Best ~100k "vintage" investment

What about the stock market?

Cars in general have proven to be particularly bad investments. People should buy cars that they love and appreciate and not because they would love for them to appreciate.

 

+1

I have said this before, and I'll probably say it again. But, mentioning Ferraris or any other cars and investment in the same sentence is an oxymoron. We are all johns, here. The only people making money are the pimps. The problem with becoming a pimp is that it becomes a business, not love.

So figure out some other way of making money and spend what you make on what you love.

That said, most of us car guys have got to keep our powder dry. Our significant others tend to be a bit upset when they catch us dipping into the candy jar to support our jones.

The best advice is to buy used and pay cash. If you can't afford to buy the one you love, you can always love the one you can. Take a Miata, for example, dollar for dollar, there is absolutely no question that this is the best bang for the sport car dollar on the road today. Not only are they dirt cheep, but you can hot rod them for next to nothing and embarrass the hell of a Ferrari on the track. Okay, a jap car will not impress the titty dancers, but if that is where you are coming from, go lease a Lambo.

Dale

 

330gt is where its at. But what do I know? Why not wait till next year. Oh ya don't forget the 308gt4. A lot of times the cars that people say are ugly and less desirable seem to come right back at you. And don't be afraid to "invest" in a Vintage Ferrari. Its the best money I have ever spent.

 

And no red one.......For sure a timepiece of art, and because there are quite some, prices wont go up too fast
Oscar

 

I know you want to avoid it, but if I had to make a choice of an upcoming star, it has to be an original Euro RoW dry-sump glass 308 GTB.


Testarossa - a lot of performance car for the money. Investment ? nope.

 

246GT anything for under $100K?

Unless it's a wreck, you're not going to find a Dino for under $100K anymore. If and when you do, you're going to spend serious money getting it right.

I made money on my Dino when I sold it recently, but I got VERY lucky. I think buying vintage Ferraris with the thought that you can "not lose money" much less "make some" is a dangerous premise.

You buy them because you love them. You drive them because there is nothing like them. Then you spend more money than you though possible keeping them on the road and in good running condition.

Leave the money making ventures on vintage Ferraris to the likes of Bill Noon, Tom Shaughnessy, and Mike Sheehan.

 

Right now the big money is on American Iron, but I can see that bubble coming a mile away.
why American Iron? Boomers are retired, bored and flush with cash. When the market becomes too saturated a lot of guys are going to be stuck with their '69 Chevelles mid-resto.

I believe Ferrari's limited production lends themselves to appreciation over time BUT if you take the original MSRP of these cars and adjust for inflation, many of these cars (especially the GT cars like the 330) have actually depreciated over time. Like i said, better take your money and put it in the market, or real estate for 35 or 40 years and watch it grow.

 

Well in Europe you can still buy a decent Dino for 100-120k (Euro.....). Over here we cant do anything about the unlimited expenditure of the US government and thus immense depreciation of the dollar. Although the price of the 275 is still the same in the US and Europe. (see RM auction of last night).
Ciao
Oscar

 

Easy there.

The question I guess was a little vague, as he didn't state US Dollars, but his language and style clearly indicate he's a US buyer. 100K Euros isn't anything like $100K USD, it's significantly more, as you know.

But the thread begs another question. I did a brief search here, but not on Googleabout original purchase price on Ferraris. It would indeed be interesting to see what infation has done to prices.

I can only vouch for the 246GT. I plugged the original 1972 purchase price of my Dino into an inflation calculator and came up with about $70K in 2006 dollars. Interesting to see what other cars might produce.

http://www.westegg.com/inflation/

Link to inflation calculator.

DM

 

But what were the original prices of the 50-6-70 's ferrari's? Do you have them? I can tell some did more in depreciation than others.....
ciao
Oscar

 

i've been able to break even or make money on most of the cars i've owned. I could give you many stories of people i know making big money on cars. One yesterday made 150k instantly. Not a very good investment strategy, but better than losing money on them. The deals are out there if you are patient. Under a 100k on a ferrari is tricky because most of the ferraris in that price are on their way down or have bottomed and are stagnating. Really you are talking everything up to the 328 that has bottomed out. and none of them have really shown a propensity to break out of their price range. Maybe a decent boxer could be had around your number. but buying a dodgey boxer is a brave man's game. My worthless advice would be a 330 or 365. Truth is though, we are heading into uncertain times.

 

Gentlemen,

I read Darkstar's question differently. He seems to be looking for a car that he can enjoy without significant depreciation and maybe a little upside over 10 years.


Darkstar,

Assuming my interpretation above is correct, I think you will be fine with any of the cars you mentioned. I would suggest driving good examples of each and then finding an example of the one you like best.

Regards,

Art S.

 

If you can still find one for that sort of money get a carb 512BB... but be quick; prices are sky rocketing

 

the time for the "investment" in a 250gte or 330 GT has past. about 5 years ago they were undervalued, not any more. Back then they could be had for $30-50k, now going for $100k+ depending on condition. However, the $30k models from the early 2000's likely required expensive reconditioning to pull in over $150k today. Even fright pigs have $70-90k stickers on them these days. Not a bad return if you got into one back then. Dont know how much upside is left in them, particularly considering the cost of reconditioning or repairs is something goes bang.

I know its not a ferrari... but a good investment in vintage cars would be an american classic. Not some heavily optioned muscle car, but a 50's classic. Take a 1951 Mercury, or Chrysler 300, or Caddy.... lots of part available, if something breaks its not going to cost a ton to fix, and one can usually roll the most of the cost or repairs or reconditioning into the value of the car.

also consider 30's luxury cars. a nice V12 Lincoln, an open touring car, something with custom coach work. Classy, pretty usable on the road, and will certainly go up in value.

Look to large luxury american cars.

I too was in the market for a 300 GT (I LIKE the series I 4 lighters), but the prices zoomed past my wallet capacity and no longer reflect a good value, IMHO. I went with the above mentioned Merc for my investment and will likely pick up a 308GT4 as my "vintage" ferrari.

 

Think this is why every other commercial running during B-J is a prostate shrinking medication ad?
buy muscle and pee better!

 

That's actually very easy. Just stay away from the 4-seaters. Historically, never the best investment and it will remain that way for a long time to come. Just buy the best two-seater you like and can afford. 308s/328s/TRs should be good bets now so TRs seem good for you. 348s are a waiting game and anything newer will see some loss in value.

 

It has been stated here many times... if you can not afford a good Ferrari, you certainly can not afford a bad one!
If you buy an older one, EXPECT something bad to happen (read: expensive).
Maintaining them is expensive, and does not really add much value to them (just prevents them from depreciating more!)

Buy one, enjoy it... the enjoyment is priceless. If you sell it later after a ton of enjoyment, great! If you did not lose your shirt, even better!

 

As Mahatma Toasted Pony told me many years ago -- Grasshopper, always remember that the price goes up when the top drops on two seats.

I spent many years wandering the wilderness pondering the Master's comment before I finally understood. Maybe some day you will too!

Dale

 

The GTE has already proved this theory wrong. In fact the GTE appreciated long before anybody remembered there was a little thing called the PF Coupe out there.

 

You're using the last few years to plan the future - not always wise.

All the cars you mentioned have appreciated during a different economy than we will see. Buy what you enjoy and can afford to pay for purchase and maintenance then be happy.

When the US Gov't allows BofA to buy Citi JUST BECAUSE it solves Gov't problems, you can bet the public will suffer.
Was consolidation of the Big Petroleum Companies good for the Public?
NO!

Will the consolidation of banking industry be good for the Public?
We'll have to see.

BofA already has a record of performance and they're at NUMBER 2
....in the HALL OF SHAME,
see here:
http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/SavingandDebt/Advice/TheCustomerServiceHallOfShame.aspx

 

Tom did you place your post in the wrong thread? What do bank mergers have to do with this discussion?

Regards,

Art S.

 

HUNH???

 

This thread began with the warning that the words "investment" and "Ferrari" should never be in the same sentence. Then remember in the early 60s you could walk into your neighborhood Ferrari dealer and buy a SWB, a Lusso or a GTE, they were the SAME price. What was the most popular seller then? The GTE, hands down. Later when I was young and well mad for Ferraris the dealers were selling 275GTBs and 330GTs, the 330GT cost more than $1000.00 than the 275GTB - you got it, the 330s out sold the 275s, hands down. In each case those buyers were making drive off comparisons as to which car they enjoyed the most. Don't over look their logic which was unconfused by "investment predictions". If you want an investment, by securities, if you plan to drive it, you really ought to enjoy it. That's why a far greater percentage of 330GTs and 250 GTEs have always been driven than their sisters new on dealer's floors. M