Yeah - definitely more expensive then in the past. I waited a few years to buy a 5.0 slightly used Mustang. The MSRP on a GT convertible is over 40 grand. Much cheaper to buy them a few years old.

 

They sure are, but look at what they're capable of. It's probably a good thing people in their 20s can't buy them. The Z28 is $75,000 and a factory racecar, most adults won't even be able to buy that!

 

I forgot about the Z/28. My old man just bought a 2014 GT500. It's bad *** but he paid almost 70 grand after taxes and everything. That's insane!

 

Something I've noticed since buying my Iroc is its a pretty small car, not sure what it weighs ? But the new performance cars are way Big in comparison.

 

If I remember correct, it's around 3200 #. And yes, it's small.

The 5th gen was a tank compared to this car.

 

Those are the best looking ones, to bad most of em you find are v6s

 

Our cars are longer and the V8s weigh 3,300-3,500 depending on the model. The 5th Gens are bigger in every other dimension and weigh 3,800-4,100 depending.

 

Lower production numbers and higher vehicle costs on new cars help the older 3rd gen cars retain or advance in value. Its sad to see a plain V8 Camaro/Mustang cost 40K, as the median age buyer of these cars are 40 plus years in age. 70K for a Z28 or GT500...wow...there really is no justification for that much markup in price for the extra HP just seems crazy!

Example: 2005-09 Mustang production = 620,005 total units.

 

Interesting tread. Cool chart! Our cars will see some appreciation at some point in time, however it may be a while. In 1973 I bought a very nice 1967 GTO Vert with a 400, 4 speed, factory air, and power disc brakes for $900.00. Now look at the prices. In 74 I bought a 70 Shelby GT350, auto, factory air car with PS, PB. It was a nice clean driver with 70K miles on it. I paid $2700.00 for it. It was 1 of 7 built in that configuration. Now it's worth more than my house. In 75 I bought a 69 Shelby factory Drag Pack car with 15K miles on it for $3500.00. 1 of 3. I don't even want to know what that car is worth... Everything is relative. The two thirdgens that I currently own are both low mileage originals. They could both serve as reference cars. The 82WS7 has 24,400 actual miles on it and is bone stock, still wearing the OE Goodyear Eagle GT's on it. Yeah, the battery has been changed. The 86WS6 has 30,500 miles on it, and is also bone stock. It is mostly original except for things like the tires, hoses, belts, and battery. I did seek out cars in this condition, but not as an investment. The main reason was to see some of thirdgens preserved, as it seems like lots of these cars have been modded and updated. My next project is to have a car that I can build into what ever I want it to be without worrying about molesting an original car. The car is an 89 IROC Z, L98 car with T-tops and all the goodies. The car has some mileage on it, but is very clean and rust free. A previous owner swapped a manual transmission into the car. The original L98 failed, so now the car is without an engine. The car will make a nice resto-mod, but can never be returned to original condition again. I guess that it could be cloned back to original specs with a non-numbers matching engine, but what is to point? My plan is to install a new crate ZZ4 engine, Tremic 6 speed, and all the related stuff like headers, subframe connectors, upgraded brakes, and anything else that will make the old car a blast to drive. If done well, the car should have a decent resale value, however there is no way that I will recoup the costs of the build. Bascially, I'll have 20K invested in a 6K car. Even in the future I doubt if this car will ever be worth as much as the 86WS6 as long as the 86 remains a numbers matching low mileage original.Charles

 

I will totally agree. As nice as my old mans car is, it's no $70K car.

 

I am guessing you sold each one... lol ouch. yeah we dont know when they are just a nice used car...that one day... I do think ours will reach nice levels.. never stratospheric

 

Yes, I did sell all of them. I kept the drag pack car for a while though and made a small profit on it. It paid for some college classes and a nice down payment on our first home, so all is good. You're probably right about prices of thirdgens, however in the 60's we never thought those cars would ever be worth anything more than an old used car. The GTO was wrecked by the next owner. Both Shelby's ended up in private collections. One Shelby parts car was junked and crushed, but there was very little left of it.

 

quite a story! nice that some ended up saved!

 

A lot of things come into play predicting future values. The early cars ( pre smog )were way cheap to start of with, so inflation alone added alot of value if you bought them early on and held them. Also the cost to restore these cars has to be a factor..... That can cost tens of thousands so that's added to the price. This is what is cool about many of the low mile third Gens..... Their in original condition needed very little.
IMO, If you start of with a car that was cool in it's day it should hold up in the future.

 

For what ever it's worth, I am trying to preserve these two.

 

Nice cars!! Love that 82!!!!

 

Thanks.

It doesn't seem like there are many all original 82's left. Still, I can't imagine the value of this car ever increasing much. The car is an oxymoron, beautiful and sporty looking, but a performance dud.

 

Very true. I do love the maroon interior. That in itself makes the car even more unique.

 

Maybe I have a different take. I think cars are terrible investments. Before the economy took a dump numbers matching BB muscle cars pulled in the big bucks. Hemi cars sold for the price of a great house in an unbelievable neighborhood. Now, no. Watching Barrett Jackson the last few years seeing beautiful cars selling for 30% of the restoration cost was a real sobering experience. I'm glad our cars are cheap now. I've got priorities. A play car is pretty far down on the list. I can afford them now. If prices go up later, great. I'll recover a little more of what I'll end up spending on it. This is an expensive form of entertainment, not an investment. BTW, I had 2 2nd gen F body's back in the day. Couldn't afford one now. Prices are getting out of hand. That tells me we all timed it right

 

True, wouldn't call toy cars an investment.

But I disagree that it's expensive entertainment. If you start with an excellent condition, fully decpreciated car, you can enjoy it for years and still get most of your money back.

 

Thirdgen's do make an affordable platform for the average Joe to build a hot rod.

 

Thanks. The maroon was only available on the 82 model, and it is nearly impossible to find maroon parts. It looks great when it's clean, but shows any hint of dust. There is another member on this site that has an 82 that is nearly identical, white exterior/maroon interior. His car is in very nice condition.

 

I completely agree. I bought with my heart, not my head. I wanted a very specific year & color combo. With such a narrow search a pristine low mile example wasn't going to happen. Not talking out of turn but I passed on an excellent deal with a low mile 4thgen TA last fall. I'll probably be regretting that later.

 

Not familar with the other white/maroon car you are referring too. I have the 82 base FB maroon ex/maroon int. I agree about the interior parts. Have seen very few for sale, and have never seen any in excellent condition for sale.

 

To branch off this... never buy a car new and store it.. you will be 70 or 80 before you show any return. Buy a car after they are just a used car and store it. buy it from some fool who bought it new and stored it.. and needs the money now. they cant wait till 80. My cars prev owner was 65. he bought it used in 90 with 15K on the clock. sold it to me with 19 on the clock... he took a bath. I didnt. Now I just wait for it to increase while I enjoy it a bit.(got 22k on it but it will never hit 30K with me.) my son will have it and it will bring some $$$ for him in his 40s I am sure.

 

It would add no value to a standard engine car and hurt the value of a desirable engine car like an L69, LB9/5-speed or L98, probably by a lot.