We just got this release from classic car insurer Hagerty, and it looks like our M3 is now officially a future classic. In fact, it’s at the top of their list!
Look for more updates on our project car soon, and here’s that entire release:
TOP 10 TEN CLASSIC CARS TO BUY IN 2017
1980s and Newer Mode…
Mostly good choices (although many of them are "duh" choices that are practically a notice in reaction to the market) except for the C5. The massive improvements (especially in handling) between generations from the C5 to the C7 won't be kind to the C5's value, and the C5's styling isn't quite good enough to overcome how dated it's beginning to look.
Edit: I think the C6 and C7 will be instant classics if the next-gen Corvette is a costly mid-engined car. I'd even say the C7 is a safer bet right now than the C5.
I need Hagerty to explain this to my wife.
You make a good argument, but I'm still going to back up the C5 Z06. The later Vettes are faster, but there's something special about a C5 Z06. Plus it came with the coolest factory wheels ever.
One day we'll have another Corvette in the GRM fleet. The debate here in the office has been C5 or C6. (Yes, that's some foreshadowing.)
Interesting to see the Bronco on the list. Some old-school SUVs got expensive, but the prices seem to have cooled off a tick. I'm looking at you, FJ40.
Tyler H wrote: I need Hagerty to explain this to my wife.
Should we arrange a phone conference?
I have always thought that the C5 (especially the Z06) is one of the best-looking cars ever made. Even today I prefer it to the C6 and the C7. Especially the C6 I think that thing is ugly. The C7 is better but I still like the C5 better.
Never done this before so I think I will post photos of all three to compare.
C5
C6
C7
Yep, in my book the C5 wins your photo contest.
JG, we're getting a C5!
Hard top C5's are beautiful cars.
I've been wavering on the Enzo. I guess it's time to E36 M3 or get off the pot.
C5 Z06 will do well, but I agree with Gameboy on the rest of the breed. I'm not even convinced they're done depreciating yet, with the C6 starting to be seen under $20k with some regularity. Not to mention, I believe the production numbers were a good bit higher than the two subsequent generations. I too like the styling of the C5 best, but I'm not super hot for any of them and think they will all show their age some day. All that being said, I think it's very hard to argue against the C5 as the best performance per dollar production vehicle available today.
The Bronco is interesting and I guess I'd be a data point in favor of their comment on millennials and boxy SUVs - definitely find myself drawn to the older Bronco's, Blazers, Wranglers, Land cruisers, and the like and my dd is an XJ.
Some other cars not mentioned on the list that I see appreciating in the next few years: early Vipers (particularly the GTS) and the FD RX7. I think the original Viper is such an iconic and distinctive car and the FD is gorgeous, rare (especially in unmolested condition), unique, and has a rabid cult following.
I think that driver quality vintage American muscle is going to decline as the new American muscle depreciates.
I also believe any naturally aspirated v12 with a manual transmission will do well, newer is better. My personal pick is a Ferrari 550.
I'd love to have an E46 M3. Unfortunately it seems like they are either priced really high, or convertibles. You can't rallycross a convertible if it doesn't have a hardtop, and any vehicle I own will be rallycrossed at least once.
David S. Wallens wrote: Yep, in my book the C5 wins your photo contest. JG, we're getting a C5!
I can not argue with any of this logic. There's really no loser there. C5Zs still dominate AS and SSR autocross, but C6s also win in capable hands. Sam Strano has basically said he thinks a C5Z is a faster car but he drives a C6Z because he likes the seats and interior better. There's no loser here, except people who don't buy one or the other in the next 18 months or so.
If they needed an F-car on the list, the 308/348 would fit in better than the Enzo. And NSX.
As a former C5 owner, I had longings for replacing it with a C6 after a few years, but that lust quickly faded when I realized just how good the C5 really was. The C6 was bigger and uglier, headlights were really bad, and just didnt have the cool of the C5. The C5 looked like an exotic. The C6 looked like a squished Camaro.
The C7, especially in white, is a striking car. But its tough to get over the clean and simple lines of the C5.
The c5 z06 and frc are my fav corvettes as far as looks. I want a white FRC so bad.
What about Z3 M Coupes? It's got the S54, it has much lower production numbers, it's faster, and it's more of a sports car than an M3. Prices are already up there as well...
Unfortunately there is no way to know what cars will be highly collectible in the future. Fortunately, there is a fairly accurate indicator of which ones won't be: any of those which are heralded as future collectibles.
Muscle cars: nobody ever saw that coming. In 1974 you were doing good to trade a Hemi Charger straight up for a CB750 (I happen to know someone who did that).
911's: Did Hagerty or anybody else call that one? I don't think so.
I could go on and on. I happen to have a hunch that '90's early 2000's crotch rockets will be a hot item in the future.
93gsxturbo wrote: [C6] headlights were really bad
They also do not pop up, which is another strike against them.
Along with the small Bronco is the full size jeeps from the 70s and 80s.
mr2peak wrote: What about Z3 M Coupes? It's got the S54, it has much lower production numbers, it's faster, and it's more of a sports car than an M3. Prices are already up there as well...
As someone who sold a '99 M Coupe around 2006, I'm amazed at what these are going for now. Probably not on the list because they began climbing years ago. I'd love the have the M Coupe back.
I'd still rather have a E36 than a E46 M3, but it's probably easier to find a nice E46.
I agree with everyone else here who thinks the C5 is prettier by a mile than the C6 and by slightly less than a mile over the C7.
A recent CL search turned up a handful of c5s WELL under 10k in my area (none of them nice, but still). That's a sharp drop in the last few months! I think they are VERY close to the bottom.
Yeah, some M coupes have already gone up. I was at this sale: $53,900 for a mint, non-sunroof M coupe.
I'll dispute their assertion that C5s are now as cheap as C4s. Last time I looked, you could still get decent C4s for under $10k all day long, and C5s are still in the mid-teens.
And yes, the C5 is a much better-looking car than the C6. Popups FTW!
Tom_Spangler wrote: And yes, the C5 is a much better-looking car than the C6. Popups FTW!
I like the popups, but the back end on the C5 coupe (which all the C5 Z06s were, IIRC) is... unfortunate.
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