Buy and Hold: New Cars that Could Become Collectible
The so-called “barn find,” uncovering a highly valued old sports car that’s sat long forgotten in a barn or garage, is like winning the lottery to a classic car buff. But you don’t have to go hunting for hidden treasure – nor shell out many tens of thousands of dollars for a restored vintage ride – to get some skin in the collectible car game.
As with just about anything, it’s best to get in on the proverbial ground floor. With that in mind, the experts at vintage car insurer Hagerty in Traverse City, Mich., just released their annual list of 10 reasonably affordable vehicles from the 2017 model year they feel are the most likely to appreciate in value down the road. As one might expect, most of them are rip-roaring sports cars, though there’s also a pair of off-road-ready pickup trucks thrown in for good measure.
“All ten have that ‘it’ factor that makes them stand out from the crowd,” says the company’s CEO McKeel Hagerty. “In some cases it’s power, in some cases it’s innovation or drivability, but all of them have the qualities that define a future classic.”
Here’s a look at the 10 cars from the 2017 model year most likely to become coveted collectibles (with their respective Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Prices noted):
1. Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio. MSRP: $72,000. This sports sedan – at the top of the new Guilia line – is Alfa’s answer to the BMW M3 and Mercedes AMG C63, and it’s a definitive one, with graceful styling, cunning cornering abilities and a bona fide Ferrari bi-turbo V6 engine under the hood.
2. Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport. MSRP: $65,450. Higher-performance ‘Vettes are always worth holding onto, and this new track-ready rendition should be no exception. Offered in coupe and convertible versions, it features classic Grand Sport styling tweaks and is built for weekend racers and the most aggressive aficionados.
3. Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. MSRP: $61,140. The quickest Camaro ever built looks the part and delivers the goods with the Corvette Z06’s race-ready 6.2-liter 640-hp supercharged V8 engine, among other enhancements.
4. Audi TT-RS. MSRP $60,000 (estimated). Audi’s TT is generally thought of as merely a sophisticated and stylish coupe, but the new TT-RS (an early 2018 model) busts that perception with a 400-horsepower five-cylinder engine and a 0-60 mph run in under four seconds.
5. Porsche 718 Cayman/Boxster. MSRP: $53,900-$56,000. Redesigned for 2017, this hot two-seat coupe/roadster duo are arguably the best values on a Porsche dealer’s lot, maintaining a 911-like attitude at more reasonable prices.
6. Ford F150 Raptor. MSRP: $49,520. The second generation of Ford’s full-size off-road-racer pickup truck is more potent for 2017 with added muscle and less overall weight to drag around through the Baja.
7. Chevrolet Colorado ZR2. MSRP: $40,995. The new ZR2 version of the midsize Colorado pickup is ready to hit the trails with an increased ride height, a wider track, off-road-ready suspension and locking front/rear differentials.
8. Mazda Miata RF. MSRP: $31,555. This is a new Targa-topped version of the low-slung MX-5 Miata roadster. It features a more-rigid structure, a distinctive coupe-like design, a power retractable roof and added exclusivity.
9. Fiat 124 Spider Abarth. MSRP: $28,195. The top edition in Fiat’s new 124 Spider line of open-air roadsters looks good and comes with a peppy MultiAir turbo engine, along with assorted performance-minded upgrades.
10. Toyota 86. MSRP: $26,255. The model formerly known as the Scion FR-S receives several upgrades for 2017 to go with the new name, and remains one of the best bargains among sports cars.