Top 10 Future American Collector Cars

It's human nature. You're in front of the TV, you flip past a car auction, and your jaw drops. The prices that some collector cars are bringing at places like Barrett-Jackson are mind blowing. A classic example is the Plymouth Road Runner Superbird. Here is a car so monumentally homely and impractical on the street that dealers were still trying to sell 1970 leftovers well into 1971. But, the droop snoot and tall tail were about function, not fashion. Race versions of the winged Mopars were so fast that NASCAR promptly outlawed them from the circuit. Couple that racing pedigree with the off-the-charts sums being paid for any original, Hemi or 440 engine cars these days, and in Superbird (and its sibling the Dodge Daytona), you've got rolling money machines. Want one? At a big-time auction, be prepared to spend more than you did for your first house, and maybe your second.


These kinds of results make us wonder what cars can be had today that might command some serious cash in the future. Now, anyone who says they know for sure is just full of fertilizer. But, it's fun to speculate, so let's give it a whirl, starting with some ground rules. For this exercise, we'll stick with American makes, and define "modern" as anything post-2000. The list will hit the high end as well as some choices that are more affordable (if less collectible). And, we'll apply traditional benchmark barometers for future value (high performance, fine (or far out) styling, innovations, limited production). In no particular order, then, here are our top 10 picks to turn Detroit iron into gold.

2000-2001 Plymouth Prowler

Prowler's fatal flaw was that its body wrote checks that its engine couldn't cash. Plugging daily driver, V-6 power into a seriously slick looking retro rod was a disconnect that buyers couldn't get past—especially for $45,000 (2002). As a result, the factory-built car with the one-off, hot rod bod' never sold well. However, today's hard-to-sell translates into tomorrow's hard-to-find. Look for one of the limited production models like the red and black Woodward Editions from 2000 (151 built) or the 2001 Black Tie Editions (163).


Plus: Far out, hot rod styling in a factory-built car with a warranty.


Minus: Richter scale cowl shake and a trunk just big enough for a pressed shirt and a ham sandwich.

2007 Shelby GT500 Convertible

Let's see. Shelby connection, supercharged, 500 horsepower V8, limited production, available as a convertible. When it comes to future collectible, the 2007 Shelby GT 500 Convertible may be as close as there is to a no-brainer. A fine candidate for a buy-and-hold strategy, as long as you include some sunny day driving in your game plan. Like most of the cars on this list, the GT500 is a blast to drive, which is the real reason to own one. Hey, if you're going to just park 'em under a cover for 20 years, you'd be better off sticking to Krugerrands, not cars.


Plus: Serious, supercharged, Shelby/SVT muscle, with modern day creature comforts.


Minus: Near fiddy grand when new, and still a solid rear axle.

2002 Chevy Camaro 35th Anniversary Edition/2002 Pontiac Firebird 35th Anniversary Edition

In 2002, in a moment of classic, management myopia, GM scrapped Camaro and Firebird, so they could free up assembly line space for higher profit trucks. Now, 15 years later, truck sales have gone slack and GM's decided to bring back Camaro in 2008.


When it comes to collecting, the top line, "last" Camaros are an interesting play. The combination of choice is a Z28 with the SS and 35th Anniversary Edition packages. So spec'd, you've got a 325-hp street rumbler with a retro feel and a double shot of Chevy heritage.


Plus: Beefy, rumbly V-8, limited edition and last-of-the-first cache.


Minus: Cabin was dated, even in 2002. Status as "last" will soon be past, when the new model arrives in 2008.

2006 Shelby Hertz GTH

For a brief time in the mid-1960s, you could walk up to a Hertz counter in many locations and drive away in a tuner Mustang. In 2006, Hertz marked the 40th anniversary of the first Ford Shelby GT-H with another edition of Hertz-badged rentals. While the new models lack the performance tuning of their Sixties counterparts, they still have a great, vintage vibe and one-off, good looks.


Plus: Limited production (Hertz says 500 units), classic, black and gold livery, fun factor of owning a small slice of Shelby/Hertz heritage.


Minus: Unlike the first GT-H, the new models are more show than go, and whatever you buy, it was driven like a rental car, maybe dozens of times.

2000-2007 Chevy Corvette Indy Pace Car Edition/50th Anniversary

Here is a trio of late-model Vettes that that make for good speculation conversations.


Throughout the 'aughts, ZO6 has been the performance standard bearer for Corvette. 2001 was the first year for production of the hardcore hardtops, with 5,773 built.


Chevy celebrated Corvette's 50th birthday in 2003 with a Golden Anniversary package, featuring a beautiful, deep metallic red paint job, over a shale grey interior.