20th Oct 2008, 14:00

I'm not even sure a "classic" domestic is the way to go. A nearly new (2005) custom Mustang GT sold for $300,000 on the weekend's Barrett-Jackson car auction.

21st Oct 2008, 10:06

The Barrett-Jackson prices are insane. Classic car collecting has unfortunately been transformed from a fun hobby into a yuppie status symbol. Like everything else in our economy, the prices of classic cars are ridiculously over inflated due to the centrally regulated easy money economic schemes of the past decade and will eventually come down - probably crashing down - as people come back down to reality. When that occurs, I will buy a classic car at the correct price.

21st Oct 2008, 13:16

Barrett Jackson also supplied info on 16% return on selected classics and musclecars. Better than 401K's in my case.. They had a advertising billboard 2 Fords=1 house on the auction wall.

23rd Oct 2008, 13:24

The problem with collectible cars is that they tend to be the SAME cars over and over. I used to go to shows all the time. Fully half are either Bel-Airs, Mustangs, or Cameros. That and a lot of 70's muscle cars like Chargers, etc etc. BORING!! I happen to drive a 55' Mercury Monterey. I only paid $1,800 for it and it is a California car. Only difference is that it isn't "popular" like a 57' Chevy. But so what? What's so great about having one of 75 identical Bel Airs at a car show?

In regards to using large trucks for work, well if you look at videos and TV shows filmed in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, seems to me that farmers and workers there get along just fine and dandy using small trucks and tractors to perform their jobs. To say that you HAVE to have a full size truck to work only means that you're inflexible. The equipment that trucks haul will likely change to work with more efficient vehicles anyway. Good example: My Dad, who traded his Ford F-250 for a Tacoma, sold his 30 foot camper that he towed with the Ford, and bought a smaller, all fiberglass camper the Tacoma now pulls.

25th Oct 2008, 13:14

The idea of a "collectible" Tundra really gave me a laugh!! The ones that even last 25 years (if any could manage that feat) would hardly be worth a second (or FIRST) look. No Toyota has the style or flare to become a classic. Domestics are creating "new" classics all the time, such as the retro Mustang, Camaro and Challenger. In the truck field there are numerous special edition trucks (such as the Ram SRT-10, Ford Harley-Davidson, etc., that will be classics in years to come. A well restored SRT-10 will bring a fortune in years to come. A 25 year old Tundra might bring $100 at a scrap yard.

27th Oct 2008, 14:28

Collectible cars are only worth money because the people who drove them in their youth want to re-live their younger years, hence they buy the car they drive to their high school prom. If you look at the majority of old car collectors, most are in their 50's-70's. So in other words, the current collectible cars are what was available and most common in their day.

But I've actually started to see a number of old Japanese car shows out here in California. Cars like Toyota Coronas, Celicas, and Corollas from the 60's and 70's are starting to become quite valuable and desirable along with others like Datun 210's, 510's, 280Z's and the infamous "Ladybird".

I'm from a younger generation who grew up with Japanese cars. Don't be surprised if you start seeing a lot of us start restoring these and having car shows full of them. Thus its entirely feasible that indeed - A Tundra or Tacoma could very easily be at a future car show near you...

27th Oct 2008, 21:37

All of the back and forth banter means nothing. Toyota makes better cars and trucks than Ford, Chevy, or Dodge ever has. That's the point. If you don't like it, too bad.

28th Oct 2008, 13:19

21:37 I watched Barrett Jackson last night, and I did not see any lines of Toyotas that are now worth many times their original selling price.

An opinion is an opinion; I feel new domestics are superior based on first hand late model ownership. Also there are those successful and younger than 50 buying. My son bought his Viper at age 30. My money went into his education; an even better investment.

28th Oct 2008, 13:46

"I'm from a younger generation who grew up with Japanese cars."

Too bad. You missed experiencing what a real car is like.

28th Oct 2008, 14:05

Don't you just LOVE these objective, fact-filled comments?? So much data to support the argument and so much valid documentation. Why, with all this rock-solid "proof" I'm almost persuaded to run out and buy one of those perfect Tundras to pull my 60-foot sailboat!!

30th Oct 2008, 13:47

I actually disagree that Barrett Jackson cars are overpriced. Take a close look at the high level of restoration and then add all the related restoration costs to achieve that level. It's a lot of hard work and attention to detail.

I have driven inexpensive drivers, and they are what they are. Driving a car full of Bondo, needing paint, re-chroming, cut up dash, bad floor pans and trunk it was a real wake up call starting over. Unless you are truly in love with a car, condition is a real factor. The day you sell with hundreds of personal hours involved tearing down, replacing, driving hours to attain a single hard to find part, it starts making sense to buy the nicest car you can afford instead.

I have seen a lot of Barrett Jackson cars that $40,000 may cover the restoration cost, and then you look at the price less the commission for a turn key vehicle. I also feel it makes much more sense to buy vehicles that have broader appeal if you ever want to sell. Then you can have a stronger possibility of regaining all the time and hard work involved.

I do not get any kind of adrenaline rush with any current Toyota model, including their trucks. It's nice having reliability, but then not drop the ball with features, function and capability that full size domestic trucks offer.

The random edict imports are better is not accurate as to what I have tested and experienced lately. And I buy not armchair comment or lament on vehicles acquired long ago. It's 2008, and now 2009 models exist. I find domestic full size pickups far superior today.