I’ll probably be in the ground in 30 years (darkest Autopian Asks into ever), but you whipper-snappers will probably still be here, reading about the latest Shitboxes in the Showdown and David’s rebuild of a vintage 2024 Jeep Wrangler and Stephen still trying to keep his busted Jags running. And while you peruse your holo-pads or whatever, you’ll no doubt be thinking about what machines from your past you might acquire from Bring An Atomic Trailer or Cars and Robots and Bids or wherever else you like to spend your freedom credits on old collector cars
But what will be collector cars in 3o years? Time has a way of making a nice-condition anything of a certain age valuable, even if it wasn’t the most desirable model in its day. Or, sometimes even beauties go for a relative song – see the Grand Am SE that The Bishop featured today, which sold for a mere $3,700.
The Bishop answered today’s Q with a quick missive – he’s no doubt busy at his real job – but I agree with him: “Failed electric cars. ID. Buzz. That Charger with the fake engine sounds. Rare collectibles in 30 years.” Indeed, I can definitely see those models trading for decent money.
Thomas was of a similar mind:
This is a controversial pick, but I bet there will be a cohort of collectors in 30 years who covet Tesla Cybertrucks. Yes, it might be appalling to look at and not particularly nice to drive, but it was a cultural moment beyond the world of automobiles. You can’t say that about many cars of the decade so far.
Yep, I agree with that too.
Your turn:
What Regular-ish Cars Will Collectors Eat Up In 30 Years?
FWIU as of about six months ago the last demographic that still thought the Cybertruck was cool were elementary-school boys too young to “get” their cultural baggage.
The opinions of those kids are heavily influenced by what their mom and dad think are cool.
nissan Zs. They’re not selling any, look fairly cool, and being built on an old (good) platform won’t be as much of a drawback as it is currently. I think some of these short-lived EVs from 2023ish might do well since they didn’t sell and are some of the first fully gas-competitive cars, maybe even the BrightDrop for some van nerds. Preludes and current-gen Chargers are good-ish cars that satisfy segments no one wants.
Ahem. A compact liftback sport coupe is EXACTLY what I want, and I am hoping against hope that it becomes successful enough to start a resurgence in the style.
I would say cybertruck is a good pick. The id buzz I don’t think so purely for the reason new Beatles, Thunderbirds, pt cruisers, prowlers and the rest of the retro inspired cars for 20 to 30 years ago aren’t really all that collectable now. Prowlers being a collectors car from the start and the market has only softened.
The original Tesla roadster is a collectable now I could see that continuing. Maybe the original leaf. Early model s and x. Maybe not impossible for earlier 3 and y. Some Chinese stuff for sure just like we want the weird Japanese stuff now. Like the li auto mega, the su7. Maybe various yangwang and panda cars. Some of the xpeng stuff. Could be some of the last stuff in the market like Miata and wrx. But iffy on that. The early Mavericks might do well. People love a 30+ year old ranger now. Rivan r1t could easily be up there especially the rare colors. I suppose some of the upcoming rivians might have a shot depending on how they do. The R3 and r3x already have quite the following. I guess on that note if the slate truck comes out that’s basically like a 30 year old ranger now just bev.
the previous gen manual Accord, especially the 2.0T version (though the 1.5T will also appreciate)
Any manual crossover (HR-V, Forester, etc). These were available until the late teens
Great suggestions. I’d even add Accord coupes, regardless of transmission. Relatively recent entries into a dead segment.
Not sure the 1.5T will survive long enough with those head gaskets to become a collectible.
Sorry, that might have been a cheap shot.
I thought I would be interested in the 2.0T 6speed Accord until I saw the Throttle House and SavageGeese reviews on it. They both thought it had a numb clutch and sloppy, unengaging shift linkage. Very surprised to see that from Honda. Since it was phased out soon after, I wonder if they went cheap on the gearbox just to say they offered it one last time.
Head gasket sealer to the rescue 😉
Nissan Z
Infiniti Q50 and Q60
WRX
It’s not exactly “current” but any of the last hatchback WRXs that haven’t been completely destroyed specifically are going to get big money.
They kind of already do. In the Subbie community, the later hatches get big money. Depreciation? What’s that? So many of them get clapped out with shitty mods or wrapped around a tree. Few survive.
In 30 years, the current 6th generation Bronco, of course. Probably the base model 2-door non-sasquatch with a manual transmission. Bonus points if it’s in some non-gray color.
I’m thinking along the lines of a clean 90s civic, or a manual base X3 being cool now, while there were obviously more interesting or “better” versions in their day. So while I agree with the sentiments on the last hot hatches and manual sportscars/roadsters (often Miata is indeed the answer) I’m thinking more mundane.
My sufficiently boring suggestions are:
Manual transmission Chevy Cruz Eco (really taking a stab here)
The last running Jeep Renegade (4wd, manual and open roof are pluses)
Mirage hatchbacks in crazy colors
Not as boring and maybe more obvious:
The last of the non-XC Volvo wagons.
Manual Tacomas
Big boat sedans like the Continental (already mentioned), CT6, Lexus LS
Maybe the IS500, RCF, LC500. NA V8 is pretty sweet.
Some of my picks…
I’d say even regular-ish may be a stretch for the Cybertruck depending on whom you ask. Any of the modern EVs of the last decade, not just the ones considered market failures like the Buzz and Charger will be a rarity in 30 years, but the it’ll probably be the failures that have some cult following if they can be kept on the road. Anything that’s not a currently modern crossover. Sedans. Especially large rear wheel drive ones. Panther Fords, GM B bodies. Pontiac G8/Chevy SS(it’s already happening with those pure Boomer Bait cars) LX/LY Chargers/Challengers/300. Kia Stinger, Genesis G80 and G90.
Part of me wants to say non clapped out Hellcats, especially manuals. But I’m worried there are enough boomers that bought them only to put like 500 miles a year on them just like tons of Corvettes; so prices never end up climbing that much because it just never ends up being hard to find lightly used ones.
And oddball pick, manual HD Rams with the Cummins engine. The only people I’ve ever known to get them are ranchers and farmers so the few that were actually made end up being used up.
My vote is for the Hellcats that are in good condition, especially those that haven’t been modified. They are so common, people are enjoying and modifying them.
I see 4 categories:
-Enthusiast cars that provide an experience that are expensive now, but are currently at their floor (Manual R8, stock R35, Manual Gallardo)
-Cars that are prime for teenagers to ruin them but somehow were kept nice (G35/G37, Z, BRZ, FRS, 86, Miata, Civic SI)
-Incredibly preserved normal cars (Pickups especially)
-Rally Cars (Evo X, GRolla, Focus RS)
(repping Australia) – entry level Ford Falcons & Holden Commodores; the kind that you used to see absolutely everywhere – but which weren’t treasured like your FPV/HSV royalty.
Instagrammer “CommodoreMan” has been posting a beautiful VN Commodore Executive lately and it is a thing of beauty.
What’s that, a Tacho? No way, Analog Clock son!
I’m picturing myself in 30 years, the wizened old man with radiation burn scars from the nuclear fallout of WW3, sitting by a fire and entertaining the mutated children with stories about fanciful mechanical vehicles like the Golf SportWagen, trying to convey to these children raised in post-apocalyptic world without electricity or indoor plumbing how important Android Auto was to me for my podcasts.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B5-lDJWCUAAwfya.jpg
The Honda Fit, apparently: https://www.theautopian.com/if-americans-dont-want-subcompact-cars-why-did-this-honda-fit-only-depreciate-1180-in-eleven-years/comment-page-1/#comment-891750
Came here to post same.
Based on how the Ford Escort was so common back then and now there is some demand for clean ones, specially if they are the GT version, Fiesta ST/Focus ST in mint condition.
First gen Insight’s come to mind.
I think to what the older stuff at Cars& often is and bring those thoughts forward. A lot will be the more popular sports cars. I imagine stuff like clean Miatas and the Toyobaru twins could stand in for MGs and Triumphs. Every Civic will be an Si or Type R as every first-gen Camaro is an SS or Z/28. Hellcats, high-spec Mustangs and Camaroes as well. The R35 GT-R almost certainly, as well as any current supercar. The LC500 could be a cult classic. Teslas will be harder to justify and it’ll be a case of how the politics play out in the next few years, but the Cybertruck could eventually either be seen as a simile to an AMC Pacer…or a VW Kubelwagen. The Model S wll definitely be a collector’s item. Trucks in general? There’s an audience, though many old trucks predate the truck lifestyle boom, so what’s preserved and what isn’t on 30 years is hard to know for sure. That said, rarer variants could become collectibles. From South Korea, save N variants of Hyundais (see Si/Type R comments), I’m thinking the Stinger GT is bound to be a cult classic.
Wild guess: Diesel Wranglers and Gladiators, Trailhunter Toyotas, 2 door long box trucks.
Mk7 Fiesta ST.
At current rates of consumption, the Infiniti G35 should be an endangered species within the next 10-15 years or so. Might have some collectible value at that point.
NA Miata’s have been there, done that. I don’t disagree.
Heck, they even made 4 times as many miatas as they did the G35 and they still ballooned in price, should be interesting to see how that affects the market down the line.
Got one recently with 29K miles from a friend’s uncle who babied it for 21 years
The last of the American sedans. The 2016-2020 Continental for sure, but even a survivor Fusion (especially with AWD and the 2.7 Ecoboost V6) from the same era will be enough of a curiosity to attract interest on the auction block.
The post facelift first generation Fusion was a terrific car (M/T named it Car of the Year). We rented them regularly when they were on the lots. We drove one with 7 miles and gave it back with 1500. Very nice cars. The second gen was difficult to see out of and a disappointment.
Those Continentals turn my head whenever I see one…
Honda Element?
This is happening now. This is the car my daughter wants, and I see them on Marketplace with 300k miles and the seller is asking crazy money like it’s barely been driven. Great choice, it’s pretty much the perfect ‘misunderstood when new, everyone sees the value years later’ vehicle
I think the Element is another one that has a loyal interested following that can keep the relatively small number of used ones at a high value, but is too small to support a new model.
They’re kind of cool, but they’re also slow, loud, get like 21mpg (out of a Honda 2.4!) and the weird suicide door thing isn’t going appeal to many. I don’t think they were misunderstood, I just don’t think there strengths aligned with many buyers.
I put the Toyota FJ in the same category for similar reasons.
Manual Bronco’s
Same answer as today. The E39 M5.
That was going to be my suggestion as well. I think it’s already happening though.
Yup. Minty examples of the good M and AMG cars is the answer.