Classic MB's and Classics in general

[harrye500]

I was thinking about this recently. Many of you here have read my contributions to the forum, it's a great forum with some good and knowledgeable people. So the question arises on future classic cars and the slow demise of fossil fuels. Regulars probably know I have an A207 with V8 which now only runs in spring and summer. Reasonably rare as a cabriolet and a very cossetted car. In the pre-electric revolution, one could probably keep said car for a good few years and it would eventually enter into the collectible/ classic segment. So, the question is, will it be desirable in, say, another 10 or 15 years? Moreover, will Similar aged R230's for example still be desired? The question isn't based on "what will it be worth" but more around whether people will actually want our cars? I guess we will just have to wait and see, but I am genuinely interested to know how you think this will go.

 

[Taffy7hfa]

Future desirability is pretty much impossible to predict as there are so many variables.
There will always be "obvious" future classics due to rarity , but the more run of the mill stuff is weird,
for example, back in 1980 who would have thought a Rover SDI or a Mk 2 Ford Escort would fetch what they do now.

 

[s5tuart]

Future desirability is pretty much impossible to predict as there are so many variables.
There will always be "obvious" future classics due to rarity , but the more run of the mill stuff is weird,
for example, back in 1980 who would have thought a Rover SDI or a Mk 2 Ford Escort would fetch what they do now.

Try buying a Mexico

 

[EmilysDad]

Try buying a Mexico

Coincidently ..... I've just seen a MKI Mexico this afternoon .... in orange (I assume it was genuine)

 

[Fessel]

Hi EmilysDad. I have been seriously thinking about going all diesel recently. My everyday car is a 6 speed Yaris 1.4 td that's been remapped. it's a rare day when I get less than 70 mpg and its a bit of fun to drop a couple of gears and watch your tailgating boy racer disappear from your rear view mirror. I'm getting far too old really for that now but it can still be fun. ;o)
I've been keeping an eye out for sensibly priced W123 and 4 diesel Mercs for a while. Getting progressively expensive and the cheaper ones have had a d i y diesel transplant of unknown quality that I won't consider now after trying a a couple. Also not worth getting involved with wrong engine etc in logbook or insurance problems if crashed. So any Ideas I have about running on 20% bio with a W123 will have to remain a dream for now
Fessel

 

[Taffy7hfa]

Try buying a Mexico

I had one back in the day, KKE 303N was previously owned by Jeff Churchill.

 

[grahamcol]

I love good condition classics of a lot of makes. What I'm not so keen on is tatty bangers that some label as classics. Condition is everything for me. I have a beautiful R170 SLK in more or less showroom condition, that's a classic as far as I'm concerned. However some of these are neglected rusty wrecks and to my eyes are just bangers. As for the future, goodness knows and with the demise of petrol & diesel engines and respective fuels no doubt, l do fear for the viability of classics outside of museums etc. Can't see me buying an electric car.

 

[bladecrazy]

The mk1 escorts i trashed 30 odd years ago makes me chringe now,. scrapped one for 60.00 after i rolled it and ended up in a field only to see it for sale on ebay around 10 years ago ,how it was straightened out i will never know but sold for 12500.

 

[LostKiwi]

From what I've noticed values of cars drop for about 15-25 years (depending on vehicle, rarity, desirability and how prone they are to early demise through rust etc).
That's 20-25 years from last of the model.
So to take an example.
R129. Five years ago these could be had for under £5k without having a nail.
Now they're nudging £7-8k for the same car.
R230s are entering into the same phase. Last ones were 2012 so I'd expect values firm up and start to rise around 2030.

Each decade after they start to rise values tend to double. So 10 years time an r129 would reasonably start at £16k, ten years after that £32k and so on.

 

[harrye500]

Interesting, it is difficult to predict yes. A MK1 Mexico and SD1 are good examples, who would have thought such common (in the case of the SD1) cars are such gems now. Grahamcol, I've always thought the R170 is a good classic candidate, my friend has a lovely V registered car which she absolutely loves and looks after like a puppy. Maybe bladecrazy if so many of these were still on the road now, would prices would be lower? A nice thought but I love to see a MK1 escort, it is my era being a 70's child! I'm hanging on to my 207 for as long as I can, I service it myself now and its not a terribly difficult car to work on or service, it does help having a garage with inspection pit though! Whatever I can't do, will go to the Indie.

 

[SL63 Mark]

Future desirability is pretty much impossible to predict as there are so many variables.
There will always be "obvious" future classics due to rarity , but the more run of the mill stuff is weird,
for example, back in 1980 who would have thought a Rover SDI or a Mk 2 Ford Escort would fetch what they do now.

I am just shocked that a Rover SDI would ever be considered desirable. But then I said the same about MGBs and midgets, and look at them now.

Basically anything convertible will be desirable one day, no matter how awful it is.

 

[harrye500]

Lostkiwi that's a good and reasonable time-tested merhod. Good, that's convinced me I've done the right thing holding onto mine, I wont hold ya to it though ha

 

[harrye500]

Oh SL55 Mark a nice SD1 is a nice thing to be in and see. Of their day with all that fluffy real velour!! Off topic of MB, I was at a classic show in Audlem a few weeks ago and there was a Jag XJ Coupe, I had never ever seen one in the flesh so to speak, but it was just beautiful, stunning in gleaming red. The chap even let me sit in it.

 

[LostKiwi]

Oh SL55 Mark a nice SD1 is a nice thing to be in and see. Of their day with all that fluffy real velour!! Off topic of MB, I was at a classic show in Audlem a few weeks ago and there was a Jag XJ Coupe, I had never ever seen one in the flesh so to speak, but it was just beautiful, stunning in gleaming red. The chap even let me sit in it.

They are beautiful.
MrsLK works at Jaguar Land Rover Classic.
They refurbish, rebuild and create classic Jaguar cars. She's worked on XJ15, E type lightweight and C type projects - the latter being new builds on issued chassis numbers and retailing for 7 figure numbers.

A trip to her workplace is car porn.


This is one of her projects (this is the first completed). In the top right corner is the rear of another of her projects.

 

[harrye500]

Oh my Lostkiwi that is lovely! Mrs LK is a lucky one to have such an interesting career! Sort of a dream job really, in comparison to my working at home for the last however long it is flaming well is now! I'm starting a few minor jobs on the 207 this weekend including a full service as per the book, its on SORN now as of today. I've never known the best time to do a service re laid up cars (and oil specifically) whether better at the end of the 'motoring' season or start of the new in spring? Seems sensible to do it pre lay up rather than having older oil in the sump for some 6 months, save for reguar starting and moving round the driveway! Either way the current oil has only done 1800 miles this year but it will get changed anyway for full peace of mind!

 

[Blobcat]

I am just shocked that a Rover SDI would ever be considered desirable. But then I said the same about MGBs and midgets, and look at them now.

Basically anything convertible will be desirable one day, no matter how awful it is.

I think the below are exceptions that will prove the rule...

 

[SL63 Mark]

I think the below are exceptions that will prove the rule...

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I think the first one (Nissan ?) is quite cute, and the Lexus ain't bad, but yes the others are awful.

 

[harrye500]

Oh god, that PT crusier! What an oddity. Those Lexus SC's were nice inside if not an acquired taste (especially in what looks like BL sh*t brown in pic) , apparently the V8's in them were rather smooth but not that quick.

 

[harrye500]

And my better half had one of the Peugeots, by any length it was the worst car ever, I refused to drive it. Awful, everything broke including 2 alternators and to this day when one passes us with that telltale whirring sound like belts or bearings on their way out, we look at each other and say "Alternator or Water Pump"?! Always raises a laugh! What a piece of muck!

 

[Fessel]

Yeah, people can go a bit mad about convertibles, in the last 10 years I've had a couple of Triumph Herald 13/60 versions and both sold on pretty quickly. A bit of fun as long as the journey wasn't too far or a case of numb bum syndrome set in. Like every other car built for lowest possible cost rust was always present somewhere on the car. I'll use the old joke that owning them was an education...certainly taught me a lesson (not to buy another one).
Fessel