The Aussie Affordability Chart
Steady as she goes, Solid in Growth, and Big Time Movers
After carefully analyzing the data, I’ve have noted the following comparisons which you may find interesting, surprising, or down right mind blowing
Steady as she goes
Even though there has been hysteria and craze for some models, there are quite a few cars that have remained consistent, holding steady when other cars have experienced a rise or fall. We’ve noted the VG Pacer hardtop has gained around 40% in value over the previous five years, which is pretty solid from a model that isn’t considered a ‘hero’ from the Valiant stable. Other models like the Porsche 928S, ZH Fairlane Marquis, HT Brougham, and Mitsubishi Evo VII have had some mild gains, though they are starting to see some growth in 2022. No losses overall, but if you bought one five years ago and sold one today, you’d get your money back and hopefully have made some memories too.
Big Time Movers
Sometimes you must be in the right place, at the right time, and also have a little luck on your side. If you were one of the fortunate enthusiasts to buy one of these five cars a few years ago, you’ve more than doubled your outlay of cash, with some still surging upwards as devotees to these nameplates chase their favourite models from the past. If you’ve got an old classifieds magazine from a few years ago, you’ll find plenty of VN SS Commodores for sale in the low teens. Those same cars today are heading towards a staggering $50,000, particularly factory manual cars, power pack optioned cars, and those finished in Atlas Grey, preferred by buyers who are willing to pay a little more for what they want.
It wasn’t all that long ago that you could secure an icon of the 1970s – the Sandman – for under $50,000. Now, very good genuine examples are selling for more than $100,000, especially the cars in colourful hues like Panama Green, Aquarius Blue, Papaya Orange, and Mandarin Red. Similar can be said for the more modern HSV GTS coupe, another model that has seen a significant jump in price, specifically cars with low mileage, good history, and desirable colours like Devil Yellow and Sting Red. If you bought one in 2017, you’ll have well and truly doubled your money, comfortably.
This chart compares some of the most popular Australian classic cars, showing the growth in value between 2020, 2021, and 2022. Going against popular opinion, some cars have continued to grow in price, and on this graph, you can see that in some cases, there are cars that have nearly doubled in value over a relatively short place of time!
These graphs show you the growth in some particular models, some of which will truly amaze you, and others which are no surprise at all. If you were lucky enough to own the right car, at the right time, then you’ll have seen significant growth in your investment. You’ll have no doubt enjoyed your time as custodian of your car, and now can clearly see it will not be difficult to sell it! The hardest decision will be, what do you put in its place?
Solid In Growth
The cars you see in this list would be very familiar to most enthusiasts, including the VC HDT Brock Commodore, the BF Cobra GT, and the VF Pacer. These models have proven to have solid growth over the past few years and are a lot more valuable today than they were. Perhaps they were overlooked previously by enthusiasts, who may have been focused on more popular models? These cars might have been bought by those who may not have been able to afford the halo cars of the same era but saw the value in getting something pretty close so they could still enjoy a very similar experience.
The same could be said for the XC Fairmont GXL, which was often the target of buyers who couldn’t get into a Falcon GT. Over the past six years they’ve doubled in value, not bad going for a mild mannered V8 cruiser. The Mercedes Benz 280CE coupes have really shown a rise in price, moving from a relatively cheap pricepoint of $20,000 in 2017, and surging all the way to the mid $30,000 bracket today. Pretty impressive for a fairly plain and simple classic, and maybe that is the appeal of the 280CE, modest in appearance and performance, but a comfortable and stylish weekend cruiser.
Rotary fans have also been paying a lot more for genuine RX3 coupes, another example of a car that has more than doubled in value in the past few years, showing no signs of slowing down either. As the interest continues to grow in the modern JDM genre from the younger generation, previous generations are reliving their youth and getting behind the wheel of the cars they’ve missed from their past.
And finally, considered the original Australian Muscle car, the XR Falcon GT, has also drastically increased in value, despite the majority of the cars being finished in one colour. As previously mentioned, the first and the last of pedigree models appear to have the most interest from enthusiasts. Excellent examples have been popping up from time to time, with each price point higher than the last. If you managed to put one in your garage a few years ago, you’ll be pleasantly surprised if you’re putting it up for sale.
There has undeniably been some movers and shakers both in recent times and in the past. And into the future, you can rest assured that there will be more. One thing is for certain, whatever classic car you desire, whether it is featured in these lists or not, you’d best enjoy what you’ve got today. With the surge of electric and hybrid vehicles appearing in the traffic, not to mention the rising costs of fuel, nobody knows what will happen next, however we recommend reviewing the past so you can plan for the future, and make sure you enjoy any moments you can behind the wheel of a classic car.
