Cuda collectors know which models are limited
editions, which are rare from a mechanical or design perspective, and which are
considered, by a very objective set of criteria, valuable. “The key to
collecting is knowing what you are buying, and being an educated consumer,” says
Jackson.No Cash Cuda
While the Barrett-Jackson index does indicate a
sustained interest in vintage cars, no sure bets exist in a market driven
largely by nostalgia. “In this market, long term doesn’t necessarily mean
hanging on to one car for years,” Jackson says. “It can mean buying a car,
enjoying it, and then trading up as the market shifts and trends change.”
Trends do change. Collectors of 20 years ago, who had an emotional
connection to the prewar cars of their youth, are now growing old. Their classic
Packards and Cadillacs are no longer the hot items; they have been replaced by
the muscle cars of the ’60s and ’70s. This does not necessarily mean that
classic collector cars will lose their value; they still account for a large
segment of the vintage car market. However, the caprices of taste and fashion
will affect a car’s value over the long term. “Ultimately,” Jackson
counsels, “vintage cars are a hobby, not an investment. You should first buy a
car you like, and one that you will enjoy. If you are just looking at it solely
as an investment, you’re doing it for the wrong reasons.” Fluke agrees. When
asked if he would consider putting his mint condition 1969 Camaro on the block
to collect an undoubtedly formidable return on his investment, without
hesitation he replies, “Not a chance.” Photos Courtesy General Motors (Camaro and Corvette) & Ford Motor Company
(Thunderbird)
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