Let’s do a fun one today, shall we? Hagerty put out its annual “Bull Market” list of vehicles that are going to be a hoot to own and just might appreciate in value over time. It’s not investment advice, as any decent semiconductor ETF will likely blow most vehicles out of the market from a portfolio perspective. You can’t do a burnout in an ETF, however.
The Morning Dump is an equal opportunity venture, so I’ll also look at what Hagerty UK has to say about the state of the car market. Let’s just say, it’s not great right now for sellers, but maybe it’s good for buyers. While that’s all good and enjoyable, the times are less fun for Ford, which faces a big lawsuit over what it pays dealers to replace batteries.
And, finally, EV concerns have now extended to Uber, which isn’t likely to incentivize EV purchases, which is going to be yet another hit to the EV market.
Hagerty Yet Again Snubs The Aztek
My ongoing joke with our friends at Hagerty is that they’re purposefully trying to suppress the value of the Pontiac Aztek as a way of hoarding them for themselves. And, yet again, the 11 vehicle list (10 vehicles is too internety, I suppose) of vehicles with unrealized value and potential does not include one of GM’s most interesting vehicles.
Don’t worry, GM is well represented, both in the form of the lustworthy GMT 400 Chevrolet 454 SS and the C6 Chevrolet Z06, which will make Griffin happy. The list itself stretches from as early as the 1956 Continental (not Lincoln) Mark II, and as late as the 2010 BMW M5.
1968–1970 Dodge Charger
1999–2005 Mazda MX-5 Miata
1956–1957 Continental Mark II
1990–1993 Chevrolet 454 SS
2006–2013 Chevrolet Corvette Z06
1969–1972 Alfa Romeo GTV
2006–2010 BMW M5
1981–1993 Dodge Ramcharger
1995–1998 Nissan Skyline GT-R
1995–1998 Volkswagen Golf GTI VR6
2004–2007 Porsche Carrera GT
The E60 is a wise choice, although E60 ownership seems to me, as an E39 owner, a potentially ruinous proposition. There’s something for everyone on this list, including the annual oddball SUV that you’re likely never to find in great condition. This year it’s the Ramcharger:
Apart from blue-chip models like Hemi ’Cudas and Challengers, Mopars are often under the collector-car radar. The market—particularly younger buyers—is catching on to the Ramcharger’s charms, though. Whenever we see a spike in interest from younger clients, a model’s value is generally due to increase. According to our Automotive Intelligence team, the share of Ramcharger owners under 50 is two times the Hagerty average. If you want a monster truck for the street and missed out on the Blazer and Bronco craze, the time to buy a Ramcharger is now.
They’re the experts, but if you had given me 300 guesses for what would be on this list, I’d have probably hit on the first 10 before I reached number 100. I think I’d have needed at least 320 guesses before I got to Ramcharger. Bronco spirit without the Bronco premium sure does sound nice, though.
Nearly 80% Of Collector Values Of Dropped Or Held In 2025
After the wild ride of the COVID-19 boom and immediate aftermath, prices have mostly leveled off, according to John Mayhead, Editor of the Hagerty UK Price Guide, who shared that “[B]uyers are being much more careful with their money and, as a consequence, nearly 80 percent of values have either dropped or remained static.” That doesn’t mean there aren’t areas of growth, especially in the UK:
One of the upward hotspots is definitely modern classics. Hagerty UK’s indices show growth in the Hot Hatch market, consisting of mostly 1980s and newer performance hatchbacks and within the RADwood index, which tracks 1980s and 1990s turbo era cars. Standout examples in excellent condition include the 1985-1986 Ford Escort RS Turbo Mk III which has risen in value by 23 percent. Possibly because of the hype over the new electric Renault 5, prices of the 1986-1991 Renault 5 GT Turbo have risen 7.5 percent and values of the iconic hot hatch that started it all, the 1975-1984 Volkswagen Golf GTi Mk 1 1600, have gone up six percent. This exciting segment of the collector car market reflects the popularity of the cars many people obsessed over in their youth and can now afford to buy.
What isn’t working?
The Classic Index (CI), tracking the British enthusiast market segment, and the Best of British (BoB) Index, watching classic British cars like the Aston Martin DB5 and MGB, are both down, the BoB now at its lowest level since it was created in 2018. These two indices tend to have older cars with the mean age of first manufacture being 1962 for BoB and 1971 for CI.
Across the entire 3000 models of the Hagerty Price Guide, the story is similar, with British marques taking nine of the ten places in the list of models that have declined the most, with Bizzarrini the only foreign brand making the list. Jaguar is the brand showing the biggest drop this year, down 21.4 percent, partly due to a significant reduction in the mean value of the XKSS after one failed to sell at RM Sotheby’s London sale in November 2024.
A rough time for Jaaaaaaaags.
Here Come The Battery Repair Lawsuits
The post-COVID bad times have been catching up with dealers, too, and there’s an obvious friction between OEMs and their dealers. When times are bad, automakers squeeze the dealers (although Stellantis is said to have done this when times were good). Some of that is in the service department, which, along with F&I, is an important potential revenue generator for dealers. At the same time, OEMs are plotting ways to sell cars without dealers.
Something has to give, and the most recent sign is a lawsuit from a pair of New York dealerships accusing Ford of underpaying for the actual cost of EV battery replacements, as Automotive News reports:
The complaint, filed by Jericho Turnpike Auto Sales and Patchogue 112 Motors, claims Ford underpaid a Jericho franchised dealership nearly $300,000 and Patchogue by more than $615,000 for multiple EV battery replacements.
Leonard Bellavia, a dealership franchise attorney co-representing the plaintiffs, said via email that Ford is one of many manufacturers falling short with EV battery replacement fees.
“Ford is not the only OEM ignoring warranty reimbursement laws by paying low flat fees for replacement of EV battery packs,” said Bellavia, founder of the Bellavia Cohen P.C. law firm in Mineola, N.Y. “This is the first of many … lawsuits my law firm will be filing in several states over the next few months against various OEMs.”
If this spreads, my guess is that there are a lot of dealers who have done a lot of battery work.
Uber Produces More Emissions Than The Entire Country Of Denmark
Here’s a fun/terrifying little detail from a Bloomberg story on how Uber is backing away from promoting EVs:
Uber needs all the clean miles it can get to reach its green goals and various local regulations. With 38 million daily trips globally, the company’s emissions have nearly doubled in the past three years, and its climate footprint now surpasses the entire country of Denmark. Yet despite the rise in emissions and soaring profits, Uber is scaling back some of its key climate efforts.
In the United States, those goals don’t seem like such a big deal, and, according to that story, Uber is sort of moving in the opposite direction:
Uber officials acknowledge they will likely miss their green targets, but they say the company is committed to cleaner vehicles, and their drivers in Europe and North America are moving into EVs much faster than the public. “We’re proud of our progress overall,” says Rebecca Tinucci, the former global head of electrification and sustainability at Uber, who recently took over as chief executive officer of Uber’s freight business.
Rather than throw incentives at drivers, as it has done in the past, it’ll instead try to market to consumers who might prefer an EV or greener vehicle.
What I’m Listening To While Writing TMD
Speaking of old pals, Neko Case is out with a new album and a new tour. Please enjoy “Rusty Mountain” along with me.
The Big Question
What do you think is the most undervalued collector car right now?
Top photo: Hagerty
Not to defend Uber, but most of those trips are necessary and replace a trip made otherwise in one’s own car or a rental, so there would be marginal change depending on one’s own car’s versus the Uber car’s pollution contribution.
Only exceptions are taking an Uber instead of public transportation that would be driving on the road anyway, or taking an Uber instead of carpooling, or taking an Uber instead of a bicycle. Or, taking an Uber someplace when the alternative is not to go at all.
So it simply reduces everyone else’s pollution and increases its own.
Also, does anyone do a check of past year’s predictions of these “undervalued” vehicles?
And does anyone check the inventory of the predictors?
Does it actually affect the market by publishing the list?
I think the exception is that the uber trip includes idling somewhere waiting for the call as well as the trip to the person like any other taxi service. When it was mostly someone picking someone else up on an already planned trip to share ride costs, then yeah that would be negligible.
Why would they be idling, wasting their own gas that they paid for?
The number of Uber/Bolt drivers that circle the wrong block trying to pick you up because they went down the wrong street…
Because most are now like cabs, waiting near an airport or concert to be the first to get the gig.
The uber sustainability report measures “dead head” miles, which are the miles going to pick up the rider. When fewer people order rides, the distance between them goes up.
C’mon, cheap Bugeye Sprite cars. I know you’re out there. Fall, prices, fall!
Oh me too on this, have wanted one for 40+years and yes I’m old. Saabstory, I sold my 900S vert a few years ago and I am still sad and now I wander around the inter web looking for a 99GLi. I miss the that more than the Convertible.
I can’t imagine many Ramchargers are left. They didn’t make many to begin with, and those I remember on the road back then were rust buckets.
I see one on FB marketplace every so often and they still seem reasonably priced.
The Isuzu Vehicross is bound to skyrocket on price right? Mostly joking though don’t think they are they sought after hah. I still want one at some point maybe if my FJ blows up or falls apart from rust.
They unironically will go up in price. All it’s going to take is one low-mileage manual example to sell for $60k or something.
Well they only came in auto so check mate /s but seriously yeah it probably only takes one idiot to spend an absurd amount of money on one and a bunch of people will think they are worth their weight in gold.
In complete sincerity I really really really want one of these as a project. It slots right in between the Subaru XT and SVX as the weirdest / coolest cars of the 80’s / 90’s, and I’ve already owned the other 2.
The Saturn Sky Redline/Pontiac Solstice GXP are pretty undervalued for what they are.
SSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Every time I’ve looked it seems like the word is out. Nice ones aren’t cheap. Cheap ones are not nice.
Agree. I paid a pretty penny for mine, and it still had 142k and change!
Oh, are they priced lower than a set of Tupperware, which has better material quality, storage capacity, comfort, and ergonomics?
I enjoy a good 2-seat sports car, but aside from being cramped in every dimension, having too much cheap plastic, a vague shifter, and lots of parts sharing from the rest of gm, I don’t particularly remember any particular attribute of theirs, let alone a positive one. Well the Sky looked better than the “jelly bean with buck teeth” design of the solstice, but that’s not saying a lot.
They feel like a Power Wheels (or maybe a Barbie car?) that someone enbiggified to a 7/8 scale, then tried to cram a functional automotive interior into after tossing an economy car powertrain under the hood. And I say that as someone who has spent countless miles behind the wheel of various MX-5 Miatas and other comparable sports cars.
If governments were really interested in real improvements, they’d work with Uber and/or Taxi companies to provide maps of the highest use-rate and build public infrastructure overlapping.
Problem is government would end up supplying garbage collection routes on accident and now public transit is only useful one day of the week, per neighborhood.
Ah, yes, the obvious bribe (lobbyist) leading to failure in favour of corporate profits.
I suppose on today’s timeline, to improve public transportation would be considered an attack by the ‘socialist agenda’ and warrant investigation by the FBI and/or National Guard.
The MX-5 NC/NC2’s time is coming. I can feel it. Like the Aztec, it’s greatness is overlooked and underappreciated.
You’re not wrong in the sense that they’re more usable and daily-driver friendly than NA and NB’s. They’re still new enough that they fall more into the “used car” than the “collector car” market. Time will tell…
I am upset to see it on that list as I’ve been recommending it frequently for people that want a cheap fun project / toy. IMO it’s far superior to the NA/NB as far as chassis and handling, and while far from ugly I consider it the worst looking of the 4 Miata’s meaning they stayed relatively cheap.
It’s not on the list (those are NB). Yet.
oh, oops… I saw 2005 which is when the NC started, and ignored the start range.
I admit I had to double-check. (I just recently bought a ’92 and would have been interested in an NB.)
As a NA owner and someone that has spent a ton of time behind all of the generations of miata, always get a NC2/3 unless you can afford a ND2. They’re way better to drive than any NA/NB when set up similarly (good set of coilovers and sticky tires, aka the best way to miata)
Funny you mention that. I’ve been looking for an NC in case my Volt evaporates / is abducted by Vogons / sacrifices itself to save me. I wanted an NC because it’s the “unloved” Miata but is a more modern car than the NA/ND, so I wouldn’t feel as bad driving it in a salt state.
NCs are already trending upwards in price. Even Sport (the base trim which, IIRC, has no limited-slip diff) are beginning to see parity with used ND‘s. The rare 2013-ish Club trim with the horsepower improvement? I see them starting to tickle $20k even on godforsaken Autotrader, much less a bespoke Miata forum.
Am I reading it all wrong? Are early ND’s just abnormally cheap, presumably because of the transmission stuff? Or are people softening on the NC?
This is gonna sound weird, but I think a lot of it has to do with spec Miata racing. There’s still a lot of NB’s racing and NC classes are starting to get more popular as NB’s disappear, but few people have moved on to an ND.
Good point?
My brother and his son once had a fleet of 6 they raced at Daytona…
ND1 is significantly less desirable than ND2, weaker motor and more trans issues. That creates a void, where late NCs are pretty nice and similarly quick, and ND2s are too pricey.
Id personally go 2009-15 NC over 16-18 ND. The ND1 is a bit of a disappointment with the low redline. the NC2/3 will spin to 7800rpm and the ND2 will go to 7500. I want a ND2 because I prefer the styling, but budget wise the NC is a way better buy
We have an NC1 (06) and an ND1 (16). They are both still fun to drive. If you aren’t racing it, the ND1 really isn’t too much of a worry. It’s still a lot of fun as a daily (my son dailies it).
My NC1 is a sport with the 5 speed and non-limited slip, but every car has a complete wiring harness, so I was at least able to add options that I wanted, like cruise control, steering wheel buttons, fog lights, etc. really easily and at minimal costs. It was plug and play. As a fun car to just drive to work and stuff in the summer, the sport trim is just fine.
Our ND1 is an automatic, because my son wants to learn manual, but hasn’t yet. The ND fell into our lap for too good of a price to pass up from a fellow Miata Club member. Since it’s an auto, it doesn’t have the early manual transmission issues and the engine is less of a concern since it isn’t revving as high. It’s been fine and has 75,000 miles.
It seems like the NC values are already starting to go up. And I think it’s starting to get at least a little more respect. I bought mine about a year and half ago. I know it’s never going to be super valuable (they made too many), but I think it’s hit bottom and is going to start to rise. It’s getting a lot more aftermarket support recently too. It’s a little easier to live with than the NA, NB, and ND because it’s just a little bit bigger inside.
The power retractable hard top NC is the real gem. The later NDs can’t match it for comfort (though I haven’t yet purchased an ND, it’s on my list). The NC is every bit a Miata as others though a bit larger and leans a bit as it’s tossed around, it’s a blast to drive like you stole it. It’s also a little larger and the first Miata with side air bags making it potentially safer than others. The normally aspirated engine is rock solid, and other than a poorly designed coolant over-flow tank, is super reliable. Later updates of the NC (2009+) have beefier engine internals so good to know if you plan to modify. You may be able to find a gently used one somewhere and you’d have a keeper.
I’ve had NA,s NBs and yes a PRHT NC, Years ago I found a 1991 British Racing Green special edition (NA) with less than 55K miles on it online, pretty much bone stock. I purchased it and shipped it cross country without ever seeing it in person. It was a gamble that paid off. It arrived a 10 out of 10! That was maybe 8 or so years ago and so far it’s easily tripled in value. Every few years I need to up the insurance. It stays in the garage covered up most of the time but rest assured I do drive it, and drive it spiritedly. It’s not a garage queen but I do try to keep it in great shape (still has the original top). As we downsized a few years ago I had a choice of which Miata I wanted to keep the NC (less than 30K miles and tricked out with turbo) or the NA BRG. Had to keep the NA, but damn I miss the NC. If only I had a 5-car garage I would have kept it too!
Top tip for collectors… check with your state’s DMV regarding the rules for registering a vehicle as a collector/antique auto. In TN the car has to be 30 years old (and in theory unmodified and also not used for daily commutes/work… in theory). Once registered, you no longer have to pay any annual fees! The license is permanent. My NA is an antique auto, and I also pay a very low amount for full coverage insurance too, though I did have to provide photos of the car and odometer.
Proving once again:
Miata Is Always The Answer.
The Carrera GT has unrealized potential? Wut? That’s a seven figure car and is widely regarded as one of the best supercars ever made. It has a naturally aspirated V10 and is only available with a manual. It’s also a notorious widow maker, so maybe Hagerty thinks attrition is going to take its toll? Anyway you don’t need an expert to tell you that you’re not going to lose money on one, and there’s at least one shop I know of that’s entirely dedicated to servicing them.
It’s practically a mainstream car. Don’t get me wrong, it’s absolutely on my “if I won the lottery” list and I would certainly not turn down an opportunity to drive one even though it would try to kill me the entire time…but I don’t think “if you can afford a Carrera GT they’re a solid buy” is sage wisdom or anything, especially considering Doug owns one and Doug literally has the ability to sway the market and has put many videos on his out.
Anyway what do I think is being slept on? I know I advocate for not talking about it loudly but there’s a certain Lexus that’s incredibly undervalued by the market and we need to do everything in our power to keep it that way, so I will say no more. Another current car that I think will eventually have a redemption arc is the current Z4.
I have no idea why Supras (even 4 cylinder ones) basically lose none of their value but you can pick up a perfectly decent Z4 for less than a new Miata. There are a not insignificant amount of journalists who say that the 4 cylinder one is a better driving experience due to lighter weight as well. If you can find one with the M performance package they’re apparently surgical on backroads.
They’re fun, attractive sports cars (I personally think they’re way better looking than the Supra) on a great platform. Get one while you can because the market will wake up eventually. I’m sure the manual B58 ones will always command a premium but if you can live with the B48 and ZF8 you can get a lot of car for the money, and modern BMWs are actually reliable.
There was a Carrera GT always sitting in front of a cheesesteak shop in Ft. Lauderdale. Was never sure if they were the owner or the cheesesteaks were just that good.
I’ve actually seen one IRL and it’s hard to overstate how much presence it has
There was one in the delivery area of the dealer when I first picked up my Cadillac (I guess the owner brings it there for maintenance) and I must concur.
Despite wanting one for 20+ years[1], I have to disagree.
The Carrera GT is still ultimately a handsome, but constrained, design.
It will get attention if you NEVER see anything truly interesting, but in somewhere like SoCal only gearheads will really notice.
Even at car shows, it attracts a very specific crowd. Most don’t notice it. By comparison, a GT3 RS is shouting at everyone by comparison by having a wing you can sleep on, vents, ducts, etc.
The 918 Spyder? That has substantially more presence than the CGT.
———
[1] I want one, but I don’t believe I want to actually own and care for it.
As someone who had a 4 cylinder 2 series with the M-Sport package and currently has a 6 cylinder 2 series this assessment rings true to me. The 4 cylinder had super sharp handling and was fun and easy to drive to its limits–the 6 cylinder is too front heavy, lacks the steering feel of the lighter car, and is just too damn fast to push hard on public roads.
Not only that but the Z4 can (sorta) accommodate a tall-guy – something most Toyota products cannot do…
I feel like a lot of that list isn’t so much under-valued as much as not yet as over-valued as they could potentially be (aside from the Carrera GT, which is already insanely expensive and likely not special enough to see a $10+M valuation). I mean, I absolutely adore the 454 SS, but with rough ones trading at $30k and nice ones pushing $80+k, the value of the trucks is already past ridiculous for what the truck actually is. Sure, the values could pass the $100k mark soon (and may have already), but they are by no means selling under what they are truly worth (which I wish they were so I could snag one).
Ya’ll need to STFU about the Alfa right now
What Alfa? Who said Alfa? No one, that’s who
Smile and wave boys, smile and wave.
I assume Ramcharger in those years, and not the Trail Duster…because they are already spendy?
Trail Duster ended in 1981. They called out 1981+ Ramchargers.
Right, but as with other commenters….are the pre-81’s (Dodge, too) already spendy? I simply don’t know.
Not really.
For Sale:$24,900 1979 Dodge Ramcharger 360, Auto 330-729-5732
Vehicle Inventory
I think it is more than the pre-’81 trucks have had more of a renaissance than the post-’81 refresh trucks have had. I haven’t seen a decent first-gen Ramcharger for under $20k for a while now, but you can find nice second-gens for $10-15k pretty easily.
Well as Ramchargers continue to return to the earth, the clean ones have shot up in value along with the big Broncos and Blazers.
Undervalued “collectors” cars right now? Well I’d say that 70’s personal luxury coupes are the next big thing. First gen Monte Carlo’s, Thunderbirds, Cordoba’s, Continentals etc… I genuinely believe they’ll be the next restomod craze which will drive up the prices of clean original examples (there are simultaneously fewer and more out there than you would think).
they are perfect candidates for an EV restomod. Acres of velour caressing you with guilt free hand-of-god torque
EV swaps or modern powertrains like LS/LT/Vortec, coyote/godzilla, hemis/hurricanes, hell even URs or VKs backed up by modern automatics or tremecs would do wonders
Ok, so they think the most expensive muscle cars (the Charger) out there today are only going to climb in value? Even I could predict that, but in a Bull Market report?! Come on, at least put a Plymouth or something.
Wouldn’t surprise me if they said that to keep one of their partners happy or something. Any muscle car right now is a horrendous investment – Boomers are dying off and either themselves or their kids are liquidating their collections, so there’s going to be a massive flood of muscle cars in the coming years. If you’re in the market to buy one, however, now is not a bad time as they’re about to be cheaper than they’ve ever been.
I’m sure the Superbird continues to be horrendously priced and could be on the list if there weren’t so few of them.
Hagerty continues their tradition of being ~5 years too late with their JDM recommendations.
The R33 is not going to increase in value, I’m sorry. They won’t dip, but I would hardly consider one for an investment. The extremely low-mile, unmodified examples already imported to the US will continue to perform consistently, but you’re paying a premium for one of those, anyway. At best you’ll make your money back.
Dealers and private owners in Japan have caught on to the desire for R32-34 Skylines and have jacked their prices up to the moon accordingly, so you’re not really going to get any deals by looking there.
If you asked me, the best JDM things to buy as investments right now are S15 Silvias, EP3 and FD2 Civic Type R’s (they’re legal to import in Canada), R31 Skylines, and the nicest late-model RX8 you can find.
RX8’s are a dud IMO. Driving experience is worse than the FD, it’s less sporty visually, and is just as unreliable. So they’re not good hosts for an engine swap, they aren’t great as OEM grade collectors, and they aren’t great as a driver’s car.
Really hard disagree. Almost anything is going to pale in comparison to the driving experience of an FD RX-7. They both have rotaries but otherwise aren’t super comparable.
Late-model RX8’s have held their values very well, as Mazda ironed out a lot of kinks. Those cars also have the distinction of being the most-refined and most-reliable version of the last rotary-engined sports car that will probably ever exist. There is certainly a market for it. They’re not even all that unreliable if you know what you’re doing.
I 20% agree and 80% disagree. The RX8 is very limited in what you can do to up the power, and the FD RX7 is one of the most beautiful cars of all time. Reliability wise, the RX8 is probably 2nd place of all the RX’s only behind the FB with the FD way at the bottom. On track or a mountain road though the RX8 is a far better handling, more enjoyable, more balanced, and more communicative chassis than an FD. (I’ve owned 1 FD, 3 FE’s 2 as track only cars though, 1 FB, and oddly enough 3 NA miatas despite only paying for the first one so I feel like I know my Mazda’s and especially rotaries.)
I can’t see the FD2’s ever taking off over the FN2 CTR.
The FD2 is the most milquetoast CTR I’ve ever seen.
Conversely, I really want to find a way to buy an FD2 now to park in Canada or Japan until I can bring it here to park next to my FK8. The FN2 is super ugly IMO, but maybe its because I prefer 4 doors.
Easier and cheaper to get a Canadian market FD2 Acura CSX Type-S.
Yes, but that is still not an FD2.
You’re in luck:
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/2007-honda-civic-25/
I’ll be closely following that one. My wife would kill me if I bought a car I had to keep in Canada until 2032 now though.
FN2’s will for sure go up in value, but the Euro-specific Honda models have traditionally not been as desirable amongst enthusiasts. The FD2 has the JDM-cred and it shares a ton of components with the USDM Civic, so parts will be a lot easier to come by.
Too be faiiiirrrrrr; R33 is probably at rock bottom price currently. The whole R34 becoming legal really did a number on that market. Maybe they’re just optimist, who believe the R33 has no place to go but up!
+1 for the Letterkenny reference
What was in that pipe they were smoking when they decided 68-70 Dodge Chargers are undervalued? The Mopar Tax is already very real – most of the Chargers I see advertised are piles of rust swept into a pile vaguely reminiscent of the General Lee and advertised for $80,000, no low-ballers I know what I’ve got…
Great minds think alike. Saw a 69 in several rust shaped pieces for sale for 23 grand, no doors, interior, glass, engine, axles, wheels, transmission, and it was wrecked. For $23,000 US dollars.
These are not undervalued.
All I know is that I expect MGB GT prices to go through the roof, now that I’ve sold mine.
That’s usually how these things work, yes. 😉
Was yours a Rover V8, or a I4? The V8 ones are omega cool, as are the I4 models, but v8 noises out of an MGB is even omega-er cool.
Obviously Adrian is behind Jaguar’s fall.
In terms of “classic” SUVs, I would think the rise of the Broncos since Ford dug up the name would eventually reach the Bronco II, especially once people realize the Deuce is more like the original than the F-150 based OJ Bronco. To that end, I could see the Explorer Sport rise as a better version of the Deuce. Just keep an eye on the tire pressures.
Really? The most desirable years of that particular model are undervalued? Interesting
Glad to see my 2001 Miata SE makes it into the same list as a Carrera GT for once!
Slightly annoyed that the article claimed their example was British Racing Green, since it isn’t.
The 68-70 Charger is already at peak price. Check out his rolling chassis (no engine or transmission) It sold for $25,000!
Muscle Car Project: 1968 Dodge Charger R/T | Barn Finds
Peak would indicate it will not go higher. They are predicting that it will in fact be more ridiculous next year than it is now.
I saw the graph and sighed with depression.
The value of the Fisker Ocean is bound to rise when it replaces the DeLorean in a Back to the Future reboot. Timothy Chalamet will star as Marty and British comedian Noel Fieldling will wear the crazy Einstein wig and play Doc.
This post gave me depression.
I don’t think I’m breaking any new ground with this statement, but cars as speculative assets is a bummer. It feels increasingly like everything needs to be monetized, and if you aren’t 100x-ing your investment you are a sucker. Bet now on who will win this faceoff. Buy the memecoin and sell before it crashes. Hoard 30-year-old Volkswagens. It is exhausting.
That being said, I think 20-year-old, broken Scion xBs are seriously undervalued. Act now before the market catches on.
Unsurprisingly, I agree with everything you said Buzz. 🙂
I will admit to the fact that when I encounter too much speculation about this or that car as ‘investments’ I tend to MEGO exactly as if the talk had been about crypto, or NFTs, or pretty much anything of the sort.
I’m not in the six-figure-investment demo myself, but even if I were, I’d rather just have cars I could drive and enjoy, and choose investments that take up less space and leak less oil.
Yeah I find it really frustrating. I think it has ramped up significantly in the last 5 years and is going to severely hurt entry level motorsports.
There’s no longer such thing as a cheap M3, Miatas are starting to get a little silly price wise, even the gr86/brz/frs hasn’t depreciated that hard.
It seems to be due to a combination of treating cars as investments and the leftovers going up in price because of the supply going down.
Combine this with the fact that every car is some variation of a transverse engined crossover and the sports car market is going to be WHACK in like 10 years. Imo once the reserve of manual e46 and e90s dries up there will be no such thing as a cheap manual fun car other than used Hyundai Ns, perhaps. (and this assumes you consider a 325i a fun car).
Interesting that they chose the 1981 and newer Ramchargers. The prior years had the removable roof, which if you were going to buy a toy I would think would be high on the priority list. It’s not like there was a big phase change in style or drivetrain from 1980 to 1981, either.
Ramchargers have always been an attractive vehicle though, and like most Mopars frequently overlooked. Glad to see some representation on them!
If I had to guess, the earlier versions are already worth more in value, so the later ’81 and up will be the next group to increase in value as the earlier ones are priced out of people’s pocketbooks.
Bill Stephens still holds a grudge against Mopar for slapping the Ramcharger name, which was used by a drag-racing team, on a truck.
I think everything I own is undervalued and everything I don’t yet own is overvalued.
As someone who’s going to be selling (or attempting to sell) a house in 2026, you’re not wrong.
In the middle of that process myself right now, good luck to you.
Thanks. Gonna need it! The good news is that we don’t neeeeeeeed to sell it quickly and may rent it.
The Carrera GT is undervalued????? I have no idea how. They are well over $1m when they become available.
I would argue they’re still under-valued at $1m. It’s not that far off their original MSRP – they have a lot of room to grow.