Here are some cars that might take off:

Honda S2000
Mercedes 500SL (R129)
Acura RSX

 

I take it you are a glass-half-empty kinds guy. lol

From your article "Ford's Focus offers vintage Ferrari performance for $17,000"

 

Car Investment returns up 400% over gold!

http://video.foxbusiness.com/v/26710...#sp=show-clips

 

Those are all hairdresser's cars.
That itself should tell you something about its future.

 

The next generation of car collectors are now in their upper forties and lower fifties. They are just becoming empty nesters and are beginning to accumulate spendable wealth. Given where the auto and transportation industries seem to be headed there may be fewer car collectors on an overall basis. Having said that, I believe that well designed, engineered and built (manufactured) vehicles will hold their value after the first wave of depreciation and then actually increase in value.

I think well cared for and maintained older X150s are just reaching the bottom of the first wave of depreciation and may maintain their current value less 10% for a few years and then begin to creep up.

I hope I live long enough to be proven correct.