Future Classic predictions?

crinkleshoes · 2 Dec 2011 at 20:11

mjt said:
Z3 Coupe

Got yourself a caterham yet?

That's a point... Caterhams have got to be "classics" even the new ones.

Suppose it depends on one's classification of a classic... for me it's entirely about the driving experience, i don't care about value as long as i can afford it!

Firestar_3x · 2 Dec 2011 at 21:35

Lopéz said:
Disagree. It's ideal future classic material.

Can't see it myself, that's like saying a bog standard 205 style is a classic just because the 205 GTI is.

Too many bog standard MX5's have been built the base and normal models won't be classics, the rare, desirable and limited production run ones will.

Lopéz · 2 Dec 2011 at 22:17

Firestar_3x said:
Can't see it myself, that's like saying a bog standard 205 style is a classic just because the 205 GTI is.

Too many bog standard MX5's have been built the base and normal models won't be classics, the rare, desirable and limited production run ones will.

It isn't at all. The Peugeot 205 is a small hatchback. The 205 GTI is a hot hatch - whereas all MX-5's are 2 seat convertible sports cars, even the lowest of 1.6 examples. Your comparison is off the mark.

If we can generally use similar vehicles from the past as reliable indicators of future classics, I present the MG Midget, MGB, Triumph Spitfire, Sunbeam Alpine as evidence the MX-5 will be considered a classic in the future regardless of specific model.

Firestar_3x · 2 Dec 2011 at 22:21

The base 1.6 90bhp MX5 isn't a patch on the 1.8 138hp, the void is almost as large as that of a 1.1 or 1.4 205 to a 1.6 or 1.9 205.

All those cars listed above got produced during a period when the UK still made iconic sports cars, it's a heritage thing, the MX5 is a Japanese tin box in comparison, also the production volumes of the MX5 are huge.

Lopéz · 2 Dec 2011 at 22:22

I disagree with you. I can live with that.

Pigeon · 2 Dec 2011 at 23:41

Cars have changed though, the 60's sports cars were the eras cool cas a rightly became sought after classics! The 90's sports cars less so however good and however well the MX-5 and MGF sold.

Up until the recent times the hot hatches have been the cool cars so I think the Saxo VTR/S, Clio 172 etc will be proper classics in a few years.

I think the hot hatches are on the down now because in recent years they have been right over the top recently! I think we are seeing a change back to more smaller fun cool cars with stuff like the Fiat 500, Mini, DS3, iQ etc.

Scania · 2 Dec 2011 at 23:44

Jay794 said:
Cars today don't last long enough to become classics, there's a reason that the E-Type is still worth a ton, where as, even a decent 205GTi can be bought for less than £1000

I'd love to see an e-type Jag that's done 270k+ over 15odd years as my current "today car" has done - with ease......

Lopéz · 2 Dec 2011 at 23:55

Pigeon said:
Cars have changed though, the 60's sports cars were the eras cool cas a rightly became sought after classics! The 90's sports cars less so however good and however well the MX-5 and MGF sold.

Up until the recent times the hot hatches have been the cool cars so I think the Saxo VTR/S, Clio 172 etc will be proper classics in a few years.

I think the hot hatches are on the down now because in recent years they have been right over the top recently! I think we are seeing a change back to more smaller fun cool cars with stuff like the Fiat 500, Mini, DS3, iQ etc.

In the 70's people thought Anglias and Minors were sheds. In the early 80s they thought the same about 60's British sports cars.

PiKe · 3 Dec 2011 at 00:06

s2000 definitely.

breadturbo · 3 Dec 2011 at 01:14

cherry turbo! and the Z31 300zx

Matblack · 3 Dec 2011 at 08:50

Classic CRX, like this one

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18347955

Well not quite like that one

MB

Jay794 · 4 Dec 2011 at 19:52

R420LA6X2/4MNA said:
I'd love to see an e-type Jag that's done 270k+ over 15odd years as my current "today car" has done - with ease......

When I say don't last, I don't just mean milage, I mean they get crashed into and written off or you sell them, my 2002 plate has done just over 100,000 but I doubt I'll still have it in another 100,000 miles. I will either sell it or crash it (not intentionally of course)

[TW]Fox · 4 Dec 2011 at 20:09

Jay794 said:
When I say don't last, I don't just mean milage, I mean they get crashed into and written off or you sell them,

So you are saying modern cars will never become classics because people will crash them or sell them :confused:

v0n · 4 Dec 2011 at 22:44

[TW]Fox;20695526 said:
The guy above who said everything will be is right. Everything will, one day, be a classic if there are any left.

A 1958 anything is not a banger, its a classic.

It doesn't quite work like that. An old and just old car will maybe become classic in rarity sense, but not desirable classic in collectible sense. The mechanics of classic car market, especially in UK, are quite odd, and one of the most surprising things is how little it cares and values performance or engineering. As an example - in Britain there are far more people collecting, restoring and exchanging at very serious money countless examples of very often badly designed, poorly put together cars with uninspiring performance as long as they have some sort of nostalgic value. Triumph, Morris, Sunbeam or MG cars attract more collectors than, for example, BMW or Audi cars from the same period, quirky French rustbuckets more often than not are more desirable and demand higher prices than well equipped japanese coupes of the same age which are heavens better at just about everything under the sun.

Out of the cars we all witnessed first hand, I'm willing to bet Citroen Xantia will be a classic in collectable terms much faster than E39. Your E39 might be desirable because of the trim but in general E39 will most likely end up like E29/E30, admired by ex owners, but sold at just a tad over parts value.

The eighties "boxy" cars, in general, might create the first "do not want" black hole in classic market, similar to architecture or furniture of the same period. You can sort of see how mk1 Prelude, Skyline 240k or Celica RA40 is a decade away from being a classic in proper sense of the word:

And yet it would be hard to accept Celica RA60 would ever become a classic

I think most of that era will just never become collectable. Especially bottom shelf - the Pandas, Bluebirds, Novas, Ladas, Polonez etc. And there is such thing as "do not want" in classic market - as an example - almost everything from 1960ies and 1970ies is considered classic and desirable at the moment, but not Fiats - after 500 and 600 there is a massive "dot not want" hole - the 1xx series - 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, etc etc - about 20 years of pure not wantness. no one wants. no one cares.

Dogbreath · 5 Dec 2011 at 09:20

v0n said:
And there is such thing as "do not want" in classic market - as an example - almost everything from 1960ies and 1970ies is considered classic and desirable at the moment, but not Fiats - after 500 and 600 there is a massive "dot not want" hole - the 1xx series - 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, etc etc - about 20 years of pure not wantness. no one wants. no one cares.

Fiat 126 is already pretty well established as a classic, and there are quite a few 127's and 128's etc. though dwarfed by the typical MGs, and Triumphs etc.

I'm pretty sure the Coupe is going to be a proper classic at some stage.

Not sure about the luxo barges that some have mentioned though, too complex to repair/restore for most people.

mikeh501 · 5 Dec 2011 at 10:24

Current Range Rover L322. Definate future classic.

andyp · 5 Dec 2011 at 21:35

Strange this thread should appear.

Myself and a friend were discussing the potential of the ST220 to become a future classic just the other day.

His argument for it was that he thinks the ST220 is the closest thing Ford ever came to a spiritual successor to the Sapphire Cosworth. Also the relative rarity of the car and the fact that a lot of them are falling into the hands of meticulous enthusiasts and are being wrapped in cotton wool.

My argument against was that the ST24 and ST200 did nothing really for the MK2 Mondeo, and also it may be hard for just 'A Mondeo' to gain that kind of classic cult status.

Whaddya think?

SoliD · 5 Dec 2011 at 21:42

andyp said:
Strange this thread should appear.

Myself and a friend were discussing the potential of the ST220 to become a future classic just the other day.

His argument for it was that he thinks the ST220 is the closest thing Ford ever came to a spiritual successor to the Sapphire Cosworth. Also the relative rarity of the car and the fact that a lot of them are falling into the hands of meticulous enthusiasts and are being wrapped in cotton wool.

My argument against was that the ST24 and ST200 did nothing really for the MK2 Mondeo, and also it may be hard for just 'A Mondeo' to gain that kind of classic cult status.

Whaddya think?

I hope they don't otherwise I will be very annoyed after selling mine!

Wizardskills · 5 Dec 2011 at 22:36

andyp said:
Strange this thread should appear.

Myself and a friend were discussing the potential of the ST220 to become a future classic just the other day.

His argument for it was that he thinks the ST220 is the closest thing Ford ever came to a spiritual successor to the Sapphire Cosworth. Also the relative rarity of the car and the fact that a lot of them are falling into the hands of meticulous enthusiasts and are being wrapped in cotton wool.

My argument against was that the ST24 and ST200 did nothing really for the MK2 Mondeo, and also it may be hard for just 'A Mondeo' to gain that kind of classic cult status.

Whaddya think?

They undoubtedly will do as fast Fords have quite a following.

Jonny69 · 6 Dec 2011 at 13:30

Muffin` said:
[about the Ka] With a 1.25 swap?

I'm pretty sure it can't be too hard to switch it to a Zetec. Bit of a bump in the bonnet needed...

Future Classic predictions?

Man of Honour