Top 10: Future Collectibles

[svgallery name="Top_10_Future_Collectibles"] By John LeBlanc A new vehicle — no matter how rare, technically exotic, historically significant, or blindingly quick — is an investment. In the short term at least. Who would have thought, however, back in 1953 that those first 300 hand-made polo white six-cylinder Chevrolet Corvettes would become one of the most collectible cars on the planet over 50 years later? So lets break out the crystal ball and take crack at predicting the most promising future collectible cars from the current 2010 crop. 10. Nissan Leaf If the so-called “experts” are right, we’ll all be driving zero-emission electric vehicles in the future. Maybe not next year. But some day. And when or if that day ever comes, historians will look at Nissan’s Leaf EV as a pioneering EV. Where the below-mentioned, low-volume Tesla Roadster will be recognized for its many EV firsts, the Leaf $22,500 (U.S.) could end up the more significant car. Nissan is hoping the Leaf becomes the Ford Model T of EVs, hoping to eventually sell over 200,000 globally every year. Realistically, not every Leaf will be a collectible. But early-off-the-production models could be collectibles. 9. Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 Right now, horsepower nutters are enjoying the pinnacle of cheap performance. And with more stringent fuel economy and emission regulations on the horizon, inexpensive performance will become much rarer, or simply more expensive. Which makes the current $56,999 Shelby GT500 and its 550 hp supercharged V8 one of the greatest bang-for-your-buck-rides out there. These current models may never reach the acclaim of the 1966-67 Shelby GT350s — some of the most collectible Mustangs out there — but the modern version is well positioned as a future collectible. 8. Saturn Sky Red Line The short-lived 2007 to 2009 Sky, Saturn’s first and only two-seat convertible sports car, couldn’t save Saturn from being shut down last year by bankrupt parent General Motors. The roadster though could become the 21st century’s Studebaker Avanti. Just as the Avanti was born as a way to sex up a dull-as-dishwater and soon-to-be-dead Studebaker brand in the early 1960s (and subsequently going on to become a modern collector classic), the Sky was supposed to add some sparkle to a brand better known for no-haggle pricing and dent free, plastic body compacts. Low volume models are always better. So the Sky to get would be the top line Red Line, the high-performance model with a direct-injected turbocharged 2.0-litre four that generates a remarkable 260 hp from just 2.0-litres. 7. Nissan GT-R Continuing with the historical references, consider the GT-R as a modern day Pontiac GTO, the David that in 1964 buff mag Car and Driver pitched — theoretically — against a contemporary Goliath in the form of an exotic Ferrari GTO. Instead of a Ferrari, today, the $99,500 GT-R’s Goliath is Porsche’s vaunted $173,000 911 Turbo. The Nissan super coupe can post some very Porsche Turbo-like numbers: 0-to-100 km/h in around 3.6 seconds; top speed nearing 300 km/h; lapping Germany’s famous Nurburgring Nordschleife racetrack faster than any product out of Stuttgart — you get the idea. Rarity can also add to a collectible car’s worth. And unlike the ’60s GTO, the GT-R will never be sold in high numbers, with less than 400 sold annually in North America. 6. Dodge Viper Final Edition ACR Special editions always jack up the price of a collectible car. Especially when a car is heading to the graveyard, as is Fiat-controlled Chrysler’s Dodge Viper. After 18 years in production, Vipers will stop being made this year. And to mark the occasion, Dodge will screw together 20 Viper Final Edition Coupes, 18 Roadsters and just 12 racetrack-ready ACRs. No word yet if these Final Edition cars will be priced more than the current models, which start at $98,395 And there’s no bump in the Viper’s 600 hp V10. But each final Viper will be painted Graphite Clear Coat with a black centre stripe that’s outlined in red, and a bunch of special interior trim on the inside. 5. Tesla Roadster Rarity, unique technology, and historical significance are key factors in making a car collectible. And the $125,000 Tesla Roadster EV checks off all those boxes. The electric Roadster — of which the California carmaker has sold less than 1,000 units at the end of last year — is the only highway-capable EV for sale to date; first production automobile to use lithium-ion battery cells; and first production EV to travel more than 320 km per charge. And the Roadster is a short-term solution. It won’t have its current, labour-intensive technology (over 6,000 lithium ion cells need to be assembled for its battery pack) for much longer. But like the above-mentioned Leaf, the Tesla will be seen as a pioneer of EVs, come 2060, or so. 4. Porsche 911 GT3 RS Decades of affluence and Porsche’s production growth means once-rare 911s are fairly commonplace cars today. Yet every once in a while, Porsche rolls out a special edition that stands out from the herd, poised to become an instant future collectible. In today’s lineup, it’s the competition-ready GT3 RS. The $163,000 GT3 RS (with 450 hp, 15 more than the regular GT3 and 35 more than the last GT3 RS) is the purest rear-engine Porsche. And like the new Merc SLS AMG, this 911 is made for racing. The GT3 RS is the homologation version of a customer race car, with a provenance going back to the legendary 1973 Carrera RS 2.7. 3. Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG “Gullwing” Although it won’t be as rare as the 1950’s 300SL it’s inspired by (where only about 1,400 examples were made) the new Gullwing from Mercedes (officially known as the SLS AMG) is a good bet to become a collector’s jewel. The $198,000 Gullwing (named for its top-opening doors) sports a hand-made 6.3-litre V8 makes 563 hp. Naught to 100 km/h: less than four seconds. And like the 911 GT3 RS, the Merc will have a racing heritage. AMG will start selling to customers a racing version of the SLS AMG for the international GT3 series next year. 2. Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 Viper fans aside, the Vette is virtually unchallenged as America’s Sports Car. As such, it’s always been a collector’s dream (see 1953 original, above). And today’s $128,515 to $142,980 top dog ZR1 — with its new, supercharged 6.2 L V8 pumping out 620 hp — may end up as the most collectible Corvette ever. GM plans to offer 1,500 to 2,000 ZR1s for worldwide sale this year. After that, who knows if the now government-managed automaker will continue with the high-performing ZR1. Maybe former GM product head Bob Lutz knows. Lutz suggested that enthusiasts should get their ZR1 while they can, predicting in five years the ZR1 “will be seen as a high-water mark for Corvettes.” 1. Lexus LF-A The LF-A was conceived when Toyota leaped into the Formula One circus in 2002. But after the Japanese automaker’s departure form F1 lat year, the now-slightly-less-relevant LF-A is pushed for instant collector car status. Technically significant, the LF-A gets a bespoke carbon-fibre and aluminum chassis tub, all-aluminum multilink suspension, V10, six-speed sequential manual gearbox, wheels and tires. And like the rare 1967-1970 Toyota 2000GT, the LF-A won’t be as common as a Corolla. Only 500 examples will be made in the next two years, of which Canada will only get ten. Looking into the future unfriendly environment for such machines, it’s hard to think Toyota will have an LF-A follow-up. Get yours while you can.

Comments