But remember too that the MG or Alfa will likely provide as much driving pleasure, with fewer worries, than their more exotic stablemates. A Jaguar E-Type will always command more attention (and money) than an MG or Triumph, and a Ferrari Dino more than the Alfa Romeo that starred in The Graduate. Porsches are the current “flavor-of-the-month” and have been on a rocket ride for the last few years. Old Jaguars, Aston Martins and Bentleys have their followings. Ferraris have and will continue to be the “gold standard,” and some Lamborghinis and Maseratis are rising with the Italian tide. Keep in mind that certain cars will always be classics. Therefore, 70s and 80s-era models (Porsches, Firebirds and DeLoreans) have a following unimaginable until recently. Cars appeal to the generations that grew up with them. Similarly, 1950s-era American iron like Ford T-Birds, Chevy Bel Airs and Cadillac Eldorados (once a mainstay of collector stables) are yesterday’s news. Today, they are virtually absent, except for the most desirable names like Bugatti, Duesenberg, Mercedes and other rare, high-value issues. Just 10 years ago, pre-war cars comprised about one-third of all auction lots. With the mantra “buy what you love” playing in a continuous loop, remember that cars are like fashion. But where tastes shift and markets adjust there is opportunity. Generally, “blue chip” cars continue to command top prices. The first part of the decade saw a meteoric rise in values for some marques and models, but over the past couple of years, a softening of the market has prevailed. Old car values are as variable as the weather, with ups and downs that ride the wave of the stock market, international currency fluctuations and, for all we know, the alignment of the planets. When pursuing the passion, the soundest advice is to buy what you love-just like art or real estate or bespoke timepieces. This personal journey is one to be savored, and one that begs for action. It may be impossible to forget the first Ferrari or Firebird that permanently branded your teenage psyche. The urge usually begins innocuously, while reflecting upon the car that resonates most loudly with one’s past. Related Content: The Best New York Weekend Road Trips For the cost of a new Prius, a curious car lover can dip his toes into the classic car pool and enjoy a precious level of vehicular engagement. As we lurch toward the era of autonomous shuttle pods, the experience of driving an old car-feeling the road and the machine from behind a wood-rimmed steering wheel-beckons with greater allure. This stifling sameness has anyone with an appreciation for style wondering where individual expression has gone.
Like schools of anonymous silver fish, most modern marques swarm the freeways indistinguishable from one another. One fleeting glimpse of a 50-year-old car makes apparent how generic today’s automobiles look by comparison.
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