Future Value of Retrobirds

[Guest]

Okay, there's been a lot of discussion and speculation about the possible future value of our Retrobirds, so I thought a poll would give everyone a chance to cast an objective vote.

Rather than using dollar amounts, the options are percentages of current average values. I realize that even the 'average' varies depends on what source is used; Kelly Black Book, NADA guide, Hagerty collector car guide, etc.

This poll does not distinguish between the 'regular' production T-Bird for the 2002-2005 model years and the 'feature' cars. Some price guides do include a separate category for the Neiman-Marcus, and one or more may include a separate category for the Pacific Coast Roadster. The feature cars MAY appreciate more in percentage terms than other Retros, but it would be too complicated to include separate percentages for them.

So now anyone who is interested can go 'on record' with their prediction. For the 'over 100%' or 'Lower than today' choices, you can make a post in addition to your vote to indicate higher or lower percentages.

[4LOWBIRDS+7]

Re: Future Value of Retrobirds

Where is the poll?

[007Cruiser]

Re: Future Value of Retrobirds

Where is the poll?

North or south?

[Guest]

Re: Future Value of Retrobirds

Where is the poll?

Ron, the poll is active and as of right now there is one vote.

[Guest]

Re: Future Value of Retrobirds

For this poll I didn't factor in condition or mileage. My assumption is 'average' condition for a 19-22 year old Retro with 'average' mileage.

A car in very poor condition and with high mileage ten years from now could easily be worth less than it is today. On the other hand, a very well-maintained Retro with low mileage might appreciate more in percentage terms than cars in 'average' or 'poor'
condition.

[4LOWBIRDS+7]

Re: Future Value of Retrobirds

Ron, the poll is active and as of right now there is one vote.

Nice to add the poll.

[11TH GEN]

Re: Future Value of Retrobirds

Difficult to vote without a statement..... Must be hundreds of thousands of Fox body Mustangs still around, narrow them down to just the 5.0's. Then down to ones that are original and clean ( not so many ) Tons still running that are not much more than beaters or a shell that is used only at the drags. In my area a very original nice low mileage 5.0 Coupe can bring 10K, about 75% of it's original price. The same car some 17 year old kid had that thought he was John Force and it shows it really has value only as parts to someone.

[Guest]

Re: Future Value of Retrobirds

I certainly have no crystal ball, but I think that in 10 years, diminishing supply, coupled with the cyclical resurgence of buying "retro" will increase the value of our cars. Taking inflation into consideration, as well as the "prestige" associated with the Thunderbird name, should keep the market healthy.

In addition, and probably the main reason, is that you just don't see these cars on every street corner TODAY, so in 10 years that will be even more evident.

[Guest]

Re: Future Value of Retrobirds

Interesting results so far, and though there are only 16 votes as of now, 10 think values in ten years will be lower than today. It would be interesting to know how much lower those members think values will go.

Maybe average values will drop below say $ 10,000 before going up, but less than that for a Retro in decent condition with average mileage? Seems like the parts would be worth more than that.

[jayred1]

Re: Future Value of Retrobirds

No vote Phil? You obviously have an opinion, please share.

[SixPac]

Re: Future Value of Retrobirds

I won't be here 10 years from now, so I don't really care. Will pass on voting.

[Guest]

Re: Future Value of Retrobirds

I voted. And after posting numerous times my opinion that some Retros would bring six figures within ten years, I voted accordingly. To have done otherwise would have been hypocritical. Assuming an 'average' value today of $ 12,000-15,000, that would indicate a value of $ 24K-30K+ ten years from now. That's still only about half to 2/3rds what they cost new.

I think many if not most of us will still be around ten years from now to see how this works out. Probably not much other than 'bragging rights' for those who guessed correctly. And at that point in our lives, I think a lot of other things will be more important to us.

[Guest]

Re: Future Value of Retrobirds

I won't be here 10 years from now, so I don't really care. Will pass on voting.

I don't think anyone can say with certainty they won't be around ten years from now. Unless maybe they're 100 already. Even then, who knows?

You may outlast a lot of other, even younger members on this site Charlie.

[Chuck]

Re: Future Value of Retrobirds

I think Mark hit the nail on the head. I think the cars that are in "like new" condition will go up in value, the ones that have been driven will depreciate. I don't think they will go up in value a lot in 10 years. Hopefully I'm still around to see.

[Quickdraw]

Re: Future Value of Retrobirds

The '50s & '60s muscle cars that were around when we were young, and maybe owned, or wished to own, have typically gone up in value due to our generation. We wanted those cars back then, and many of our generation can afford to buy those cars today and do so today.

Who in the world is going to bid up the value of the retro Tbird in future years? As they age, todays youth will be paying big bucks for the cars they liked when they were young, (JEEPS)! My 12 year old granddaughter cringes when I pick her up from school in the "old people car". Maybe, as someone else pointed out in the past, convertibles are much rarer now than in our youth and the only people you see today driving one are the older people with the money to buy them. I've never seen a young person drive a Tbird although they are now cheap enough to be affordable to them. So in 30-40 years no one will be buying Tbirds because that's the car they had as a youngster, and none will be buying them because that's the car they wanted as youths. JMHO