5 classics that appeal across generations

[Hagerty]

As enthusiasts are often a cliquey, tribal bunch, certain cars seem to only get attention from one type of collector. This collector "type" could follow any signifier we can use to categorize enthusiast demographics, a tag ranging from income, nationality, region, gender, and age.
https://www.hagerty.com/media/market-trends/5-classics-that-appeal-across-generations/

[hyperv6]

My take is different here. It is not the age that is the factor.

What drives appeal here is almost all of these cars are affordable to young to all at a reasonable cost. Most in fact represent a good value in the collector market so they appeal to everyone age, sex and economic status.

You get into the higher end cars it is mostly older buyers with large amounts of cash that can afford them. Or web site designers that are ultra young leaving the middle out as they raise their families.

So I see affordability as the factor that ties this together making the by product age appeal.

You tend to like and buy what you can afford.

As for things like second gen Vipers. Well for near the same price you get less leaks and roll up windows. Options and styling can play a roll when the prices are close. 

The CTSV is one I see all ages in and why? Cheap to buy, fast as hell and very easy to make even faster with all the parts for the engines. Years ago younger buyers would buy a Chevelle SS low miles and reasonable price. Today with the lack of RWD the CTS is prized today. We have several at work with monster power. 

[Longroofjunkie]

Which CTS-V is cheap? I’ll buy one if it’s in great condition.

[brb]

Interesting use of big data. I agree with hyperv6's point regarding cost.

[fueledbymetal]

Interesting bit about the spread between the Boxster and the Cayman.

[Longroofjunkie]

It’s the old farts like me (but not me, I want metal over my head) that want a ragtop. Nostalgia.

The young guys buy them because they are entry-level modern Porsches (and that’s absolutely fine). They can be very affordable.

[Robertgouwens]

They all surprise me except for the Viper. Has anyone heard of the Corvette?

[gfviperman]

What???

[GeorgeWA]

I agree… I’m not a “Numbers” person so I don’t have any statistics to back up what I’m saying but the Corvette is in my mind the car that I place head&shoulders above all else as the car that has the greatest appeal across all socio/economic and generational demographics

[Sherminator]

The issue with Corvette in general is that it has low appeal to people who are 55 and under-Its seen as a the stereotypical old man car/guy with a track suit and chains losing his hair or some dude with jean shorts and new balance sneakers.

[66Toronado]

You were doing fine until you mentioned New Balance sneakers. 😜

[Hacksaw]

Boy are you wrong. We take the 64 to lunch now and then and people will come out and look at it and take pictures, even the ladies and little kids. For a nearly 60 year old car it has better styling than anything built today.

[DUB6]

I'm gonna get on board with @Hacksaw here - I'm not even a Corvette guy, but I will stop and give extra attention to darned near ANY C2 that I get close to.  C3 and later?  Umm, well, less so...

[Longroofjunkie]

And you are not young.

This is about cars that both young and old buy.

[DUB6]

You are correct on my age, so point-taken.  However, I read the line in the article that says, "vehicles that are equally beloved by everyone", and did not take that to mean "cars that anyone buys", but cars that people really like - and the example of "at a car show" is given.  If, however, you are specifically talking about ownership only, I'm in tune with your viewpoint @Longroofjunkie.

[Smilodon]

Bazinga!

[Gary]

My grandsons still want to see and ride in my 64 stingray, of course maybe that’s because someday it will be theirs

[Snailish]

I wish it was "both young and old buy" but is just "both young and old submit a no commitment insurance quote".

Last 5 years of vehicles actually added to Hagerty policies  --how much of this list holds up?

[El-Oscuro]

Mine is one of those and not on this list: 1992 Camaro

[Longroofjunkie]

He is absolutely not wrong.

You’re entitled to your own opinions, but not your own facts.

How many affordable ‘63s are there?

None.

Young people can’t afford $100,000 cars .

[Smilodon]

Well, the trust fund kids can, but they buy German and Italian.

[Gary]

I don’t know, maybe you should look at the high school parking lots. It sure isn’t filled with what most of us had back in our day

[Snailish]

Less kids driving due to costs I would think, but part of it is just translation:

Families used to drive 5-6 seat full size vehicles that could tow a small trailer and take the gear on road trips (Impala, Galaxy, etc.). That is now an F150 crewcab with a tonneau cover or cap.

The families that bought a VW Beetle, Nova, Maverick as a second car and let the kid use it... have the older Corollas, Civics, Jettas and such.

The kids buying their own thing... have the lifted trucks, coal rolling Golfs, lowered Lancers with angle-in wheels and such which isn't that different than a Chevelle with tires sticking out the fenders and cherry bomb mufflers.

The rich kids showing off it is going to vary by regional demographics... some places that will be BMW instead of Vette and so on.

[Sherminator]

But you are also driving around in a nearly SIXTY year old car that goes for six figures plus too...it doesn't fit into this discussion. I'm talking about the past 20-30 or even 40 year old Corvettes. 

I like the older Vettes but they are unobtainium for the vast majority of buyers. 

[GC]

Plenty of younger guys drive Corvettes -- besides, who are you, the fashion police?

[DUB6]

Yeah.  I'm bald and I like Jorts.  😂

[Smilodon]

Yay! At the local car gatherings in Fargo, ND, I park with the Holden GTO/G8 guys, as they're uncommon up here and my 40th Anniversary TorRed GTO is often the only manual and the only '04. But I hang with all the brand folk, with a classic Pontiac/GTO bias. The Corvette crowd? Older than I (I'm 62) by far, all park together, don't mingle, rarely open hoods, all- '50's to 2020's owners- aloof and leave early. Why do they come? Maybe to rub their plentiful disposable income in our faces? Dunno, but I know why the younger car guys view Vette owners as tools. Had a chance to pick up a C7 in Torch Red with a manual for a great price- but no, I just can't deal with the local Vette demographics. Sigh.

[OkJustOneMore]

The same reason why I will never own a Harley. I like them all but the mines better than yours I don't agree with.

[Gary]

63 - 67 corvettes still seems a draw to everyone When they are around

[Wildturkey]

Like Joe Biden?

[Longroofjunkie]

Young guys don’t buy vintage Corvettes.

And which one is affordable, at this point?

[Snailish]

C7 Corvettes caught a lot of eyes, including younger eyes that maybe weren't so into the prior.

Despite being incredible value, they are not a cheap entry point car.

If you are too young, the insurance alone would be insane. Unless Hagerty is giving 20 year olds deals on insuring late model Vettes now?

[66Toronado]

I personally was never attracted to Corvettes. Thunderbirds either.

[Snailish]

C1 and C2 are cool looking. 1962 I have always been particular on. Nothing since until C7 truly appeals to me though I entertain the idea of having a "beater" C4.

Thunderbird... you are talking about multiple types of car wearing the same name. Sometimes it's a standout car, other times it's just any typical thing from the Ford lineup at the time.

55-57 for me need to be hot-rodded like Doane Spencer did.

61-63, especially convertibles, especially when 60s customized, are almost peak space-age coolness.

67-69 has the sinister grill and suicide-door 4 doors. I find these really interesting but would have to customize it as it doesn't quite all work to my eye.

83-88 is literally one of the best looking designs post 1980. They should retro-revive this now.

The 2002-2005 was a pitch to the elderly crowd that loved the original. Way too pricey for younger buyers and to my eyes more of a 90s Taurus with Thunderbird jewelry stuck on it. I think this car could have been better at being what it tried to be. On the used market, these have always been "ask high". I don't get it myself.

[Gary]

Yea, but you can pick up really nice one for $10000-15000 and have a nice car. What else can you buy for that and fairly low mileage at that

[Hacksaw]

The Corvette is an American car and the Hagerty writers seem to always lean foreign. The Viper and the Corvette should be at the top of the list and nowhere should that old Mercedes appear except in the scrap yard. As for the rest of them? Meeeh!

[AG1962]

Because? Murrka? The report is on what people like, not what anyone THINKS other people should like… Car-buyers and car enthusiasts lean “foreign” too. People of all ages like those old Mercedes because they are incredibly well built cars, not because they were built in a specific country.

[Smilodon]

And you can get one as a real station wagon- with a turbodiesel!

[DT]

That 300D Mercedes will be running when most of the other cars are in the scrapyard. They are a fantastic car and many realize that.

[Longroofjunkie]

The what?

The Navy ship?

/s

[Jbob]

Ok, I get this is a puff piece. Some cars do transcend. But not the uninteresting cars picked. Viper excepted.

[RW68RSConv]

Samurai -- "... surprising that 33 percent of quotes come from collectors 60 and over." Not really when you think about it. Most common place I've seen them in the last 10 years has been behind an RV. Which make sense: very light to pull, small for easy towing, the SUV itself gets great gas milage, and (was) much cheaper than a Jeep (by far the #1 tow behind). It is about the perfect RV companion.

[Longroofjunkie]

Great point.

That reminds me that I’ve seen many of them as dinghys.

[Smilodon]

Surprised you're the only one who caught this- even true in Canada. Cheaper to insure than a Jeep as well.

[ROCKYMan]

What about the Daihatsu Rocky that sold like hotcakes from 1990 to 1992 in the U. S. ?
It is VERY COLLECTIBLE if you can find a decent one.
I let a nice one in Oklahoma escape last fall.

[MustangJim]

A few of these surprised me but what is interesting is that for the most part its fairly equally divided. I think that once the millenials start to save more money their numbers will go up.. and as the boomers age and health deteriorates their numbers will go down..keeping this generally equal for a while.
Thank you for the statistics.

[Longroofjunkie]

Makes sense.

[McNulty]

All I can say is that I had only one car of the above, The Volvo 122. GREAT CARS IN THE 60S.
I am pre -"post war baby boom"

[Longroofjunkie]

Those are way cool, especially the wagons.

All baby boom is post-war, by definition.

1945-1963.

[Evets]

I wonder if Japanese brands (particularly Mitsubishi) might turn off Boomers because of WWII prejudices? Most/many Boomers had fathers (ans sometimes even mothers) that served in the military during WWII, and being a Gen-X-er, my grandfather served in the Pacific in WWII and until his dying day still did not like the Japanese. Anyway, perhaps an odd perspective but it might be part of the "puzzle" of why Boomers aren't as into JDM vehicles.