How the mighty have fallen! Following that Biblical moment, here is the latest compilation of biggest losers in the collector car market, as determined by the numbers crunchers at Hagerty classic car insurance and valuation.
Hagerty Vehicle Rating’s Bottom 25 list for the second quarter is dominated by once-roaring European sports cars, including Porsche 911s and the earlier 356s that saw such a meteoric climb in recent years. Not that the bottom is dropping out of Porsche sales, but appreciation has been minimal as of late.
A similar fate has befallen entry-level mid-engine Ferraris, the 1975–85 308 and 1985–89 328 GTB and GTS, which also saw a rapid rise but now are standing still. Another slow gainer is the 1968-76 Ferrari Dino, after its strong runup in value.
“For a long time, these stylish, overlooked fellows represented affordable entry into Ferrari ownership,” Hagerty says in a report about its findings. “Then Boomers and Gen X collectors with some bucks caught on, and the Ferraris started appreciating. Now it seems that everybody who wanted one has gotten it, so activity has stalled, and these cool cars have cooled.”
Hagerty’s rating system tracks the performance of collector vehicles in relation to the market as a whole. The numerical ratings are based on a 0-100 scale, with a car rated at 50 keeping pace with the overall market. Anything above 50 is doing better and anything below is lagging behind.
Other Europeans among the lowest rungs of current appreciation include Jaguar XK 120 and E-type Series II, Volkswagen Thing, Mercedes-Benz 190SL and 280 SE, Triumph TR3 and Austin Healey 3000.
Anchoring the bottom slot of the tepid 25 is the 2005-06 Ford GT, a modern classic that has been rated at 6 out of 100 because, after scoring major gains initially, it has been just hanging there for a year or more.
The GT is joined by the 1964-68 Porsche 911, the 1971-93 Rolls-Royce Corniche and the 1970-74 Plymouth Barracuda, a motley grouping rated at 13 points each.
The Bottom 25 (actually 27, in case anybody’s counting) from Hagerty Valuation Rating’s latest findings and the cars’ numerical rankings are:
2005-2006 Ford GT – 6
1964-68 Porsche 911 – 13
1971-93 Rolls-Royce Corniche – 13
1970-74 Plymouth Barracuda – 13
1971-75 Volkswagen Type 181 Thing – 15
1969-71 Porsche 911 – 15
1955-62 Triumph TR3 – 15
1948-54 Jaguar XK 120 – 16
1959-67 Austin Healey 3000 – 16
1971-74 Plymouth Road Runner – 16
1975-85 Ferrari 308 – 16
1967-71 Mercedes-Benz 280SE – 17
1955-63 Mercedes-Benz 190SL – 17
1948-65 Porsche 356 – 17
1956-57 Lincoln Continental Mk II – 17
1955-57 Ford Thunderbird – 17
1984-96 Chevrolet Corvette – 19
1965-70 Buick Electra 225 – 19
1956-61 Studebaker Hawk – 19
1968-76 Ferrari Dino 246 GT – 20
1985-89 Ferrari 328 GTB / GTS – 20
1952-54 Ford Crestline – 20
1961-64 Oldsmobile 88 – 20
1960-64 Chevrolet Corvair – 21
1968-71 Jaguar E-type – 21
1961-64 Pontiac Catalina – 21
1977-79 Lincoln Mk V – 21
the prices got crazy very quickly and then people decided to sell their cars, then flooded the market and it is adjusting. as it should.