Why Buy Collector Cars?

Osborne with his Crosley (l) and Lancia

The reasons people become collectors of anything should be obvious. An enthusiasm, born of curiosity, leads to desire and acquisition. Whether it’s vintage watches, rare books, baseball memorabilia, cut glass, or beanie babies, it is passion that drives the collecting. It’s the same for collector cars.

There’s an axiom in the hobby which holds that interest in cars and sometimes the prices they bring is based on a rolling curve. As financially secure adults, people seek those cars they coveted as impressionable teenagers but couldn’t afford. So the group that grew up during the Depression, riding bicycles while seeing photos and film of Hollywood stars and wealthy industrialists driving Duesenbergs and Packards, made those cars the object of their affection in the 1960s. Kids who watched Armstrong walk on the moon in that same decade are the ones who are now making Detroit’s muscle cars the top of the market today.

Exceptions exist of course—there are certainly not many alive today who were teens when what we today call “brass-era” cars first hit the primitive roads in the early years of the 20th century. Yet today these cars are enjoying a much-deserved revival of interest. Why? Because of the basics of collecting—there are people today who see them as a remarkable expression of mechanical invention, ingenuity, and craftsmanship in steel, wood, brass, and leather. They are machines as art, and it doesn’t matter that these collectors never knew them as new cars.

The cars people collect should be a reflection of who they are and what they love. Car collecting is sensuous. You can be fascinated by the sight of a car, by the sound of the engine’s pull from idle to redline, by running your hand along a well-shaped fender, or by smelling hot oil, warm brakes, and a well-worn leather interior. It can be an incredibly stimulating experience.

There are also some people for whom the restoration process is the thrill. Finding a derelict car and using your own sweat and effort to return it to life is the most important thing for these folks. In fact, once the car is done, they will more often than not sell it, ready to attack their next project. For others, it’s all about using their collector car. Whether it’s in a national concours d’elegance, local “show-n-shine,” or just parked in a lot at the local drive-in, polishing their pride and joy and showing it off to as many people as possible is why they collect.

Some couldn’t imagine sitting next to their car on a lawn chair, but would rather be sitting behind the wheel. Vintage rallies, tours, and racing are where these collectors play. They will choose their cars based on the rules of the series or events they most want to run so they can have as much fun as possible.

While some people do collect cars for investment, it should never be the overriding factor in choosing a car. Unless you are very experienced in buying and selling cars, it can be difficult to predict what cars will appreciate most quickly, especially those not at the very top end of the market. It is also important to consider the costs of maintenance, repair, insurance, and storage when thinking about the possible financial return on a collector car. It’s much better to buy a car you love, enjoy it in the way you like best, maintain it well, and take your profit in pleasure.