Future Classic Cars?

[driverdriver]

The service managers at both my Infiniti and Acura dealers(the guy came from Infiniti) are convinced that the 93&94 J30t's with the HICAS will one day become a collectible since they where made and sold in small numbers.

I don't care. I'm going to enjoy my J till it gives me no joy anymore.

[AZhitman]

Jesda, gotta disagree on the Cressida. WAY before its time, and there are some die-hard fans out there. Drive one and you'll see. Creature comforts that were unheard of for its time, esp in a Japanese car.

Dakota convertible - Definitely a future collectible.

Surprised no one mentioned the Yugo - Cultish, but popular. Imagine if you had one with 27 miles on the clock, like a guy here in Phoenix (he owns 7 Yugos, one has been swapped with the Yamaha SHO engine and one is small-block powered).

[PalmerWMD]

I realize that this is a highly subjective topic. Jesda, the majority of your list bores me. I am shocked that the TT Supra was not on anyone's list. It is already a classic and will continue to be a classic. I thought that one was a no brainer. I think that you underestimate the 240SX. Right now, the car is a cult classic. But in the future, when all of the enthusiasts get older and want to relive their youth, I think that these cars will be in an even higher demand. When I look at a 240SX I dont see performance numbers, I see a good looking car that is a blast to drive. In my book it will be a classic.bud

What Bud said.

Fred..

[HashiriyaS14]

I second the TT Supra comment.

They are already selling for more than they did used, even adjusted for inflation. Other than concievably the 2000GT, I can't think of any japanese car that's *ever* actually appreciated with time....

I think that the 240sx will become a classic for the same reason the Datsun 510 did. Big enthusiast base, sort of a movement behind it, etc...

[Meantime]

Dodge Omni GLH-S. The sleeper econobox, American answer to the GTI with a Shelby turbo 4-cyl under the hood. Torque steer was ridiculous, but a blast to drive and actually looked mean with the black Shelby aero kit + decals. Kind of like a baby GNX, in fact.

The GLH-S has more potential than the other Dodge-Shelby collaborations because it was the "first" and also for some reason it's developed a much stronger cult following than the Lancer, Charger or Daytona versions.

[AZhitman]

^ Good catch.

Definite collectible.

[Jesda]

Dakota convertible? This I've gotta see!

[metalsyth]

you asked for it.

[driverdriver]

Chrysler TC, hand built by Maserati and only a small number made during its production run. Looked like a LeBaron but actually had balls.

[s0m3th1ngAZ]

any of you read hemmings motor news?it listed the 1984-1987 corolla ae86 as an upcoming collectors car, boosting the value a good 500 bucks already.

[AZhitman]

^ Screen name reminds me, what about the MkIII Supra?

Pure hotness.

[Mr1der]

Any of the Supras will be.

much like the older Celicas. Especially if they kill off the line.

about any special edition car (except teh Supercoupes...bastards!) probably will be.

ala the dreaded Shelby Aries. Or Shadow...whatever the hell the dodge version was...

[Bubba1]

^ Screen name reminds me, what about the MkIII Supra?

Pure hotness.

Nope. nice car, not collectible.

Jesda: if you'll notice the same auto mags that were touting how wonderful the 6000 STE was were the same ones accepting big bucks to advertise the dang things. They were very mundane cars during a less than stellar era at GM. My brother owned one. It was more "wind" breaking than ground breaking. Your GM bias is showing. Sorry

The TC is an interesting car. Great idea, horrible execution. I test drove one, it had balls only when compared to a base model LeBaron. Otherwise it was kinda anemic with numb steering. As far as it being a collectible? hmmm, maybe, but about about as collectible as a DeLorean, which is a lower end collectible.

[Bubba1]

any of you read hemmings motor news?it listed the 1984-1987 corolla ae86 as an upcoming collectors car, boosting the value a good 500 bucks already.

Making them worth a whopping $700.(j/k). I suspect Hemmings was referring to non-abused stock ones which are rapidly becoming endangered species.

[Mr1der]

haha...

my friend is soon to be swapping a supercharged MR2 4AGE into one...mwhahahahah.

they're all rusty. a non rusted one is would be killer.

it's getting that because of all the Initial Dorks out there...

what about the Datsun 610...never hear anything about them...first Silvia we got over here.

[Bubba1]

haha...

my friend is soon to be swapping a supercharged MR2 4AGE into one...mwhahahahah.

they're all rusty. a non rusted one is would be killer.

it's getting that because of all the Initial Dorks out there...

what about the Datsun 610...never hear anything about them...first Silvia we got over here.

memory rush. Gotta go looking in my old photo album. My sister actually owned a Datsun 610 coupe. Brown with a tan vinyl interior. Reliable, but not a fun car to drive. Very slow, didn't handle very well, seats were awful. 4 speed manual. The inside windows would get this nasty film whenever it got hot. She traded it on a Corrolla, and never looked back.

[AZhitman]

IIRC, the TC, although touted as "hand-built" by Maserati, is nothing more than a chopped LeBaron. I believe it shares several panels and switchgear.

Bubba's right, they were slow as hell.

[Mr1der]

did it have the damn turbo 2.5 in it?

[Bubba1]

did it have the damn turbo 2.5 in it?

I might be wrong, but I think it was a tuned version of the old 2.2 omni motor. the one I drive was an automatic. I don't think a stick was even offered. This goes back a few years but I remember the seats were pretty comfortable and there was a nice nice clock in the center of the dash, but the car was very unimpressive.

[Jesda]

IIRC, the TC, although touted as "hand-built" by Maserati, is nothing more than a chopped LeBaron. I believe it shares several panels and switchgear.

No, all the body panels are different, along with the paint and most interior parts. They have a fiercely dedicated following.

[driverdriver]

I believe the later model TC's had a turbo-charged V6 built by Mitsubishi. I'm fairly certain that their where 100 TC's made that had a one-of-kind Bulova analog clock installed in the center of the dash. the clocks themselves where worth $5000, big money in the 80's.

[Meantime]

Maserati BiTurbo is another collectible, while we're on the subject.

That is, if you can find an example that hasn't been roasted by an engine fire.

Sweet cars when they run and don't spontaneously combust...nice interiors, sharp looks, fast and fun to drive, "last" of the old-school true Tridents sold in the US (the new one just isn't the same).

[driverdriver]

I've only seen twi Bi-turbos in my life. The last time I spotted one was the early 90's.

What do you guys think of the Alfa Romeo 164?

I hardly see any of them around.

[Meantime]

Alfa 164 - classy looks, great V6 engine, great handling, beautiful interior, rare now although most of the ones were well taken care of.

Like all Italian cars, has so many electrical gremlins that one would expect Keebler cookies to come out of the glovebox. But I'd still like to own one someday, alongside the ultra-rare Citröen CX wagon sold in the early '90s out of one dealer in PA.

[Bubba1]

Alfa 164 - classy looks, great V6 engine, great handling, beautiful interior, rare now although most of the ones were well taken care of.

Like all Italian cars, has so many electrical gremlins that one would expect Keebler cookies to come out of the glovebox. But I'd still like to own one someday, alongside the ultra-rare Citröen CX wagon sold in the early '90s out of one dealer in PA.

I've always enjoyed Alfas, working for a fiat/lancia dealer, I came across a ton of them. Drove several. That is so true about the electical gremlins. I always liked the spider veloce's, (the older boat tails,not the later cam-backs. Not a particularly sophisticated or fast car, but it made all the right sounds and it was fun to drive.

The Maserati Bi-turbo is actually the LEAST collectible of all Maserati's.The Merak is not much better Yeah, I drove a Biturbo. (but not a merak) not a particularly fast car, and smaller it looks. I have also driven a Maserati Khamsin several times. (which is collectible) Lotsa torque, Fun car, but it was heavy. A real beast when the engine is cold.

[Bubba1]

No, all the body panels are different, along with the paint and most interior parts. They have a fiercely dedicated following.

I think you're right about the panels being different. The problem was it looked and performed way too much like an ordinary LeBaron which was less than half the price. TC's may have a fiercely dedicated following but it hasn't translated into collectibility. You can buy a decent TC for under $5K. that's not very good for such a rare car.

[driverdriver]

If I remember correctly, the TC was hand assembled in Milan and sent over to North America via freighter or cargo plane.

[Meantime]

I've always enjoyed Alfas, working for a fiat/lancia dealer, I came across a ton of them. Drove several. That is so true about the electical gremlins. I always liked the spider veloce's, (the older boat tails,not the later cam-backs. Not a particularly sophisticated or fast car, but it made all the right sounds and it was fun to drive.

The Maserati Bi-turbo is actually the LEAST collectible of all Maserati's.The Merak is not much better Yeah, I drove a Biturbo. (but not a merak) not a particularly fast car, and smaller it looks. I have also driven a Maserati Khamsin several times. (which is collectible) Lotsa torque, Fun car, but it was heavy. A real beast when the engine is cold.

You worked for a Lancia dealer eh? Then you'll probably recognize this one:



Front photo:

Lancia Scorpion. Very rare in the States, I've only seen one on the road.

Far as Masers go, my personal favorite is the Ghibli. Ugly name, but one of the sexiest cars ever made. The Bora is a close second.

[driverdriver]

The Ghibli is sweet, it kind of has some of the same lines as a 1970's Z with a little bit of Vette thrown in.

[Bubba1]

You worked for a Lancia dealer eh? Then you'll probably recognize this one:



Front photo:

Lancia Scorpion. Very rare in the States, I've only seen one on the road.

Far as Masers go, my personal favorite is the Ghibli. Ugly name, but one of the sexiest cars ever made. The Bora is a close second.

Oh yeah. I drove several Scorpions. Very tossable but very underpowered. Very poor sellers. Funky looking interiors. They were originally going to be next generation X1/9, but it never panned out, very poor marketing back then. Of the Lancias they were selling back then, I actually preferred the Lancia beta HPE (extended hatchback/pseudo wagon) better than the scorpion. They sold even fewer HPE's than scorpions. The Beta coupes were the big sellers. They were such fragile cars. Not well built. I suppose the Scorpion and HPE would be low end collectibles in this country. The scorpion actually sold pretty well in Europe (over there it was called "Monte Carlo")

Yeah the Ghibli is gorgeous. Among my favorites. But I'm more a Ferrari guy.