Trump and Our Cars

[Bruzilla]

So Trump's plans call for massive tax cuts and cuts to regulations on businesses. I'm seeing these actions creating a massive flow of money into the stock market, business investment, and later into the housing market. In 1987/1988, we saw the outflow of money from the stock market and business investment have a massive impact on collector car values for decades. In 2008, when the housing and banking crises came about, money fled to precious metals and as that market ballooned a lot of collector car owners sold off their expensive-to-maintain cars and converted their assets to gold, which finally started reversing the inertia of price increases from the 1980s.

So now if Trump is successful, and draws more money back to the stock market and investments, I suspect we're going to see prices drop even steeper. But... if he also succeeds in the area of energy independence, and gas prices drop sharply, will that create more interest in our cars or drive automakers to create more Hellcat-type performance cars that will take the focus off classic performance cars?

The next few years are going to be very interesting for the classic car market.

 

[super-bee_ski]

Gee,
Good point Bru
I was thinking the same thing

 

[GTX MATT]

"The Market" trends only seem to apply to the highest value cars (over 300K). For the past 8 years I've seen the most ridiculous prices for piles of junk than I've ever seen. Cars that were 50-60K in 07 people are now asking 100K. And cars that were 1000-2500 in 07 people are now asking 5-8K. 45K 383 Road Runners, 25K Road Runner projects, its crazy.

 

[YY1]

Mandatory conversion to coal burning?

 

[68 HEMI GTS]

I think it'll be the 80's cars. I believe the big wave is over for the 60's muscle cars (excluding the rare ones). Looks like a modern driveline in a 383 roadrunner makes it worth more than if it was restored to stock.

 

[Runner 68]

My bird is priceless to me therefore I could give a rats @ss what the "market" does or says it's worth. Had a guy offer me $30K just yesterday for it and it's all tore apart.
I responded, "which rim do you want?"

 

[Speedbird]

So basically, it's who knows?
Personally, I figure if I'm in it for the money, I'm in it for the wrong reason.
If my meager collection was worth nothing tomorrow, my lifestyle would not be affected.

 

[fwi]

Personally, I don't look at it as an investment market but rather as a hobby, where you buy or build what you can afford and just enjoy it. An investment class car would be something truly rare and a work of art, like a real Dusenberg/Bugatti/ Delaye/Hispano Suiza/even some old Ferraris/etc....
Having said that, what goes on at B-J and Mecum is quite real but beyond comprehension, so what do I know!

 

[GetX'd]

I still think one of the major issues with our classic muscle cars value/s is the declining interest and lack of affordability amongst the younger set. Not only can they not afford them - they also don't have the same interest in them that we do. We're all getting older and it's obvious - in my mind - that's going to be one of the biggest devalue factors for our cars. They want more modern junk for their money - and more affordable junk.

 

[Lionized]

I still think one of the major issues with our classic muscle cars value/s is the declining interest and lack of affordability amongst the younger set. Not only can they not afford them - they also don't have the same interest in them that we do. We're all getting older and it's obvious - in my mind - that's going to be one of the biggest devalue factors for our cars. They want more modern junk for their money - and more affordable junk.

I completely agree with this.
As the Baby Boomers and Gen X'ers age, the muscle car market will decline with them as that's where the interest lays.

 

[fwi]

Maybe it is the "stick with what you know" theory at work here. Most of us grew up with these cars, the younger generations likely have more interest in what they grew up with.
The day will come when B-J's hot sellers will be the rice burners with fart pipes!

 

[Runner 68]

I completely agree with this.
As the Baby Boomers and Gen X'ers age, the muscle car market will decline with them as that's where the interest lays.

It's true. You can trace that back through all generations of cars and people. Look at what a '34 Ford brought 25 years ago compared to today. They're cool but just not the level of interest as there once was. All the old guys have them.

 

[dieseldazzle]

Maybe it is the "stick with what you know" theory at work here. Most of us grew up with these cars, the younger generations likely have more interest in what they grew up with.
The day will come when B-J's hot sellers will be the rice burners with fart pipes!

That's disgusting

 

[Ron H]

I do a lot of car shows and swap meets and what I've seen are BIGGER crowds over the years. Granted there are a lot of white haired folks (who still have hair); but geez younger as well. And who the hell are those people buying up all sorts of old cars at Mecum and BJ??? I think some must be pro buyers - buying cars for their clients here or overseas. The foreign market is what drove prices of muscle cars through the roof some 15-20 years ago. A lot of our American muscle ain't in America anymore. Hard to assess the market or future interest granted. Yet there seems to be a huge market as yet. I'm dumping $30k in my '63 Fury drop top and considering what I've already put into it, may never see the profit. Some will tell you if you're looking for a profit restoing and old ride don't bank on it. But then go buy a new muscle car and see what you can get selling it after depreciation. On the other hand, look to see a glut I suppose as us baby boomers have to sell (or their kids sell ) our cherished old rides while we're in a nursing home or coma!

 

[Nicknet]

I don't believe the interest and values in old American muscle cars is going down anytime soon. I'm a "millennial" born 1980 and in my life time there has been a lot of attention put on classic cars. First the internet, then thousands of after market performance parts and finally hours and hours of reality TV shows.

Here in Northern California I saw the rice rockets come and go. They really didn't last long maybe ten years. I really think most kids that got into rice rockets learned that they don't make good performance cars (I'm being nice). So as these kids get older and earn more there spending there money on classic cars. Plus the smog except laws below 1975 is huge.

Also are patients you older guys had such huge hard ons for these cars we grew up seeing and hearing how bad *** these cars are.

 

[747mopar]

My bird is priceless to me therefore I could give a rats @ss what the "market" does or says it's worth. Had a guy offer me $30K just yesterday for it and it's all tore apart.
I responded, "which rim do you want?"

Exactly, could care less although I'd love to see the market drop dramatically so I can afford more. I buy them to drive them not brag about value.

 

[SteveSS]

In our area (Colorado) kids like trucks. Fancy trucks like a Ford f-150 Platinum down to a piece of crap running on a few cylinders. Everything I read says square bodied Chevys are hot right now.

 

[68 HEMI GTS]

i was born in 78, Its a bit different here in Michigan (at least where I'm at). They don't have all the smog stuff around here so a lot my generation was into the fox bodies and gen 2/3 camaro's. 15-20 years ago the car sceen was awesome. 10 years ago when I built my dart the car scene was still pretty decent. I feel since then it's been dying a slow death. The older guys are getting out of it and I'm not seeing much from the younger guys. The ones that are running around are driving more modern cars. And square body chevys are real hot, their cheap and apparently make good drag cars. There's always a **** load of em at the strip leaving parts all over the place.

 

[Habib]

My bird is priceless to me

So is Mine. It has a Beautiful Partnership with my Right hand.

 

[miller]

Wonder...if he'd sign an 'old car gas' bill???