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?
I sincerely doubt the batteries will be any good in 30 year old I.D. Buzzes and Daytonas.
Probably just more and more japanese imports tbh. I drive a 1997 Hiace in the Southeast and the overwhelming majority of attention it gets is from high school kids that tell me they’re saving up for either an imported van or a kei-truck.
Chevy SS. So much of a sleeper they didn’t make or sell a lot of them. A sedan with a v8 and manual transmission. The modern Chevelle.
The American Commodores, the Chevy SS, and the Pontiac G8 GXP have been going up in value for years. I was at a show last year, and one of the most popular cars was a stock SS, so people are already starting to take notice.
Stingers. There are already only 50,000 of them and they’re going to Kia-ify over time. The GTS is going to be Autopian bait for sure, and factory Chroma Red examples will probably also draw crowds at C&C – most of the ones I see on the road are grayscale.
The tribute editions are going to be money some day, only 440 in the US, and I know a couple have been wrecked already.
If current trends hold true, it’ll be the high end version of ubiquitous things. See: JVC Boom Boxes, Walkman’s (Walkmen?), and Nakamichi tape decks for correlation outside of the automotive space.
So what do the kids like these days? If my neighbors are anything to go by, high school graduates really like the Ford Flex. They had three parked out front last night.
I sure hope it gets weird instead of just towing the 911/Ferrari/Lambo line we’re seeing today.
I think you’re confusing like with free car from mom and dad.
Well at least for the kid who lives next door; they did not own the car before he took ownership. Once it showed up he and his friends spent a whole week last summer working on it in their backyard, blacking out chrome, installing a better stereo, putting on new wheels and tires.
But yes, I could be misunderstanding the situation, it’s not like I’ve talked to him about it or anything.
ha. Fair! Sounds like a purchase, you’re probably righ!
The Big question is, will there still be the Electronics to keep 30 year old cars running, with all the obsolesce in the Chip markets.
Cadillac Blackhawk Sedans, Lexus LC Convertible, BMW 2 series, the M2 probably most desired.
Stick shift econoboxes.
I hope so, my kids will CASH IN when I shuffle off hits mortal coil.
“Hey, wanna split the tow fee to send dad’s old junkers to the crusher?”
I’m raising them better than that, they’ll at least know what they are worth.
I’d better take good care of my ’07 Toyota Aygo, then!
BMW Z4 M40i “Handschalter”. Last Z4 with a manual, probably last ICE roadster from BMW, hell probably last roadster from BMW period, and a special edition to boot. The first gen Z3 is already a classic.
well, I hate to be that person, but the Z3 is already 30 years old, which means it truly IS a classic. Not surprisingly so
Mercedes EQS/EQE – The endangered species from Stuttgart. The Dacia Duster – The apocalypse vehicle we’ll all be wanting. Pre-hybrid Volvo V60/V90’s. Skoda Roomster for sure.
Honda Fit. It’s likely there’ll still be running and driving examples in use 30 years from now, as long as gasoline is still available. A car for a collector that doesn’t have a ton of garage space. They’re popular now, and likely will only appreciate in value as they become rarer.
Nissan Z cars. The 350/370Zs are already going up in value. Naturally aspirated,V6,RWD in a market where everything is going forced induction.
Get it while it lasts cuz it’s going,going fast!!
Whatever car I get rid of for next to nothing in 20 years will become a valuable collectible in 30.
As the former owner of two RX7s, two E30 BMWs, an E34 535i, an S13 Nissan 200SX, three CRXs and four MR2s I totally agree.
None of those sold for more than £1,100. They now all cost more than a nice GT86.
There is a devilishly simple solution to this predicament: don’t get rid of any car.
The ID Buzz will be as collectible in 30 years as the VW New Beetle is today. Nobody will care about the Dodge Charger EV either.
But the Cybertruck will probably become collectible in an ironic kind of way. It’ll be considered to be absurdly “of the era.”
Other current-production cars that’ll become collectible:
The Hurricane-powered Charger’s will become popular tuner cars, and will become collectible as the supply dwindles due to examples being crashed/ modified beyond repair.
V8 Mustangs
Cadillac CT4 and CT5 Blackwing
Miata
Toyobaru GRBRZ
Nissan Z
BMW M2/M3/M4 (people will have forgiven that awful grille by then)
X290 Mercedes-AMG GT63 (the 4-door). The last great AMG sedan, even if it is technically a hatchback.
Audi RS6
CDM: Chinese Domestic Market. Just like people fawn over the forbidden fruits of Japan, today, people will look to the greatest hits of their new automotive overlords in 2056 (of course, they will go to KDM cars first, around 2040).
I already sort-of want a 2003-2006 Geely Beauty Leopard coupe.
The first car ever with an OEM-fitted karaoke machine.
Honestly… I think the answer is ‘Miata’… particularly the 1st and 2nd gen models.
I was thinking of saying the Miata RF as that’s got some cool gee-wizardyness going on with the top.
If I could fill up a warehouse with post 2018 NDs, I would.
In 2056? I’d bet: Late 80s Toyota Mister Twos.
Because even after 70 years… that everyman level car will still be a hoot to drive.
Kia Stinger, assuming any survive. They’ll be rare, fun to drive and I bet the looks will hold up ok.
I feel like a lot of folks are commenting about 30 year old cars we pine for now, not cars from now that people will pine for in the future.
To try and correct the trend I’ll say the Hummer EV, that thing is just the worse, and I can see them in 30 years with their undying thorium batteries running their autonomous passenger pod vehicles that can stack together for families or run solo for commuting going wow, that thing is just horrendous, I can’t wait to show my friends how they built EVs in 2026! And then I’ll have to pop out of my stasis chamber, taking away precious seconds of my life to say Ahctually! We had Chevrolet Bolts 10 years earlier that were 4 times as efficient! And they’ll say some weird future kid slang I won’t understand and put me back in my chamber and lock it this time.
But – there’s nothing I pine for now that I can afford.
I’m buying an Accord or Camry to replace my daily. Would look at an Elantra or K4 to replace my partner’s old Corolla.
But in 30 years could you afford it? I’m heading into my midlife crisis territory and if I really really wanted to I could swing a Plymouth Prowler, maybe in another 5 years I actually will, so that kind of thinking.
I meant there is almost nothing being sold new that really piques my interest. I’m pushing 50 and considering finally buying a toy as well.
Well going by your handle I’d say maybe a Mustang convertible?
Hellcats that weren’t crashed/stolen/modified into oblivion.
So none of those then?
The 3 or 4 that may survive are going to be worth a pretty penny someday.
I have a feeling the Panther platform will hit Chevy Bel Air status, as the last of the V8, body on frame, rear wheel drive sedans.
Chevy Trackers/Suzuki Sidekicks/Vitaras as well will probably hit collector status, I think.
Well, Ford sold a Zillion Panthers over 35 years or so.
As a fellow old, I must remind you that Panthers have already been out of production for fifteen years.
I’ve not read all the comments yet, but I don’t know a single car person, not one (outside of car journalists), with the remotest interest in the ID. Buzz. it’s also hard to imagine anyone interested in collecting any electric car. They are not even as interesting or have as much passion or soul as Yugos.
Collectors are weird, though.
Or maybe I am.
So I drive an engine swapped VW pickup and an Alfa Romeo with a hot rod Busso that I built and I think my Bolt is very fun to drive and that my ID.Buzz is one of the most enjoyable cars I’ve ever owned. I don’t get the reflexive EV distaste
I’m glad that works for you! 🙂 I guess I’m projecting my personal tastes on collectors in general. I personally would never “collect” an EV no matter how much money I had.
My distaste for EVs is not reflexive; it is a personal preference borne of experience. I drove a Mach-E and it blew away my 95 Z-28 in comfort and every objective category. And I vastly preferred the Z. One felt and sounded like a capable alliance. The other had vibrations and sounds that caused a stirring that I prefer not to discuss publicly.
I’m seeing a lot of luxury cars and sports cars in the comments. To me, those aren’t “regular” cars, those are already enthusiast cars now.
Kia Sorrento, Chevrolet Envoy, Nissan Versa… those are some current, regular cars that effectively no one cares about. I suspect no one will care about them in 30 years either.
Chevrolet Envoy? Did you have a stroke while looking at an Isuzu Ascender?
See, it’s so boring that I said Envoy when I meant Equinox.
It really depends on if the collector car market is all old people purchasing the dream car of their youth, as it is currently, or if it is younger people buying what was cool when they were kids. So basically Radwood vs Boomer 50’s and 60’s muscle car. Old people will buy big sedans, full size pickups or old 911s, none of which are electric or hybrid. 30-40 year olds will be first gen Taycan Cross Turismos, Rivian R1T/S, and probably some cool old Chinese EV, I cannot see Tesla being collectible solely based on Elon.
Also biased, but the big performance wagons before they all went hybrid and got really heavy. 600 HP V8s with no help from a battery in an “estate” won’t be for everyone, but there will not be many around for those who want to partake.
I believe this week’s Members’ Rides has documented conclusively that I should not be asked to express an opinion about what is, or will become, popular among car collectors.
Just look at it like collecting tractors. You’ll never make money on it, but it’s cheap to get into, everyone will smile at you, and no one’s going to steal your ride (well, maybe someone would steal the International, but they’d give it back after they’re done at Home Depot).
Just bring it back with the bed empty and the tanks full.