"Future Collectible" articles wanted

[5bird7]

Let me get this over with FIRST: READ: This thread is NOT for discussing whether the retrobird is a future collectible or not. That is not the point of the subject.

Now - in the past, there have been threads where someone mentioned that a magazine or web article had stated that the Thunderbird was a future collectible. Does anyone remember which magazines? Year? Month?

I've had contact with a person in New Zealand planning to import a Thunderbird. He needs this info so he will not have to convert the car to right hand drive. He needs to fulfil 3 out of 4 requirements, one of which is a major publication stating the Thunderbird is a future collectible. He's trying to fulfill all 4 requirements to make it less debatable.

[steelblue5505]

Re: "Future Collectible" articles wanted

Dot, I'm thinking that in the issue of Motor Trend magazine following their award of the "The Car of the Year" award in 2002 made mention of the possibility of the retro Bird becoming a collectible. I can't find the article here at the house yet I know I have it somewhere. Sorry can't be of great help.

[tbird05cel]

Re: "Future Collectible" articles wanted

Dot, I did a quick Google search and found this:

http://www.motortrend.com/classic/fe...ics/index.html

[snowbird]

Re: "Future Collectible" articles wanted

Dot: Here is a review from 2009. Not sure if that will help any. One excellent magazine would be "Collectable Automobile" but do not get them any more. They always seemed to have a "future collectable' section in each issue.

Another good collectable indicator would be TBN. Sure you have heard of it. Over 6000 membership world wide.

Also, Ford built these cars with the 'collector ' people foremost on their mind

http://www.automobilemag.com/reviews...ird/index.html

[Chuckster]

Re: "Future Collectible" articles wanted

Here's a couple of websites (although I don't know how accurate this data is):

NAHC names Tbird in 2002
http://motorcitymusclecars.com/2010/...e-car-of-2010/

Consumer Guide No. 19 in it's list
http://consumerguideauto.howstuffwor...t-25-years.htm

[Will]

Re: "Future Collectible" articles wanted

I cut an article out of our local paper, The Herald-Sun (Durham NC), March 30, 2008, page F5. It's a reprint of an article originally in The Virginian-Pilot written by Larry Printz. He discusses a guide written by Virginia jounalist David Kinney, "Cars That Matter Price Guide," which lists 6 cars that, says Kinney, will beat the stock market as good investments. Among his choices is the Ford Thunderbird 2002-2005. (The rest of the list: Cad. Allante ('87-'93), Toyota Supra ('86-'92), M-Benz Turbodiesel Wagon ('79-'85), Triumph TR8 ('80-'81), VW GTI ('85-'89)).
Is an investmant car a collectible car? And vice versa? I guess so. Hope this helps further the cause.

Now, if you're looking for my opinion on whether the Retro has a future as a collectible or not--& I'm glad you asked--I'd like to begin by saying ... oh, sorry, gotta go. Supper's ready! Will

[Chuckster]

Re: "Future Collectible" articles wanted

Will,
I think this may be the article that you're referring to. Here's a portion of the article below. The Retro-Bird was the 1st one mentioned in his article.
Cars you can bank on

Staff Reports
Friday, March 14, 2008

NORFOLK, Va. — It’s tax time, that time of year when we reconsider how we spend, save and invest our money. Considering the stock market’s current malaise, you might want to try a different investment with your cash.
How about buying an older car? If you pick the right one, it could be a sound investment that will appreciate over time.
David Kinney, a Virginia journalist who follows the auction markets of older cars as publisher of “Cars That Matter Price Guide,” offered his advice. He put together a list of cars that were no older than 30 years, could be bought for mad money and could yield a profit when it’s time to sell.
“I will guarantee that every one of these cars have done better than the stock market has since the beginning of the year,” Kinney said.
Here are six models Kinney calls good investments, along with his comments:
FORD THUNDERBIRD, 2002-2005
“They were meant for cruising. The amenities are more important than the power. I don’t think people were buying them to be Corvettes.”
What’s to like: “Service and parts are easy to find. Very distinctive, great colors and pretty luxurious. Expensive when new, these cars were bought by owners who were careful with them.”
But beware: “There was a period when they made a ton of Thunderbirds, and they’re still not collectible.”
Price: $13,500 to $29,700

[Rondor]

Re: "Future Collectible" articles wanted

Only collectors will pay the kind of price an investor expects,,, so I'd say there is a strong connection. For the retro bird I think it will be in demand , and that with the limited numbers will maintain a decent value. Being an impractcal 2 seater doesn't hurt. The guy's who bought used ones at 20-25K will definately not loose

[NotU]

Re: "Future Collectible" articles wanted

Collectible Automobile (CA) did an article on our retro birds
in their "Future Collectible" section.
I still have it. I could scan it and e-mail it if needed.
Let me know where to send it in a pm.
Thanks,
Randy Mattson

[MerlotBlue]

Re: "Future Collectible" articles wanted

Let me get this over with FIRST: READ: This thread is NOT for discussing whether the retrobird is a future collectible or not. That is not the point of the subject.

Now - in the past, there have been threads where someone mentioned that a magazine or web article had stated that the Thunderbird was a future collectible. Does anyone remember which magazines? Year? Month?

I've had contact with a person in New Zealand planning to import a Thunderbird. He needs this info so he will not have to convert the car to right hand drive. He needs to fulfil 3 out of 4 requirements, one of which is a major publication stating the Thunderbird is a future collectible. He's trying to fulfill all 4 requirements to make it less debatable.

Color me curious......

What does the idea of the car being "collectible" have to do with any requirement to convert a potential candidate to "right hand drive"?

Are you saying registration of a car in New Zealand has exceptions for "collectible cars"?

I'd assume this is out of an understanding that such a major change would impact the value of a car with a verifiable value associated with it's desirability beyond just transportation.

Am I reading this correctly?

[MerlotBlue]

Re: "Future Collectible" articles wanted

Only collectors will pay the kind of price an investor expects,,, so I'd say there is a strong connection. For the retro bird I think it will be in demand , and that with the limited numbers will maintain a decent value. Being an impractcal 2 seater doesn't hurt. The guy's who bought used ones at 20-25K will definately not loose

......... we'll see.

You've headed down that road Dot didn't want the thread to go into......and here I am following you with a response.


Gotta wonder what happens to the value of ANY car that runs on gasoline in the future.

20 years from now?

China and India alone with near 1/2 the world's population putting new cars on the road at an amazing rate each year now........ who wants to say with any degree of certainty that gasoline powered cars will be what we will be driving anyway in the next decade 2020-2030?

The idea of electric cars seems kinda fuzzy right now but even if things like the Nissan Leaf and Chevy Volt seem like a failure at today's lower gas prices and crazy high prices for the technology in the cars themselves...... not sure I'd make the bet that higher gas prices in the future and an expected improvement in the technology itself coming in a lower prices won't push all gasoline powered cars off the map within our lifetimes.

If you can find a super clean, really low mileage T-Bird for $20,000 I certainly wouldn't suggest you shouldn't buy it if you want one but I'm not sure I'd be especially confident about any collectors value in the future.
I'd suggest you buy it to drive it and enjoy it.

This isn't a rap against the Retro-bird as a collectible vs any other car. It's about a bleak future for the idea of affordable oil prices in a world where virtually every oil and energy analyst I read says we are at an inflection point now where the ability to meet new demand with new supply at anything close to today's prices is upon us. New demand is going to out-pace any ability to meet it with supply. It's very likely that within this decade we'll see that "spike" in oil pricing that changes the world for-ever on this one.

[SixPac]

Re: "Future Collectible" articles wanted

[5bird7]

Re: "Future Collectible" articles wanted

You are reading it correctly.

Color me curious......

What does the idea of the car being "collectible" have to do with any requirement to convert a potential candidate to "right hand drive"?

Are you saying registration of a car in New Zealand has exceptions for "collectible cars"?

I'd assume this is out of an understanding that such a major change would impact the value of a car with a verifiable value associated with it's desirability beyond just transportation.

Am I reading this correctly?

[MerlotBlue]

Re: "Future Collectible" articles wanted

You are reading it correctly.

Then there is an obvious follow up since you are the expert on such facts and figures.

Were there ever any "right hand drive" T-Birds built for foreign markets or are they all "Left hand drive" and in need of conversion for anyone who doesn't want a great view of the mailboxes and pedestrians they are blowing past?

[5bird7]

Re: "Future Collectible" articles wanted

There were NO right hand drive retrobirds ever built. which means there are no right hand drive dashes built to look like the Thunderbird interior. Probably why direct sales were non existent in right hand drive countries. A few made it to England but I think those were bought from dealers in the states, not thru a Ford dealer in England. Don't know England's requirements for imports and there are a few Thunderbirds residing in England.