what do you guys predict

[68 CHARGER R/T]

in the future value of our 2nd chargers, or even all generation chargers in that matter .you think they might increase or decrease . 

[myk]

Predicting future values is like predicting anything in life-who the heck knows?  You could roughly estimate that increased demand for a car that is no longer in production will only see a steady incline in value.  For example, in 1993 I bought my solid daily driver Charger for $2500.  Today, this same car that has had little done to it over the years is now fetching $15K and more, depending on the hard-on of the person trying to buy it. 

Ultimately though, I didn't buy a Charger to make myself money-I couldn't care less what it's worth, then, now or in the future...

[Ghoste]

The best examples of the rarest cars should always go up.  Things like four speed Hemi Daytonas have largely become garage art for the very wealthy so only an economic meltdown is likely to affect them.  The "common" Chargers are probably going to continue going up in value barring the usual factors such as price of fuel and state of the economy and the dying off of most of the people interested in these cars.  Now if something apocolyptic takes place, such as the EPA banning the use of anything unable to achieve 45 mpg, all bets are off.

[694spdRT]

The "common" Chargers are probably going to continue going up in value barring the usual factors such as price of fuel and state of the economy and the dying off of most of the people interested in these cars. 

I don't plan on selling anyway but I think the days of huge appreciation are over for a while. I don't really see much reason for appreciation to happen in the near future as all three of these factors are going on. For appreciation these cars need a lot of willing buyers with plenty of "extra" money or credit to spend on toys.

What will really tell the story is in the next 10-20 years when the large group of older generation enthusiasts currently in their 50's and 60's start unloading their estates, or their heirs do it for them.   If there are enough interested buyers with money it will be fine, otherwise we might even see a decline in value. 

[Ghoste]

Agreed.  I've seen a few of those "estate unloads" and frequently the heirs just want the stuff gone.  It's often seen as the useless junk that dear old dad wasted so much time and money on.  Sometimes leads to great deals and sometimes not.

[69_500]

I think you will still see an incline in value for the next 15-20 years, after that, it will flatten out and then start to fall off. Reason being the age groups that will be interested in the cars will be dying off, and the next generation has a very small portion that is interested in them.

[Chatt69chgr]

The other day I saw one of those "smart" cars for the first time.  Looks to be about 10 ft long.  On the news last night, they said that 1 in 5 cars being purchased lately are the fuel efficient type---my wife has what would pretty much fit in that category now---a 2002 4cyl Camry----we will all probably have to have at least one of these.  But the population continues to rise and guys always want cool cars.  I don't think gas consumption on a 2nd gen Charger is a factor-----they don't get driven that much.  But when you pull up to the light with a 440 Charger next to one of those smart cars, there's going to be some serious penis envy going on.  Chargers just look mean as hell.  And don't forget the General Lee thing.  All those kids going to the Dukes conventions right now will want their own General Lee.  I just don't see the demand for Chargers going away.  I pretty much think that really cool muscle cars will always be in demand.  Once the Challengers and Mustangs are dropped, they won't be making any more V8 rear drive cars.  Once you have established your career, married the fox next door, had your two kids, and bought a nice pad, you will want a cool car to cruise around in on fri and sat nights.  And that 10 ft long smart car ain't going to cut it. 

[1969chargerrtse]

The other day I saw one of those "smart" cars for the first time.  Looks to be about 10 ft long.  On the news last night, they said that 1 in 5 cars being purchased lately are the fuel efficient type---my wife has what would pretty much fit in that category now---a 2002 4cyl Camry----we will all probably have to have at least one of these.  But the population continues to rise and guys always want cool cars.  I don't think gas consumption on a 2nd gen Charger is a factor-----they don't get driven that much.  But when you pull up to the light with a 440 Charger next to one of those smart cars, there's going to be some serious penis envy going on.  Chargers just look mean as hell.  And don't forget the General Lee thing.  All those kids going to the Dukes conventions right now will want their own General Lee.  I just don't see the demand for Chargers going away.  I pretty much think that really cool muscle cars will always be in demand.  Once the Challengers and Mustangs are dropped, they won't be making any more V8 rear drive cars.  Once you have established your career, married the fox next door, had your two kids, and bought a nice pad, you will want a cool car to cruise around in on fri and sat nights.  And that 10 ft long smart car ain't going to cut it. 

Well said except not all neighbors are foxy.  I think the Mopars will always draw an attention.  I think the 69 charger will always stand out as a super classic. And the younger GL generation will help these cars become collectable as the 52 year olds like me that stood in the showroom at 14 start to age and retire.  Most of us have our cars for the love and nothing else, so none of that stuff matters anyway.

[Ghoste]

But, and I'm only asking here, are the younger GL generation in it because they like it so much or because their parents are taking them?  There aren't any new episodes coming out and I'd say the movie franchise has lost it's steam too.  Just an opinion though.
As for the gas mileage part, if the fuel were cheaper do you think those undriven Chargers would get used more?  I do, I also think that one in five number for the new cars will be going way up soon too but again, just an opinion.  I do know I've seen more threads onhere about getting better mileage, price of gas, evil oil conspiracy theories, how to defeat big oil, etc etc etc in the last year than ever before.

[Mike DC]

I don't think cheaper gas would get a lot of cars driven a lot more.  I don't think anything but cheaper rust-repair would ever do that. 



I think the demand for these cars is at its peak right now.  The last 10 years may go down as the plateau in general.   


The restoration costs are high, but they're also FINALLY starting level off.  It just becomes a matter of buying the whole car new instead of fixing anything.  The tooling costs for new components will only go down in the future, and it should be enough to more than offset the increases in the raw material costs. 


The working/middle classes are the bread & butter of this hobby and they aren't facing a great economic future by anyone's yardstick.  These cars are valuable assets sitting in the gararge.  People in financial trouble won't be buying more of them and they will be selling them when pushed far enough. 



People in the future will still like and respect these cars for a long time.  But that's not really the question.  I also like & respect '55 Chevys and '49 Mercs, and yet I'm not actually contributing to their demand at all.

[69charger2002]

Posted on: Today at 09:54:11 AMPosted by: Mike DC (formerly miked)
People in the future will still like and respect these cars for a long time.  But that's not really the question.  I also like & respect '55 Chevys and '49 Mercs, and yet I'm not actually contributing to their demand at all.

which brings up a good point.. as much as we would like to sit here and say of course chargers will go up in value for the next 20 years..it may not actually happen.. let's take a look at arguably the most iconic car of all time. the 57 chevy. they are stil recognized by all. sure i like them too i guess. do i want one? NO. 50's cars look so outdated now.. but 20 years ago the ywere HOT before muscle cars became "hot" .. of course a key difference here is in 20 years most 40 year olds won't want 80's cars most likely. but still. 57 chevy prices are high, but don't go up 10% every year like our cars have been over the past 10. i don't necessarilyu see our mopars going down in value over the next 20 years. but i do think they will flatten out. while there are a lot of people in middle age and younger interested in these cars, the majority of people who own the high dollar ones are baby boomers. and as they get even older/die off, there will be more available, and as the fad moves on, there will be less 20-30 year olds at barrett jackson paying 6 figures for them just because they are the "in" car.  of course who really knows for sure how long muscle cars will be "hot" i personally don't care what they do.. i built my colection while they were hot, and was fortunate enough to get a few.. that are all paid for.. so value doesn't matter now.

[JimShine]

Add to it all the population of streetable Chargers will begin climbing after all the reproduction parts hit the market. Will the demand keep up with the growing supply?

[Mike DC]

     
I say bring on the Dynacorn-style reproduced Charger unibodies.


If nothing else, I could watch "Dukes" with a lot less guilt.

   

[JimShine]

I also see a trend on the way in which many General Lee clones built over the past 4 or so years will be reverted back to a standard Charger configuration. It is already happening on a small scale. I know of 4 clones right now being repainted into standard colors and a couple with vinyl tops.

[Mike DC]

   
I'd be all for that.  GL replicas really should have a DOH diehard behind the wheel.

[68charger383]

I agree, over the next 20 years as the majority of the muscle car group grows old and out of the game, the muscle cars will flatten out value wise. Plus, I think that there were a lot of muscle cars that were saved compared to other cars such as from the 50s and 40s etc. which could effect the prices down the road (higher supply then demand).

Check out the prices of some of the 50s/40s cars. It seems like this period of cars are currently at that 20 year hypo mark were talking about with the charger based on their owners getting old and out of the hobby/life. To me, the prices are pretty reasonable. However, if you look at cars like the 57 chevy, it's such a classic, it has crossed over into our group from the previous hotrod/collecter group. So maybe the charger will do the same to the next generation coming up.

[Ghoste]

The 57 has crossed over as a 50's icon but even those don't hold their value like they did even a decade ago.   The exceptions would be things like Fuelie Bel Air convertibles but those fall into the same category as Hemi Cuda convertibles- garage art for the very wealthy.

[dadstoy66]

I want to see the 66-67 Charger start getting the money they deserve. I have been restoring mine for 10 years now. This car has so much more to restore then most cars the parts are harder too find and just like all others are not cheap. I have way more in my already than I could ever sell it for. Not that I restored it to make money. But someday I might want to sell for a 68-70 etc. I will be lucky to get half the money to buy the next one.

[Silver R/T]

i like working on my charger but I like even more driving it. It's value increasing is just another good thing about owning one.

[69charger2002]

I want to see the 66-67 Charger start getting the money they deserve. I have been restoring mine for 10 years now. This car has so much more to restore then most cars the parts are harder too find and just like all others are not cheap. I have way more in my already than I could ever sell it for. Not that I restored it to make money. But someday I might want to sell for a 68-70 etc. I will be lucky to get half the money to buy the next one.

which is why they aren't bringing good money.. most people don't look to buy one even with prices reasonable, and even a lot of the 66-67 OWNERS wish they had a different model. that's not a good sign for the future demand of the car
trav

[kab69440]

I love first gens. I want one in a bad way.

[Ghoste]

See I tend to think that the  1st gens DO bring the money they deserve, it's everything else that is waaay overpriced. 

[69_500]

Which is why your odd though,  Ghoste. JK

I think that many of the cars are WAY overpriced. To me there is no reason these cars should be so expensive that people who really like them couldn't afford to obtain them.

[Ghoste]

Which is why your odd though,  Ghoste. JK

My friend, you have nooooooo idea.   

[69_500]

Oh I know that I'm odd, and everyone will confirm that. Just ask Gene, Troy, or Chris they would all tell you, or you could always ask my wife, and she will almost break her neck agreeing.

gonna half to meet up at one of the shows this summer to swap some odd stories.