Re: Future collectibility???
Unless you buy a pristine unmodified truck, I dont see it as a investment towards a good purchase as a collector vehicle for many more years to come.
Yes, the prices have been slowly on the rise. But to me, the prices aren't rising, they are just returning back to where they should be for the trucks. There were many years prices where at an all time low where you could easily purchase semi low mile (under 80k) great condition trucks for under $10k.
Consider a low mileage Syclone just sold at Barrett Jackson recently for $50k. It was an original owner truck. You're thinking awesome money right? Well, consider that the owner bought it new at nearly $30k. He hung onto it for 25 years and kept it perfect, took it to BJ and after paying the fees associated with getting that $50k hammer price.....how really good did he make out on his $30k purchased from 1991? Id say, pretty shitty. He coulda bought stocks in 1991 and make a better profit.
Myself - I bought my truck in 1998 with 14k on it. I paid $19,500. In today's market, a stock 14k truck would be fairly priced in the $19-24k range. Granted, my truck is no longer stock and has now 89k on it (all of which I have enjoyed because thats why I bought the truck....to enjoy), but had I sat on it for the past 17 years, my $19,500 purchase would only net me a few thousand profit in today's market? This is why I didnt buy my truck as an investment, but to drive and have fun with.
Yes, the trucks are limited production. However, they dont capture the market in collectability like many other vehicles. Yes, you occasionally see a truck at auction go for big money....but consider the auction environment....everything at BJ or Mecum goes for stupid money because it's their job to blow up the price as much as possible....not because the vehicle is necessarily worth it. I hate when people use auctions to value cars. Just cause some guy blows $50k on a Syclone doesn't change the value of all Syclones. Look at the real market and private sales. The realistic price of low mile trucks (under 10,000) are in the mid to high 20s.....and they dont sell instantly. They float around awhile and then typically disappear and reappear for a number of times.
So.... my take: Buy one if you like what they are and enjoy a unique truck. Don't buy one if you expect to double your money back in a future sale, because the numbers aren't there even 25 years later.
