It’s almost a no-brainer: holding onto a classic car as an investment is a solid financial decision, provided you bought low and found the nicest, most original example of the breed you could locate. Ask anyone who managed to hold onto a 1971 Plymouth Hemi ‘Cuda convertible beyond the late 1970s how well that few grand managed to grow, or the owner of a Shelby Mustang, or even an IROC-Z Camaro that was locked away in a semi-trailer for years. But you wouldn’t expect a bank to tell you that to your face, would you? You’d expect to hear suggestions about the stock market, or real estate, or any other savings vehicle that is more in-line with traditional means.
German banks, however, are telling customers exactly that, and there is proof to back them up. Sudewestbank, a Southern Germany bank, has had an actual index to measure the value of classic cars with. It’s called the OTX Classic Car Index, and it only focuses on vehicles that are over thirty years old and were built by manufacturers based in southern Germany, like Audi, BMW and Porsche. Since 2005, the OTX’s index quadrupled, more or less doubling the DAX, Germany’s stock market. Notable was older Porsche 911s, which increased in value 683% in the same time period. 
683%. Damn.
Okay, even with my unabashed hatred of “investment vehicles”, even I understand what that means. So, let’s open up the floor for a question: what vehicle that is over thirty years old (1988) would you snatch up and hold on to as an investment that isn’t already worth big bucks? And how do you expect your investment to perform over the next fifteen years?
86 -87 Turbo Buick.
Easily the best one next would be very stock 5.0 Mustangs and top of the line F Body (GTA and IROC)
Apparently half the cars I owned in the 70s, or had the opportunity to get cheap, classic if I knew then what I know now—DOH
I will get some disagreement but I truly believe that station wagons and fox body mustangs are the next big things. You can get them fairly cheap now and they will go up a lot in the next 5 years
A.M.C Pacer they are the best looking cars ever made. Will be worth millions soon.
For it to be a true “investment” you have to be willing to 1) not drive it 2) sell it.
I couldn’t do either.
Maybe the callaway twin turbo vettes… maybe the turbo buicks…. Anything semi rare that defined performance in the 80s I’d speculate would be worth a healthy ammount of money in 15 years if that market doesnt eat itself. If you included 89 id say the turbo trans am would be $$$.
Needs to be a car that was considered attractive and desirable when new, and on a low now price-wise. ’85 IROC-Z ’cause it was the first year, or an ’86 with the better TPI. Hope all the plastic doesn’t rot just sitting there.
Do not forget the famous F body roof cracks
If it aint broke now- just wait
This question is just a few years late. Think about how the value on certain classics that have already skyrocketed in the last 7 years. Lamborghini Countach and Miuras, Porsche 930s and 935s, even the 77-81 Trans Ams, especially low mile examples. My friends 1961 Facel Vega’s value went from about $70,000 to now selling over $300,000. Most people have never even heard of them.
I agree that a pristine, low mile IROCs with 350 TPI is probably next. The 89 Trans Am GTA with the turbo 3.8 ltr are already climbing.
I think a stock fox body mustang GT will be collectable and also pretty hard to find as they all seemed to get modified in some way.
I agree on IROC Camaro going up in the future.
Some of the really big luxury cars from the mid to late 70’s have gone up too. Lincolns and Caddy’s from that era while not a hot rod are awesome cruisers.
How about the Allantes? Where can you find two seaters with nice looks for the money they bringing?
1980 to 1986 CJ7’s unaltered & perfectly stock. The CJ8 Scramber’s already bring stupid munny .
I know it’s two years too new, but the 1990 ZR1. These are waaay too cheap right now.
Agree. I could actually buy one just because I like the car, too. I gawked at one for ‘way too long at the L.A. Auto Show that year.
already have my retirement cars–1964 Corvette coupe – have had it for 35 years and a 1956 Pontiac Safari wagon–had for 31 years will keep enjoying them until I have to sell them to by bread and milk in the future
It’d be interesting to have some of the 405 chime in.
Unmolested 96′ Impala SS and Buick Roadmaster Estate. The more people donk them out, the more the untouched ones will be worth.