I don't care - that's not why I bought them. - but there's a lesson in there somewhere?

Besides cars, I also bought up some vintage guitars and some art. Those two categories have gone bananas over 20 years...the cars? Not so much. LOL, I bet if I did it the other way around, the opposite would have happened. I can never predict that stuff.

My family deals in cars for a living and enjoys them as a hobby, too. I taught my son early on that there are 2 kinds of cars; commodities and possessions and to not get them mixed up.

We often spend money and time on the possessions that don't necessarily make financial sense. But as long as it's reasonable and enjoyable, and that's how you want to enjoy the fruits of your labor then go ahead. Just don't make that mistake on the commodities.

The difficulties come in when we confuse the 2 at some point or another.

I bought my '65 Coronet 500 for $1500 in 1980. I"ve spent a ton of time and money on it and it probably isn't worth half of what I've put into it, maybe even less. I'm starting to think it is time to sell it since I don't think I want to keep putting money into it.

I know what you're saying, but here's an apples to oranges comparison:

Yesterday, for the Alabama vs Georgia game, I was invited to a friend's house (he's a dedicated Alabama guy...at least a generation deep) and I volunteered to bring German potato salad.
It cost me roughly twice the amount it would have been to buy some from Publix, Not to mention the effort involved, but everyone LOVED IT!
Sorry, what was your question???

Bought my 69 Super Bee in 1987. Spent three years restoring it, showed it and drove over 52,000 miles for 30 years. Sold it in 2018 got back every dollar I put into it. Didn’t make a profit off it but I had 30 years of enjoyment out of it. Priceless!!

Too easy to focus life on making money back or never taking a loss...no one on their death bed is thinking about their investments.

You may not "make" money on old cars, but it sure beats the depreciation hit you take buying a new daily driver from the dealer. See what that's worth after 5 or 10 years.

I drove my road runner for 15 years and sold it for about 5 grand more than I bought it for. I figure I put about 5 grand of work into it over that same time. So net gain of zero and a lot of fun over 15 years. Not a bad deal at all when you are talking about a "hobby"

With inflation you lost money

Mopars have been one of my top investments. I can looks back on several decades of all the friends I've made through my cars, shows and cruises I've been to, satisfaction I've gotten from doing a repair or upgrade, and more.
Financially sure, if I'd spent all my car budget investing in mutual funds I would have a higher net worth, but unless you are having trouble making ends meet, why worry too much about net worth? I have stock market investments and they give me stress from taxes, and I can't say I've ever derived any fun from stock market investments like I have with cars.

When it comes to buying cars their resale value never crosses my mind. I couldn't care less because I buy them for the enjoyment and always intend to keep them forever. And if it does turn out I sell them, any loss I take is made up for by all the things I don't spend money on such as going to movies, eating out, and other so-called entertainment expenses that many indulge in.

Maybe since things have got kind of crazy lately they may not be the best investments for making money especially in the higher end builds we see on Mecum going for a fraction of what someone put into them but I bought my 68 Charger back in the 90s for $2800 and have put some money into it to make it a really good driver. But I know I could sell it and make more that triple the amount I have in total investment.

I bought my Dart in 1982 for $400.. it is a race car now and I have well over 50k invested and its worth maybe between 25-30K , I am still investing $ in it because I love it!! same with my 92 D150 I bought new and still have I paid 11K for it new it might be worth that now or a little more with all the mods... good investments ...No! I have no intentions of selling either of them , the fun and good times I have had with both far exceeds the $ value.. my recently traded 08 H.Q.C. was probably a good investment I got a really super deal on it when I bought new in late 08 for 22K after 58,000 miles and 13 years I got 12K for it.

Do you love the car? You’ve had it for 40 plus years...

I have NEVER viewed any of my hobbies (classic cars included) as investments.
Just stuff that I do for fun and personal enrichment on while I am stuck on this big blue marble!

The enduring friendships made and met through the car hobby have enriched my life well past the point of
any assignable dollar amount.

A whole lot of pretty important milestones in life would not have happened without the car hobby. The skill set developed because of
the hobby....although far from guru status, is up there much higher than I ever believed possible when I started.

I've never gone into debt for any of it, and whatever I or my heirs can get out of it monetarily pales in comparison to the way
it's intertwined with the rest of my life.

It's a little odd that it isn't as high a priority with me as it should be. It's constantly pushed aside for other things.

No worries here.

What would a lifelong education cost ?
Add the friends, experiences, and often being able to apply that knowledge to other facets of life?

I've been fortunate in that the only cars I've lost money on have been racecars, where I don't care.
I don't necessarily plan it that way, I just don't pay myself a wage for the work I do !
I'm also pretty selective (and lucky) about what I've bought.

I bought my Savoy for $450 back in 1991 and I will probably never sell it. My wife says it has become part of my identity. I always have offers when I take it to the track but I couldn't replace it for what I could get for it.

Gus

No, it is just a car. I've worked on the car for 40 years and it has been with me for most of my life, but I won't have any trouble selling it when the time comes. At a certain stage in my life I'm not going to be hot rodding anymore so there is no reason for me to have a hot rod taking up space in the shop. My kids aren't interested in it so no point in me saving it for them.

very well said

Dollar for dollar I'll be right side up on both cars, by a good bit...until you factor my labor, but it IS what I do for fun. Like said above, the lifetime friends just add to it, maybe the whole point of it. But, in the end none of the value when I'm done with them will matter. Both of sons will wind up with one of them. So, none of it is about money to me.

Mopars as an investment? Never really gave that thought much time.

The Mopars I ran on the dirt track sure were not much of an investment, unless you count the education that came with those years, and the entertainment they provided for me, and maybe for my family. You would have to ask the family about the entertainment value the dirt track was to them. But we still all get together and do a dirt track race night, and a Mopar car show at least one weekend a year.

The lessons, the mechanical aptitude, the experiences, and the lessons concerning money handling I learned while racing have provided years of income for myself. I have very little formal education that I've paid for out of my pocket, to learn financial information, learn to work on cars, or learned to work in the welding field that provided my income for my entire life. I would guess that would mean the money spent during the time I was involved in dirt track racing was my educational costs. Some people went to collage, I went dirt track racing. The money spent then has to be applied to the money I've earned through work and investments.

I've invested time and money in Mopar cars and trucks that were repaired, sold, traded, parted out, or junked. That money was set aside in its own car fund for future purchases, or other car related stuff. That fund covered my racing habit. Household income (derived from my job income, and my wife's work) never funded the racing habit. After racing, that same car fund also supported my Mopar street car hobby. Every Mopar street car or truck I've built and had fun with for an average of 4-5 years, has pretty much funded the next build after it was sold. Those same actions have also provided ever vehicle I've ever owned that my wife and myself have ever driven as daily drivers except for three that were financed. Two of those three financed were done in the first 10 years we were married, and the last one was because my wife needed a reliable driver for the 250 miles a week she was driving for her job. The car she was driving at the time lost the transmission (at 230K miles) and she needed something immediately, at the time I couldn't find a transmission as soon as a car was needed. That last one was in 2005, and we are still driving it. I did repair the trans in the old car, but my wife elected to keep the new one and she decided to make the payments on it. I sold the old car, and that guy drove it another 3 years and almost 100K more miles, a deer hit took it out.

The Mopar cars and the Dodge truck I now have may not be very valuable in the eyes of the world, but they are priceless to my wife and me, and everything is paid for.

I was taught while I was growing up that the time and money a person invests in his or hers life time is measured not by the money they have accumulated in some account someplace, but rather by the happiness the life style they have lived has given them.

From my perspective, the Mopars in my life have been a great life style I have fully enjoyed. I would do it all over again. That is a good investment to me. Gene

A lot of good answers and opinions here but I like this one

If it wasn't for Mopars and my addiction I would have retired a millionaire in Florida now, don't tell the wife...

Investment ??? . . . nope, no way, I started my driving life in a Ford - it was the car mom & dad would have got nothing for, if they had traded it in. When I was 13, I got to have time with dad fixing brakes, rebuilding the engine, etc . . . by 15 mom & dad had a "2nd" car to use, with me having spent the $$$ on it. But when I got my license at 16 I had a car !!! . . . who cares if it was a station wagon - maybe that's why I love my 06 Magnum?? . . .lol . . . anyhow, the car thing was really as a way to be able to have my own transportation and not pay someone else to work on them.

Then there have been ALL the trips, and friends that I have made, because of the cars . . . how much is that worth enriching your life ?!??! Priceless !!! . . . Sure, it would be nice to think that each car would at least bring the amount of $$$ you have sunk into it (minus your own labour of course) . . . but hey, so many more intangibles to consider. Cars as an "investment", uhh, no, I have been saving for my retirement (I hope sooner rather than later!!), and kept the cars as a separate budget to play with. Some I have made $$$, others I have not, or have broke even . . .

As others have said, this is my "hobby, vice, etc" . . . not a big drinker, or go out, etc, so I have the $$ to play with the cars . . .

I think the big thing is that everyone is different and looks at all this differently, which is totally fine. I know a guy, that for him, it's all about the hunt for the NOS, date coded part . . . his cars (E bodies) would probably be considered way high $$ cars. But he doesn't drive them, or even restore them, just collect all the parts for them . . .

One thing I have learned in the past couple years, with car friends passing on, is that it doesn't matter, in the end you still die !! . . it's what you do (and who you do it with) along the way that matters - people and friends ! Enjoy your family and friends, and Mopars !!

Just my 2cents . . .

Cheers,

Mark

my first memory of life involved a toy car, and i was about a year old. [quite a story, but too long for now]
and, like the saying goes : "it's been all down hill since !"
i'm me because of the automobile. friends, skills, life lessons and more, no investment could make me happier !

I've never bought an old car thinking to make money on it. Paid $100 for my first car ( my money, not mommy and daddy's) '69 Firebird SOHC 6. $400 for my '68 Charger R/T 440 4 speed in '83. Had it for 18 years of 95% enjoyment. I've had my road runner since 2007. Insurance got it after I lost my other in a garage fire. Took a lot out of me. Retired the last three years, so it doesn't get out as much. Not looking to sell, but if someone put down some good money for it, I could let it go.

Firebird SOHC 6 . . . those were pretty cool ! I remember my aunt had a 68 red with black vinyl top, SOHC 6 ! . . . really wanted that car when she was going to trade it in (think around 76??) . . .course I wasn't old enough then.

Yes and no. Bought the Bee back in 03 as a shell and put it in the garage. My guess is it is now worth 4-5X what I paid for it and I haven't touched the car(bought lots of parts for it though). That said, an officemate bought a 67 caddy. Car had some issues but looked great. He was stating that he got upset when the shop told him it would take 14k to get the car right. He thought that was unreasonable. I laughed, yeah, paid 11.5k for the Cyclone and dumped in another 35 to get it right. Mechanically a brand new vehicle and let me tell you, it is right. Guy thought I was nuts. That said, making money isn't what it is about for me. I drive the Cyclone to the 7/11 and crowds just form while i'm inside. People love the car. The Barracuda is halfway there now and it will be right also. Told my buddy if I die before it is done, he needs to buy it from my wife it finish it off. I know he has the money as I paid him to redo all the sheetmetal. He laughed and said, Dude, I couldn't afford to buy this car.

What Jim? do you really think she doesn't know by now?

I haven't thought about those in a long time! I remember seeing that emblem on front fender SOHC6 I believe. First time I saw it was strange. Unique for sure.

Those have the bump on the hood, is that right? I remember seeing one long ago and thinking it was cool and unique.

mine didn't

I bought my 2017 Viper acr for 179k usd, worth just a little bit more now...

Mopars have been my best investments!

I buy cars I love and I drive them.

Smiles for miles!

If you 'invest' in any classic car just to store it away for monetary value, that is unfortunate - for you.

My health won't allow me to play with cars anymore. Before that, however, I have owned, restored, swapped, sold, showed, raced and babied over 100 cars in my life. Out of all the cars, there is one which stood out, I had it 16 years - longer than any other relationship. It was my 1 owner 1964 Dodge Polara 500.
The only cosmetic mods I made to it was a set of chrome reverse wheels. Never had the heads off, maybe put in 1/2 a pound of freon. Greatest A/C ever and a very enjoyable car to drive.
When the time came for it to leave, it was only because of a sizeable cash offer plus a '68 Charger R/T. Always thought I wanted one.
I knew I'd made a mistake almost instantly when I looked in the driveway and didn't see my trusty Polara.

Exactly!!! I hate bars, I don't enjoy alcohol (to each his/her own), I don't smoke, I really don't go out because I don't like most people anymore lol (after dealing with them at work), so I can get in my Mopar and go for a drive and get so much pleasure.

p.s. great pics wagonmaster

This makes sense.

It would kill my joy to view my hobby cars as an investment, even though I'm not blind to value vs costs.
But once I own a car, I don't look back on the net value when deciding whether to spend money on it or not.

The only thing I can add is -
Having been in the hobby long enough, I feel pretty confident what values are, so I can spot a deal when I'm buying on the open market, or if I overspend it's because I decided to.
Other times, I have lucked into word-of-mouth private sales, which is what I prefer.
- Art

I don't look at it as a worst investment or an investment. I do it for my love of cars, the friendships you make along the way at swap meets, car shows, cruise nights etc. I have actually made money on every single vehicle I have ever sold except for 1, my very first truck (Ramcharger). Which I four wheeled and beat the piss out of it..I don't do it for the money though. I usually plan on keeping them forever but sometimes life changes things or an offer can't be refused.

I don't think I've made money on anything.

Of the cars I've sold I either lost money or just barely broke even not counting the actual man-hours involved. If you counted the hours, then I lost my shirt on all of them.
I also believe I'm cursed in that, to my knowledge, every car I've sold has been wrecked.

Honda - crazy b1tc# blew up a brand new motor somehow within 3 months. I'd driven it for over a year without issue so I've no idea what she did.
Lebaron - saw it bombing around for a few years after selling but have not seen in a decade.
Valiant - Idiot I sold it to cut it into pieces, decided it was too hard then sold it to some well known scrappers with many parts I loaned him still attached. Lesson learned.
Swinger - dude started project then abandoned. Parted out.
New Yorker - engine pulled, rest of the car sat around for 20 years, then disappeared. Probably demo'd.
'80 GM Pickup - dude started project, then got divorced.
Sebring - somehow kid who bought it blew up a brand new (literally, less than 1,000 miles on it) transmission. It still exists, but it hasn't moved in years.
'74 Hornet hatch - should've held onto it. I got $4500 and it went to Europe. Today, cars that clean routinely top 10k with how the market has gone.

My T-top Daytona? I've had advertised for 2+ years now. It's a great little car. Everything works. It's in great shape. Couldn't give it away yet everybody tells me "80's stuff is the new hotness".



With the way prices have gone lately, I could probably make money NOW if I sold my Javelin, Hornet and Gremlin. But then what? I could either buy ONE decent mopar or .... I dunno. I am starting to get a little burnt-out on cars.

Not sure I have EVER cared about values. I've always bought cars to put a smile on my face.
Mind you, some of them haven't!!!! Some have been painful!!!!!
My Jensen I paid a fraction of what it's worth now, but I can't see ever selling it. It's just too damned fun.
My Coupe I paid $150 for. I now have $150,000 into it. Not too intelligent maybe, but lots of smiles.

I'm 58 years old, I drive 440 2x4bbl cars on a regular basis. Everywhere.

My kids would love free cars, but they've never shown interest helping, learning, nothing. Never would never lend a hand in any way.
So when I'm gone what do I do with my cars??? No idea..I hope to give to deserving people, don't care about worth..
All about smiles IMO.

Win or lose financially depends a lot on the cars you chose. Bob Blake ponied up $25,000 in the 80's to buy a new Corvette to trade for the most desirable muscle car on the planet, a loaded, red, 4 speed 71 Hemi Cuda convert. Bob is gone now, but his son David still has it. The Cuda is now worth many millions. The Vette, maybe $6,000? Choose you cars wisely.