Anybody see this article from the wall street journal? It's about what cars to buy, hold and sell. The 240Z made the "buy" llst with a potemtial price increase of 195%.

http://online.wsj.com/public/resources/documents/info-invcar04.html

I love this line. "Many expected vintage car fans to bite by now, but rust-driven rarity could still push prices up."

That is so true, both parts. We all know about the rust. But the other - I've been into Z cars for 6 years now. They always make this kind of list. All the 'experts' keep claiming that it is going to get hot, some day. But not yet.

Since I buy cars to drive and enjoy, it isn't going to bug me if I don't make money on one. (That has never happened in my past history. I generally don't get hurt too badly, but I never make money.)

But it may be ironic to see WSJ say now may be the time to buy, just at the time my eyes are starting to wander....

Edited August 1, 201113 yr by Arne

Hmm with past, current and upcoming defaults, everything will soon seem expensive as the economy flips.

The story carries a Dow Jones 2004 copyright that implies news from the past. So, as they say on Wall Street, "Past performance is not a guarantee of future results". I was, however, pleased to see that my Avanti also made the list. It tends to be appreciated by the automotive public about like the Z.

Dennis

I'm with Arne, that I built my car to drive and don't expect to ever make any money on it.

I had my MGA for 17 years, and made about $1,500 when I sold it over what I had invested in it.

While it's a 2004 copyright, it was recently re-published. My take is that it's just nice to see our cars getting some recognition.

You know that is the problem with the Internet, it is really hard to tell old news from recent news. If you had found a six year old paper copy of the WSJ, it would be yellow and crumbly. But an old web page looks just like a new web page.

And this article has been covered here before:

http://www.classiczcars.com/forums/showthread.php?15341-Wall-Street-Journal-Says-240Z-is-a-good-investment!&highlight=Wall+street+journal

Edited July 31, 201113 yr by Walter Moore
spelling error

In my years of buying and selling cars and bikes (Harley-Davidsons) I have never come across a car that has such ignorance as to it's value as the early Z's. Most bikers, when asked the value of a certin H-D model, will poll about the same, + or - 10%. Same with older Fords' GM's and Mopars, sellers seem to know what their car is worth, or at least what they are bringing. You shop the old Z's, and the prices seem to swing wildely. That is really true in the north east, perhaps because there are so few and the condition of the available stock is so varied, that making a comparason gets confusing and people scare themselves into strange valuations of what they see before them.

I get asked the old "what did you pay?" question alot, and I get everything from the jaw droping "your kidding!" to the disbeleaving "your full of poop." (poop was for Arns benifit) People just don't have any idea, such was the case with my cars P.O. I'm sure I could sell it today and double my money, or better, but then what? Go out and buy someone elses headach, and have a car that is nowhere near as cool or fun as my Z, and end up spending all the profit on fixing up the next toy, regretting it all the way.

Just like I don't track my investment portfolio or make my stock buying decisions by using a 2004 copy of the WSJ, I probably won't put too much value in their 2004 240Z advice other than as an historic perspective. But, it is fun to revisit the outlook at that time.

Dennis

Edited July 31, 201113 yr by psdenno

You guys are reading wa-ay too much into the post.

As I said before, The WSJ recently "re-published" the article. One can assume that the WSJ still thinks the information to be of some interest. I never said it was current or valid, only that it's nice to see classic Z's getting some press.

FWIW, I never use the WSJ in making my personal investment decisions. By the time it's published in the WSJ, generally the opportunity for making a killing has passed...

FWIW, I never use the WSJ in making my personal investment decisions. By the time it's published in the WSJ, generally the opportunity for making a killing has passed...

Oiluj,

Especially a seven year old copy of the WSJ Hence, my observation that the car information was quite dated and perhaps not of value except in an historical sense. I wasn't slamming the article, only pointing out it's timeliness and, perhaps, lack of applicability to current trends. I agree that any positive Z press is a good thing.

Hugs,

Dennis

Anybody see this article from the wall street journal? It's about what cars to buy, hold and sell.

http://online.wsj.com/public/resources/documents/info-invcar04.html

No matter how old - it is an interesting list of cars to buy.

Many are reasonabily priced today...

1965 Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GT - I've always loved the Styling of these.

1968 American Motors AMX - Had a 69 - neat looking - lumber wagon.

1970 BMW 2002 - neat cars - I'd buy one if it was restored properly and and if the price was very very right. Otherwise I'd rather have a 510.

1965 Chevrolet Corvair Monza coupe - If you buy a Corvair - you'd want a convertible or Corsa. I've had several - they are always fun. Still quite inexpensive - but for reasons...

1964 Pontiac GTO convertible - I'd want the 2dr. Post sedan. Lightest body. One of the best US produced cars I've ever driven - just pure FUN and fast as hel...

1963 Studebaker Avanti R-1 - I'd want the R2 and today you can pick a fairly good one for less than $25K. Really nice R-1's are out there in this suppressed market for less than $18K

Beautiful styling, almost unique in design... Still a car you can drive with decent A/C... Given their very limited production to begin with - I'm always amazed that these haven't appreciated far more than they have. As I recall the R2's were close to $5,000.00 new in 1963... so they were relatively expensive then.

Any of them would be a better hedge against inflation than cash setting in a savings account...

FWIW,

Carl B.

The only problem with "investing" in cars (for me anyway) is 1)I can't just let it sit. And 2) I always feel sick for a period of time when I sell it.

I am completly lost as to where to put my money these days, the only investment that I have that is actually growing faster than inflation is a Chinese power company that is building and opperating a fleet of coal fired electric plants, seeing about 18% on that one and hope against hope that it lasts.