The Great Wealth Transfer Includes $570 Billion in Classic Cars

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caterham09@reddit

Unlike homes, I think a lot of these are actually going to be inherited by the Genx and millennial generation. Tons of 60s and 70s era muscle cars in boomer garages

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And the kids who don’t care/know about cars are going to sell them. We’re already seeing a price drop in classic muscle cars and that is only going to steepen. I can’t wait to be able to buy an El Camino lol

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Curly4Jefferson@reddit

In the 60s/70s British car world, I worry more about parts and such if interest in the cars fall off a cliff. Theoretically decent TR6s for $8k or whatever sounds like great fun for young enthusiasts, but idk if they will want a 60 year old smelly underpowered car with electrical issues lol

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drivingdotca@reddit

In North America, based on data I've got from talking with Hagerty experts, old British sports cars (and European roadsters more generally) are presently just about the least interesting thing to Millennials and Gen Z enthusiasts.

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Jimbenas@reddit

The British roadsters are proper junk and the only ones for sale in my area have weird issues with owners begging to sell them for $3000. The Z4 is also just not competing with the S2k or Miata either. As a Gen Z enthusiast I can confirm I hate convertibles and most people I know don't like them either. The only convertible owners I know are all Milennials and old heads.

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Curly4Jefferson@reddit

Yeah I got the British car market report from Hagerty the other week and it's pretty bleak... Funny since Miatas and S2K and 350Z are basically modern analogues to the entry level British classics and also can make lots of fun pops and burbles like the JDM darlings, but the image is likely too stuffy and dealing with carburetors and such too much of a hurdle

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Sir_Tmotts_III@reddit

As a millennial trying to whip a 70's Alfa Romeo into shape, I think the cars will do fine long term as far as a supportive community is concerned. Classic sports cars offer so much to young enthusiasts right now because they're still easy to work on, still they're light and fun to drive in a way a car legally can't be built like anymore, and the only thing stopping you g people from indulging is that they have more important things to spend their money on like housing and food. When affordability gets under control, we'll see a return to the appreciation of classics.

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Magnus_The_Totem_Cat@reddit

The valuation curve reaches an equilibrium after the nostalgia buyers die off.

For a long time cars like Tri-Five Chevys and big Healeys were unapproachable but they have dropped noticeably over the last few years.

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GaviFromThePod@reddit

So many classic muscle cars had their engines replaced throughout the years, and a lot of them were LS swapped. I'm wondering if the daily drivability of something like an LS is going to make something hold value, or if the "true" enthusiast thing is going to be to have a carburetor. I think a lot of young people can't have a special car because they don't have room for it, so having a special car that you could drive consistently if you wanted would be the thing that makes it valuable.

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Foolgazi@reddit

A well-done restomod brings 2-3x the price of a well-done resto or old-school rectification. Personally I think it’s pretty clear people prefer modern tech in an old package of money is no object.

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HeavyDutyForks@reddit

A well done restomod also costs 2-3x the price of a restoration

The more people that hack up these old cars, the more scarce unmolested versions will be

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Foolgazi@reddit

That’s an interesting point, I guess it’s possible in 20 years the very few unmolested old cars left might be worth more than now in a relative basis because they’ll be unicorns.

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bushmonster43@reddit

my nissan is worth more right now as a bare shell on jackstands than it was as a running car in 2018 when I got it. We are well into that stage for some things

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iroll20s@reddit

True, but those will go in a helium filled vault. Restomods are designed for people who want to to use them as cars, not museum pieces.

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HeavyDutyForks@reddit

Some ultra-rare 1 of 200 made numbers matching meticulously restored muscle car? Sure

But there's many different levels of restoration. Not every one is a fine point show car. Plenty of weekend warrior or summer daily drivers out there. Not perfect, not numbers matching, but still mostly original

I pretty much split my daily driver duties between my '30 Ford and 50s Willys all summer long as long as the weather cooperates. I've gone months without driving a modern vehicle several times

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iroll20s@reddit

I don't know that restoration 'drivers' will ever be more valuable unless its pretty rare/significant to start. Like a real shelby cobra where just the VIN alone is worth a ton. Even then it'll be like a numbers matching car in rough shape is what they'll look for because the result will be worth restoring. Collector car prices are so exponential on the high end. High mileage, non matching cars just aren't going to be high premium cars.

Though I do have to wonder about aging restromods. They're going to be out of date again eventually and its not like originality is bumping their prices. I wouldn't particularly want to own a restromod done with 1980's tech today. Heck even 90's computers are pretty sketchy comparatively.

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Magnus_The_Totem_Cat@reddit

Huh? Carbs are very easy to work on. It’s not dark eldritch magic. And time will tell how much new tech folks want in older cars. There was definitely a moment when screens were cool and seeing them in a classic had a certain panache but now that screens are ubiquitous in life I can see the future for restoring being more focused on an analog experience than an iPad in an old case.

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Foolgazi@reddit

DIY’ers like us can work on carbs. A lot of people relatively new to the hobby have no intention of working on their cars themselves, so they take their classic to a local mechanic, who may or may not have any clue how to work on a carb. Younger mechanics have never been trained on carbs, and if they know how to work on them, it’s from personal experience. I see this all the time on the forums/FB groups.

By tech I was referring to drivetrain (fuel injection/engine management), not infotainment.

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franksandbeans911@reddit

There are a few pieces of modern tech I see most restomods going for. One is all-disc brakes, two is some form of air conditioning better than pivoting the little side window thing, three is some form of electronic fuel injection.

I have no problem with well-done LS swaps because they add a lot of modernity that makes living with a classic car a good life. Especially serviceability, like you were saying, carb dudes are not the average tech anymore since they pretty much got killed off but alot of bikes and low hp engines still use them.

Oh and better lighting is an easy mod for most since they have the classic roundeye shells retrofitted with HID lenses and bulbs. Old lighting was terrible, you will outrun some 60's halogens at 30mph.

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velociraptorfarmer@reddit

Pretty much summed up my truck. Aftermarket air, power brakes with discs up front, one of those retrosound radios so I can pair my phone for tunes, and a set of headlights since the originals were atrocious.

Still running the original carbed 327 and turbo 350 combo, but those are easy to work on and get parts for still.

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velociraptorfarmer@reddit

I figured out how to get a smallblock with a carb to idle properly back when I had a boat. 10 minute youtube video showed me what to adjust as a baseline, then what to listen for. Cheapo tach gauge and the muffs in the driveway got it 95% there, then one more tiny adjustment on the water and it ran great after that.

They're certainly more finnicky to get to start, but once they're running and you use them regularly, they're fine.

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Magnus_The_Totem_Cat@reddit

I hear what you are saying but how many 60+ year old cars are being taken to the corner shop and being turned away? Is this an actual problem? There are shops that specialize in the old ways and I suspect folks that are into owning and driving, but not working on old cars, are probably aware they need to find a specialist.

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Foolgazi@reddit

It’s surprising how many people buy old cars not realizing they’ll need a specialist. This seems to have become more common during the pandemic when everyone became an enthusiast all of a sudden.

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FesteringNeonDistrac@reddit

You see plenty of people buying keitrucks and asking where to get them worked on. My dude, you bought a vehicle most people have never seen or heard of, roll up your sleeves, you're on your own

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jokerzwild00@reddit

I actually don't mind screens at all in newer cars, as long as they're responsive and the UI isn't horrible. In classic cars though, like half the fun is playing around with all of the switches, buttons and dials. Some of those old land yachts had dashboards that look like they belong in a century series fighter jet. Getting all of that stuff functional again on a well done restoration is a major undertaking because it's usually very obtuse with the old school electrics and vacuum actuated stuff.

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Magnus_The_Totem_Cat@reddit

I don’t mind well done either. However there are a lot of new cars that are definitely not well done at the moment.

You talk about getting things functional again and yeah, restoring a ‘63 Comet from a rotten shell to OEM condition is a huge undertaking and it makes sense to go modern. However, it’s also a small sliver of cars old cars.

Restoring is done as an act of love or at the request of a client with incredibly deep pockets. Which is why a lot of restoration work is done as restomods. Almost noone wants to spend $100k on building an OEM car worth $30k.

However if you have a decent running ‘63 Comet, maintenance is a much smaller ask and I think at this point the rolling stock of 60+ year old cars is close to complete and most are OEM, not full restomods.

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GaviFromThePod@reddit

The difference in fuel efficiency as well as winter/summer weather differences definitely would make me think twice about daily driving a muscle car with a carb.

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Magnus_The_Totem_Cat@reddit

Winter/Summer? What’s that? I drove carbureted cars for the first 8 years of my driving career in a location with hot humid summers and cold snowy winters and never once touched the carbs to accommodate seasonal weather conditions.

But I am not trying to talk you into carbs. There are a thousand reasons to prefer EFI.

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beamdriver@reddit

One of my clients is a carburetor rebuild shop and they are crazy busy almost all the time.

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GaviFromThePod@reddit

I've DREAMED of owning an El Camino because I think it's such a cool looking car and also for me it would actually be a very practical vehicle. I would love to have a coupe with a truck bed. Doing a full motor/trans Gen 4 LS 4.8 or 5.3 swap and leaving all of the active fuel management in place and an updated interior would actually be a vehicle that I could use every day if I wanted to.

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Different_Height_157@reddit

I think we’ll see more restomods in the future.

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tekniklee@reddit

Feel like eventually the kids will have an affordable EV swap crate motors and I think it will really take off to have something retro that doesn’t chug gas

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Users5252@reddit

I hope that someone would develop of gas turbine hybrid swap, would be so much fun to drive something with a drivetrain like that

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Wheelisbroke@reddit

Agreed, people like the look, but most do not drive or stop well. Carburetor’s went the way of the dinosaur. Because of all of this, I think 90’s cars & their reliability will continue to climb.

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HeavyDutyForks@reddit

With everything in spec and properly adjusted those old cars run great

As far as stopping it's the same thing. Woth everything properly adjusted and in spec depending on year/make/model they should stop adequately up to good

They aren't "unreliable" they just require more maintenance than a modern car

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deja-roo@reddit

They aren't "unreliable" they just require more maintenance than a modern car

Isn't that kind of like saying "it's not small it's just not as a big as..."

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aceogorion1@reddit

Drum brakes are hard to keep in spec, and once out of spec (and most low kpi high scrub radius geometries of the era) they are going to pull to one side or another. Any thing with basic front discs rear drum combo though, no problem.

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HeavyDutyForks@reddit

Drum brakes are hard to keep in spec

The only time I've ever had issues with drum brakes is when they were allowed to wear wonky because they were never initially adjusted properly. If you set them up properly to begin with a brake resetting gauge, they'll be fine. They've been self adjusting on most vehicles since the early 60s or earlier

A vehicle pulling to one side or the other is an issue that can (and needs) to be solved regardless of age

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aceogorion1@reddit

Front drums? I've never gotten away with it. Went through a few sets in my mustang, then switched to discs up front. The self adjusting is what always seemed to do them in, they'd be fine for the first little bit, but any reversing with a turned wheel would put them out, then you're back in the fight.

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HeavyDutyForks@reddit

I guess it doesn't matter now, but did you replace all the self adjusting hardware and make sure the left/right adjusters were on the proper side? The cam adjusters tightened fully after getting them properly set?

I've never had an issue after properly putting everything together. I have caused issues or tried to get away with re-using parts, but never had any problems that weren't easy remedies

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franksandbeans911@reddit

Back in the mid 90's, I had a combo car with rear drums, maybe an 81 Celica. Girlfriend's dad helped me reset the auto-adjusting rear drums after a pad change. He threw it in reverse, hammered the throttle then smashed the brakes. You could feel the brakes getting more aggressive in the back as we came to a stop.

My real dad was out of state at the time, talked to him about it later, and he chuckled. "You didn't know how to do that? At least another man did" was his way of saying, my girlfriend's dad knew what he was doing.

And it was fun.

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GaviFromThePod@reddit

I think of Carbureted cars like film photography. It is absolutely still a thing for a certain type of enthusiast or hobbyist, but it is not the thing we are going to do every day. Maybe with these cars getting passed down there will be an emphasis on swapping back in carbed engines or putting carbs on the LS motors that had been swapped in. It definitely is a different experience to drive a carbed car.

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Different_Height_157@reddit

Yea additionally, you have less parts so people will have to make do with what exists (maybe more 3d printing). Also it’s a big leap to modern luxuries compared to 70s to 90s

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parker2020@reddit

That or like OEM+ mods

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GaviFromThePod@reddit

I want an El Camino with a full denim interior. Denim seats. Denim headliner. Denim dash.

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irishpwr46@reddit

El Canadino?

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IsTheShibaInU@reddit

No no, the EL Jayleno

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franksandbeans911@reddit

Only if there's a flannel steering wheel and the license plate uses the word Bud somewhere, then it's official.

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GaviFromThePod@reddit

I just found out I am eligible for canadian citizenship if I can find documentation of my great great grandmother's birth there so maybe lol

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Alieges@reddit

I dig it. Denim dust flaps?

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seamus_mc@reddit

You leave his old lady out of it.

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parker2020@reddit

Those small block chevy’s with power glide trans were and are still butter. It’s the brakes and suspensions that need upgrading.

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irishpwr46@reddit

4 wheel drum brakes and leaf springs aren't cutting it with a 450 hp 3 ton steel land yacht for you?

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franksandbeans911@reddit

Yeah back then stuff looked heavy but even the frame was thin, these things were soft and flexible. Cars now are heavier than ever with all the safety gear. All wheel drums always did suck, and thankfully if you have front discs with rear drums you'll already have some of the plumbing to convert the rears to discs...but no ABS, that'll be pedal skill when the time comes.

The main reason, beyond gearing, that muscle cars had muscle that seems average today, is power to weight ratio. A 320hp Volvo T6 now sounds impressive until you see the curb weight and calculate p/w ratio. But 320hp in an ancient pony car weighing a hair over 3200lbs is actually exciting, and the thing will scoot. But it'll also flex hard during scooting, strut tower bracing is actually necessary on those old cars, not like 90's Integras.

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SirLoremIpsum@reddit

The main reason, beyond gearing, that muscle cars had muscle that seems average today, is power to weight ratio. A 320hp Volvo T6 now sounds impressive until you see the curb weight and calculate p/w ratio.

Power to weight ratio kicks ass these days.

Power has gone up quicker than weight did.

A 2025 M3/M4 has significant power to weight ratio over an E30 M3.

Even a Corvette - C1 doing 250hp / 2800lbs is annihilated by the newer C7 455hp / 3400lbs

So a reasonable estimate is:

That’s roughly 30–40% lighter than many modern commuter vehicles

Cool. Weight has gone up 30-40% over time. But power compared to 60/70s has often doubled.

Power to weight for newer cars is often far better than older cars despite the increase in weight.

Additionally modern engines have far more "under the curve" power and have max power from Lower rpm

Older feels faster xusse you're lower and there's no insulating or thick panels. Not from power to weight.

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franksandbeans911@reddit

Your last sentence suggests it's a psychological phenomena, but it's as easy to see as your average pony car lighting up the tires in 1st gear vs. nearly all modern cars, manual of course, not doing it with more power and a better power to weight ratio (and rwd also, yeah thinning the herd for an apples to semi-apples comparison).

That's where gearing comes in and it's a torque war to break those Hoosier's loose, much easier in a light car also.

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parker2020@reddit

Your average commuter care are still 3500… what a hypocritical statement.

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franksandbeans911@reddit

Not hypocritical, but maybe uninformed on the numbers. I asked a robot that could spel gud.

"So a reasonable estimate is:

That’s roughly 30–40% lighter than many modern commuter vehicles."

Now what.

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Temporary_Shirt_6236@reddit

3 tons? Bullshit. I had a 1970 challenger 340. Barely 3,500 lbs.

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BlokeInTheMountains@reddit

I have an LS swapped 64 Comet Caliente.

It had a ~2700 lb curb weight. The LS may have lightened that.

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ButtGho4st@reddit

For everyone's reference, this is about how much the "agile and nimble" E46 M3 weighs.

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velociraptorfarmer@reddit

My 67 C10 has double wishbone front suspension, front disk brakes, and coil springs on all 4 corners, while weighing 3700lbs.

It's practically a sports car! /s

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parker2020@reddit

992.2 Carrera T is 3300 and people say it’s so big and sluggish 🙄

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BearDick@reddit

3300lbs on my 340 Cuda...

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Temporary_Shirt_6236@reddit

Not with my fat ass in the drivers seat

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parker2020@reddit

I would like to slop today… yes lol

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kinkycarbon@reddit

And steering rack. My dad has the El Camino, but I do wish the steering has less free play.

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Bud_Light@reddit

You need this and a few hours and you'll wishing you did it earlier: https://www.borgeson.com/Borgeson-Street-and-Performance-Series-12.7-1-Ratio.html?srsltid=AfmBOorzHodb2hBeY4G3p60Z9Ygql97Z2XnmpzG8bZLkHMvd9LTYaGpN

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Garth_DeWayne@reddit

Super easy fix.

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nondescriptzombie@reddit

Rebuild the gearbox. Put in one out of a Camaro, especially an IROC or Trans Am WS6 box.

You can't order these things, the Chinese have fucked that up. You need to go find one in a yard and make sure it's original.

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Equivalent-Battle973@reddit

My dad has a 67 Pontiac GTO, it drives soo damn well, but yes the suspesion needs a bit of an upgrade, but the brakes he changed form all around drum to Disk to it makes a huge difference in stopping.

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747WakeTurbulance@reddit

Anything that isn’t authentic will only be worth a small fraction of what a matching numbers car is worth.

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taticalgoose@reddit

Personally I'd rather have a fuel injected LS that makes more power and torque than whatever the car came with vs something objectively worse because it's "original".

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GaviFromThePod@reddit

The thing about the LS is the reliability and usability at good power numbers.

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remuliini@reddit

I would think it will be comparable to horse carriages in the long run, when the active generations have no emotional connection to 50s or 60s.

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Foolgazi@reddit

That already happened with prewar cars, and we’re well into that phase for ‘50s cars. I think it’s inevitable.

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dangerz@reddit

I’ve still got the original small block 350 in my 71. It doesn’t make monster power or get decent gas mileage like an LS motor, but it’s definitely drivable for cruising.

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GaviFromThePod@reddit

See for me, what I think I would want would just be an LS 4.8 or 5.3 making like 275-300 horsepower with all of the active fuel management left intact.

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Krispythecat@reddit

Daily driving an old car is a pain in the ass, you have to really enjoy cars to deal with the headaches.

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vampyrelestat@reddit

Model A’s and such were considered gold for a while and now there’s tons sitting on Marketplace reasonably priced with no buyers

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Shallow_wanderer@reddit

Considering that starting one is akin to starting an airplane, and the people who knew all about those things are mostly dead or in nursing homes, I have a feeling that the earliest cars from back when they were a cantankerous doohickey are just gonna continue crashing in value

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GodsFavoriteDegen@reddit

My boomer dad restored and drove at least two dozen big Healeys. When I got to the point in my life that I could buy a weekend convertible, they were on my short list. He strongly discouraged me from buying one, though. "They're nowhere near as comfortable as a modern car, they'll require very regular tweaking to keep running well, and you'll constantly be forced into conversations with nostalgic strangers."

Around that same time, I picked up an immaculately restored '69 Triumph T120R. What I found was that it was nowhere near as comfortable as a modern bike, it required very regular tweaking to keep running well, and I was constantly forced into conversations with nostalgic strangers. I barely rode the thing after a few months, and rode my Japanese bikes instead. I ended up selling it after a couple of years.

I did not buy a Healey. I have a lot of discretionary income, plenty of free time, a garage full of tools that I know how to use, and a subject matter expert 20 minutes from my house. I am the prime market for a car like that, but I'm not going anywhere near one.

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nlpnt@reddit

There's a reason why Miata is always the answer.

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GodsFavoriteDegen@reddit

I thought the reason is "I couldn't afford a Boxster."

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Shallow_wanderer@reddit

As a tall person, Miata is damn sure not the answer considering the Boxster, Z3/Z4, and even the SLK are the only small verts that I can fit into

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el_ostricho@reddit

Yeah except now the nostalgic stranger is more likely to force you into a conversation for the Miata they have said nostalgia for.

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Magnus_The_Totem_Cat@reddit

Perfect example.

I would love a big Healey. I also drove a manual in Bay Area commute traffic. So I am a weirdo and there simply aren’t enough of people like me out there to maintain the prices are cars that difficult to live with.

However, long term, it will be interesting to watch how the EV conversion market develops. A car like a big Healey with an EV motor instantly becomes much less in need of tweaking.

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GodsFavoriteDegen@reddit

A car like a big Healey with an EV motor instantly becomes much less in need of tweaking.

That probably depends on whether or not Lucas handles the EV conversion.

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beermaker@reddit

The Four-Pint lunch strikes again...

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Magnus_The_Totem_Cat@reddit

You aren’t wrong! 😆

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Lighthouse_seek@reddit

The equilibrium is going to be much lower than classic car enthusiastics think

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cyrusthewirus@reddit

Hot rod prices have fallen of a cliff, the curve just passed them.

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Elvis1404@reddit

I don't know how it is in the US, but in Europe everything made from the late 60s onwards (even the worst cars ever made) is shooting up in price, because EVERYONE (even very young people) loves it, because it's "vintage" and it's not that different from a modern car (compared to cars from the 30s-50s, with drum brakes, bias-ply tires and no seatbelt mounts), while brand new cars are all extremely expensive turds (Europe is in it's own malaise era right now)

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gimpwiz@reddit

I was gonna say the Miata. Do they still sell the 1.5 version?

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caterham09@reddit

We went through that craze here in America a while ago. It has plateaued since

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ggtsu_00@reddit

80s-90s era Japanese sports cars will just take their place as appreciating collector cars.

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Rbswappedstock@reddit

As a 240sx owner. They're already starting to, the 300zx is already listed as a classic, there's been quite a few civics and integras selling for insane amounts on BaT and half a shell for a 240sx that's been into a few walls still goes for more than what I paid for mine over a decade ago. It was running with a large top mount turbo, name brand parts and completely rewired.

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GaviFromThePod@reddit

Yeah, because the kids that grew up watching F&F have money now

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joeybalonee@reddit

I'm a gen Xer who's been looking at car ads like Joe Dirt for decades. We're already seeing a huge drop in prices. Sure the top end ones that end up on TV are still bringing top dollar but there's tons of nice older cars available locally at attainable prices now. I'm guessing the interest in these cars is dying as the boomers die. And as others have pointed out the price for model T/A's has really dropped, always tempting when I see a nice clean example for like $5000

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GaviFromThePod@reddit

What I want is to LS swap an El Camino, put in denim interior, and install the T-tops from a Monte Carlo.

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Temporary_Shirt_6236@reddit

Let's hope so. $30k today for a rolling shell Mopar? Gtfo with that shit.

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anonymouswan1@reddit

That's because you're looking at popular models like Chargers and Challengers. Find you an old Dart, and you'll spend a fraction of the price. People are getting caught up in specific models which will end you with a money pit.

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Temporary_Shirt_6236@reddit

No, no i won't. I'm seeing Dart shells for $20k. Know why? Because they're cool too.

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anonymouswan1@reddit

https://classics.autotrader.com/classic-cars-for-sale/1970-dodge-dart-for-sale

Here's what looks like complete, drivable cars. I don't know why the fuck anyone would buy a shell, especially for that price. If you're serious about classic, you need to look nationwide and prepare to ship or tow it home.

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Temporary_Shirt_6236@reddit

Bitch I'm in Canada. You know what 37k plus currency conversion plus shipping plus international brokerage plus fucking TARIFFS would end up costing me?

More than that same Dart going for 70k up here,.only with more hassle.

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anonymouswan1@reddit

Oh, well that sucks. America is pretty pro-enthusiast and classic cars so we have an abundance.

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Temporary_Shirt_6236@reddit

Fuck you very much

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anonymouswan1@reddit

I would convert your money to USD, buy car here in USA, trailer it home, and slap a fake license plate on it. If you ever get pulled over, the fine would probably be cheaper than trying to get the title transferred and whatever import bullshit you gotta pay.

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GaviFromThePod@reddit

Mopar is it's own thing though, those are always crazy money.

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Melodic-Temporary113@reddit

I’m still seeing a lot of 60’s era cars with asking or failed auction bids that are surprisingly high. I think they have quite a bit more downside.

Our inflation problems lately have tempered some of this drop (but not actually tempered it in real $) if you just look at the raw numbers and don’t adjust for inflation.

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Seref15@reddit

This isnt the right sub but I'm waiting for post-inheritance 50s/60s electric guitars to hit garage sales across the nation from inheritors that don't know how much theyre worth

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Equivalent-Battle973@reddit

I saw the average price for a Damn Dodge SuperBee was lke 40 to 60K.... IT was crazy seeing at that care used to go for 100k+!

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Main_Hornet8676@reddit

Personally waiting on a Ford Torino Cobra myself

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Averageinternetdoge@reddit

Can't wait to snag a 350 gt lambo for $5000.

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Waesrdtfyg0987@reddit

How is this unlike homes? Those don't evaporate.

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UnsurprisingDebris@reddit

Maybe something about reverse mortgages or maybe the house getting siezed for long term care costs? I'm not entirely sure.

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Waesrdtfyg0987@reddit

So maybe don't respond if you aren't sure?

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LLMprophet@reddit

edit: wtf why are people upvoting a comment where someone admits they don't know what they are talking about?

I'll respond to your question since you admit you don't know what you're talking about:

So maybe don't respond if you aren't sure?

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Waesrdtfyg0987@reddit

I'm sure they don't know what they are talking about because they admitted it.

I can rephrase my edit if you like I know exactly why because all old people are bad and responsible for every problem that younger generations have. Which is dumb as fuck but that's reddit I guess

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LLMprophet@reddit

Just holding up the mirror of hypocrisy and you didn't like your reflection.

Also: people can have discussions on forums including speculation etc.

Unlike that user, you earned your downvotes.

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Waesrdtfyg0987@reddit

Dude. He specifically said he didn't know what he was talking about regarding the subject of the post. You're know asking why I said something in the format of a question, when we both know the answer.

It's not at all hypocrisy, you just didn't like how I responded.

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LLMprophet@reddit

Speculation and discussion are allowed.

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deleted_by_reddit@reddit

[removed]

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AutoModerator@reddit

No rage bait, memes, trolling, copypasta, or low-quality joke posts or comments.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

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Ph1sic@reddit

They dont evaporate, but unless whoever inherits them is in need of liquidity they will not be sold off nearly as much as classic cars or other assets.

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GrumpyOlBastard@reddit

Not as many people willing to/need to sleep in cars

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Geruvah@reddit

The homes are being sold so that the dying owners can afford medical care or hospice. Anecdotally, I've already been seeing this, too.

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Waesrdtfyg0987@reddit

So you're saying they are going to give up their homes before selling a classic car?

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Geruvah@reddit

Me? No. I’m not the OP. I am saying that’s where the houses have been going, though. And anecdotally, both my girlfriends’ extended family sold their house for their at-home care as old as they are now.

They kept their Subarus, though.

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caterham09@reddit

Because homes are very often leveraged as equity for things like end of life care. Cars are not

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Waesrdtfyg0987@reddit

Both are assets, cars would absolutely be sold first before you consider using the house as leverage. There's also ways to move the house to someone else, get your assets low and then use govt programs to support you.

I'm going through that today with a parent. They sit in a nice facility paid for by medicaid.

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aceogorion1@reddit

That home equity is squarely in the hands of the parent. Additionally, a lot of american families wouldn't dream of handing down that kind of asset today, they're already "priced in" for end of life care.

It would be nice if everyone had children that could afford that, but most have realized their children can't attain anywhere near the life they had, and they themselves have only a little left by the time the equity of their home needs to furnish their very expensive elder care.

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Waesrdtfyg0987@reddit

I'm specifically talking about a classic car and the comment that those would be passed down but a house wouldn't. I dunno who would actually start selling off their house before disposing of a car. Particularly at a time when they can't use it anyways.

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tlivingd@reddit

I’m waiting on a few 50’s cars

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hooptyschloopy@reddit

57 Bel Air?

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dropdeadidiot@reddit

Positraction

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macreadyrj@reddit

Metallic mint green.

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tlivingd@reddit

Looking for a Buick sedanette may go olds or Pontiac. They’re coming down in price a bit but still expensive.

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747WakeTurbulance@reddit

They are already dropping in value because the people who wanted them are dying off.

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Syscrush@reddit

Yeah, and unlike homes, nobody left living will give a shit about these cars and the market will collapse.

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Mustang1718@reddit

This will be me. My father already told me he wants me to have his 1969 Mach 1.

While that is the car that got me into cars, I'm not fully sure I want it. I live near Summit Racing and could go full restomod on it, but even so, I only have a single-car garage. That's a lot of money and space commitments.

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dangerz@reddit

Xennial here.. I picked up a 71 Vette last year from a boomer garage who had a whole bunch of classics. If I had more space/money, I’d love to grab a Camaro too. I love the Vette and it’s been a blast to restore, but I want something with 4 seats so I can take both my wife and kid with me vs just one at a time with the Vette.

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Camburglar13@reddit

Well yeah you said it. Space and money. And time. Most millennials, particularly younger ones and Gen Z’s, won’t be able to afford a home. And even if they can, a house with a garage big enough to fit an extra project car on top of the required commuter vehicles. Extremely unlikely and car culture hasn’t died but it’s substantially dropped.

I would LOVE a classic late 60’s or early 70’s car muscle car (there’s a big list) but even with a 2 car garage I don’t have the extra space, time, and money for it. Extra cash goes to renos or maybe a family trip. Would be amazing though

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907Ski@reddit

Most millennials, particularly younger ones and Gen Z’s, won’t be able to afford a home.

A majority of American millennials own their home already. I supposed you could argue that they own homes they can't afford, but the idea that home ownership ended with Gen X is nonsense.

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Camburglar13@reddit

Fair enough. Small homes they may struggle to afford, and likely not enough excess cash flow and garage space to have a classic car.

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caterham09@reddit

30 year old millennial with a house/mortgage. I'm pretty much locked into the house due to interest rates and rising costs. No garage. It's extremely depressing as someone who really loves working on things

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Camburglar13@reddit

Yep I’d love to. I had my WRX for a decade and it was a daily as well as something I could work on here a bit but not the same as having a classic project car

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purplegoldcat@reddit

Millennial here, rescued my 1972 Jaguar after it was sold by an estate. Very driveable even with original engine and carburetors, absolutely within DIY skill to maintain. I’m patiently waiting to find a decent series 1.5 or 2 E-Type shell for a restomod project, and estates are pretty reliable sources for interesting classics.

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recursive_arg@reddit

Hahahahaha nope! These too will be sold to cover end of life care costs. I’ve seen it 3 times already. One of them specifically bought 4 classic corvettes just in case they needed to sell them to cover expenses later in life because they don’t trust banks.

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1wrx2subarus@reddit

Also known as, /r/barnfind

The condition of the vehicle is questionable.

Have fun with that rebuild that dad never got to.

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GrumpyOlBastard@reddit

subreddit banned for not having moderators

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parker2020@reddit

You can see it now with people selling off their 30/40 year old barn cars.

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MarmotFullofWoe@reddit

Sadly the passion for this era dies with the Boomers, just like few people living today can tell you about the greatest cars of the 1940s.

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lsjuanislife@reddit

Nah, I'm going to drive tf out of the '66 Hemi left to me by my late father. Wouldn't be right to sell. I grew up going to car shows with him in it as a kid

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ulikescience@reddit

Maybe but 60s, especially muscle cars, are far more drivable and livable than older generations. They may have more life in them, although not as much.

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wtfduud@reddit

Sure, and cars from the 1940s were also far more drivable and livable than 1910s cars.

Still terrible.

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VRS302@reddit

Difference between a 1940 car and a 1970 car is immense. You could still daily a 1970 mustang.

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velociraptorfarmer@reddit

I take my 67 C10 to work about once a week. 20 miles each way on the interstate at 70mph.

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VRS302@reddit

That sounds amazing. You have a link to a photo? What’s your exhaust setup? I love those old beasts

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velociraptorfarmer@reddit

Link

It's a pretty basic true dual side exit setup. No idea what it has for mufflers. Fairly loud, but sounds good, and not to overbearing on the highway.

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VRS302@reddit

That is siiiiiick dude. Love the paint. Original?

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velociraptorfarmer@reddit

No idea, but I doubt it. There's very little thats left original at this point.

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wtfduud@reddit

And likewise the difference between a 1970 mustang and a 2017 Honda Civic is also immense.

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VRS302@reddit

Not remotely the same scale though, a 1970 car and a 2017 car differ mostly in refinement, safety, efficiency, and tech. A 1940s car to a 1970s car is like a fundamental leap in how cars actually function and survive daily use.

By 1970 you had reliable V8 power, highway cruising at modern speeds, decent automatic transmissions, power steering, power brakes, seat belts, radios that didn’t sound like a toaster, reliable cold starts, and cars designed around the interstate system and cruising for long periods of times.

A typical 1940s car had bias ply tires, vague steering, drum brakes that fade, weak heaters, 6 volt electrical systems, abhorrent crash protection, and struggled to comfortably cruise modern highways.

A ‘70 Mustang still fundamentally feels like a car you can hop in and daily drive with some compromises. A random 1940s sedan feels closer to antique machinery.

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Specialist-Size9368@reddit

A 1970's car is not going to run as long or as reliably as a modern car. It will require more maintenance and more often. By 100k it will be clapped out.

It can be rebuilt. It isn't incredibly complicated and in many ways would be easier to maintain than a modern car due to software locking out diy mechanics. It is just not a reliable daily driver. It also will not hold up to snow so unless you are in say the bay area, it won't last more than a few years anyways.

If you want to get to reliability. you are talking 90s, but 90s cars are getting old enough to where the electronics are an issue. 30+ year old capacitors are going to fail and unless its a speciality car not many places are going to offer turn key rebuild services.

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wtfduud@reddit

A 1940s car to a 1970s car is like a fundamental leap in how cars actually function and survive daily use.

And likewise, Electric Vehicles and Hybrids also represent a paradigm shift.

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VRS302@reddit

Did you delete your first reply?

I don’t really WANT to talk EVs but sure. What specifically?

A 1970 Mustang and a new Tesla or Prius are massively different technologically, but they’re still built around the same general idea of what a car is supposed to do. Daily driving, interstate cruising, modern traffic speeds, (relatively for the mustang) decent comfort, (also relative for the Mustang) reliable starts, modern roads, modern fueling/charging infrastructure, etc.

A 1940s car compared to either one is a way bigger jump.

You’re talking weak brakes, shit ply tires, underpowered electrical systems, zero real crash protection, worse highway capability, and the cars were designed before the interstate system even existed.

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wtfduud@reddit

Yeah I thought my first reply sounded too aggressive/sarcastic, and I didn't want to turn the conversation sour.

But the way I see it, cars are a continuously developing technology, and if you compare a newer car to an older car, the newer car is generally better. I don't think 1970s cars are unique in this respect, and I think OP is correct that their main value comes from nostalgia.

As for EVs, the whole dynamic of plugging in the car into the garage, never needing to go to a gas-station unless you're doing a long road-trip, plotting routes based on supercharger locations, making basically no noise, etc. is a huge shift from how people have used previous cars.

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VRS302@reddit

Yeah those are some good points. I just hope the nostalgia for a 2024 Mustang kicks in right around the time I want to sell it lmao.

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wtfduud@reddit

A 1940s car to a 1970s car is like a fundamental leap in how cars actually function and survive daily use.

We can also talk about Electric Vehicles if you want.

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VRS302@reddit

I don’t really WANT to but sure. What specifically?

A 1970 Mustang and a new Tesla or Prius are massively different technologically, but they’re still built around the same general idea of what a car is supposed to do. Daily driving, interstate cruising, modern traffic speeds, (relatively for the mustang) decent comfort, (also relative for the Mustang) reliable starts, modern roads, modern fueling/charging infrastructure, etc.

A 1940s car compared to either one is a way bigger jump.

You’re talking weak brakes, shit ply tires, underpowered electrical systems, zero real crash protection, worse highway capability, and the cars were designed before the interstate system even existed.

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OptionXIII@reddit

The classic pony cars from the 60s still have cachet though, and even just a few years ago the Challenger/Camaro/Mustang designs heavily drew from the originals.

The last time 40s style fenders were relevant was the PT Cruiser and it's a punchline these days. You could argue for the New beetle I guess, but it definitely was riding 60s hippy vibes more than 40s hard boiled detectives.

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Therev143@reddit

You nailed it. Drivability is a relative metric, and compared to cars of today the 60's cars pale in comparison. You have to love the car to choose it over something modern, and the people in their 30s and 40s don't have the nostalgia tied up in them like their parents did.

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mondaymoderate@reddit

Depends on the car. I still see kids today that are in love with 60s mustangs, Camaros, chevelles, Novas, etc. It’s the late 70s and early 80s cars nobody really wants or cares about.

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StuartWtf@reddit

Late 80s early 90s though..some gems in there!

The things I would do for an E30 M3. Not as fast as my M235i but such a gorgeous car

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747WakeTurbulance@reddit

Verrrrrrrrrrry few. They are all going to want Hellcats 40 years from now.

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Specialist-Size9368@reddit

muscle cars maybe. I think a lot of old british roadsters won't be along with a lot of italian cars. Prices are coming down. Rust prone and can be pricey to repair since you don't have the same strong desire compared to muscle cars. Electrics and mechanicals are simple, but carbs are probably off putting. used to be EFI was seen as black magic. Now you have a couple generations that view EFI as normal, but carbs as a pain.

Lot of people that will happily reach for an obd scanner, but don't want to deal with tuning a carb. that or they want the utter reliability of EFI. MFI and CSI also fall into the same issue as carbs and I say this owning a CSI car.

Another is that car enthusiasts only have so much space and money. Muscle cars were kind of a staple in 90's and 00's tv. They stayed in the public zeitgiest. Lot of old cars that are arguably cool, haven't. People are going to reach for what they wanted when they were younger and if they don't have memories of it they won't seek it out.

Will be interesting to see how prices change. I think today a lot of the younger generations won't forgo an original ferrari 250 gto in favor of an f40. There are a lot of high dollar cars that will still remain expensive, but the values will crash hard because the next generation will value something else more.

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lee1026@reddit

Does "drivability" really matter if you are talking about the super expensive collector cars?

You are not risk accidents and stuff just to drive them, you buy a cheap(er) car for that.

If we are at the point where the prices have dropped enough for the classic cars where people are actually driving them, woe be to the finances of the people who collected them.

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AwesomeBantha@reddit

I’d argue it does, even if the most expensive individual examples won’t be driven.

There’s always going to be more demand for a car that you can actually drive on the street without too much hassle, than for a similar one that’s either not street legal or compromised in some way. This lifts both the price floor and the price ceiling.

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delta23156@reddit

Their loss is my gain as a lowly 21 year old, I’ll gladly take what their descendants don’t want lol. The slop on the roads today makes me sick, just with people would drive thru older cars instead of treating them like a trailer queen.

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Noobasdfjkl@reddit

Boomers are the ones that have packed them away. Kids have no exposure to them, so why would they have any enthusiasm for them?

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Some_Conference2091@reddit

I wonder if the prices will hold up. I saw a rare Mopar vehicle sold for $570,000. If future generations don't produce the same demand I don't see how those normal cars that sold for $100k+ can hold their values.

I think the super cars of old will probably hold value due to status and scarcity. I just think some of the muscle cars have gotten overpriced. The cost of ownership will be higher in 20 years as well. I don't see gas and parts prices for these going down in the future.

At the same time, I dislike a lot of 2026 cars that have too many screens, sensors, and lack manual switches. Cars in the coming years will have data collection cameras and Ai that tracks alertness and makes estimates about your driving abilities. I definitely don't want that.

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NoMoOmentumMan@reddit

Rare limited number original examples will hold all their value (like a 1967 GTX converivle 426 w/manual-they made 7). A second Gen Chevelle SS, not so much (they made 300k+).

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einTier@reddit

We are already seeing a shift from 50-60’s cars to 80’s-90’s.

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Some_Conference2091@reddit

yeah, I noticed prices getting ridiculous on some models. sucks for me 😆

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El_mochilero@reddit

Rare collector’s examples may hold museum values.

Regular production cars won’t. Cara are like music - whatever you think is cool when you were young, you will think is cool forever. Millennials are causing a surge in 2000’s era sports car prices because they finally have the money to buy the car they wanted when they were young.

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irishpwr46@reddit

Id still sell a nut for a GTO Judge

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InfinitePossibility8@reddit

I hate to sound like this but it’s at least to my benefit because I love the aesthetics of late 40’s and 50’s cars.

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HeavyDutyForks@reddit

I'd rather see them go to someone who's going to drive and take care of them than have them sit as unobtanium in some barn because some guy "knows what he's got"

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captainnowalk@reddit

For real, these were all machines built to be driven, so I’m not even against folks restomodding new engines or parts into them, or turning them into EVs. At least now we’ll see more of them on the road hopefully!

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HotWifeLore@reddit

I know a few kids who get excited for pre war cars, but maybe that's their tism. I know jack shit about them.

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RGB755@reddit

Well… yeah. I sold my dad’s 1956 190 SL after he died because I had no intention of ever driving it, have no fond memories of seeing it on the streets as a kid, and it’s incredibly uncomfortable to sit in as a large-framed person.

Is the wheel-in-wheel blinker neat? Yes. Is there a certain flair to the white-rim tires, the old-timey radio/instruments, etc.? Of course.

But I simply would never drive it. Even as a weekend car. I have a 2015 SL400 with all the modern amenities sans the ridiculous iPad displays of the most recent car gens for that. So, may as well sell the Oldtimer to somebody who has an actual appreciation / passion for the car.

Same thing goes for a 1991 500 SE he left me. Nothing but maintenance costs on that particular car. Even when he was alive it sat more than it drove. Very glad I sold it as well.

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Hustletron@reddit

I’m barking and muttering angrily at you in my head like Clint Eastwood in Gran Torino, just so you know.

But I do get it a little bit. Especially if you have limited garage space.

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RGB755@reddit

For what it’s worth, it did take me a few years to make up my mind on it, cause, you know, you don’t just want to sell your dad’s old car. But all the systems were shot on it, it would’ve taken 50k+ € just to get the 190 running again.

The guy I sold it to is still restoring it two years later. Literally everything except the chassis and frame need repairs. But those at least didn’t have any rust, so I got 35k € out of selling it and now I’m renting the garage out for 180€ / month. Economically, there’s no doubt in my mind it was the right decision.

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bikedork5000@reddit

If this means that in 10 years I can get a nice restomod Volvo 242, Datsun 510, or Chevy II, I'm cool with that.

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strangway@reddit

The next gen is obsessing over basic bitch 1990 Toyota Celicas and Tacomas, like wtaf

Forget Pierce Arrows and Bugatti supercharged race cars from 1939. The kids want plastic cars with 150 hp and 1990s styling.

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altiuscitiusfortius@reddit

The wealth transfer is a myth. Boomers are the most selfish entitled generation in history. Their wealth will all be spent on premium $15k a month nursing homes and cruise line vacations. And then once broke they will sponging off their millenia children.

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AnonymousEngineer_@reddit

This is almost certainly already hitting the values of the big name 1970s Australian performance cars like the Falcon GTHOs, the Torana XU1 and SLR5000s.

The Brock Commodores and the 1990s Japanese hero cars like the R32/R33 GTRs, the 180SX, the FD RX7 and the GC8 WRXs and Evo VIs are currently in their prime.

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Consistent-Year8707@reddit

There's probably also a bit of an investment bubble with those Australian 70's muscle cars too. I can't see any non-baby boomer generation paying those obscene figures for the likes of an XU1 with the idea that it will appreciate in value.

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RedShiftedTime@reddit

Is the "Great Wealth Transfer" in the room with us, right now?

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purz@reddit

Some horrible nursing home owner is going to be the new prince of brunei

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maranelloboy18@reddit

Precisely my thought, people are hanging on longer than ever and the end of life care for the boomers is going to obliterate all this wealth.

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Domtux@reddit

Its not like the wealth just dissappears, somebody gets it from somebody else haha

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Fappy_as_a_Clam@reddit

In this case, it will be spread over hundreds/thousands of employees!

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PanadaTM@reddit

Nah mostly to the shareholders of a company that bought out the retirement homes

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maranelloboy18@reddit

Oh 100% but not nearly as much as we think is going to make it to their kids.

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Need4Speeeeeed@reddit

Yeah, they're going to scrape up a good portion of this wealth transfer.

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Thejeepwrangler@reddit

lol, this is so accurate, I worked for a private leasing company and a local nursing home company owner has a fleet of 20 cars, just at ONE of his homes

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kon---@reddit

We already have motorists who struggle without huge displays and on-board navigation.

A car with a carburetor is going to hit as pointless junk and something some Boomer held onto because Boomers hoard.

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GodsFavoriteDegen@reddit

I live in a neighborhood full of elderly people.

There are at least five or six immaculate muscle cars currently sitting unused in my neighbor's garages just waiting for the owners to die. Some of them get pulled out into the driveway for a wash and wax every now and then, but I've never seen any of them leave the neighborhood.

There was one guy who had a late '60s Dodge Dart with some ridiculously large motor option. I guess it was a pretty rare car. The dude who owned it could barely walk anymore, so it never left the garage. He'd sit on a folding chair next to it in the garage, smoking cigarettes and people watching. I used to chat with him while walking the dog. He clearly loved the car.

One day, we were talking in his driveway and his wife came out. I said hello, and the first thing out of her mouth was, "Are you here to buy the car?"

"I'M NOT SELLING THE CAR, WOMAN!"

They then launched into what sounded like a very well-worn shouting match about the temporal nature of life versus the desire to retain things that are dear. I excused myself, but I could still hear them yelling when I left the block.

A while after that, I stopped seeing the old man in the garage. The car disappeared not long after that.

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Jethro_Tully@reddit

Forget selling it to someone you'll never talk to again, these guys would get to have a lot of fun themselves if they sold to a close friend or neighbor and got to hop in for a ride every once in a while! Even that has to be better than just living next to the thing.

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747WakeTurbulance@reddit

My grandfather had a 63 Impala SS in mint condition. His yard guy of 40 years asked him every month if he wanted to sell it.

When he died, he left it to him.

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WigginIII@reddit

My FIL recently passed away and your description of their "very well-worn shouting match" is immediately reminiscent of the squabbles my In Laws would have over many of his belongings that had been sitting in the garage for 20 years that he was "planning to do something with" while his mobility was severely compromised.

We are now dealing with the aftermath of a deceased parent, and all their stuff. He owned two cars both with 200k miles on them that I've suddenly been tasked to sell...

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SomeoneElseX@reddit

Yes and that wife probably had a display cabinet full of China and Hummels that haven't seen the light of day since aunt daisy came for Easter brunch in 1963

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spali@reddit

Typically it's the distributor that becomes pointless and breaks the car.

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TemetNosce@reddit

distributor that becomes pointless

I see what you did there...well done, well done.

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SomeoneElseX@reddit

Just like all the China and Hummels

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jameson71@reddit

Some of us will be happy to be taking those "old junkers" off their hands cheap.

Especially with the quality of new cars.

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kon---@reddit

Aye

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Low_Succotash5073@reddit

Not me, though. Bring on the shitboxes, ye Boomers!

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mundotaku@reddit

It will be a lot less. A few months ago, I went to the Classic Automall in PA, which is literally an old mall that is full of classic cars on consignment. Most of the cars are simply not what younger people want.

I am 42 and I don't know anyone who is my age and really wants a Chevrolet Belair. Even muscle cars are not exactly seen as "cool" by most younger people. There will always be someone who likes them, but they will not be willing to pay the current prices boomers are asking.

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GermanWineLover@reddit

Factoring in that young people mostly cannot operate a mechanical gearbox, My father has a 1975 Porsche G model. Beautiful car, for sure, but if he died tomorrow I wouldn't even be able to move it. The last time I drove a manual was 2011 in driving school. Then, the steering and suspension. I could totally see myself driving a mid 2000s AMG as an enthusiast car but nothing from the 80s or earlier.

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Fappy_as_a_Clam@reddit

The last time I drove a manual was 2011 in driving school.

Not even joking, it's like riding a bike. You haven't forgotten, you're just a bit out of practice!

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Foolgazi@reddit

Can’t read the article so not sure if this is addressed, but I have to think a lot of these cars will be sold off before the owner dies. If the old owner knows their kid is t into cars, why leave it to them?

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neck_iso@reddit

Older people tend to overvalue real property in that they assume it's worth whatever the peak valuation was...this applies to houses, stocks, collectibles, etc.

They won't sell it for less than they think it's worth unless they are hard up for the money.

This makes them think leaving it to someone is a more substantial gift than it is.

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Foolgazi@reddit

Not disagreeing, but at the same time it is happening. The major auctions are full of collections being sold off and individual cars sold by exactly the type of person aging out of the hobby we’re talking about.

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neck_iso@reddit

Full, sure. But how much is that of the 570 Billion quoted? 1%? 2%?

They could auction around the clock and it would take years and years to make a dent.

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Foolgazi@reddit

It’s been an ongoing process and we’ve already seen reductions in value of many segments. Will this situation accelerate in the next 15 years? Sure. Will it be like someone flipped a switch? No.

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joeybalonee@reddit

my facebook is loaded with estate vehicles, a lot of dad put this in the garage 10 years ago type descriptions.

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lee1026@reddit

If you are someone who cares, why would you sell before you die?

If you are someone who doesn't care, why would you still have one?

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Foolgazi@reddit

For #1, it’s because you can’t use it anymore.

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PDXSCARGuy@reddit

I built a Factory Five Roadster, and really enjoyed the building part, after not driving it on and off for about 5 years, we parted ways with it. I'm not letting it rot away, being undriven, sitting in my garage.

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lee1026@reddit

I don't think the classic cars gets driven very much, especially the valuable ones.

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Aberk20@reddit

This is me. I have a 1997 Viper and a 3yo kid. He loves daddy's race car now, but if he doesn't show interest in the car in 10-15 years, I will likely sell it. The clutch is super stiff and I won't be able to drive it forever. I'll use the funds to for whatever hobby I'm in to at that time.

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AllTearGasNoBreaks@reddit

Not everyone plans their death

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Foolgazi@reddit

Of course, and also no one wants to admit they’re too old to enjoy their cars. But many still do.

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masahirob@reddit

There's gonna be a lot of disappointment for those kids thinking they're getting "1:1 limited edition" corvettes.

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wiscotangofoxtreat@reddit

These are all going to end up in the same dozen tech dousche hands

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F1rstxLas7@reddit

You joke, but the top 2% of wealth in the US accounts for 40% of the Boomer wealth that is going to be transfered. Car collections are luxuries afforded to the wealthy so most of this wealth transfer isn't going to transfer anywhere outside of the 2% families.

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wiscotangofoxtreat@reddit

Oh theres no joking

The siphoning is real

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jameson71@reddit

"The great wealth transfer" is what is happening to Americans via death by 1,000 subscriptions and devaluation of their labor and skills. Inheriting Grandpa's classic car is not it.

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yll33@reddit

grandpa's mint vintage mustang will be as valuable as grandmas china cabinet.

things have value only as long as there is a demand for them. and millenials and below largely don't have the interest or income to spend $50-100k+ on a classic car that won't help get their kids to soccer or dance, and can't be taken to some chain mechanic for basic maintenance and repairs.

safe for a few museum pieces that were always the toys of the 0.001%, the demand for most classic cars dies with their current owners.

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wolfpack_57@reddit

You might see valuations stabilize the way you see 40s cars popular in LA around low riders, but not for a general audience. I’ve seen 30-year-old LA hipsters driving 70s and 80s Jags and F150s purely for the look as well

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costafilh0@reddit

Five minutes later: $600 billion, but actually $700 billion.

The collectible car market has become a joke.

From ego clashes to pure market manipulation, it's getting worse faster than the art market.

And auction houses not only profit from it, but also enable it.

Right now, FOMO is 100% in, and it's simply not worth it for a long time, with very few bargains available.

Also, many cars tend to lose public interest when the generation who enjoy them dies, as we are seeing now with cars from the 50s, 60s and 70s.

Cars from the 2000s are in high demand due to the end of the analog era and money moving to that generation.

Another trend inflating prices is the migration of wealth from money to physical assets such as gold, land, real estate and, of course, collectibles.

As a collector, sure, I would seek out the best of the best.

As an investor, I would simply look for bargains and patiently wait for the inevitable pop of this bubble.

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WyrdHarper@reddit

There's also a good chunk of 00's cars that offer a good combination of MPG, amenities, QOL, and safety features. Those are still vehicles that feel good and safe to drive. Definitely not always the case with some of those classic era cars, cool as they look. 60 years of maintenance history also just means more opportunity for things to go wrong compared to 20 years. There's a lot of cars sitting in garages that might have value because of what it is, but have been neglected for so long that they're not really worth much unless someone is very dedicated to restoring them (I have some older relatives like this...they have cars that have been sitting in the garage or barn for more than a decade, but they're convinced the vehicle is still super valuable).

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Pad74@reddit

There’s no way the prices keep increasing for these.

Those $570B will be $100B in 2 decades

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parker2020@reddit

That’s not how inflation works

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agray20938@reddit

It’s how supply and demand works tho.

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parker2020@reddit

Zero supply would push the price up… inflation would also push the intrinsic price up

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Club_Penguin_Legend_@reddit

Not necessarily.

They made 36,000 Honda CRZ's worldwide. Thats pretty rare. Id be lucky if I got 5k for mine

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Lighthouse_seek@reddit

There's also no demand. Millennials were -20 years old when those cars were on the streets there's no nostalgia for them

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parker2020@reddit

60 year old Porsche’s still going crazy

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Camburglar13@reddit

Zero supply? The whole post is about how there’s tons of cars owned by the elder generations that will need to be sold off or gifted as they sell their homes/garages or pass away. So there is supply. And the younger generations don’t have the space, money, time, or much less interest in them so demand as high end collectors isn’t there like it was. Obviously it’s not gone, there’s still demand, but it’s lowering quickly

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acog@reddit

Nah, there are plenty of rare items that have no value because there’s no demand.

According to your theory none of the cars on this list should be losing value, but they are.

https://www.consignify.com/blog/classic-car-values-crashing-models-losing-value-2025

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dabocx@reddit

Are beanie babies now worth millions?

If the collector market for these literally dies prices will go down on a lot of them. Especially if you adjust for inflation.

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paulchen81@reddit

I hope so. Still waiting for that 25k 911F or 964. (I know, not going to happen).

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Pad74@reddit

Hahah literally all prices will collapse EXCEPT those.

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paulchen81@reddit

Exactly what's going to happen... Damn!

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parker2020@reddit

As a new 964 owner. I’d rather dump another 100k into a 4.0 engine than sell it for 25k ever.

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hmhoek@reddit

I can tell you right now if the cars don't come with a garage they gotta go right quick. My dad had a collection, pretty nice. When I realized I couldn't afford to inherit the house they lived at, my mom sold the house and brokers took all the cars. I loved them but what can you do? The choice was made for me, way above my head.

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Lumpy_Minimum_5522@reddit

What is Jay Leno going to do with his car collection?

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an_actual_lawyer@reddit

Museum with a fund that keeps it open and the cars drivable.

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ChuckFinley_is4Ever@reddit

He’s said he doesn’t want to do that because it would require making changes he doesn’t want to do.

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schultzM@reddit

Nope Jay already said he doesn’t care what happens since he saw em what happened with Mullins collection

Only the state of CA or the Audrian stepping in would keep it together

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an_actual_lawyer@reddit

TIL.

What happened to the Mullins collection?

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schultzM@reddit

Founder died. 4 months later closed and auction done onsite. Also a separate auction for the Bugatti and art deco furniture collection. A few special cars went direct to the Petersen museum.

https://www.goodingco.com/auction/realized/selections-from-the-mullin-collection-auction/

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wiscotangofoxtreat@reddit

Hes going to die amd then it wont be his problem

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MudgeIsBack@reddit

So you're saying I shouldn't despair looking at El Camino prices on Facebook Marketplace quite yet?

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dappernate@reddit

Where does the 570M come from? The actual value or the psychotic boomer “I know what I got” values?

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Evil_Mini_Cake@reddit

As a Gen X I don't know anyone in my age group who has room for another car. Most are in condos with a single spot for a reliable modern car that they use every day. Who has room for another car, some temperamental classic that only gets driven a handful of times per year?

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Jarthos1234@reddit

Paywall. Is everyone here just discussing a headline?

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What_the_8@reddit

How much are model Ts fetching at sale/auction these days? There’s no way that $570 billon is worth the same in 20 years.

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Ajkrouse@reddit

I imagine that many of the manual drive cars will sit in a garage somewhere because younger generations don’t know how to drive stick shift.

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Lumpy_Minimum_5522@reddit

Most of these cars will decrease in value, but there’s a hand full of examples like a unicorn “Duesenberg” will always be coveted.

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Yellowcat123567@reddit

RIP Indiana

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mundotaku@reddit

Yeah, Duesenbergs, classic to tier Italian cars, a few Mercedes (Gullwing, Pagoda, 600) and 911's will always be in vogue.

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beermaker@reddit

Our neighbor is a retired Dodge mechanic & mopar collector... they've got like 8-10 classics from the 60's and 70's spread across two properties and no children who want the burden. The guys who married into the family have zero mechanical aptitude & no interest or financial wherewithal to maintain a 50+ year-old muscle car collection.

I'm sure someone will pay top-dollar at auction... From what I've seen, they're in beautiful shape.

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