Car guys know how sought after old mustangs, cudas, camaros etc are.

My question to you guys is do you think that there are any modern cars, <15 years old that will be sought after in the future to restore. I'm not talking about real expensive. Think <$50k.

I honestly can't think of any.

 

I've thought about this before. Of coarse they wont be anything like our past generation cars. Just because those cars introduced horsepower to the scene and were American icons. Car production these days have changed so much. I'm sure the mustangs and other cars will continue to be built. As the prices of new cars go up and the cost of building an older car goes down. I can see it now.. year 2040.... I'll be an old man showing my grand kids what I have under the tarp in the back of the old barn... a 2005 kenne bell cobra.

 

7th generation Impala SS and the Mercury Marauder revival.

 

I think the biggest problem with modern cars is all of the computer technology will become obsolete, so restoring them will be much more difficult. The old cars are all mechanical so they last until the part wears out, electronics don't last as long.

My picks Mercury Marauder, Pontiac Grand Prix/Chevy Monte Carlo, Dodge Charger, Dodge Challenger, of course the Cameros and Mustangs, Ford T-bird (only because it was a short model run and I can see people seriously modifying them.

 

Hard to tell, when I was in HS, a late 60s Camaro was not that big of a deal to own.
A Yenko was, but how limited was the production on them, with a $ 5K + price when new, they were made as a collector car right out of the gate.
5K in 1967 ( by rules of 7 ) would be like purchasing a new car today that costs $ 80K, so this example is already outside the range you set with < $ 50K.

'72 Dodge Daytona was not common, but previous MY chargers were common.

Went to school with a kid that had '65 Chevelle, it was a cool car, but he drove it every day, rain shine or snow with salt on the road, it was his only car not a collector item.

Nobody wanted these gas guzzlers when the oil embargo hit in the 70s, so they were laying around for a while.
People purchased Datsun B210s.
For those not old enough to recall, this is what Nissan used to be called back in the day in the US.

If the tree huggers keep getting their way, in 2030 owning a Viper or Vet is going to be a costly process.
Tags for this car could have a environmental tax on them that is going to be very expensive.
Look at how easy it was for the luxury tax to be passed.
Think the Ozone ver 2.0 argument would not be able to push a carbon tax on cars like this in the future that could cost $ 5,000.00 to plate the car ?
This is pure speculation and conjecture, but could have an impact on collecting mussel cars.
Think about how much those buying a 1970 Plymouth Superbird are going to be crying if this happens.

Any car costing < $ 50K is a mass produced car, and dwarfs the production numbers for a standard 1969 Camaro, so there are 10x+ of them made. A lot of them need to be trashed to dry up the supply on them, which could take decades longer.

Add to this, the only cars that would be worth collecting are going to be 70K + ( look at the cost of a high end 'vet these days ).

 

I can really see someone restoring a prius in 40 years. haha

 

Cars are disposable anymore, less personality and the majority of people don't care anymore anyways. Proof is the amount of Camry's and Civics you see. I don't see the collectibility being duplicated just because. Older generations tell of the car being a big deal, meant freedom, status, responsibility etc, and the car makers thrived on the biggest one, that of individuality. Now it's taken for granted and you're lucky if you get more than 2 interior colors and paint is more than 3 of 9 colors being shades of silver!!! That kind of status quo does not spell collectible. Rant complete!

 

If they came with a stick I'd probably buy one...........

 

Theoretically the batteries should be less than $ 10K by then...

 

yea Impalla SS and Marauders are good choices.

Id say
Ford: Harley/Lightnings, cobras/Mach1s/Buillts
Chevy: 454 SS silverado, newer SS silverado, TBSS, any of the anniv Fbody cars
Dodge: maybe Challenger, maybe Daytona Rams

 

I can think of some others, if you are willing to go back more than 15 years.

1st generation Toyota MR2
Datsun/Nissan 240Z/260Z/280Z
Mazda RX-7
Buick GN/GNX
GMC Syclone/Typhoon
1st generation Taurus SHO

 

Mini Cooper and Honda S2000.

Fun to drive, modest production and high enough initial price to limit the sales.

Some people who want them but can't afford them now will be rich in 20 years, and willing to pay big.

 

Not sure if the market would ever be that big, but the '89 - '96 Thunderbird Super Coupe might get some collector interest if it is super clean.

'96 would be just under the OP's 15 year timeframe, and that was the last year of that body style before Ford went back to the two seater T'Bird.

Ford was not making the best quality cars during that period, but it could be had with a 5 speed. Supercharged, big exterior, small interior, heavy, low to the ground, not great mpg around town, but probabaly OK on the highway.

Most of them were driven hard and have fallen apart by now, so an immaculate one will be pretty rare in the future.

 

I actually agree with most of you. This actually probably will become obsolete in 20 years and parts will be hard to come by. Yeah $50k might be a little on the low side.

be keeping my eyes open today and i think i thought of a couple. 4th gen F bodies and the chrysler 300.

 

I think the years will be very kind to Ford's "retrobirds" from the 2002-2005 model years. Very unique car, low production numbers, decent V8 power, etc.

I've seriously considered picking up a nice low-mileage example and think it would fit-in nicely with my F-150 and Mustang and complete my collection of desirable FoMoCo vehicles from this era.....