Da-Je Vu all over again

[Lindy]

Re: Da-Je Vu all over again

The retro-bird already appreciated and sold above the sticker when the market peaked in 2002. However, the market is currently in a slump. Since the T-Bird is iconoclastic, having broad appeal, the outlook for future appreciation, from today's lows, remains favourable!

[04birdman]

Re: Da-Je Vu all over again

CADDILAC ALANTE........NEED I SAY MORE...nobody is retiring on the value of those?

[Ray]

Re: Da-Je Vu all over again

If my car is worth something after I'm gone, great! That's a plus for my heirs, but I didn't buy it for them or because I thought it would be a collectible someday. I bought it for me, and I plan to make as many memories in it as I can before I go. If you bought it primarily because you thought it would be worth a lot as a future collectible, it would have made more sense to buy $40K worth of gold and just let that sit around, rather than buy this fun, fun, fun car and just let it sit around in the garage.

[5bird7]

Re: Da-Je Vu all over again

well....

Meaning Drew will only be in his 60s in 40 years. He does have a chance!

[Lindy]

Re: Da-Je Vu all over again

it would have made more sense to buy $40K worth of gold and just let that sit around.

In January 2008, 28 years after the all-time record high gold price/oz of $850 in January 1980, the nominal price broke the record. What d'ya think a pristine 02 T-Bird will be worth in 2030? The key to the collector's market is BROAD appeal. Ever watch American Pickers? It's always the items which are broadly recognized, multi-generational trademarks, etc., which fetch the top dollar. The Ford Thunderbird is one such badge, IMHO.

[2FAST4U]

Re: Da-Je Vu all over again

What's worth more, an 02 Lincoln LS or an 02 TBird. The TBirds have held up pretty well I think. Leroy
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I don't think so...Maybe the Thunderbird is worth more than the Lincoln LS, but frankly, neither of these two cars are in big demand, for now at least. By the time they'll become "collectibles" (that is IF they ever do...) most of us will be long gone!...Also, I don't see why they'd suddenly become collectible if they never really were to begin with !! To me, they're beautiful, pleasant cars to drive, but not an investment for the future...so don't refrain, DRIVE and ENJOY them and HAVE FUN!...
Claude.

[V8 Cat]

Re: Da-Je Vu all over again

Ever watch American Pickers? It's always the items which are broadly recognized, multi-generational trademarks, etc., which fetch the top dollar. The Ford Thunderbird is one such badge, IMHO.

I'm wondering if any of todays cars will be worth anything in 30 years simply because of all the electronics they rely on. These electronic modules will be so hard to get by then that many may just be boat anchors. JMHO.

[Ray]

Re: Da-Je Vu all over again

In January 2008, 28 years after the all-time record high gold price/oz of $850 in January 1980, the nominal price broke the record. What d'ya think a pristine 02 T-Bird will be worth in 2030? The key to the collector's market is BROAD appeal. Ever watch American Pickers? It's always the items which are broadly recognized, multi-generational trademarks, etc., which fetch the top dollar. The Ford Thunderbird is one such badge, IMHO.

When I bought my car new in 2003, the price of gold averaged $319 per ounce. Today gold is $1384 per ounce. If I had bought $40k worth of gold instead of my car, my gold would be worth about $172K today. I don't think our Birds will ever be worth that much, but I'm not disappointed that I bought my Bird instead of gold because it's not possible to put a value on memories. I would be bummed, however, if I had bought my Bird as an investment and kept it in the garage rather than drive it, because then I'd be out both money and memories.

[FUN X 3]

Re: Da-Je Vu all over again

When I bought my car new in 2003, the price of gold averaged $319 per ounce. Today gold is $1384 per ounce. If I had bought $40k worth of gold instead of my car, my gold would be worth about $172K today. I don't think our Birds will ever be worth that much, but I'm not disappointed that I bought my Bird instead of gold because it's not possible to put a value on memories. I would be bummed, however, if I had bought my Bird as an investment and kept it in the garage rather than drive it, because then I'd be out both money and memories.

5H!t, I shoulda bought gold...NOT! I'm with you Ray, the memories are priceless! I do wish I had bought some gold with my other money though, LOL! But, hindsight is always 20-20.

[MerlotBlue]

Re: Da-Je Vu all over again

THIS IS ALL GOOD INFORMATION, BUT I BET THERE WERE JUST AS MANY HURDLES AND REASONS THAT THE FIRST BIRDS WOULD NOT BECOME COLLECTABLE. I BOUGHT MY FIRST 1956 IN 1965 FOR EIGHT HUNDRED DOLLARS, ONE OWNER LOW MILES, BOTH TOPS, POWER EVERYTHING. IT WAS JUST A USED CAR.

Actually.......NO!!

That was the point of the post.

Our cars are highly unlikely to spur the enthusiasm and collectibility interest of the 55-57 models.

The "hurdles" are higher and more numerous.

While the Retro-bird is awfully popular with us....... I'm not at all sure the general public comes anywhere close to 1/100th as enthusiastic.

In the 1950s, 60s and 70s......EVERYONE knew what a 2 seat T-Bird was. By the 1980s.... even if they'd never had or wanted one they were aware of it's status as an American Automotive Icon. In the 1960s and even 1970s musicians wrote songs about that original 2 seater. a lot of the people I run across today don't even know what the Retro-Bird is till they read the script on the fender.

[4LOWBIRDS+7]

Re: Da-Je Vu all over again

[QUOTE=MerlotBlue;417822]Actually.......NO!!

That was the point of the post.
I GUESS YOU ARE RIGHT, I HAVE ONLY OWNED TWO 55'S AND TWO 56'S AND WHEN THEY WERE NEW THEY LEAKED AWFUL AND TO RIDE IN THEY WERE HOT IN THE SUMMER AND COLD IN THE WINTER. ABOVE 110 MILES PER HOUR THEY FLOAT LIKE A BUTTERFLY. VERY ONE KNEW THEY RUSTED VERY BAD AND DOORS WOULD SAG AND THE BODIES WOULD FLEX. LET ME NOT FORGET THE REAR SEAL OIL DRIP AND THE OIL BLOW BY. IF THOSE THINGS WERE NOT HURDLES, AT LEAST THEY WERE BUMPS. IN FOURTY YEARS THE RETRO BIRDS WILL BE ONE OF THE FEW CARS LEFT FROM THIS ERA, I SAY THAT WILL MAKE THEM COLLECTIBLE. MAYBE NOT MINE, BECAUSE I HOPE TO WEAR THEM OUT BEFORE I GO.

[Leroy]

Re: Da-Je Vu all over again

I plan on getting rid of mine when I can't extend the warranty anymore or I can't drive it anymore, what ever comes first. I wouldn't own one of these cars without a warranty, repairs are too expensive. Leroy

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[merlot4]

Re: Da-Je Vu all over again

While I have had people come up to talk about the Tbird and say they like it, I've never had anyone ask where they could find one, nor how much they cost. I suppose that for most people it's just not a pragmatic means of transportation.

[007Cruiser]

Re: Da-Je Vu all over again

I think I should have bought a gold TBird.

[007Cruiser]

Re: Da-Je Vu all over again

While I have had people come up to talk about the Tbird and say they like it, I've never had anyone ask where they could find one, nor how much they cost. I suppose that for most people it's just not a pragmatic means of transportation.

I've had several ask and I usually send them to EBay.