A collectible is a simple equation. Supply x demand = $$$$

 

Where's the demand come from? Gotta make people want one. Gotta be something special or at least have people think its special.

 

Like stickers?

 

And Motor Trend.

 

The number one rule in collecting is to buy something YOU like to begin with, not because you think someone else will like it.

 

Until I start making some serious money not trying to be a collector and I am by no means trying to aquire a future collector's item. Simply bought a car that I liked (love now) and plan on keeping forever.

 

I think cars are rewarded for being smart buys at the time they were bought. While certain cars (BMW Z-8 and Ford GTs) are instant blue-chip collectibles, most people can't afford them. But the average person can get a future collectible if they carefully order a car that's exceptional. For most that means ordering a powerful engine and manual transmission in a good color combination. Personally, despite high production numbers, I think the Mustang GT (especially convertibles) will be valued pretty highly in fifteen years or less when CAFE standards are more onerous and they can't make these cars anymore. It's the fastest muscle/pony car ever made in relatively large numbers. That makes it important. And potentially expensive to own in the future.

 

Zing!

Supply < Demand = $$$
Supply > Demand =

Just because it's a "Collector's Series" doesn't make it collectable. Beanie babies are "collectable" but nobody is going ape snot to get one.

 

It doesn't necessarily has to be a rare or expensive car to become a collectible.

Citroen 2CV, for an example, was very cheap and Citroen built millions of them - yet, they're very collectible in Europe right now.

 

what someone is willing to pay may set a value but just about anything collectible. Just because it's collectible doesn't mean it's valuable.
I mean a 1979 AMC Pacer is collectible too someone but it doesn't mean it's valuable. A 1970 LS7 Chevelle SS is collectible and valuable. A 1993 Mustang Cobra is collectible and getting valuable but it took a good part of 20 years to get there and it will continue to rise. Most mainstream mustangs will be collectible to those guys who wanted one when "they where young". Those are the group going after the fox era mustangs now and '80s-'90s Camaros. The confusion is only that it has driven up some of the value but they are not collectible imo, they made millions of them. The newer stuff, sorry is going to take 20-30yrs for most of it to reach value but it is collectible.

 

These may be words to eat but IMHO too many owners are putting cars away now to really drive prices up in 20-30 years.

The '60 cars were used and thrown away. If they weren't used they rusted away.

 

Collectibility = true # produced that year. Not like the cars that they slap limited edition on them, and they produced 6 million the fist half of the year... Lol

 

I don't think Mustangs are only going to be collectible in 20 years just because the kids who want them today will be old enough to buy them then. Mustangs will be collectible because they are about the fastest production 4 seaters ever made. That makes them important and being important means being collectible/valuable in the future.
As for the idea that too many people are putting cars away to make them valuable in the future, while I agree a ton of folks do that, the pie has shrunk considerably. We don't have 12 different muscle cars/pony cars to choose from. We have 3. At one time we had ONE (the Stang). Not only that, but the production numbers have fallen off a cliff in the past five years on the measley few we have. Keep the faith, you won't be waiting 20 years to cash in a performance car you buy today.

 

You guys actually believe that a 2012 Boss 302 or a GT500 will be collectible in 20 years? Unless Ford drops the mustang line next year, you car will be a used car for the next 20 years. The 60's and 70's muscle cars will still be collectible in 20 more years. Nobody is buying 60's muscle cars and driving them every day now. The collectible cars of today will still be collected in the future. The mustang and the competitors just get better every couple years so unless you're gonna keep your new car in storage for the next 50 years, it's not an investment. Just drive your cars guys. Trade them in on a better one in a few years. Keep the economy alive and give up on the Barrett Jackson dream with your 2012.

 

They sell 2-4k mustangs a month .... Ferrari makes 2-4k cars a year. It's all in the numbers.

 

As it was said before, I don't think it is simply a numbers game and as Al stated, I don't see very many modern American cars becoming classics in the near future (and yes I think 20 is near future)

 

I don't understand the point here. A Ferrari will cost $200k and they depreciate just like everything with the exception of some real special edition ones. Just like a Lambo and especially Aston. Only difference is that a person who spends that kind of money on that type of vehicle will treat it like that type of vehicle. Haven't seen many ferraris with ripped seats, coffee stains, and oxidized paint.

 

I met a guy in October at cruising the coast this year with a 2010 cobra jet with no miles on it and never raced it. He said he bought it as an investment. This guy was in his 60's and a very cool guy. I just couldn't help but think that there is no way this car will be worth the $100k+ he paid for it in his lifetime. Definitely not like his other car. Pics of two of his rides.

 

That Thunderbolt has almost the same CAI that my F150 has!

 

That thing was sweet. Original Ford 427.