Does anyone have any insight as to what the market for first gen cars is going to bring us in the new year. Are cars going to sit, are the prices going to come down, or is everything going to continue on it's rocketship to the moon? What did you guys see the last time the market was like this?

Prices fluctuate monthly. Spring prices go up, in the Fall they fall. So its hard to predict.

High end and documented mid valued cars will continue to slow down on their value escalation, but these cars will hold their value and continue to escalate some, but at a slower rate in some cases, depending on the car and its rarity.

As the stock market becomes more volatile and falters a bit, it has historically mean a slight increase in the value of other commodities. Real estate is obviously still in the freefall stage. Some investors are snapping up property,while others are waiting on the sidelines for it to all level off. I think that old muscle cars could be fairly stable in the very near future,and maybe even increase in value as Wall Street scrambles to prop up the Dow, the real-estate/credit crunch mess, etc.

I'd like to think that just once, I chose a good investment..an Old Camaro!

Also agree that the original style cars will fare better than modified versions. They always have. Rare cars with docs will rule the day.

i guess it only matters if you plan to sell.......

i dont really worry about it at all....i dont usually sell my cars!!!

I think the theory that the value of classic cars being tied with home prices is a sound one.

As the price of homes went through the roof so did classic cars. I would think we might see a similar softening of the prices of classic cars with the prices of homes.

I think like housing prices it is a temporary price correction, and you will see the price continue to rise, although at a slower pace than the last 5 years.

I would like to see them come down some, as I'm in the market for another first gen.

You all make sense on what your saying.One of the things that I really fear for the working class guy is the jobs were losing ,companys going over seas.Heard Hersey Candy bars is going down under to Mexico.If the average Joe can't afford these cars you might see people waiting on the lower dollar stuff too.I really see bad times coming and because of everything happening,high fuel cost,high foreclosure rate,China holding lots of our National debt,more importing,less exporting,on and on. This one confused me though,recently a friend of mine called me and said there was the Maroon 69 Scuncio COPO Camaro from CT on ebay for a buy it now,$130,000.00. This car was totally restored! I'm glad I love the cars I have for what that really were made for! Nothing like these old musclecars to drive and enjoy! How many times have you got the thumbs up and a smile on person's face in another car as you pass by them!

I think that the "boom" in the musclecar market of the last several years ago is dying down. I think there was too much money being thrown around for a while there by those that probably shouldnt have been involved in the first place. They watched B-J on TV, saw ebay prices, and saw an opportunity.

Now that cars/people are being sorted out, so to say, the lower quality cars are being brought down to earth to where they should be from the inflated prices that they were at a few years ago. A car can only be flipped so many times before there is no profit left in it.

Overall, it's leveling off. A correction maybe, but I dont think it's going in the tank. Can't expect the rate of appreciation of the last few years to continue forever.

Good cars are still good cars. Lesser cars are being brought down to earth.

Oh yeah,I was talking to a person that been around these cars for a long while,mention the "Born With Drivetrain" cars.

Its all just speculation of course but I dont see prices getting better, ever! Sure it will fluctuate.

Heres why. Population increases exponentially. For those who never took calculus that means it is growing faster than the national debt. However there were only so many Camaros built and less in existence every day. Of course by the year 2250 all the Camaros in existence will be either SS or Z-28s and plane jane Camaros will start to increase in value because there are only 2 left.

But the demand will never go away as more enthusiasts are born every day.

by the year 2250 all the Camaros in existence will be either SS or Z-28s


LOL ... you must be talking about 1969 camaros... :D


nbl 69 owners.:thumbsup:

There is also something else to consider, with the release of the new Camaro not far off, we will probably see an decent increase in the values of the 1st and 2nd gen Camaro similar to how the older Mustangs increased in value when the new Mustang came out.

There is also something else to consider, with the release of the new Camaro not far off, we will probably see an decent increase in the values of the 1st and 2nd gen Camaro similar to how the older Mustangs increased in value when the new Mustang came out.

I would tend to agree with this.

I have the luxury of attending one of the larger classic car auctions in the U.S. every year. Silver Auctions in Reno during the Hot August Nights event. It is 4 days long and they auction around 1000 cars. Here is where I have to challenge an earlier statement: "Also agree that the original style cars will fare better than modified versions. They always have. Rare cars with docs will rule the day". My experience tells me the second half of this statement is true - Rare cars with docs rule the day. However most cars AREN'T rare. My stock plain jane 6 cylinder/pg camaro, I paid $17,000 - nice interior, restored body with new paint stripes, spoilers and cowl hood. A car just like mine, but with black stripes and hood instead of white, nice paint, nice interior, with a SBC (alum heads) with performance goodies, and STOCK suspension sold for $46,000. Modified show type '57 chevy - goes for $115,0000, and stock one goes for $30,000.

I do think the economy and housing will have an impact of the value of our cars. BUT in lieu of that, every year the televised Barrett/Jackson auction give people the fever. Last year immediately after the auction I sold a '55 Chevy no-post I for $5000 more than I would have taken for it on E-bay.

Also if the car you are selling offer to the buyer every feature he/she is looking for: p/s, pb, air, auto/4spd, 406/502, old school/pro-touring - whatever those features may be you will get top dollar.

For me, my car has been with me thick and thin, too many years and previous up and downturns, so this little correction will happen and we all go on. True, jobs are getting sent out over the water and borders. If you are into investments, you just sit on it, you will not loose your base costs. The older these cars get, the harder they are found and the younger guys want. Many of the new guys getting these cars were born way into the 70's or later. The guys like me, babyboomers were around prior to their release. I really enjoyed growing old in mine. Things get better with time, always has, its the American way. Just watch out for Hillary.

2004 & 2005 were the high points for the housing market. At least here in Cali. This gave the consumer a "wealth effect". Consumers were using their houses as piggybanks. This "wealth effect" helped drive up collector car prices. With the downturn in the economy, I predict softer prices for collector cars for the next few years. I would think 2008 or 2009 would probably be the bottom in this "softer" market. Good time to buy if you are on the sidelines.
In retrospect, with the upturn in the Dow, I would have done better to put all my assets in the market. But, not wise. Better to diversify. Also, you can't take your 401K out for a Sunday spin.

Not that I have a prayer of ever affording one, but I'm glad I wasn't one of the poor suckers caught up in that Barrett-Jackson timeframe boom that paid $1M+ for a Hemi-cuda.

They can be found now for a mere few hundred grand.

I always thought a boom existed in the low-mid priced cars because of the housing boom. Baby Boomers down to mid 30s wound up with a bunch of equity in their houses. I have to imaging HE loans funded many of these purchases/restorations. If the housing market tanks, the market may be flooded with old cars bought with HE loans.

I have 4 Fbodies - 68, 69, 88, and a 94 (all in sig link). I didn't pay that much for any of them, but they aren't show cars. The 68 and 69 are also not original. Driver restored cars like these with basic drive train can be bought for $12-15K. 2 years back, you couldn't touch a v8 69 project for under $10k. In my area, we always have a few first gen projects under the $5k mark. IMO I think prices are going down except for the high end and pro touring style cars.

I'm still waiting for the 3rd gens to catch on more. I think these years are the best value currently. Some nice cars selling cheap. I'm not considering any of them an investment, but IMO I would put them in this order 67-72 1st, 78-81 2nd, 82-92 3rd, 4th gens 4th, and 73-77 5th. Exceptions would be cars like the 4th gen T/As Ram Air, etc. Rare cars from any year will always be worth more - especially with sticks. It's amazing how much a stick will add to the price of a 80 Z28 or a 4th gen T/A for example - if it's original.

-Dan

OK. Here is my prediction for next year;

The economy will go into a recession in Q1 2008.

As a result of the worsening economic conditions in 2008, more cars will be put up for sale by overextended individuals. Adjustable rate mortgages resetting to higher rates will put a huge financial burden on a lot of people. Most of them with a collector car will choose to sell the car to keep their home. Financially distressed sellers will contribute to an increasing supply of cars for sale.

There is no more pulling equity out of the home and using the new found wealth to buy a collector car. The credit markets are in a mess and home prices are in free fall. There are fewer buyers willing or able to fork over big bucks for toys. Collector car sellers will have more “tire kickers” and possibly a few “low ball” offers. In other words the demand for collector cars will drop significantly.

The increased supply and a limited demand will force all collector car prices to come down. There will be some good deals to be had by “well healed” car collectors once the market bottoms out in a few years.

That’s my prediction. I hope I am wrong. :sad:

Steve, I hope you're right. I want a hardtop to sit next to my 'vert.:D

A lot of vacation homes will also be on the market. There has been a decade of overspending that needs to be reconciled.
It will be interesting to see what this winter's Barret-Jackson has to offer. I think we'll see cars there that we saw sold in the last few years as people try to get their money back out of them.

When looking at trends, I always fall back on the age demographic. Look at who is buying the 60s muscle cars. A lot of the guys I see at the cruises and shows are all in their 60s. I can remember when I first started to go to shows and there were a ton of 50s Chevs and Fords and now I see those guys at shows and they are in their 70s.
I guess I am pointing at the Boomers. We have all the money and are looking to buy our dream car we couldn't have when we were in our late teens and early twenties. Now all of us are retiring and looking for a retirement nest egg. I know of several guys who had extensive collections of muscle cars and they are all gone to finance their retirement. More cruises and golf junckets than car shows.
I guess what I am tryingto say is that in the next few years I can see a glut of cars coming to market because the owners have either died or need the money to finance their old age.
I might be totally off, but if you look at trends over the last 40 years they have all been affected by the boomers. I tell you invest in seniors homes, we are gonna need a ton of them.

I agree,retirement homes,small little ranch,handi cap accessable,36'' wide doors,lever action doors,walk in showers with tile shower floors, etc....But at a affordable price...

I would tend to agree with this.

I have the luxury of attending one of the larger classic car auctions in the U.S. every year. Silver Auctions in Reno during the Hot August Nights event. It is 4 days long and they auction around 1000 cars. Here is where I have to challenge an earlier statement: "Also agree that the original style cars will fare better than modified versions. They always have. Rare cars with docs will rule the day". My experience tells me the second half of this statement is true - Rare cars with docs rule the day. However most cars AREN'T rare. My stock plain jane 6 cylinder/pg camaro, I paid $17,000 - nice interior, restored body with new paint stripes, spoilers and cowl hood. A car just like mine, but with black stripes and hood instead of white, nice paint, nice interior, with a SBC (alum heads) with performance goodies, and STOCK suspension sold for $46,000. Modified show type '57 chevy - goes for $115,0000, and stock one goes for $30,000.


I do agree with this guy. I think the restomod/pro-touring type cars will bring high bucks if done right. LSx motors, 6 speeds, air bags, who wouldn't wanna drive that car over a stock car. But the documented, born with drivetrain, survivor type cars will bring the most money down the road. Like said, it's supply & demand. And a new Camaro lover is born everyday, somewhere. :beers:

OK. Here is my prediction for next year;

The economy will go into a recession in Q1 2008.

As a result of the worsening economic conditions in 2008, more cars will be put up for sale by overextended individuals. Adjustable rate mortgages resetting to higher rates will put a huge financial burden on a lot of people. Most of them with a collector car will choose to sell the car to keep their home. Financially distressed sellers will contribute to an increasing supply of cars for sale.

There is no more pulling equity out of the home and using the new found wealth to buy a collector car. The credit markets are in a mess and home prices are in free fall. There are fewer buyers willing or able to fork over big bucks for toys. Collector car sellers will have more “tire kickers” and possibly a few “low ball” offers. In other words the demand for collector cars will drop significantly.

The increased supply and a limited demand will force all collector car prices to come down. There will be some good deals to be had by “well healed” car collectors once the market bottoms out in a few years.

That’s my prediction. I hope I am wrong. :sad:


The only mortgages in trouble now are the ones sold to people who were duped into buying houses that they couldn't possibly afford with low buy in variable rate mortgages. The people that bought what they could afford are fine.
The media are blowing this whole situation out of proportion. Most home owners are FINE. I do feel for the people that were oversold but they are not the majority as the media would have you believe. It is all a bunch of crap.
War casulties are down, still not good but down, global warming is crap, has been getting warmer and cooler for hundreds of thousands of years and will continue to do so. We have been keeping records for, OH... let me see... 150 yrs WOW. In the 70's when I was a kid it was " the coming ice age"...also crap
We need a new catastrophe...... mortgages
Some people will be hurt but many realistically were never in a position to buy a house. These are not the people that were pulling equity to buy a collector car.
People are flooded with information, misinformation and theories due to the internet and other readily available half truths these days. This is largely the cause of drastic market fluctuations etc...
In the end... cars are fine, houses are fine and America is fine. Just use your head, as our parents told us... if it seems too good to be true... it probably is.