My friend and Classical Drives contributor Nigel Matthew knows as much or more about collector car values than anyone on this earth. So when he tells me that 1980's cars are the next big thing, I believe him. Backing Nigel's opinion is the UK's BCA (British Car Auctions). Robin Lawton, head of BCA's classics department, commented: "we've seen a rising interest in cars from the 1980s in recent sales and we expect the start of the new BBC TV series (Ashes to Ashes ) to fuel this even further. People are beginning to feel a sense of nostalgia for 80's fashions and this includes cars like the Golf GTI, Rover SD1, Ford Cortina, BMW and Mercedes models of that era."
No doubt the same thing's happening in the US and Canada although I'm not yet aware of a TV series based in that decade. So what 80's cars available on this side of the Atlantic deserve to be collected? How about the Mustang II, Pontiac Fiero, Buick Reatta, Cadillac Allante, Mazda Miata, Toyota Supra v.2 or, for those with a sense of humour, a Hyundai Pony? Or a ford taurus with the Suzuki-modified V-6 engine? Or (my favorite) a Pontiac Grand Prix coupe from 1988? Even the much-maligned Chrysler TC deserves consideration. Please add your suggestions in the "comments" box below. After all, you could gain fame for recognising something the rest of us missed.
80s music is hot in Canada now, with lots of 80s themed nights at the clubs. So it makes sense that the cars would come back into style too. Personally, I’d love a Fiero. I’m also nostalgic for the Pontiac Parisienne station wagon – the first car I ever drove. Don’t think I’d actually want to drive one now though, considering our gas prices!
February 21, 2008 @ 1:08 pm