Is your new car a future classic?

Published Jan 8, 2014

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With record prices being paid for classic cars, enthusiasts often wonder which of today’s cars will be collectables in 20 or 30 years.

Leaving aside personal preferences, the three things that make a specific car worth serious money are originality, provenance and exclusivity - although almost any Aston Martin, Jaguar, Ferrari or Lamborghini more than 30 years old in decent condition will fetch silly money these days.

(The exception to this rule seems to be the Lamborghini Espada, the long-time personal favourite of IOL Motoring's resident biker, Dave Abrahams - you can still get a nice one for less than the cost of a new E-Class Mercedes-Benz.)

CLASSIC OR CLUNKER?

One of the most respected voices in the Unites States classic car field is that of McKeel Hagerty, the leading insurer of collectible cars. If anybody knows the difference between an classic and a clunker, he does - his living depends on it.

So here then, in order of current value, are Hagerty's choices for this year's hot list of 2014 models that are most likely to be 'star cars' within the next 25 years. And by the way, Hagerty puts a price cap of $100 000 (R1.07 million) on the list, which is why you won't see anything here from Spyker or Koenigsegg.

Jaguar F-Type V8 S:"With its growling V8 engine and rear-wheel drive, the F-Type will surely be a driving enthusiast's choice soon enough."

BMW M5 Sedan:"Performance sedans with old-school manual transmissions are quickly becoming an extinct species. While more drivers shun the thought of using three pedals, we applaud BMW for keeping this option alive in this segment."

Chevrolet COPO Camaro:"Chevrolet basically guaranteed the future collectability of this special-edition Camaro by limiting production to just 69, so it's only appropriate that the first production model will be sold at the upcoming Barrett-Jackson auction in Arizona."

Maserati Ghibli S:“The third-generation Ghibli has four doors and twin turbos feeding a 303kW, three-litre V6 - which ensures that this Italian sex-bomb has more than just pretty curves."

Alfa Romeo 4C:"A budget-friendly Italian sports car might sound like an oxymoron, but the 4C makes all the right noises. With a carbon fibre tub that keeps kerb weight down to just over 950kg, this sporty two-seater isn't pulling any punches."

Chevrolet Corvette:"The Corvette is the most popular collector's car in the United States; the new C7 has the right mix of Corvette heritage with real-world performance and gee-whiz technology. Dollar for dollar this is the best performance buy on the US market."

Nissan 370Z Nismo

"The Z car has attracted a cult following and the 370Z Nismo is the latest and greatest in this lineage. With Japanese cars now becoming collectables in their own right, 350 and 370Z's will not be ignored by collectors in years to come."

Dodge Challenger Shaker

"The styling of the new Challenger has always echoed the glory days of muscle cars - but nothing says horsepower wars like a bulging hood scoop. Dodge went back to the roots and added the iconic shaker intake on top of a healthy Hemi engine and R/T options package. The desirable colour will be the special Plum Crazy Pearl."

Jeep Wrangler Rubicon X

"Vintage SUV's are the fastest growing segment and Jeep leads that pack. While more comfortable than its bare bones workhorse ancestor, the Rubicon X is highly capable for not a lot of money. Many of these now compete at events, which means they will one day command respect at vintage off-road demonstrations."

Ford Fiesta ST

"Following the enthusiasm surrounding the Focus ST, the little brother Fiesta ST has been pumping the same iron. The Fiesta looks, sounds and acts the part of a modern day enthusiast's car."

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