Classics of the future? Which "everyday cars" will become classics? - PFF (2024)

We all know the typical classics, i.e. the cars that we like to see and would like to own. The problem with this is that the value increases and you have to dig a little deeper into your pockets if you want to fulfill your dream of owning a classic car.

What you often don't see, however, is that these cars used to be available in large numbers on the various online marketplaces and were offered at acceptable prices. It's just that people didn't have them in mind at the time, or rather had other models in mind that were already classics or simply developed into classics earlier.

For me, the appeal of a classic car lies in the memory. They are usually vehicles that we have always loved and that we "grew up" with. It's a kind of "journey through time" that you take with this car. And last but not least, it is also something special.

We all know or have heard the prices of 356s in the 70s and 80s or the 911 G models and 964s in the 90s and early 2000s. Even a 944 could be bought as a "Turbo S" special model in silver-pink in 2003 for 6,000 euros. Today, many times that amount has to change hands.

But it's not just in the Porsche world - I'm certainly not the only one who is amazed at the current prices of certain cars. An R129, which to be honest I had always had my eye on, was available for a few thousand euros less a few years ago. But even a W123 Coupé, a W124 Cabrio, Lancia HF Integrale... were never bargains, but have now risen significantly in price.

My point is that if you had bought certain models early on, you wouldn't have to chase the trend and pay dearly for them. That's why I'd like to start this topic for discussion - not just about Porsche, we all know a thing or two about that - but also about other brands beyond Porsche. It doesn't have to be superlatives, but also "normal" models.

My definition of "future classics":

The money you put into the car to maintain and care for it is now or in the future significantly exceeded by the market price. Then, in my opinion, it is a classic because the demand is greater than the supply and the car is sought after.

Let me start:

A friend of mine bought one of the first Mercedes SLK R170s and is currently restoring it. The prices of the first SLK have risen somewhat in recent years, but they are still moderate. Disadvantage - the SLK would be too small for me. That's why my second tip would be a Mercedes CLK Cabrio W208. You have to take care of the bad sheet metal and the corroded soft paint in the interior, but I think the first CLK is now very nice to look at. Watch out - I almost like it better than a W124 convertible. And the prices are moderate, but you have to look for a reasonable base and then certainly invest some more money.

What other tips do you have - and if you have a future classic, please feel free to present it.

Addendum: Please leave out the political aspects. The green-left agenda is not set in stone and young people are anything but disinterested in cars. I know that the media have been portraying it differently for years. So - please let's just focus on the good things and leave politics aside. Thank you.

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ZMRoadster, ZM QP, SLK 55 (V8), C63 W204 and W205, Ferrari 488, Boxster Spider, Boxster RS, Audi TT RS

I could extend the list indefinitely.

All vehicles whose current value has bottomed out.

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alfanta

Did you actually keep your BMW Z3 M Roadster? I still remember the first PFF event in 2007...

Quote from alfanta

I could extend the list indefinitely.

With pleasure!

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I think it will be interesting to see whether the topic of young/oldtimers will continue as before or whether it will slowly die off (or at least cool down, similar to model railroads, stamps, etc.)...I do believe that the following generations are a little less car-savvy and perhaps no longer find it so desirable to chase after the automotive dreams of their youth (if they still had any at all)...

But for the purposes of this Fred:

I think the brand must basically be desirable, the car must have a certain rarity value (overall or at least within the model series) and it is certainly also helpful if the car is "known" in some way (sporting successes, movie/television) (well, I don't think this applies to the ones listed below)...

How about the Z4 M Coupe? Or the Mercedes SL 55 AMG (R230)? Aston Martin Vantage V8? Audi S5/RS5 Cabrio (so 2012s)

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Quote from 982SPY

I think it will be interesting to see whether the topic of young/oldtimers will continue as before or whether it will slowly die out (or at least cool down, similar to model railroads, stamps etc.)...I do believe that the following generations are a little less car-savvy and perhaps no longer find it so desirable to chase after the automotive dreams of their youth (if they still had any at all)...

Let's leave that out of the equation. Politicians and the media have been telling us for years that young people are left-wing and green. They are not. Nor is the current agenda of the Greens set in stone.

Therefore - please leave political and social factors out of it. Thank you!

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Quote from Andreas Bippes

Politicians and the media have been telling us for years that young people are left-wing and green.

I didn't claim that and I didn't want to link it to that. Nevertheless, some things are subject to change...

But enough. You can leave it out.

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This is yet another topic for me

I'm still of the opinion that I can't complain about a lack of luck (probably even more than intuition) in my buying impulses and decisions.

Even if it's not primarily about that here, I did mention that I had actually only focused on the 3.6-liter 996 - the fact that it ended up being a Targa by pure chance is now probably a kind of stroke of luck due to the relative rarity value of this particular model.

Well, and I probably only need to mention the Golf briefly, as I'm in your ears regularly enough about it - apparently so much so that you even took photos of the one on display at the FAT Ice Race especially for me, Andreas

À propos, just last Friday I was asked about it again in the garage yard.

In the forum, someone posted a reply from VW to the request for production figures for the 4 Series, which amounted to 3000 for the German market.

The stock according to KBA on 01.01.2023 was then put at 1337 in a post there.

However, it can no longer be considered an "insider tip", I would argue that it already has its status.

A record-breaking vehicle has probably already broken the magical 100,000 mark - not in kilometers, but in miles it was even just in double figures

I hope I was allowed to be a little "off-topic", so to speak, because the question was actually about what real classics could be in the future, but I just have the feeling that, as mentioned, I was always lucky with mine.

Especially as predicting upcoming classics could also be like gambling, for example, you shouldn't forget "wallflowers" that were rather unpopular when they were released and then suddenly became really interesting at some point due to low sales.

I can think of the Golf Country, for example, from a time when the term "SUV" hadn't even been coined yet.

P.S.: Oh, Andreas, another thing that occurs to me is that your Boxster from the competition could also have potential, especially after this "wallflower effect", I could well imagine it - otherwise I wouldn't be taking part, greed eats brains here again

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Andreas Bippes

I still think about that first PFF event quite often.

The Evergreen ZM Roadster had to go under pressure from my wife, mainly because of the color. I keep saying that it is a real collector's car precisely because of its rare color (58 units).

However, I was able to fill the hole in the garage again, this time after prior consultation with my wife.

Although it was three times as expensive and less rare (669) 15 years after the sale of the green one, the driving experience was there again straight away.

My friend has one in steel gray with gray leather: production number 1 (one)

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Basically, a completely new situation can be recognized. Until about 10 years ago, new vehicles always dropped in price after purchase.

Even SLR McLaren or Carrera GT were once available for far less than the original price. Today, there are cars that are guaranteed to be the cheapest when purchased new.

However, there is a small drawback.

Porsche S/T, Boxster Spyder RS, 918 Spyder, all Königsegg, AMG ONE, Aston Martin Valkyrie, McLaren Elva, Bugatti Super Sports, Mercedes Black Series, etc., etc., are not available to the normal buyer or there is only a small group of buyers who can afford them and can therefore increase their money well.

Porsche 356s are still in demand, with an upward trend. So they still exist, the garage gems.

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