Classic SUVs going to be the next big thing for Collectors?

Interesting speculation by Hagerty:

VINTAGE SUV'S QUICKLY BECOMING HOT COMMODITY AMONG COLLECTORS Hagerty Observes Significant Shift in Allure of Vintage Sport Utility Vehicles TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (April 11, 2013) – Once considered out of place at prominent classic vehicle auctions, vintage SUVs are rapidly gaining in popularity among collectors. During a series of collector car auctions in Scottsdale earlier this year, 11 vintage Toyota Land Cruisers sold, with the best example – a 1981 Mustard Yellow FJ-40 – selling for $88,000. The recent public sales are not an outlier according to Hagerty Insurance, host to the largest database of classic cars in the world – this has been a growing trend for the past five years. Hagerty reports the niche segment of vintage SUVs has grown 65% since 2008, nearly twice the percentage rate of the company's overall book of business, which has risen 37% during the same period. While vintage Toyota Land Cruisers (202%) appear to be the fastest rising choice among vintage SUVs, other models showing significant movement include 1970s and '80s Jeeps (93%), Ford Broncos (86%) and International Scouts (85%) from the 1960s and '70s. "With so many young collectors opting for modern SUVs as their daily drivers, we're seeing a shift in perception of what makes a vehicle cool," says McKeel Hagerty, President and CEO of Hagerty, the world's leading provider of classic car insurance. "Broncos, Land Rovers and other similar vehicles from the '60s and '70s were, for the most part, once seen as utilitarian. But vintage SUVs are becoming more and more collectible, and it appears that trend will continue. This is a great time to get into this segment of the collector car market." In addition to growth in Hagerty's database, sales analysis of more than 15 major auction houses, recently conducted by the Hagerty Institute, offers further evidence of a budding trend of increased SUV sales and values. Over the last five years, the number of vintage SUV's offered at auction is up 150 percent, and the value of these vehicles has risen 31 percent. Based in Traverse City, Michigan, Hagerty is the world's leading insurance provider for classic vehicles and host to the largest network of classic car owners. Hagerty offers insurance for classic cars, trucks, motorcycles and motorcycle safety equipment, tractors, automotive tools and spare parts, and even "automobilia" (any historic or collectible item linked with motor vehicles). Hagerty also offers overseas shipping/touring insurance coverage, commercial coverage and club liability coverage. For more information, call (800) 922-4050 or visit www.hagerty.com. Hagerty also provides online Valuation Tools and publishes Hagerty Price Guide, which are the premier price and value guides for post-war collectible automobiles. For more information please visit www.hagerty.com/valuationtools.

Land Cruisers seem to have gone nuts lately.

I was looking for an FJ20 for a while as a project while I was TDY in Arizona. They ranged anywhere from 6k for something that was a busted wreck all the way up to 60k for one fully restored.

It doesn't particularly surprise me that those cars are gaining popularity. FJs and CJs are well supported so restorations are much simpler to do than something like a Willys.

Plus let's face it, the late 70s to early 90s was a bad time for cars in general. So to beat those automotive killing requirements here comes the SUV. I sure would like an International Harvester Scout 800 though.

Ian F wrote:

this

The irony? Hagerty won't insure 4wds like classic Land Rovers or Land Cruisers.

Toyota Land Cruiser's. LOL!! You can keep them. But then maybe I'm missing something here.

Back when these were new they weren't classified as SUV. They were classified as Utility Truck.
The Land Cruisers have been pricey for a while.
I can see the possible collector value in some of these. IH Scouts and Scout II's, early bobtail Bronco's, the big Jeep Cherokee/Wagoneer, K5 Blazers to go with the FJ Land Cruisers.
I had a K5 Blazer in the 80's, loved it. Though I did want a Scout II or Cherokee. Wanted to build an early Scout into a rock crawler.

I don't see why they won't be collectible. We bought a '73 Jeep Wagoneer a few years ago, and it's fun in a "you can steer it with one finger" way. Gets tons of waves when we drive it.

I can see it happening too - along with pickups (have a '72 Chevy truck myself). They seem to be getting a lot more interest - maybe it's because newer trucks are becoming more carlike and SUVs becoming outright cars.

I want one of these. Preferably with a 440:

I won't deny there's a market for vintage trucks. Just this morning I passed a very nice late 70's Ford 4x4 pick-up. It looked like a fresh restoration. It was also running NJ classic car plates. Makes me wish I'd kept my '78 F150 4x4...

My 89 square body Suburban already gets a lot of compliments.

As far as the "I don't want to live on this planet anymore" people....I really don't get it....I mean wtf is wrong with a nice classic 4x4?

Honestly, I don't see anything wrong with older 4X4s that we label as SUVs now, becoming a collectors item.

The Land Cruiser has a huge cult following and they have been expensive for a long time due to the Toyota Truck tax that every owner seems to drop on them.

Small Utes like the original Bronco and Scout, I could see being highly collectable because they are becoming more and more rare to find stock or have become one with the Earth again.

Full-Size Utes like the Blazer, Bronco, and Ramcharger are also becoming rare to find. I can't remember the last time I saw any of these.

Any older Jeeps like the Cherokee (SJ), Wagoneer, and even the Grand Wagoneer are slowly dwindling away.

So yeah, I could see SUVs becoming the next collectors craze.

Cotton wrote: As far as the "I don't want to live on this planet anymore" people....I really don't get it....I mean wtf is wrong with a nice classic 4x4?

This.

These are cool.

Give me a 72 K5 with a nice lift and a 4l80e/6.5TD and I would be happy!

Before the haters start going on the 6.5, keep in mind its the same size, maybe smaller than a big block Chevy, bolts to stock mounts, non-intercooled for easy plumbing, can be run fully mechanically, and is significantly lighter and smaller than a Cummins.

just because it is old... doesn't mean its classic...

Barnum said it best.......

Well, since I started it, it was as much of a joke as anything else - trust me, when I bought my Cummins back in 2007, what I really wanted was a '79 F-250 Supercab 4x4 or a old box-style Dodge (93 and older) with a Cummins (go check out prices for those and be prepared to go: ). But SWMBO doesn't like those so I bought a '95 Ram with delusional thoughts she would drive the thing once in awhile (she did - once). I should have bought the truck I wanted.

Really, the "I don't want to live on this planet anymore" came from the mental image of somehow 90's vintage Exploders becoming collectible...

Ian F wrote: Really, the "I don't want to live on this planet anymore" came from the mental image of somehow 90's vintage Exploders becoming collectible...

Only rolled once!

93EXCivic wrote: This.

I still want one in the worst way in that color scheme.

Actually I was thinking the "I don't want to live on this planet anymore" quotes came either from the owners of Hummers who are now "upside down" on their purchase prices. Or those of us who have to drive on the same highways as those "upside down" Hummer and other high end SUV owners.

There is only one sure way to avoid the Hummers, Rovers, and other SUVS around here. Stay away from the parking lots of the chic stores and shopping centers.

Or now that I think of it, you can always drive off-road. You won't see one there. Unless of course they "turned turtle" right next to a highway.

BTW: Do you know how the Explorer got it's name? Ford had to change the name from their planned "Bronco II" when the press started reporting how often Broncos "turned turtle." Ford didn't change a thing to prevent the rollover issue. However they did change the name of course.