1) Ford Mustang
2) Chevrolet Camaro
3) Pontiac Firebird/Trans AM
4) Buick Grand National
5) Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS
6) Olds Cutlass/442
7) Chevrolet Corvette
8) Chrysler LeBaron T&C
9) Pontiac Grand Prix
10) Chevrolet Cavalier Z24

There is a well established market for these cars and some like the Buick GN’s are starting to see big numbers. The Chrysler T&C convertible has a decent following and is probably the most collectible of all the 80’s FWD cars although the Z24, particularly the convertible, seems to be more popular with the younger crowd. I had a Daytona back in the day but my choice in collector cars is V8 RWD. That is the choice for most guys my age. Not that I don’t like the FWD cars but I like the style of the 60’s muscle cars better. The next group of collector cars will come from the 90’s and will include more FWD and now more import name plates. Going into the new century the 2003 Mach 1 is a shoe in. They are popular at shows now as are all of the newer Mustangs, especially the Cobras and Roushes. My predictions for the collectible cars for the 90’s is as follows:

1) Ford Mustang
2) Mazda Miata
3) Chevrolet Corvette
4) Chevrolet Camaro
5) Pontiac Firebird/Trans Am
6) Honda CRX
7) Honda Civic
8) Honda Del Sol
9) Nissan 240 SX
10) Chrysler LeBaron Convertible

Again, this is just my opinion based on what I’m seeing out at cruis nights and car shows. I’m sure there are some I missed.

I’m not exactly sure why fwd performance cars gain in value, but I think I know part of the equation. For the fwd turbo Dodges of the 80s, I can fully understand why people, such as myself, don’t think they will ever become collectable.

1) For one, these cars were built during the “dark ages” of the automobile industry. Power was down; styling was down, blah, blah, blah… I’ve heard it all, but I think people think of this time period as a time in automotive history when nothing was good. It was a low point if you will. I go both ways on this, but I’m not going to explain my opinion on this at the moment. Needless to say, people generally don’t want to relive something they thought sucked 20 years ago.

2) If you go to any GM, Ford, or import board, the Turbo Dodges of the 80s aren’t thought of very well. I guess that is to be expected since they have a love affair with their own car brands. Doesn’t make it right, but I generally find that to be the case.

3) A very good majority of Mopar fans do not respect or think much of the fwd turbo cars of this time period. Why buy a piece of junk Omni GLHS when you can buy a much better, newer, higher quality Neon SRT-4 that blow the tires off the Omni. Even though the Omni was done by Shelby 20 years ago and the one that started things off for the Neon SRT-4, it is pretty much forgotten. Same with the Daytona turbos, Spirit R/Ts… etc. You can get a “Charger” R/T with a V-8 and “right wheel drive” and blow the doors off the Spirit. I mean who wants to put up with fwd and a turbo when you have the legendary “Hemi” and rwd? I remember when I used to read Mopar Action and everything was rwd, rwd, rwd. That is all every Mopar fan wanted. Unfortunately, Chrysler (like usual) didn’t listen. Being that I grew up with the turbo Dodges of the 80s, I looked for any print I could find on them (especially Daytonas). I never really found much and when I did, it was usually an article talking about converting a Daytona into a V-8, rwd car or somebody trying to defend these cars (with little success). No, Mopar Action never talked these cars down, BUT they never really gave them the time of day. The fwd performance cars started taking off in the magazines when the Neon and PT Cruiser came about.

4) The amount of people that know about these cars is pretty low. Other than a few Shelby Dodge clubs or passionate Mopar fans, these cars would be in the recycle bin.

I own a 1989 Daytona Shelby that I hope to restore some day. I’m not expecting it to increase in value or become highly collectible; rather, I just want to enjoy a car from my youth - a car that I dreamed of owning. I figure my 2003 Mustang Mach 1 will be far more collectible in the future, but I’m keeping the Daytona around as a sentimental reminder of when my family used to be involved with Chrysler on the retail level and when I used to respect and admire Chrysler.

There are too many great cars out on the road today to even think about the turbo Dodges. I used to follow them more, but there are just too many tempting products out there for me to really go back to the turbo Dodges of the 80s and 90s. I think society sees that as well. Maybe they’ll be collectible some day; I just don’t see it happening. The current generation of cars is where your next collectibles will come from. I would love to be wrong and see my Daytona be worth something some day, but I’m not holding my breath.

A few months ago I spoke to a neighbor who has a pretty old mustang ( prolly around 67) and a 70s thunderbird. He said he preferred mopars but the pieces are so hard to find/expensive to buy that it’s simply not worth it to own one. Any decent looking Cuda or Challenger sell for a LOT. its not the same with GM or Ford vehicles.

70s Mopars pieces are very hard to find, or are very expensive. Thus your argument, while being valid, has a limit.

I’d say its because the 60s were the beginning of the golden age of the muscle cars, while the 70s was the peak of the american cars’ glory. What are the 80s? depressive years: glam rock, tight pants ;). for the most part, ugly and power lacking cars. It’s nothing like the 70s.

ps: I was born in ‘87 so the only 80s moment I remember were the lime green, pink and purple coats that you can buy for 1$ in the salvation army’s shop.

My point is, the cars from the 60s and 70s are valuable because it was the muscle car’s age. the 80s’s mustangs were ugly, so was the corvette and camaro. Its only normal to try to forget those years, and that includes the cars from those years. Just a thought.